“That’s not all,” Teifert says. “There’s also something suddenly very odd about the cheerleaders.”

  “Odd about the cheerleaders?” I cock my head. “You mean more odd than usual about a group of girls who wants to dance and kick up their legs while wearing short skirts in the middle of a New England November?”

  “Yes. And, Rayne, this is going to sound weird, but . . .”

  “Dude, after all I’ve been through, nothing’s going to sound weird. Absolutely nothing in the known universe.”

  “The cheerleaders? They’ve been heard, uh . . . growling.”

  Huh. Then again . . . maybe I’m wrong.

  To be continued . . .