“WHAT! How could you forget that?” she screeched. “Next time, write your dream down or something.”
She stopped scolding; her expression was now shrewd. “Because if you had mentioned it before I could have told you that recently I’ve heard reference to a large sapphire rock.” She paused. “During some innocent eavesdropping. Could that be the stone you’re looking for?”
I narrowed my eyes in disbelief. “Innocent? Don’t be ridiculous. What were you really doing?”
“Never you mind, Abigail. More importantly, it was Olden I overheard; on a communication radio. I only caught the last part, but she said the sapphire’s location had been compromised.”
Well, that was interesting. “Do you think it could be the same stone? Why would Olden have it?”
“No idea. As far as I know, Olden hasn’t left New York in twenty years. Maybe she’s from dreamland.” She shrugged.
“Yep, that would be my luck. Knew there had to be a catch.”
Lucy laughed. “Maybe the stone’s not significant to your dream world, just something we need for our journey there.”
“Significant as in we need to sell it and make lots of money, or significant it will lead the way like a giant bat signal?”
Lucy shrugged. “Either way, we need to find it.”
“Easier said than done. Olden doesn’t exactly advertise her secret hiding spaces.” A sudden thought gave me some hope. “Possibly, though, if her last hiding spot was compromised, then she may have moved it here for the interim.”
“Although it’s suspiciously convenient, it was only last week she mentioned it.”
“Luce, what day is it?” I had a flare of excitement.
“It’s the twenty-sixth day of the eleventh month.”
“And what does Olden do for the last five days of every month cycle?”
Her face lit up in understanding.
“She leaves the compound to meet with the resistance. Giving us all a much needed break from her delightful presence.” She smiled. “And we’ll have our best chance to find the blue stone.”
“New plan – blow off all of our classes till we find the stone.”
Lucy smiled and nodded. “Awesome, I like this plan. First thing we should do is pack a getaway bag.” She was way too excited about a possible mission.
Rushing around like a crazy person, I managed to gather my meagre possessions and haul them into a bag. Lucy was on her side of the room, surrounded by clothes and shoes, moaning about what to leave behind.
“Just wear five sets, one over each other.”
She glared. “You’re not taking my pain seriously. It’s like leaving my children behind.”
She held up a pair of faded denim shorts with an intricate white cotton patterning over the pockets.
“These shorts are from 2010, Abigail. Do you know how difficult it is to get hold of vintage clothes?”
“Probably less difficult than trying to run through the streets with two tons on your back.” I smiled at her glare. “Just saying.”
“You only ‘just say’ that because you have no idea what I do for them.”
I knew exactly who her contact was, but I let her have this little mystery.
“Toss a coin, Lucy, and let’s get this show on the road.”
I left her grumbling about being an orphan, having no coins to toss, best friends who have no idea of fashion, and went to have a quick shower.
Feeling so much better, I was jumping out just as Lucy appeared.
“You’ll be relieved to know I am now packed and have said my goodbyes.”
I heard a few sniffs as she closed the frosted glass door to the shower.
“That’s a relief. The stress was almost too much to handle.”
There was no answer as I dressed in comfortable black sweats and runners. Either she was ignoring me or hadn’t heard above the sound of the water.
Standing in front of the mirror, I ran a brush through my red hair, although when it was wet it was dark enough to look black. Once again I went for my trademark braid down my back. Lucy was finished now and dressed. She pulled her curls back into a high ponytail.
“I am so glad we got clean, only to start searching through god-knows-what to find a hiding spot.”
I laughed. “If we’re lucky, the stone will just be sitting on her bed.” I held open the bathroom door for us to exit. “So, first obstacle: where do we begin looking? I was always under the impression that Olden sleeps in the rafters like a bat.”
Lucy snorted. “Actually, Abbs, her room is on the next floor.”
“Good to know you’re clued in to where evil rests.”
“No special evil radars here. I helped her move some junk up there once. And by help I mean she stood to one side and gave orders while I lugged her crap up three stories.”