Page 24 of Shield of Fire

The room beyond ran the width of the building and was filled with a multitude of glass cabinets that displayed a wide variety of antiquities. I’d learned enough from Lugh over the years to know many of the items displayed were rare and expensive, but I doubted any of them were illegally gained. Kaitlyn made no real secret of her underworld endeavors, but even she wouldn’t be foolish enough to put stolen goods on display. Selling antiques such as these was her cover—a legit business that probably turned a nice enough profit to stop the tax man getting too suspicious.

The gentle song of the floorboards, though muted by all the concrete below and the reinforcing above, told me she was making her way up from the basement.

I walked over to the glass counter and leaned against it casually, though in truth, the weakness beginning to wash through me made it more of a necessity.

Mathi wandered through the aisles, studying the various pieces in what looked to be a disinterested manner, although anyone who thought he wasn’t aware not only of where Kaitlyn was, but all the security measures she employed in this section of her building, was a fool. He’d spent his youth haunting IIT’s offices and cells and had learned a trick or two from the less-than-auspicious inhabitants of the latter.

Kaitlyn finally appeared. She was a tall, elegant woman who, at first glance, appeared as ageless as any full-blood elf. Only her hands hinted at her true age, which, as far as anyone knew, was over a hundred. How far over was unknown. While half-bloods did live longer than humans, their lifespan was nowhere near the length of elves or even us pixies, and generally fell somewhere short of two hundred years.

She walked behind the counter, then leaned back against the rear shelving, briefly drawing my gaze to the variety of glittering rings and beautifully intricate necklaces on display there. One immediately caught my eye, as it reminded me of an Egyptian-style necklace Lugh had once given me for my birthday. He’d called it an expensive and rather exquisite piece; a sixteen-year-old me had thought it horribly old-fashioned and gaudy. I had no idea what had happened to it, as he’d rolled his eyes at my lack of taste and replaced it with something far more to my liking.

I pointed to the beautiful gold piece. “Is that Tausret’s collar?”

She glanced around briefly. “I believe it is—why?”

“My brother once gave it to me as a gift.”

“And you rejected it? More fool you.” She crossed her arms. “Why on earth would the elf who destroyed the Lùtair apartments last night now be after me? I did nothing more than arrange a protective detail for a contractor, and certainly cannot be held accountable for its failure. One cannot expect top-shelf muscle when a limited time frame is given.”

“I doubt he cares about the men you provided. His need for revenge is more personal.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Personal in what way?”

“What do you know of a woman called Gilda—” I realized I didn’t actually know her surname and glanced at Mathi.

“Shannoni,” he replied immediately.

“That is a servant class line, is it not?” She glanced at Mathi for confirmation, then continued, “Why would I have anything to do with such a person? They’d never be able to afford my services.”

“Gilda was trading information and stolen goods,” Mathi said. “That, I believe, brings her into your orbit.”

“Perhaps, but it’s not a name I recognize.” She shrugged. “It would be unusual for someone of her ilk to arrange the distribution of such items. She would have had a handler. And I have already told your father all this, young elf.”

Given Mathi was at least a hundred years older than Kaitlyn, her use of “young elf” was something of an insult.

Mathi raised his eyebrows, a dangerous light in his eyes—one Kaitlyn would be wise to heed. “My father would be very interested to know that you hold Ishita’s torch in your collection here.”

She stiffened. “Is that a threat?”

“No, just a reminder that however much sway you think you hold with my parent, it would come to naught if he realized you have stolen from?—”

“I did not steal?—”

“Perhaps not, but you nevertheless have the item on display here, and he would not view the situation kindly.”

“Threatening me is not the best way to do business.”

“And yet it is one of the many methods you employ to keep your business at the top, is it not? Or, at least, it is according to the files I’ve read.” Mathi’s smile was pleasant, everything his gaze was not. “Do not make the mistake of overestimating your worth to my father. He has dozens of informants and would not miss someone of your ilk. Trust me on that.”

She stared at him for several seemingly long seconds and then sniffed. “I will search my records, but I cannot promise it will yield any results.”

“What can you tell us about the man who wanted the protection detail?”

“I never saw him. I never do.”

“No, but you always collect enough details to ensure you can find them if a payment fails to materialize,” Mathi said dryly. “We want those details, Kaitlyn.”

She sighed. “His name is Ka-hal Lewis.”

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