should trust just then,” I said. “Obviously circumstances have changed. Any more news from the Communications Center?”
“Two more dead, and the list of the wounded is growing by the second,” he answered. “The Araneae team apprehended the other suspect fleeing from the Bibliothèca. He made it all the way to the courthouse and might have been involved in the bombing there. All four suspects are in holding cells, awaiting questioning.”
“I’ll help,” I said, “especially if thumbscrews are involved.”
“So will I,” Violet added. “And I won’t need thumbscrews.”
“We’ve trained professionals for this sort of thing,” our host protested, but she held up a hand.
“Mister Kingsley, I have
twelve
older brothers and sisters. I am as experienced as anyone on your staff in the art of extracting delicate information.” The row with Nic had put Violet in quite the stubborn mood. She folded her arms over her chest and jutted her chin at him. I knew that expression well, even if Marcus Kingsley didn’t, and he’d already lost the argument. “Indelicate information is my specialty. You’d be ten sorts of foolish to refuse my help.”
When he hesitated, I jumped in with, “She can start with the scoundrel you caught at the courthouse.”
Marcus looked to Sebastian and Nic, who simultaneously shrugged.
“If you’ve an hour to spare, you can try to dissuade them,” Sebastian added. “You’ll get better results pounding your head into the nearest brick wall.”
“I have enough of a headache without adding to it in such a fashion,” Marcus said. “Very well. Everyone who’s with me, fall in.”
I was first in line behind him, followed closely by Violet and the boys. Unable to stop toying with the bracelets around my wrists, I noticed in a vague way when carpet yielded to bare floor, wood paneling to plaster, soft gaslight to harsh white luminescence. Through two sets of locking gates and down a stairwell, we descended deeper into the Fortress. I couldn’t help but be reminded of our sojourn into the catacombs, except there were no shadows permitted here. The bright light pouring from the electrified sconces nearly burned my eyes to ash. Not even the darkest part of a villain’s soul would go unlit in this place.
I winced at the glare. “By all the Bells, have you ever seen anything like that?”
“Imported white-light technology from Glacia,” Marcus said over his shoulder. “The expeditions north have turned up quite a few discoveries.”
“You mean besides the white maritime bears at the Square Park Zoo?” Violet asked. “This is useful, at least.”
“And a profitable side venture,” Sebastian observed from the back of the line. “Would you like a partner?”
“I’ve spoken with several interested parties,” Marcus said, pausing outside a door, “but I won’t entertain offers until matters of national security are settled.”
“With luck, the stiffest of my competition was removed in the explosion.”
As one, we paused to stare at him; though Sebastian had the reputation of a fierce businessman, this was the first time I’d witnessed such ruthlessness.
Realizing his mistake, he mustered the faintest of laughs. “You’re right, though. Never get into bed with anyone in the middle of a crisis.”
Wearing various shades of discomfited and disgruntled, we entered the interrogation room. A man sat behind the table, his effects spread out before him: a few copper coins, cigarette papers and tobacco, but no identification of any sort.
“What is all this?” he demanded. “A tea party?”
The moment he spoke, I knew it was the burglar I’d chased into the alleyway. Tired of fighting with my friends, I dragged a chair to the table and focused all my ill wishes and energies upon a new foe. “Why? Do you fancy some tea?”
“Something stronger wouldn’t come amiss.”
“What happened to the metal cuff you were wearing?” I demanded. “The one you used to
“Two more dead, and the list of the wounded is growing by the second,” he answered. “The Araneae team apprehended the other suspect fleeing from the Bibliothèca. He made it all the way to the courthouse and might have been involved in the bombing there. All four suspects are in holding cells, awaiting questioning.”
“I’ll help,” I said, “especially if thumbscrews are involved.”
“So will I,” Violet added. “And I won’t need thumbscrews.”
“We’ve trained professionals for this sort of thing,” our host protested, but she held up a hand.
“Mister Kingsley, I have
twelve
older brothers and sisters. I am as experienced as anyone on your staff in the art of extracting delicate information.” The row with Nic had put Violet in quite the stubborn mood. She folded her arms over her chest and jutted her chin at him. I knew that expression well, even if Marcus Kingsley didn’t, and he’d already lost the argument. “Indelicate information is my specialty. You’d be ten sorts of foolish to refuse my help.”
When he hesitated, I jumped in with, “She can start with the scoundrel you caught at the courthouse.”
Marcus looked to Sebastian and Nic, who simultaneously shrugged.
“If you’ve an hour to spare, you can try to dissuade them,” Sebastian added. “You’ll get better results pounding your head into the nearest brick wall.”
“I have enough of a headache without adding to it in such a fashion,” Marcus said. “Very well. Everyone who’s with me, fall in.”
I was first in line behind him, followed closely by Violet and the boys. Unable to stop toying with the bracelets around my wrists, I noticed in a vague way when carpet yielded to bare floor, wood paneling to plaster, soft gaslight to harsh white luminescence. Through two sets of locking gates and down a stairwell, we descended deeper into the Fortress. I couldn’t help but be reminded of our sojourn into the catacombs, except there were no shadows permitted here. The bright light pouring from the electrified sconces nearly burned my eyes to ash. Not even the darkest part of a villain’s soul would go unlit in this place.
I winced at the glare. “By all the Bells, have you ever seen anything like that?”
“Imported white-light technology from Glacia,” Marcus said over his shoulder. “The expeditions north have turned up quite a few discoveries.”
“You mean besides the white maritime bears at the Square Park Zoo?” Violet asked. “This is useful, at least.”
“And a profitable side venture,” Sebastian observed from the back of the line. “Would you like a partner?”
“I’ve spoken with several interested parties,” Marcus said, pausing outside a door, “but I won’t entertain offers until matters of national security are settled.”
“With luck, the stiffest of my competition was removed in the explosion.”
As one, we paused to stare at him; though Sebastian had the reputation of a fierce businessman, this was the first time I’d witnessed such ruthlessness.
Realizing his mistake, he mustered the faintest of laughs. “You’re right, though. Never get into bed with anyone in the middle of a crisis.”
Wearing various shades of discomfited and disgruntled, we entered the interrogation room. A man sat behind the table, his effects spread out before him: a few copper coins, cigarette papers and tobacco, but no identification of any sort.
“What is all this?” he demanded. “A tea party?”
The moment he spoke, I knew it was the burglar I’d chased into the alleyway. Tired of fighting with my friends, I dragged a chair to the table and focused all my ill wishes and energies upon a new foe. “Why? Do you fancy some tea?”
“Something stronger wouldn’t come amiss.”
“What happened to the metal cuff you were wearing?” I demanded. “The one you used to
Similar Books
