Lancelot (The Theriot Family 3)

I preferred to get the materials from the storage room myself, but technically, we did sometimes allow patrons in there, usually researchers with special requests from a local university, not just anyone who walked in off the street. “I’m sorry, sir, but—”

“I promise I won’t disturb anything. I was a professor at Tulane with your father.”

“Oh, did you use the archive when my father was here?”

“I did. He was a good man. He really knew his stuff.”

I nodded. “He did.”

“You must miss him.” The man’s expression softened, and I wondered if I’d read him wrong. Maybe he’d just had a bad day. He seemed much friendlier now.

“I do. Every day. If you’d like to come with me, we can look for the letters together.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

I unlocked the door, propped it open, and we headed inside. The boxes we needed were in Row D, which was on the far side of the room. I walked along the first rows of shelves, turned into the center aisle, and that was as far as I made it. The man grabbed me, and his arm came around my neck, cutting off my air.

I tried to scream, but I couldn’t get the breath to. I kicked his shin, but it didn’t seem to faze him. As I clawed at his arm, trying to shift his grip, the room began to go dark. How could I have been so stupid? Why had I let this man come to the back with me? Why had I trusted him? I knew better. Lance was going to be so mad.

Where was the guard from the archive? Surely he’d heard the scuffle. I shifted my weight, forcing the man into a shelf and sending boxes falling to the floor. I had to get someone’s attention. I didn’t know if anyone in the main area could hear, but I was sure the closest guard could.

I pushed back against the darkness. I would stay conscious. I would.

Then I heard a noise. Was someone finally coming to rescue me? I tried to turn, but my legs didn’t seem to work. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a small brown form. Tony.

No. If he got hurt… He needed to run. This man would kill him and then Lance… Lance… Darkness closed in. I tried to fight it, but I had no more strength. The world went black, and I doubted I’d ever see Lance again.

33

Lancelot

I’d successfully schmoozed the detective on scene and talked to our police contact who could make all record of the fire disappear. Telling myself Dax would take good care of Julian, I made a second stop at the Musée des Trésors. As I was leaving the museum, my phone rang. It was a local number but not one I recognized. Usually I ignored any unknown calls, but something told me to take this one.

“Lance. It’s Gwen. You have to come. Julian… I think he’s been kidnapped.”

My heart skipped a beat, and the world went dark at the edges.

“What happened?” I asked as I threw the car in reverse and hit the gas. Tires squealed as I pulled out of the parking lot.

“A patron came in and talked to him. They went into the archive. They’d been in there a long time, so I went to check on him. Julian and the man were gone.”

“What about Tony?”

“I… um… He’s not here either.”

“Fuck.” My vision threatened to darken again, so I blinked and focused on the road. “What about the guard? Ralph should have been in the main archive room.”

“Oh God, you’re right. I don’t see him. Shit. I’ll look.”

“No. Get out of there. Lock the archive and go back to your desk. Act like everything is normal.”

“I…” She paused to sniffle. “I don’t know if I can. I…”

“Gwen! You have to.” My voice was harsh, but she needed something to shock her out of her panic.

“Right. I can do this.”

“Yes, you can. For Julian. Tell the guards who are out front but no one else. We need this off the radar for now. Make an excuse, say Julian’s sick, say he left early for something, anything believable. I’ll be there in five.”

After I hung up with her, my own panic threatened to overwhelm me. Julian had to be okay. He had to be alive. I had to save him. I promised I would protect him. And Tony… Those bastards would kill him.

Why had I left them? I should have taken them both somewhere secret and secure. Why did I give in to Julian’s pleading to go to work? At least Julian wasn’t alone now. Unless… unless Tony was… No, I couldn’t think that way. I wouldn’t.

I called Remington. He didn’t answer, so I tried Dax. He was already on his way to the library, which was good because if I got there on my own, I might kill the guards with my bare hands. How the hell had they let this happen? Hadn’t they been patrolling? I’d trusted them.