Dave locked the front door and reholstered the Beretta. "If being Djinn makes you vulnerable to Murdoch, the smart thing to do is for you three to take off," he said. "If he's busy here, you should have plenty of time to get to the Otherworld, set up whatever defenses you need. Leave me some way to contact you in case of emergency."

"I agree." He whirled at the sound of Anissa's voice, firm now, with no trace of tears remaining. "Except I believe you should come with ...