Page 95 of Crown of Tides and Fury

“Surely, they’ve stopped by now.”

Seated behind his laptop, Kitch nodded. “But it isnae Edinburgh.”

“Show me.” Wickham bent to peer at the screen.

Kitch pointed to a wee red balloon east northeast of the capitol city. “Tantallon.”

Wickham cursed, and while he watched, the balloon disappeared but left a small black dot in its place.

“Lost the signal.”

Wickham nodded and dropped into the next seat. “He’s taken her underground. Four stories, if my guess is right.” He cursed again.

Kitch sucked on his teeth. “Uh…how could Griffon know where his sister died?”

“Maybe Orion told him. Maybe someone took note when Daphne arrived in Hell. I dinnae ken.”

“If so, then Griffon has chosen sides.”

“Could be.”

“Then you’d better pop up there and bring Lennon home.”

Someone large and impatient beat on the door and Wickham grimaced.

Kitch gave him a worried look. “Wickham?”

He sighed and confessed. “If Griffon kens about Tantallon, he may also ken…”

“What is it he kens?”

Wickham shook his head. “That Lennon is beyond my reach.” He sighed. “Trust me. I cannae go to Tantallon.”

* * *

I had foundthree other trackers in my clothing and hoped I hadn’t missed any. If even one remained, Wickham would know I hadn’t moved, that I was right where he expected me to be. If I’d gotten them all, he’d sweat. And Ididwant him to sweat.

I’d fumed for more than an hour before finally stretching out on the narrow mattress and closing my eyes. My body said it was well past midnight when I heard movement outside my cell. I didn’t really care who it was, so I lay still and waited for them to speak.

Minutes passed and I wondered if they’d gone again.

A huff of air. “Not even curious?” It was Griffon’s voice.

My heart leapt and barked at the sound, but I told it to shut up. I didn’t move, nor did I pretend to be sleeping. “Sure,” I said. “What the hell do you want?”

“Just checking to see—”

“If I’ve found a way to slit my own throat?”

A nice gasp and a pause in his breathing told me I’d hit home. Good.

“Tell me,” I said, and slowly rose to sit upright. “How is your brother? Asher, isn’t it?”

“Why do you care?”

“Alive, is he?”

“Yes, he’s alive.”

---