Uncle Henry followed the man’s piercing gaze. “Oh—yes, this is my nephew,” he said with a friendly gesture. “Best helper ever. Can’t run my bakery without him.”
“I see…” the man said, his black eyes glinting.
Adam grabbed the nearest weapon—a wooden mixing spoon—and held his stance. But the stranger had already turned his attention back to Uncle Henry.
“I am looking for something specific,” he said again in the same soft, dangerous voice. “Something that I’ve traced to this spot.”
“You must mean my strawberry jam doughnuts,” laughed Uncle Henry. “Here, try a sample. It will knock your socks right off.”
“Um, Uncle Henry?” Adam spoke up quietly. “I don’t think—”
The stranger in the black suit interrupted. “You misunderstand me. I do not want your silly sweets.” His gaze fell on Adam again. “I am looking for a snow globe.”
Uncle Henry finally began to sense something was odd. “All right, sir,” he said. “I’d be happy to help you, but first, let’s start with some introductions. What’s your name?”
The stranger glared at the baker as if he were an irksome fly. “You may simply call me M.”
“Nice to meet you, er, M. I’m Henry. You say you’re looking for a snow globe?”
“Yes. Your nephew knows about it; ask the nice boy.” M gave a fake smile that looked more like a sneer.
“Adam?” prompted Uncle Henry with a confused look.
Adam’s hands grew clammy. “I don’t know what he’s talking about,” he answered with a shrug. His instincts told him he must not let the stranger get the item.
“The snow globe.” M’s smirk wavered. “I believe you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.” M scowled and jabbed a long finger in Adam’s direction. “Don’t play games with me, you little worm. I’ve been researching this object for thirty-one years. You are the current owner of an extremely valuable item. Do you have any idea how many people have tried to get their hands on it?”
Uncle Henry stepped toward M and gave the stranger a warning look. Although Uncle Henry was shorter, he had a stockier build. M caught sight of Uncle Henry’s strong baker muscles and backed away slightly.
“It seems we got off on the wrong foot,” M said. “All I want is the snow globe. I am willing to pay handsomely for it. Name your price.”
Uncle Henry faltered. He turned to Adam and murmured, “Do you think you could give the fellow whatever toy it is he wants, so he could leave us alone?”
Adam knew what his uncle was thinking: M had a few marbles missing, and the sooner they gave him the item he wanted, the better.
Except the snow globe was not just a harmless toy. Far from it. Furthermore, Adam did not trust M.
“Adam?” pressed Uncle Henry.
“Oh, you mean that snow globe,” Adam said with a fake laugh. “Now I remember! Sorry, I broke that thing and threw it away a week ago.”
“Listen to me, you imbecile!” spat M. “I’ll skin you like a potato—”
Of course, making threats to a child right in front of his guardian is never a good idea. In an instant, Uncle Henry had grabbed the man’s arm and was firmly guiding him out the door. M tried to resist, but he was no match for Uncle Henry’s solid strength.
“You’re making a terrible mistake,” M hissed.
“Have a good day, sir. Please do not come back or I’ll call the police.” Uncle Henry slammed the door shut and twisted the lock.
M looked daggers at them through the glass. He pointed again at Adam and mouthed something before disappearing down the street.
“Are you all right, Adam?” Uncle Henry asked.
Adam found he was still rooted to the spot. He was also trembling. “I—I’m fine,” he answered.
“Just another crazy guy, don’t worry about him,” Uncle Henry reassured Adam. “New York’s full of bad seeds. They don’t call it the Big Apple for nothing.”
Adam didn’t mention to his uncle that M was the stranger who had been stalking him. At least now he knew what the man was after.
And he had no doubt M would return.
CHAPTER TWELVETHE GREAT BARON FAMILY
Adam remained watchful for the mysterious M. He made sure to keep the valuable snow globe hidden deep in his dresser. Even so, he checked on it every day to see if the landscape had changed. The glass globe remained empty.
He chewed on the facts. For one thing, he knew the candle factory had definitely closed down from a fire—a fire that had killed numerous people. It was his duty then, wasn’t it, to warn Jack and the other residents of Candlewick? Perhaps that was why the mysterious stranger in the raincoat had shown him the way to the magic snow globe in the first place. Because what else could the snow globe be good for, if not to bring him back in time to help people?
Of course, what Adam wanted more than anything was to help his own parents. He wanted to warn them of their untimely deaths. But for anything to change, the snow globe had to change first. And that simply wasn’t happening. Late in the evenings, he’d sit cross-legged on his bed with the snow globe in front of him, and he’d close his eyes and wish very hard that the inside of the snow globe would change to…he wasn’t sure what, exactly. An airport? His parents’ old townhouse in the suburbs?
He wasn’t sure what he’d say if he did meet them again.
Then, four days after M paid Adam and his uncle a visit, Adam uncovered the snow globe to find it awaiting him with a new scene. This time, a tiny landscape of a cemetery stood inside the glass.
Adam’s stomach churned. The sight of a graveyard was never a welcome sign. He thought of the burning candle factory and Jack. Something bad must have happened.
He did not pick up the snow globe.
It showed the
