“Wulf,” Diesel said.
“That was a visitor from out of town,” I told the guide. “He always dresses in black. And he . . . smokes.”
“I could feel the disturbance in the air,” the guide said.
I looked back at Diesel. “Can Wulf disturb the air?”
Diesel did a palms-up. “Hard to say what Wulf can do.”
I retreated into my house with Diesel, closed the door, and threw the bolt. “I’m resigning. I’m turning in my special ability that we’re not even sure I possess.”
Diesel stretched and scratched his stomach. “I’m hungry,” he said. “I don’t suppose you have any of those cupcakes laying around.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“You can’t resign,” Diesel said, ambling off to the kitchen. “It would be irresponsible. Wulf could do really bad things with the Stones.”
“Not my problem.”
Diesel pulled the tray of lasagna out of the refrigerator. “Unfortunately, it is your problem. Wulf knows you have the ability to recognize a Stone. You won’t be safe until all the Stones are turned over to the BUM.”
“All the Stones? I have to find all the Stones?”
“That’s the plan.”
“What about my life?”
“We’ll work around it.” He tugged at my ponytail. “It’ll be fun. You can make the cupcakes, and I’ll eat the cupcakes. Play your cards right, and I might even be able to get you a date.”
“I don’t want you to get me a date. I can get my own dates.”
Diesel got a fork from the silverware drawer. “When was the last time you went out on a date?”
“None of your business.”
“Hah!” Diesel said, forking a noodle off the lasagna.
I took the lasagna from Diesel and sliced off a piece. I spooned some red sauce onto a plate, placed the lasagna on top of the red sauce, and nuked it. When it was done, I added fresh grated cheese and a sprig of fresh basil, and handed it to him.
“I could get used to this,” Diesel said, digging in.
Oh jeez.
That got a smile from Diesel. “It was meant as a compliment, not a marriage proposal.”
“How do I know you’re not worse than Wulf?”
“Listen to your instincts.”
I raised an eyebrow. My instincts weren’t comfy with any of this.
“Okay,” Diesel said. “Then listen to the cat’s instincts. He likes me.”
“How can you tell?”
“He hasn’t bitten me or peed on my shoe.” Diesel finished his lasagna, rinsed his plate, put it in the dishwasher, and headed for the living room. “We should be able to catch the end of the Red Sox game.”
“Pass. I’m going to bed. I have to be at the bakery at five A.M.”