“I know that,” Kenzie said. “I also know that Houndstooth is.”

“You’re better than he makes you out to be. You can’t put so much faith in the words of someone who so clearly knows so little,” Ashley said.

Kenzie shook her head, smiling like she couldn’t believe the conversation she was a part of.

“He’s weak, and he’s a loser. He’s the lowest of the low.”

The phone trilled with a rising series of beeps. The projected image on the screen showed the person calling: Houndstooth.

Kenzie leaped forward, swatting aside Sveta’s hand and dodging mine. She grabbed the front of Ashley’s top, and hauled it down, making Ashley bend down.

Ashley’s hand moved, and Tristan grabbed her wrist, stopping it from going wherever it was going to go. He grabbed Kenzie with the other hand, ready to pull her away if need be.

“Woah,” Tristan said.

I moved closer, putting my hands on Kenzie’s shoulders, freeing Tristan to focus more on Ashley.

So small. Her shoulders were narrow.

Kenzie raised her free hand, and pressed it against Ashley’s mouth, so her fingers were on either side of Ashley’s nose. Had her fingers been longer, the tips and nails might have been near Ashley’s eyes.

“Don’t say anything,” Kenzie said.

The phone trilled its beeps again.

“Please don’t say anything. Please.”

There was a pause, silence.

The phone spat out its series of beeps.

“Please let this go okay,” Kenzie said. “That will do more than anything.”

The silence hung. The phone could only ring so many times.

Kenzie started to smile, and the smile faltered. “Please? I’ll do anything.”

Ashley straightened, pulling away from Kenzie’s hands. She turned away, folding her arms.

The rest of us relaxed. Kenzie, too, turned away, stepping away from my hands. She grabbed the phone off the table and tossed it to Tristan.

The phone was mid-ring when Tristan answered.

“Sorry about the delay. Capricorn here. Four of the six members of the team are here, and our coach is here too,” Tristan said. He backed up a few steps, until Ashley was in front of him, facing him. “I think we’re going to put you on speakerphone if that’s okay.”

Ashley nodded once.

“Great,” Tristan said. A response for both Houndstooth and Ashley, it seemed.

Kenzie hit a key.

“Hello again,” Houndstooth said. “I’ve got my team here, and we’re north of Cedar Point. We’re getting sorted out, costumes already on, but there’s other stuff to do. Minions to summon, ammo to load. I’m really hoping that none of it is needed.”

“Same here,” Tristan said. “We’ve been keeping an eye on things and I think it’s pretty quiet right now.”

“Perfect.”