by A. Blythe
A shiver ran down my spine. “Then let’s go.” I hesitated. “We’ll have to take the bus. Are you good with that?”
She stood. “As long as I can have the window seat.”
Helping Katrien get her groove back was easier said than done. I’d enlisted the aid of my regular whipping boy, but Katrien seemed to resent Flynn’s presence. As much as I understood the sentiment, I wondered whether Katrien simply wanted to avoid males because of her experience with Aladdin. Some form of post-traumatic stress was to be expected.
Flynn disappeared for the tenth time since we started and Katrien spun around, her nostrils flaring.
“Concentrate, Katrien,” I called. “You know how djinn operate.”
She glanced upward at the critical moment. Flynn reappeared, clinging to the high ceiling of the warehouse like Spiderman, and then dropped down. He would’ve landed on top of her if she hadn’t shifted in time.
“You shifted,” I yelled and I heard the excitement in my voice. It was as though I’d done it myself, even though I knew that was only wishful thinking.
Katrien materialized on the far side of the room, her hands fisted at her sides. She looked supremely pissed off. Maybe anger was the key to helping her regain her strength. Everybody was different.
“Enough,” she shouted.
I was surprised she wanted to stop. From my point of view, she was just getting warmed up.
“Katrien, you just shifted. Now’s the time to push out of your comfort zone,” I advised.
Flynn rolled his neck. “Alyse is right. Keep pushing, Katrien.”
Katrien’s mouth formed a thin line. “Alyse could say the sun is purple and you would insist she is correct.”
Flynn glanced at me and shrugged. “We’re trying to help you, Katrien.”
“I want Alyse to help me,” she replied. “Not some Academy reject.”
Ouch. Those were fighting words, except she’d already said she didn’t want to fight him anymore. Flynn was annoying and persistent, but he had impressive skills. I, on the other hand, had very little to offer Katrien right now.
I stepped between them. “Katrien, Flynn has kindly offered to help us. My ability to help you is fairly limited now. I’ve explained that. My cuffs keep me from sparring with you the same way they keep me from taking down Aladdin with you. I’m crazy, but I’m not suicidal. I’ll live to fight another day and so will you.”
“You will, indeed, live to fight another day.” Katrien looked like she wanted to say more but stopped herself. “I apologize. I was speaking in the heat of the moment. You have both been most gracious. Alyse, I have heard so much of your powers before I came, I admit it is difficult to imagine that you are as powerless as you say.”
Powerless seemed a bit strong. I didn’t want to mince words, though.
Katrien looked at Flynn. “Shall we go again?”
I checked the clock on my phone. “One more round and then I need to get back to the store.” Farah was going to kill me for closing it while she was at lunch, but Katrien’s recovery seemed more important.
“Would you like company in the store?” she asked. “The apartment can be lonely.”
Flynn laughed. “That’s not how she operates.”
My cheeks grew flushed. “Can people stop saying that? I am getting much better at teamwork.” That being said, I wanted to keep Katrien away from the armory.
“If you want to keep going,” Flynn said to Katrien, “I’ll accompany you back to South Street.” He was taking her earlier insult rather well. Maybe he really was a new, improved version of Flynn.
“No, thank you,” Katrien said. “I will go when Alyse goes.”
I clapped my hands together. “Okay then. Final round. Winner takes all.”
Flynn shook his head. “All of nothing is still nothing.”
“You get to be in the same room with me for another fifteen minutes,” I said. “Take what you can get.”
This time, Katrien was ready for him. She managed to summon a sledgehammer just as Flynn popped up in front of her in his bear form. She whacked his skull so hard, I expected to see cartoon stars around his head.
She dropped the sledgehammer and dusted off her hands. “And I think we are done here.”
6
The warehouse was its usual dark and desolate self when I returned at ten to meet Reed. If the owner of this warehouse ever decided to use it for something, we’d be shit out of luck.
I felt the edge of the birthday card sticking out of my jacket pocket. I hoped this meeting was worth it because it was purely for Jamie’s sake. Otherwise, I’d be keeping Reed at a safe distance. No more lip smacking.
“Hey,” he said, stepping out of the shadows. My stomach jumped at the sight of him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t startle me,” I insisted, closing the warehouse door behind me. No need to advertise the fact that we were in here. “I thought I’d be here first.”
“Because you were so eager?” He grinned and took a step closer to me. Instinctively, I backed away and his brow furrowed. “Is everything okay? That’s a nice jacket. Is it new?”
Reed was complimenting my clothes. What was next—my hair? I had to get out of the small talk. Small talk would lead to places I didn’t want to go.
I yanked the birthday card from my pocket. “I need to translate this, but I can’t figure out which language it is.”
He took the card and opened it. “This is what my brother recovered from your old apartment?”
I nodded. “It’s what Jamie gave me the last time I saw him. I never bothered to read the message because it was always the microchip hidden in the sound chip pocket that I needed.”
“And now you realize you can’t read it.” He studied the letters. “Hmm. Doesn’t look familiar to me, either. It looks like nonsense.”
My heart seized. If Reed couldn’t read it, then what chance did I have?
“Are you sure it isn’t based on something the two of you understood?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“He was your handler. Did you ever speak in code? Were there jokes only you and he would get?”
I knew where Reed was going with this. Agents often had a shorthand way of speaking with other agents or their handlers—people with whom they shared a history.
“It’s not like we spoke Pig Latin while braiding each other’s hair,” I said. “We erred on the side of professionalism.”
Reed gave me a wry smile. “What a surprise.”
I folded my arms. “I took my job very seriously, Reed. So seriously, in fact, that I got myself cuffed for the trouble.”
Reed’s smile faded. “I didn’t mean to make light of it.” He returned his focus to the words written in the card. “There’s something odd about these characters.”
“You mean aside from the fact that they’re made up?”
He began pacing the floor of the warehouse. “Did you have any shared interests? Did you like the same songs or books?”
“We never discussed that sort of thing.”
“What kind of conversations did you have when you weren’t talking about the mission?” He held up a hand. “And don’t tell me you only talked about the mission. It isn’t possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t stick to any script, Alyse. If you didn’t like the knot in his bow tie, I bet you were sure to tell him.”
Fair enough. I did have a tendency to mouth off, even to Jamie.
“Jamie didn’t wear bow ties.”
“Not the point and you know it.” He gave me an earnest look. “Are we going to talk about…?”
I shook my head adamantly before he could finish. “Nope. Nothing to talk about. I understand it was a reaction to our life-or-death situation. You don’t need to explain yourself.”
He tilted his head, scrutinizing me. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Can we focus on what’s important?” I asked and
flicked the card.
“I was trying to,” he grumbled, and focused his attention on the writing. “Think about the last couple of missions you completed before Monaco. Is there anything he might try to use as a touchstone for you?”
“He talked to me about finding a new career. That with powers like mine, I could call the shots.” And I’d given him my thoughts on too much power and the dark side. Told him I wanted to draw my own picture instead of coloring inside the lines of someone else’s.
Reed dropped the card to his side in frustration, unable to continue. “Angels above, Alyse. Are we really going to sweep this under the rug?”
I stalked off, trying to remain calm. Why was he making such a big deal about one kiss?
“Don’t walk away,” he called. “It’s just that you did seem to enjoy it.”
I stopped in my tracks and whipped around. “Are you looking for a gold star? If I give you one, can we drop the conversation and get back to the card?”
“So I get a gold star?” His grin was adorably smug. Bastard.
“Yes, fine. I enjoyed it,” I yelled. “Happy now?”
He was still smiling. “You don’t need to sound so angry about something you enjoyed.”
An idea began to form. “Could I see the card?”
He blew out a breath and handed over the card. “Fine, back to work.”
“Jamie knew me. He knew I didn’t trust anyone.”
“That’s a shame,” Reed said.
“I also didn’t take things at face value. There was always a hidden agenda.” I tapped on the card. “Or a hidden message.”
He frowned. “But you removed the microchip.”
“Not the microchip,” I said, my excitement growing. “The actual message. I’ll bet there’s a hidden message underneath this gibberish.”
His eyes lit up. “Magic. You think the phony letters are an illusion?”
I leaned closer and stared at the words. “I think it’s a damn good possibility.”
“A false layer over the card,” he murmured. “And the real message is underneath in plain English.”
“So I guess exposing the message isn’t one of your Naphil talents?”
“Afraid not. You need your mage.”
“Pinky’s not my mage. She’s my business partner.” It was an important distinction in my mind, and in Pinky’s.
“Well, tell your business partner this is a glamour. She’ll be able to figure out how to get rid of it.”
If I was right, then Jamie went to awful lot of trouble to hide the message from other people. He didn’t have magic powers, so he must have sought help from someone else. He was only human. A human who got himself killed because of me.
My hands dropped limply to my side. I had to figure this out. Jamie was counting on me.
“Do you want me to take you to Pinky’s?”
“Now?” It was half past ten and Pinky lived out on the Main Line. “I’ll shoot her a text.” I moved for my phone, but Reed stopped me.
“Don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Don’t reference the message in texts or on the phone, just in case.”
“Reed, no one is tapping this phone. I got this from Mix when I arrived in town.” Against my will.
Reed sighed. “Let’s not take any chances, okay? I’ll drive you to Pinky’s. Where does she live?”
Although I knew the address, I hadn’t actually been to Pinky’s house. She still lived at home with her mother on some sprawling estate with a herd of rescued animals.
“You drove here?” I asked.
“Sometimes I like to drive. It helps me think.”
I didn’t ask what he was thinking about.
On the drive to Villanova, I confided in him about Katrien. I knew I could trust him to keep her presence quiet.
“That’s incredible,” he said. “How did she manage to unbind herself?”
I shared the rest of her story. “She’s been slow to recover, though. I would have expected her to be up and running by now.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
When we pulled up alongside a huge set of iron gates, I double-checked the address in my phone.
“She lives here?” Reed asked, craning his neck to take in the view. The house itself wasn’t visible from outside the gates.
“According to Google maps, yes.”
I got out of the car and hit the buzzer. After a few moments, a man’s voice answered. “Yes, Miss Winters?”
My brow shot up. He could see me? More importantly, he recognized me?
I gave a wave to the imaginary camera. “Sorry to come unannounced, but I need to see Pinky. Captain Grayson Reed of the Protectorate is with me.”
“I’m afraid Miss Edwards is indisposed at the moment.”
Like she’s naked in the bathtub? “Tell her it’s urgent.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Reed got out of the car and joined me. “What’s the holdup?”
“He’s making sure we’re acceptable company.”
Reed smiled. “I think we already know the answer to that.”
The buzzer came to life once more. “You may drive your car to the fountain. The valet will meet you there.”
Fancy.
As we drove up the long stretch of driveway, I took in the surroundings. Acres of land engulfed us. Three horses grazed in the distance.
“Is that a helipad?” Reed asked, glancing to his left.
It was.
I knew Pinky and her mom were very wealthy, but this was more than I imagined. The French manor-style home put some of the royal European houses to shame. It had to be well over fifteen thousand square feet. A five-car garage extended out to the right and a fountain with four mermaid statues sat in front of the house, in the middle of the circular driveway.
Reed whistled. “Tell me again why Pinky chooses to work with you for scraps?”
“Hey,” I said indignantly. “Our last couple of jobs were well paid, thank you very much.” Not enough to pay the mortgage on this Versailles wannabe, but still. I was officially off Ramen noodles.
The valet met us at the top of the circular driveway. He wore pressed khakis and a green polo shirt.
“Do we tip him?” I whispered to Reed.
He gave his blond head a quick shake and put the car in park.
“Sorry for the late arrival,” Reed said to the valet.
“Keys are in the ignition?” the valet asked and Reed nodded.
We continued up the front steps—so grand that Cinderella could have lost a glass slipper on them—to an enormous door.
“Ten bucks says they have a Jeeves,” I said.
“I’m going with Harrington,” Reed replied.
“Harrington?” I queried. “Is that a butler name?”
He shrugged. “Might be. Let’s find out.”
An attractive, middle-aged man opened the door to greet us. With his muscled arms and chiseled features, he didn’t strike me as a Jeeves or a Harrington. More like Fabio with a buzz cut.
“Good evening, Captain Reed. Miss Winters. I’m Michael, the Edwards’ chamberlain.” He stepped aside to allow us entry.
“Good evening, Michael,” I said, trying not to check him out as I strode past him. “We’re here to see Pinky.”
“Yes, of course. Miss Edwards will be down in a moment. May I offer you any refreshments?”
“No, thank you,” I replied. Reed remained silent. “Is Mrs. Edwards at home?” It seemed rude not to say hello to Pinky’s mom.
“I’m afraid Mrs. Edwards is attending a charity ball this evening,” Michael said.
“So you don’t wilt after ten o’clock.” Pinky appeared at the top of the staircase. She wore fuzzy pajamas with oversized pink and red hearts. Red ballet slippers completed the look. “There goes that theory.”
Despite the sarcasm, she looked pleased to have unexpected company.
“Sorry, Pinky. I wasn’t sure i
f you’d be out with your friends.”
“Normally I would be, but I was exhausted. And I want to rest up for tomorrow.”
“What’s tomorrow?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I assume whatever you’re here for now will be my tomorrow.” She came down the steps and joined us in the foyer. “What’s up?”
“Can we talk somewhere in private?” I asked.
“Michael’s cool,” Pinky said. “Aren’t you, Mike?”
“Yes, Miss Edwards,” he replied. “Very cool.”
I flashed ‘Mike’ an apologetic smile. “Nonetheless, this is a matter for your eyes only, Pinky.”
She clapped her hands together. “Awesome, I love the secret stuff. Come on, let’s go into Mommy’s library.”
We followed her down a long hallway. There seemed to be doors everywhere we turned. The house was a labyrinth of columns and doors—far too big for two people.
“In here,” she said, disappearing through an open doorway.
The library was just as I expected. A room filled with mahogany and wall-to-wall books. If Hogwarts and the Beast had gotten together and designed their ideal library, this would be it.
Reed touched an antique desk. “Every piece of furniture in here is older than I am.” And that was saying something.
“Did this used to be your father’s library?” I asked. The room had a masculine quality to it, yet Serena was so very feminine.
“Yes.” Pinky pointed to a framed photograph on the desk. “That’s Daddy right there.”
I plucked the frame from the desk and studied the picture. Pinky stood between her parents, beaming proudly. Serena looked as beautiful as ever and, Ansel Edwards, with his light hair and intelligent green eyes, was the definition of handsome.
“Cute pigtails,” I said.
“I told you we were a normal family.” Pinky grabbed the picture and kissed it before placing it back on the desk. I’d expressed surprise when Pinky told me her father was a Marid who’d married her human mother. In my experience, that was a rare outcome. Male djinn tended to father the children of desirable human women and then disappear before any real responsibility could entangle them. The fact that Ansel not only stuck around for Pinky, but also married Serena, spoke volumes about him.