I asked with disbelief. Immediately, my thoughts went to the Bright Night and the poisoned cookies. Was that how he planned to do it? Poison everyone? Veronica balanced on her cane and hung her head. “Ibbie,” she breathed. “There were loads of other ways to tell them about the Reverend’s plans.” “They need to know the truth,” Ibbie said, standing, “without breaking it to them gently or tiptoeing around it. You keep saying they’re children, but you certainly don’t plan to treat them that way, do you?” “Ibbie,” Veronica said in a warning tone. “What does she mean?” Gabriel asked, addressing Veronica with a steely glare. “How exactly do you plan to treat us?” “Now, now,” she said. “Why don’t we go back inside and discuss this?” “What’s the difference, Veronica?” Edgar said, his tone sounding low and defeated. “Inside, out. The request is the same.” “Just tell us,” I said. Veronica let out a labored breath. “We need your help. As we said, we have someone on the inside, an informant who has been working with us to leak information, but reports are sporadic.
