Page 94 of Angel's Flight

“She’ll see him straight away!”Jim’s booming voice interjected.Shaya didn’t wait for a second more before rushing to the inner door and following the larger man through the backstage corridors.They came to the dressing room and the door burst open.Shaya was pulled inside and into a hug before he knew what was happening.

“Shaya!”Adèle cried, slamming the door behind them in poor Jim’s face.“What are you doing here?”

“I came to warn you and – perhaps our mutual friends – that they have been discovered to be in London,” Shaya answered.“Because of me.”

“So they were tracking our mail,” Adèle sighed, to Shaya’s surprise.He felt like he was joining a conversation already in progress.“They were worried even something I sent might be caught, but I assured them it was fine.That must have been how the bastards knew to set up a snare here.”

“They’ve been discovered?”Shaya asked, heart seizing.“Where are they?”

“They left the night they were discovered.The detective that’s after them is a man named Bidaut.He set up a reward among the cutpurses and petty thieves for word of a man in a mask,” Adèle explained.“It was unfortunate how they were found.They had started to like London.”

“But they’re gone now?”

“Yes,” Adèle sighed.“Too fast.”

“But you’re still in hiding.”Shaya took a moment to look over Adèle.She seemed healthy and in one piece, if perhaps tired from her performance.

“I haven’t been in hiding, I’ve just been avoiding the public, celebrity that I am.”

“Another man was trying to get in to see you!”Shaya exclaimed.“I recognized him – I saw him in Paris.He works for the men who were spying on me.”

“The man with glasses,” Adèle said grimly.“Damn.”

“Who is he?”Shaya asked, eager to put a name to a nemesis.

“That was Bidaut!He’s ruthless,” Adèle answered, taking a seat at her vanity.She looked worried, which troubled Shaya: she wasn’t the sort of woman to worry lightly.“I don’t want to know what he wants with me.”

“We intend to threaten your life in exchange for a fortune.”

Adèle sprang up and Shaya jumped in front of her, placing his body in between her and the man who stood in her dressing room door.The very man they had been discussing.

“Monsieur Bidaut,” Shaya intoned, furious at himself for not coming armed, but not about to let this man guess that.

“Did you really think I couldn’t bribe my way in here, Monsieur Motlagh?Especially after noticing your presence,” Bidaut said as he stepped into the room, closing the door ominously behind him.

Shaya could feel Adèle’s tension, and it made him helplessly furious that she should be in such a situation again because of him and this mess.“There’s no need to involve the lady.”

“I don’t think that’s the right term for this one,” Bidaut sneered over Shaya’s shoulder towards Adèle – then blanched at the unmistakable sound of a pistol cocking.

“You would do well to address me with some respect, you odious piece of shit,” Adèle growled.Shaya stepped back as she raised her gun and pointed it at the man who had sought, stupidly, to intimidate her.“Did you think I wouldn’t be prepared for you?”

“Perhaps I was misinformed on your formidableness,” Bidaut said slowly, raising his arms.

“I wouldn’t be surprised, given the woman who employs you and her associates,” Shaya said with a smirk.“Adèle, you should know this man works for the alleged widow of a certain Baron.Sister to a certain Comte.”

Adèle’s face grew even darker and she stepped closer to Bidaut.“I should shoot you on principle for bringing that monster to mind.”

“That wouldn’t stop her,” Bidaut replied, his veneer of calm wavering only a little.“She’s quite committed to this.”

“Enough to threaten murder?”Adèle scoffed.“What a spine she has grown.”

“Your refusal won’t change the strategy,” Bidaut went on.“We’ll find other friends.We have other plans.Eventually, the ghost will have to give up what he’s stolen.”

“Why must it always be the innocent that get hurt in these bloody fights for riches,” Adèle hissed, but Bidaut looked unmoved.

“Take me,” Shaya said, surprising himself with how calm he was.

“Shaya, no,” Adèle exclaimed immediately, but didn’t drop her guard.“You don’t have to do this.”

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