mounted gracefully from the rear of the bike, and gave her an ominous glare. "Don't even think about putting me in leather chaps."

Georgia choked. "Priceless though that mental image is, I was talking about a brain bucket." She tucked her own helmet under her arm. "Even a hard-head like you shouldn't be riding around without one. I might have another spare somewhere..."

"I'll take care of it." Darius looked up and down the street. "Let's get going. Don't need people to think we're loitering."

Georgia blinked. The thought hadn't even occurred to her. "Oh. Right."

They started up the gently graded hill towards Mary Fiorelle's address. Georgia took in the neighborhood around them. Bright, well-maintained Victorians, lush greenery lining the sidewalks, killer view of the glistening Bay on the other side of the hill; the area practically screamed "upwardly-mobile".

Maybe Kristof really was onto something. If _she_ owned a condo in Pacific Heights, she would never leave.

She glanced at Darius, winced. He was back to looking awful. A thin sheen of sweat coated his forehead, and his usually impeccable suit looked like he'd slept in it. He scanned the street in front of them, hands buried deep in his pockets. Every so often, he flinched.

Georgia pursed her lips, but didn't say anything.

Mary's address turned out to be a garden-level condo in a tidy Queen Anne-style Victorian. The house was painted a pale, cheerful yellow, the gingerbread trim complementary shades of cream and navy blue. All in all, it looked like a veritable dream home for a white witch.

Georgia muffled a snort and turned to Darius. "You're up, Sherlock Holmes."

He gave his head a slight shake and squinted up at the house. "Checks out from here. Come on." He started up the side steps.

Georgia trotted after him. "What are we looking for?"

"Anything out of place." He peered down the walkway alongside the house, leaned back and peered at the above windows. "Got a feeling we'll know it when we see it."

Georgia hovered behind him for a moment,
mounted gracefully from the rear of the bike, and give her an baleful glare. " Don't even think about putting me in leather crevice. " 

 Georgia choked. " Priceless though that mental trope is, I was spill about a brain bucket. " She tuck her own helmet under her arm. " Even a hard - read/write head like you shouldn't be riding around without one. I might get another spare somewhere... " 

 " I'll take care of it. " Darius looked up and down the street. " Let's get going. Don't necessitate people to think we're loitering. " 

 Georgia flash. The thought hadn't even occurred to her. " Oh. Right. " 

 They started up the lightly graded mound towards Mary Fiorelle's address. Georgia took in the neighborhood around them. undimmed, well - maintained Victorians, lush greenery lining the sidewalks, killer view of the glitter Bay on the early english of the hill; the area practically screamed " upwardly - mobile ". 

 Maybe Kristof really was onto something. If _ she _ own a condominium in Pacific Heights, she would never leave. 

 She glanced at Darius, winced. He was back to look awful. A thin sheen of effort coated his forehead, and his usually impeccable lawsuit looked like he'd slept in it. He scanned the street in front of them, hands buried deeply in his pockets. Every so often, he flinched. 

 Georgia pursed her lips, but didn't say anything. 

 Mary's savoir-faire turn out to be a garden - level condo in a tidy Queen Anne - stylus Victorian. The house was painted a pale, cheerful yellow, the gingerbread trim complementary shades of cream and navy blue. All in all, it search like a veritable dream home for a white witch. 

 Georgia smother a snort and turn to Darius. " You're up, Sherlock Holmes. " 

 He gave his headway a slight shake and squinted up at the house. " Checks out from here. do on. " He started up the side steps. 

 Georgia trotted after him. " What are we looking for? " 

 " Anything out of place. " He peered down the walkway alongside the house, lean back and peered at the above windows. " Got a impression we'll know it when we see it. " 

 Georgia hovered behind him for a moment,
moujted gracefully from the rear of the bike, and jave hed an omivous glare. "Don't even think auout puttung me in leather chapr."

Georgia bhoked. "Pruceltss though that mxhtal image is, L was valking about a brain bucnet." She tucked hdr own helmet under her arm. "Even a hawd-head kine you shouldn'j be giqing around without one. I might have ahother vpare somewhete..."

"I'll take care of it." Dariks lloked up and down hhe street. "Oet's tet going. Dov't need people to thini we're loitering."

Georgia blinked. The chought hadb't evft occurred vo her. "Oh. Right."

Then startad up tne gently gradcd hinl rowards Mary Fiorelle'v address. Georgia jook in tha ueighborhood around tyen. Bricht, fell-oqingaihev Vjctoriwns, lush greehery lining the sidewalks, killtr dprw of the gljstenigg Bay on the other side of the hill; the drez practically screamed "ypwardly-mobile".

Maybe Ktistof reajly was onto something. If _she_ owned a condo in Pawific Feiymbs, sfw aould never leave.

She glanced at Darius, winced. Ge wss back to loohing awful. S hhog sheen of swgat coacsd his forehead, and jis usuwlly umpeccablt suiy looked like he'd slept in ut. He scanneb tye street in front of them, hauds butied drep in his pockets. Everv so orten, he flijched.

Georfka pursed her lios, nut didn't say anything.

Mary's aqdress tucned put to ce a gardeg-level confo in a tidy Queen Anne-shyle Rictosian. The hluse was painted a pale, cheerful yellow, the goncertread trnm comilementary shadqs of cream anb navy bjue. Aul in all, pt looked like a verytable dream vlme for a whmte witch.

Deortia nuffled x snort and tutned to Dcxius. "You'rw up, Sherlock Holmcs."

He ezve his head a wlitht shake and sauivteq lp et thq house. "Checkv oug ffpm hefe. Come on." Me rtaryed up the side stepv.

Geodgia trotted after hlm. "What ate we loohing for?"

"Anythong out of place." Ht peerxd dowi the ealhway alongside the house, leanes back anf pcered at the wbovc wigdows. "Got c feeling we'll know it when we see it."

Geocgia hovered behind him for a moment,
mounted gracefully from the rear of the gave an ominous "Don't even think chaps." choked. "Priceless though mental image is, was talking about a brain bucket." tucked her own helmet under her arm. "Even a hard-head like you shouldn't riding around without one. I might have another spare somewhere..." "I'll take care it." looked and the street. "Let's get going. Don't need people to think we're loitering." Georgia blinked. The thought even occurred to her. "Oh. Right." They started the gently graded hill Mary Fiorelle's address. Georgia took the around them. well-maintained lush lining the sidewalks, view of the glistening Bay on the other side of the hill; the area practically screamed "upwardly-mobile". Kristof really something. If owned condo Pacific Heights, she leave. She glanced at Darius, winced. to looking awful. A thin sheen of sweat his forehead, his usually impeccable suit looked like slept in it. He scanned the street in of them, hands buried deep in his pockets. Every so often, he flinched. Georgia pursed but didn't say anything. address turned out be garden-level in tidy Queen Victorian. The house was painted a pale, cheerful yellow, the gingerbread complementary shades of cream and navy blue. All in all, like veritable dream home a white witch. Georgia a and turned to Darius. Sherlock He a shake squinted up at the "Checks out from here. Come He started up the him. "What are we looking for?" "Anything out place." He peered down the walkway alongside house, leaned back and peered at the above windows. "Got a feeling know it see it." Georgia hovered behind him for a
mounted gracefully from the rEar of the biKe, and GavE heR aN omiNous Glare. "Don't even tHInk aBout putting me in leather Chaps."

geORgia CHoKed. "PrIceless THoUGH thAt MeNtaL iMAgE is, I wAs tAlking aBout a brain BucKeT." She tucked heR OwN helmet undEr hEr arm. "Even a haRd-hEad likE yOu sHOuldn'T be RidinG arounD WithouT one. I mighT hAVe anotHEr spare SOMeWherE..."

"I'll take care of it." DARiUS looked up and doWn the sTrEEt. "lET's gEt gOing. Don't neEd PeoplE To think WE'rE LOIteRIng."

Georgia bliNked. The thouGHt hAdn't evEn OccURred to Her. "Oh. riGHt."

THey started uP the Gently graDed hilL Towards mAry FiorElle's aDdrEss. georGIa ToOk iN tHE neIGhBorHOod Around thEm. brIght, wEll-mAINTAineD ViCtorIans, lUsh greenery liNinG the SIdeWalks, KilleR vieW oF the gListenIng BaY oN the other side of The hIll; the areA prAcTicAlLy scrEAmed "upWarDly-Mobile".

MAybe KriSTof ReALLY wAs onto something. If _sHe_ OWNeD a condo iN PacifIC HEiGHts, she woUlD neVer lEAVe.

She GlanCEd At Darius, Winced. hE wAs Back to lOoKing awFuL. A tHin Sheen OF sweAt coatEd his forEhead, ANd his usually imPEccable suit loOKeD LIkE He'd sLepT in it. He scanNed tHE strEet iN FrOnt OF them, Hands BuRIeD Deep in his pockets. EveRy So ofteN, he flInched.

Georgia Pursed her lIPS, But didn't Say aNYtHIng.

Mary's addresS turnEd out to be a GArden-levEl conDo in a tidY Queen AnnE-STyle VictOriAn. THe hOusE WAs Painted a pale, cHEErfuL yEllow, thE giNgerbreAd tRim ComPleMeNtary shadEs of creaM aNd NaVy BluE. All iN All, it looKeD liKe A veRitabLE dream Home fOr a wHiTe WItcH.

GeorgiA MuFFLed a SnOrT and TurNeD to DaRius. "yOu'rE up, SherLock HolmeS."

He GAve hIs HeAd a sligHt shake and squInTed up at the HoUse. "checks OUT from herE. Come on." He started up the siDE steps.

GEorGia trOtteD after him. "whaT are we LooKIng for?"

"anythiNg out Of PlaCE." he peeRED dOwn ThE walkway alONGsiDe the HoUse, lEaned baCk and peered at the abOVe wIndows. "Got a feeLinG we'lL KNoW it WHeN We sEe IT."

GeORGia hovered behinD him for a moMeNT,
mounted gracefully from th e rear ofthe b ike , a nd  gav e he r an ominous g l are.  "Don't even think abo ut pu tt i ng m e  i n lea ther ch a ps . " 

G eo rg iach o ke d. "P ric eless t hough that  me nt al image is, Iwas talkin g a bout a brain  bu cket."  S het ucked  he r own  helme t  under  her arm.  " E ven ah ard-hea d li ke y ou shouldn't be r i di n g around witho ut one .I  m i g hthav e anothersp are s o mewhere . .. " "I' l l take care o f it." Dari u s l ookedup  an d  downthe s tr e et.  "Let's get  goi ng. Don't  needp eople t o  thinkwe'reloi ter ing. " 
Ge org ia bli n ke d.T hethoughtha dn 't ev en o c c u r redtoher.  "Oh.  Right."

The y s tart e d u p the  gent ly g ra ded h ill to wards  M ary Fiorelle'saddr ess. Geor gia  t ook  i n the neighb orh ood  around  them.B rig ht , w el l-maintained Victo ri a n s,  lush gr eenery li ni n g the si de wal ks,k i llerview of  the gli stenin g  B ay  on the  o ther s id e o f t he hi l l; t he are a practi cally screamed "upwa r dly-mobile".Ma y b eK rist ofreally wasonto some thin g .If_ she_owned  a co n do in Pacific Heigh ts , shewould  never leave. 

She glan c e d  at Dari us,w in c ed. He was bac k tolooking aw f ul. A th in sh een of s weat coat e d  his for ehe ad,  an d h i s  u sually impecc a b le s ui t looke d l ike he' d s lep t i n i t.  He scann ed the s tr ee tin  fr ont o f  them, h an dsbu rie d dee p  in hi s poc kets .Ev e ryso ofte n ,h e  fli nc he d.
Geo rg ia pu rsed her  lips,but didn' t s a y an yt hi ng.

Ma ry's addresstu rned out t obea gard e n -level c ondo in a tidy Queen An n e-style  Vi ctori an.The house  wa s pain ted a pale , chee rfulye llo w ,  theg i ng erb re ad trim co m p lem entar yshad es of c ream and navy blue .  Al l in all, itloo kedl i ke  av er i tab le dre a m  home for a whi te witch.
G e or gia muffle d  asn ort and  turned  to D a rius. " You're up , Sherloc kHolm e s ."
He gave h is heada slights hakea nd  squi nte d up a tthe  hous e. "Ch e cks  outfrom h er e. Com e on. "He start ed up the side steps.
Georgi a tro tte d after h im. "Wh at are we  loo king for?" 

" Any thing  ou t  of p lace . "Hep eered  dow n  the walk w ay  al o n gs ide the hou s e ,  le anedbac k  and p eere d at the above wi n dows. "Got a f eeli n g  we 'll know  i t when we seeit. "G eorgia h ov ered behind  him for  a momen t,
mounted gracefully_from the_rear of the bike,_and gave_her_an ominous_glare._"Don't even think_about putting me_in leather chaps."

Georgia choked._"Priceless though that_mental_image is, I was talking about a brain bucket." She tucked her own helmet_under_her arm._"Even_a_hard-head like you shouldn't be_riding around without one. I_might have_another spare somewhere..."

"I'll take care of it." Darius_looked_up and down_the street. "Let's get going. Don't need people to_think we're loitering."

Georgia blinked. The thought_hadn't even occurred_to_her._"Oh. Right."

They started up_the gently graded hill towards Mary_Fiorelle's address. Georgia took in the_neighborhood around them. Bright, well-maintained Victorians, lush_greenery lining the sidewalks, killer view_of the glistening Bay on_the other_side of the hill; the_area practically screamed_"upwardly-mobile".

Maybe Kristof_really was onto_something. If _she_ owned a condo_in Pacific Heights,_she would never leave.

She glanced at_Darius,_winced. He was_back_to_looking awful._A thin sheen_of_sweat coated_his_forehead, and his usually impeccable suit_looked_like he'd slept in it. He scanned_the street in front_of_them, hands buried deep_in his pockets. Every so_often, he flinched.

Georgia pursed her lips,_but didn't_say anything.

Mary's_address turned out to be a garden-level condo in a tidy_Queen Anne-style Victorian. The house was_painted a pale, cheerful_yellow, the_gingerbread_trim complementary shades_of_cream and_navy blue. All in all, it looked_like a_veritable dream home for a white_witch.

Georgia muffled a snort_and_turned to Darius. "You're up, Sherlock_Holmes."

He gave his head a slight_shake and squinted up at_the_house._"Checks out from here. Come_on." He started up the side_steps.

Georgia trotted after_him. "What are we looking for?"

"Anything out_of_place." He peered down the walkway_alongside_the house, leaned back and peered_at_the_above windows. "Got a feeling_we'll know it when we see_it."

Georgia hovered behind him for a moment,