I figured she’d had four hundred years or so of getting to know herself, and if she said it was dangerous, it was probably dangerous. Besides, I needed some sleep. I took a fast shower and threw on some sweats, then went out to the guesthouse, knocked to make sure SuzieQ wasn’t there, and slipped in to borrow something for Ovsanna to wear home. Suzie must have found a date who didn’t mind snakes; it looked as though she’d had a pretty wild party in the house. She’d stripped the sheets off the bed, and her room was messier than usual. One of the snake cages was lying open and upended on the bathroom sink. I found a Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt and a pair of jeans in a pile on the floor. Ovsanna would have to roll up the cuffs.My cell phone was ringing when I came back. Three thirty in the morning only means one thing. I opened it, expecting to hear the Captain’s voice.“Peter?” It was SuzieQ.“Suz?” She sounded strange. “Where are you?”“I’m at the duck pond in Franklin Canyon.
