Jean-Luc laughed. “Good to see you.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
He rose from his seat.
“Hey, kiddo.” Ivanka paused. “Watch your back.”
“I always watch my back.”
“I mean—really—watch your back this time.”
Jean-Luc reflected on her warning for a moment. He hadn’t guessed Sieg’s screw-up news had reached her ears. He shouldn’t be surprised. His former mentor had been a skilled spy in her former job and she liked keeping tabs on her subordinates. “I will.”
Ivanka gave him a nod of approval. Jean-Luc exited the Central Office the same way he had come in. Uneasiness bubbled at the pit of his stomach. What he feared had come true. Maddie’s accident wasn’t a mere nuisance. Someone wanted her dead because he was hot for her.
Someone with high power who always got what she wanted.
When he saw Ivanka’s ledger, he immediately knew the mastermind behind the death omen that had attacked Maddie. It said Adrian Storke’s andras had been assigned to cause Maddie’s death. This whole thing couldn’t be more obvious. The Reaper had had a big job yesterday and when his friend had a big reap, he’d never taken his andras out again the same day. He knew Adrian too well. In the ledger, he saw Adrian had taken out his andras twice. Once in the afternoon, right where Adrian had said he had a big job, at I-90. And again, later in the evening. Someone had used Adrian’s andras to do their dirty job.
Lilith’s name crossed his mind instantly.
This wasn’t the first time that bitch had used this kind of trick. Jean-Luc recalled two other occasions a Reaper’s andras had been used without their knowledge. They had sparked unpleasant scandals. But Lilith’s hands always came clean in the end. Cunningness was her best virtue.
His uneasiness turned into full-blown worry.
How did Lilith find out about Maddie?
It pissed him off that Lilith had had someone follow him and he wasn’t aware of it. Adrian had said Jezebel was after him. The bitch was very sly.
Jean-Luc paused as he trod towards the gate of the Central Office’s yard. He could ask Adrian to confirm his theory. Or he could go right to the source, making the andras squeal out who had hired it. Jean-Luc decided to go with the latter. He turned on his heels and whirled towar
ds the Death Attic, where the lesser race was contained.
He felt like beating somebody up today.
* * * *
“Your destination?” Hugo asked attentively.
Maddie fished a piece of paper containing the address from her coat pocket. She smoothed it and read it aloud. “Genevieve’s Fine Outfitters. 15th La Rue Avenue, Central Market. First Realm.”
“Ah. First Realm.” Hugo nodded and spread a hand. “This way, Miss Cartwright.” The concierge led her into the first door near the reception desk. He turned the dial on the door knob until the needle stopped at number one. The door whispered open. “Here we go. La Rue Central Market. First Realm.”
Maddie’s mouth fell open. “Whoa.”
A busy, traditional market lay just beyond the doorstep. Cobblestone sidewalks. Rustic buildings and shops. People in old-fashioned clothes bustled in the street, shopping and bargaining with the vendors.
“Would you like an escort? We’d be happy to provide you with one.”
Maddie shook her head. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry. But how do I get back?”
Hugo handed her a card. “This is our address in the First Realm. And our name plaque is outside the door. It’s very easy to find. And here’s your key.” He gave her an old-fashioned key. “This will bring you back here.”
“Amazing.” Maddie examined the key. This whole business with the otherworldly realm became more fascinating every day.
“You sure you won’t need an escort?” The concierge looked concerned.
“I’ll be fine. I like to explore new places.”