The Finisher (Vega Jane #1)

by David Baldacci

I suddenly realized I had a problem. I couldn’t remember where I had buried the book. I walked past each pine tree, examining the ground underneath for the little pile of needles I had placed over the hole I’d dug. Of course, after all this time, the little pile of needles had been blown away by the wind or else carried off by creatures to construct their nests. I was cursing myself again for being so blindly stupid, when I heard it. Or rather, heard him. “Wo-wo-wotcha, Vega Jane.” I turned slowly around and saw Delph standing there. “Hello, Delph,” I replied. He drew even closer. He looked tired and while his hair was no longer white because he had not been working in the Mill, it was long and scraggly and right dirty black. He held up my book. I stared at it and then at him, unsure whether I should claim ownership. “C-c-can I c-come t-too, Ve-Vega Jane?”