“What’s up?”
Hawk’s deep timbre cut through the line. “I think I have a lead for you. Can you tell me anything else about who you’re looking for specifically?’
I hit the speaker button and thrust the phone between Fin and me. “You’re on speaker with both of us, Hawk.”
“I need more information about the target,” Hawk said. “What does she look like? Any defining characteristics, personality?”
Fin shook his head even though Hawk couldn’t see it. I squashed the smile, remembering that I was still mad at him.
Fin cleared his throat. “No, I don’t have anything else to go off. I haven’t seen her since she was young, and I don’t know what has changed for her after she was held captive for so long.”
“She’s a captive?” Hawk asked, confusion in his voice.
“She used to be a guest of Esteban, the Black Mage, but from what I can tell she hasn’t been his captive in a while. Despite his desire to make it seem like she was.”
Hawk shuffled some papers and then cleared his throat. “Then, I might need to try a different angle, but I think my lead might still give you something to go off. Is there anything else you can tell me?”
I looked at Fin, but he shook his head again. “Nothing about her in particular but check for any noted patterns of magic. Something used to hide from others. Or a way to hide in plain sight like strong glamour. You can even hunt those down in conjunction with metal-based magic in any variety. She may be hiding but I don’t think she’d be able to resist using her power. Not all these years.”
In the silence, I stood and paced next to the bed, holding the phone out beside me in case Fin wanted to add something. Hawk typed furiously, which made me smile since I knew how much he hated using his computer. He was more of a go beat down doors kind of man. But, if he wanted the Chief to take more breaks, it meant more housework on his side.
“Yeah, as I said, I think my lead can work for you, but it will be tricky. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll email you the details I have and some possible covers you can use to infiltrate. I don’t know what would work best, but your friend might.”
The way he said friend earned the phone a glare from Fin. My smile widened as I paced. No doubt the Chief and Hawk have been gossiping since I’d left the cabin. If I knew the Chief, he’d been on the phone within the hour to update Hawk on my status and to have him dig a hole in Fin’s past. Or update it if he already kept a file.
“Thanks, Hawk. I’ll let you know if we get anything. If you find something else we might be able to use, shoot it my way.”
“Be safe, kid,” he said and hung up before I could respond.
I sat the phone on the bedside table. “We are going to need to talk about the whole ‘mate’ thing, but I don’t think it should be right now. At the very least, let’s call a truce, and we can figure out the rest later.”
His answering scowl didn’t fill me with confidence, but he didn’t argue either.
“Let’s see what sort of lead he sent.” I spun to exit the bedroom, needing more distance, and located my laptop where I’d left it on the coffee table.
True to his word, Hawk sent a full report.
I scanned the details, and then read it one more time. “Fin, do you know anything about the Night Market?”
He seized my computer straight from my lap and read the email himself. “He thinks she might be in the Night Market?”
“But what is it?” I asked.
He handed me the computer back and I resumed reading while he spoke. “It’s an underground market, like the black market, except it’s magical contraband and seedy characters.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Sounds like my kind of place.”
“It’s definitely not mine,” Fin said.
A laugh bubbled up and escaped me before I could stop it. The sheer incredulity on his princely features told me exactly what he thought of the Night Market and the people who frequented it.
“I guess it’s a good thing I’ll be going with you. I wouldn’t want anyone to try and scar that pretty face. Not when I’m attached to it from now until apparently forever.”
He winced at my mention of our bond. There was a lot of that going around right now.
I finished reading the email, closed my laptop, and nodded. “Okay, so give me a run down. What do people wear to the Night Market? What sort of environment are we talking about?”
Fin frowned and crossed his arms. “Well, a lot of weapons to start and the environment is sort of a circus meets street brawl meets magic.”