Free Deadly Designs (Design Series) by Dale Mayer

the pet, too?"
    She grinned. "I knew you'd understand."
    The small rodent with the big eyes sat on its haunches to stare at them curiously.
    "I wonder if it bites?" he muttered.
    "Probably," she said cheerfully. "It doesn't know you. If we could find the girl, she could retrieve it. Too bad they don't have a cage to carry it. I've never seen such a pile of junk." She pointed to the remaining contents of the cupboard.
    Eric studied the almost empty shelves. "Think about it. They left behind…"
    "…everything what wasn't needed or useable." Storey finished.
    "Exactly. They might have more things stored in another location to collect later. If the portal is damaged, maybe they haven't had a chance yet?" He cast another quick look around. "At least we know this group made it over to the new dimension."
    "How do we get the pet out safely?" She bent again to take a cautious glance at the animal still sitting at the back of the cupboard. "It's liable to make a run for it if we try to capture it."
    Eric sighed. "I really don't want to stick my hand in there and grab it. That thing is likely to take my fingers off."
    "True." Storey grinned at the disgusted look on his face. "Do you think we should take the two of them back to your dimension first? Then figure out how to get her home to her family?"
    He looked up at her from his squatting position. "Paxton would be horrified. Besides, you're making a big assumption here. We might not be taking her anywhere."
    Storey refused to be put off. They'd faced much bigger obstacles and overcome them; this was no different. "Any better suggestions? We have to create a game plan. And to see if these styluses are okay. They're in hibernation, according to my stylus."
    "You could contact Paxton and ask for advice. I'd hate to bring these two back unannounced."
    "Except that I can't communicate very well with it." The backpack had been emptied. "No sketchbook, no paper. I can ask questions and he tries to answer, but sorting out what I'm writing on a wall in the dark isn't easy. And he's not back to full strength, although I'm not sure just what that means."
    Eric stood up suddenly and reached into his back pocket. He pulled out two folded pieces of paper. "I found these in your bedroom. Use them."
    She opened the paper up to find the several of the first portals she'd created. It seemed so long ago, but it had been…what…only a few weeks? Her fist pumped into the air. "Yes! We could be home in minutes." Homesickness hit, draining the excitement from her system. "You went to my place? To try and find me?"
    "Yes."
    "How…" Unexpected tears threatened to clog her vision. She cleared her throat. "How was my mother?"
    "I am not exactly sure." He stared at her thoughtfully. "They know you're missing, because they came into your room while I hid in the closet."
    "They," she said, her heart sinking. "My father was there?'
    "Yes."
    "So, the stylus was right again," she muttered, pulling the stylus out of her pocket. "Stylus, are you back to full working power yet?"
    She didn't need paper to see her hand outline No in the air. "Damn."
    "What's that all about?"
    "We were separated too long, so it went into sleep mode, power saver mode or something. Now that it's with me it's recharging – if that's the proper word for what it's doing – but it's not all there yet. I can ask questions, but I don't think he can reach Paxton yet. Every time I ask about how long, he just says soon."
    Just then noises from inside the cupboard, followed by scurrying feet, had her jumping back and out of the way as the skorl raced out. Eric was faster. He scooped it up and tucked into the front of his coat.
    The little creature struggled and squealed worse than a pig only in a much higher-pitched voice. The sound rose in volume like a damned siren. Storey clapped her hands over her ears. "Make it stop."
    With a grimace, he said, "I don't know how." He looked around. "Find something to carry it in, will you?"
    Storey raced to