I quickly filled Dad in regarding my doubts about Carlitta and Carlotta touching, or even looking at, the Ring of Everlasting Night.
"You have it with you?" Dad asked.
I nodded. Fifteen minutes ago, when I'd walked into the public library and toward the shadow library, I'd spied Louise Leghorn, the library VP, talking to Ryan, a much, much younger library worker behind the front desk. I didn't take much stock in rumors, but the gossip mill said they were close. And they definitely were while standing behind the front desk.
Not my circus. Not my monkeys. Not my business. Just my fastest in and out of the library ever.
"So that's why you asked about my karate chopping," he said as we strode toward Kitty City. "I just thought Boxy wanted to challenge me to a duel again."
"A karate-chopping duel? Wait, again?"
"Well, sure. Haven't you met us before?" He stuck out his gloved hand and winked, or he might've gotten snow in his eye. "Hi, I'm your dad."