The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

"Honestly, I'm already far more exposed than I ever wanted to be. I needed to see how good you were, what all you'd been able to figure out. No one else has ever seen this map. Not even Bess. I do hope we can work together."

Karl heard the words as clearly as if she had said them out loud. Otherwise I'll have to kill you. This was a display of equal parts confidence and threat, and she understood that as well as he did.

If his curiosity, need to protect his family, and a few other desires he wasn't so eager to admit to didn't have him in too deep already, what he learned about Loretta in that moment did the trick.

"I don't know if I can do what you want, Loretta. Certainly not until I know exactly what that is."

"You want proof of using a Builder's power," she said. "Neither of us wants to do that here, not until we know more about how to do so safely. I need to stay clear of Rhysto and other entanglements for a while. Can you get me into Joffrey Columns?"

"Can I..." Karl had to force his mouth to start working again. "Are you serious? People don't normally want to get in there on purpose, Loretta."

Karl turned away and sat in one of the hard wooden chairs in front of the desk. He didn't want her to see his face when she already had so much leverage.

If she could connect with one of the insane Builders and he could watch...

"I don't mean as a permanent resident," she said. "But this would solve problems for both of us. You see proof of what I'm doing, and I'd be out of Rhysto's line of sight for a while. Then when he returns, when we know where he is, we both go to the Northlands. The same person who can repair and tune my gyro-compass may be able to make tools for you, Karl."

"You have no idea what you're asking me." Karl rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he could reset his life to before Andy had asked him the first question. "It's not the sort of place you just walk into. Not if you want to walk out."

Loretta sat beside him. Without asking for his permission, his nose breathed in her sweet, lovely scent.

"Are you telling me men and women never find their way inside?" she said. "Men and women who can look like they belong there, and offer a service once they're inside?"

Karl looked at her through his fingers.

"That has been known to happen," he said. "At least in the residential areas. Getting you closer to the patients would be impossible."

But Karl knew it wouldn't be. Between his knowledge of who and where patients were and exactly when doctors made rounds and George's master key and access to uniforms, getting Loretta in would be dead simple.

"I'm quite sure you can manage, though," Loretta said. "Is there some way you could be convinced?"

Karl sat back, watching her. She was way too smart to be talking about the obvious things she could offer him, whether he kept getting distracted by impure thoughts about her body or not. They each already had far too much at risk to get caught up in such pointless games.

"I'm going to mark a few houses off-limits," Karl said. "Can you respect that and leave them alone?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation. "Even when we figure out better ways to do this, I will not target your family for Building."

"And if we go to the Northlands, you'll talk to this Tinker friend of yours about making something for me? Something I can Build with?"

"Yes," she said. "Repairing mine will have it fresh in her mind, assuming she can repair it. You may find it suits you, Karl."

He shook his head. "Another time. If you're honestly willing to go to Joffrey Columns on purpose, you have to be ready to leave tomorrow evening. No promises, but I'll go back in the morning and try to get a few things arranged. I’ll need help on the inside, from a guy I’d trust with my own life. The Solstice Celebration on Monday gives us a long weekend to do this. Or at least try it."

"I can be ready whatever time you say," she said. "I appreciate what you're risking. I truly do. The rewards will be well worth it."

“Ever been on a boat?” Even though he was more than interested, Karl had to try one last time to stop this disaster. “I don’t mean a calm little river cruise or paddleboat, either. The only way you’ll get into the Columns and back out again is over the lake on a fishing boat. There’s nothing calm about that water, even before it gets to the rocks.”

“I’ve been on more than enough shaws in a high wind with no trouble. I’ll take my chances.”

Karl stood, and Loretta stood with him.

"No reward will matter if I see or hear of you going after my family," he said. "Are we clear?"

She nodded. "Are we clear that one word of any of this to a single person you don’t trust with your life means all agreements are off?"

"We are," he said. “I won’t be saying one word more than I have to. I don't want anyone else to know about this, either."

Chapter 17

Karl closed his apartment door and leaned against it. Returning a day early hadn't stopped his boss from glaring at him for the time off every time he saw her. He glanced around the postcard-sized living room, kitchen jammed along one wall, fading sunlight from his bedroom, the only window in the place. Even a few days spent in the vivid surroundings of Waldron's Gate made this dump look like a glorified faded brown closet.

Plain wooden floors that needed polishing, scuffed walls, a rundown blue couch and chair the last occupant abandoned. A couple of scarred tables, nothing to speak of for