Page 117 of Amber Gambler

“Not as far as I know.” I raised my eyebrows. “Kierce?”

“Tunnels once connected the squares,” he said, “but the Society allowed them to fall into disrepair.”

Knowing the Society’s penchant for hoarding the best resources for themselves, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn they only wanted everyone else to believe that. “How were they accessed?”

“The granite monument to Chief Tomochichi in Wright Square.”

“Wait.” Carter scowled through the windshield. “I thought he was buried under that boulder.”

“Chief Tomochichi was buried in the center of Wright Square,” Kierce said, “beneath a pyramid of stones in the Yamacraw custom. All that remained by 1883 was a dirt mound topped with a decorative planter, which eased the minds of those who decided to erect a monument to William WashingtonGordon atop the burial site. Amid public outcry, the boulder came a year later. A gift from Gordon’s daughter-in-law, Nellie Gordon, who was appalled at the desecration of the chief’s final resting place.”

Awestruck to understand he might have been there to witness those events unfolding, I nonetheless got the feeling he had cut himself short. “What aren’t you saying?”

“The monument never should have been allowed to rise above a documented gravesite. Had they truly regretted their actions, they would have removed it. Not sat a rock beside it and affixed a plaque to it.”

I savored the burn of his indignation, recognizing something of myself in him. “I agree.”

“So,” Carter cut in, “assholery of the city’s founding fathers aside, the boulder is just a rock.”

There was nothing left to say to that, so I nudged Harrow for an update.

“The tracker is accurate within thirty feet if your target is inside a building. Outdoors, the range jumps to around one hundred feet. Audrey must be indoors for the location to be this spotty. That means we won’t know we’ve found her until we’re on top of her.” He rubbed a hand over his head. “Do you think tunnels are the answer?”

“There are as many tunnels under the city,” Kierce said, “as there are historic homes in Savannah.”

“I can call in backup at dusk.” I braced my palm on the seat. “Spirits can sweep a larger area faster.”

“Audrey might not have that long.” Harrow bit out a curse. “I never should have left her alone.”

“Nothing for it now,” Carter muttered. “Do we wait for dark or canvass and hope for the best?”

“There’s one more option.” I glanced down at my hand. “Know any good tracking spells, Harrow?”

Stuck in the fibers of the dark seat fabric gleamed a single blonde strand of hair.

“No.” Harrow looked like he would rather chew glass. “But I’ll try my best.”

There were no guarantees Little would lead us straight to Audrey, but I had a hunch we would find one if we found the other. We could comb over the truck and see if our luck held and we found a backup hair. I crossed my fingers we wouldn’t need one, that the power Josie had sensed in Harrow would get it done.

But, as Vi had taught me, raw talent was no match against a trained adversary.

Carter pulled into the nearest vacant parking spot on the street then waited for instructions.

“What do you need?” I offered him the hair. “Other than this?”

As Carter threw the truck into park, it rocked back, and a prickle of foreboding swept down my spine.

A blur teased the corner of my eye, and I turned my head in time to catch Little scampering away.

The pint-sized stowaway had slipped into the bed of the truck without even Carter noticing this time.

“Forget the hair.” Kierce traced my line of sight. “All we have to do is follow her.”

On his chest, Badb began struggling, and he released her from the baby sling. She balanced on his thigh, gazing up at him, then picked at the door handle with her beak. When that got her nowhere, she fluffed herself up to twice her size and screamed at him while brushing the door with the tip of an outstretched wing. They were having one of their wordless conversations, an argument this time, and he was winning if her tantrum was anything to go by. Badb was not a fan of the wordno.

“Hey.” Carter twisted around in her seat. “Quit that before you ruin the leather.”

“We can’t let Little get away.” Harrow opened his door fast, relief plain on his face. “I’ll go after her.”

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