The next two days passed in rtive calm.


    Feedback from the UME prototype testing was positive overall. There were asional minor data glitches, but they were quickly resolved.


    Still, a lingering sense of unease gnawed at Evangeline whenever she had a moment to herself.


    She''d reached out to Glenn several more times, but each conversation ended the same way: since the day Theresa vanished at sea, there hadn''t been any word from her.


    The Carlisles had people scouring the area around the clock, but their efforts turned up nothing. In the end, they decided to widen the search radius.


    Waiting for news was its own special kind of torment.


    Every time her phone chimed, Evangeline''s heart would leap. Sometimes, even in the dead of night, a phantom vibration would have her jolting awake, scrambling for her phone.


    She desperately wanted the Carlisles to get some news, but at the same time, she dreaded what that news might be.


    Almost as if he sensed her anxiety, Glenn texted her that afternoon: "Don''t worry. Tessa''s going to be fine."


    Evangeline''s heart skipped a beat. Maybe he''d heard something? Hope flickered, and she quickly replied, "Did you find out something?"


    "There''s a local priest here," Glenn wrote back. "I took Tessa''s birth chart to him and he said she''s destined to face a lot of hardship, but most of it will be near misses-nothing fatal. He even said she''ll live to be at least eighty."


    "And besides, I stopped by a churchst week and drew a blessing card. It was the best one."


    Evangeline stared at Glenn''s earnest messages, torn betweenughter and exasperation. “You''re always the one telling me I should believe in science, not superstition."


    "Desperate times call for desperate measures," Glenn replied.


    Evangeline had never been afraid of ghosts or the supernatural-she''d never believed in any of it. But reading Glenn''s message, for the first time, she wanted it all to be true.


    Her nerves, wound tight for days, finally loosened just a little.


    "By the way, you should be careful too," Glenn added.


    She knew exactly what he meant: Victor.


    The mere thought of Victor left her uneasy.


    Victor had always hated her if he couldn''t hurt her directly, he''d at least find a way to make her life miserable. But this time, there''d been nothing but silence from his side.


    In fact, she''d heard Victor had flown out that morning with a group of people to search the coast for Theresa.


    She couldn''t help but find it strange.


    She mentioned Victor''s sudden departure to Glenn, who sounded just as puzzled: "He didn''te looking for you?"


    Evangeline shook her head, still surprised.


    She suspected Finn might be behind this change. But when she''d tried to subtly ask Finn about it, he''d said nothing.


    Glenn seemed to be thinking along the same lines.


    After a pause, he said, "Still, you need to be careful. Victor never ys by the rules, and the rest of the Lockridges aren''t exactly trustworthy. Don''t get too close to Finn-he''s a Lockridge too, and for all we know, he''s only getting close to you for Victor."


    Evangeline thought for a moment, then agreed.


    Truthfully, she never felt threatened by Finn.


    In fact, she sometimes wondered if he was actually helping her.


    But the Lockridges were still the Lockridges. She knew better than to let her guard down.


    After a few more messages, they ended the conversation.


    Glenn set down his phone.


    He sat for a moment, lost in thought, then reached into his bag and pulled out two slips of paper.


    One was the blessing card-a "Best Fortune."


    The other...


    His gazended on the words "Grave Misfortune," and his dark eyes clouded.


    When he''d gone to the church to pray for Theresa, he''d drawn a card for Evangeline as well. As soon as he saw what he got, he''d doubled the security detail around her.


    He''d spent so much time worrying Victor might hurt Evangeline, but, ironically, Victor hadn''t made a single move against her.


    Glenn stared at the cards for a long time, then shoved them back into his bag.


    Maybe they weren''t all that urate.


    You couldn''t put your faith in such things.


    His men were still stationed in Serenity City, keeping a close watch over Evangeline. He''d chosen them carefully-top of the line, both in brains and brawn.


    Victor would be a challenge to handle, but everyone else was nothing to worry about.


    Still, Glenn couldn''t quite shake his unease.


    He nced at the map on his desk. Clearing the surrounding area would take another seven days at least.


    After that, he''d have to get back to Serenity City as soon as possible.


    The next morning, just as Evangeline was getting ready to leave for work, her phone rang. Winston was calling, asking her toe home.


    She refused without hesitation.


    "Your mother''s photos are still at the house. If you don''te pick them up, Hazel''s going to throw them out," Winston added, as if anticipating her answer. Then, without waiting for a reply, he hung up.