Page 83 of The Sinner and the Scholar
I read it.
“Bugger,” I murmur. “The airport is on lockdown because of the power outage. It went that far.”
“Shit.”
I scroll. “The pilot says they’ll be clear tomorrow morning, but congestion will delay takeoff until maybe midday.”
Thea makes a sudden turn and heads south.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“We have a safe house across the Thames. It’s probably better to lie low until the airport is functional again. Just in case the authorities decide to search commercial planes for the stolen artifact. I don’t think they’ll jump to this conclusion yet, but we should get off the streets.”
She’s right. And I know Zeke will survive the extra wait… but will Prue?
Twenty-Seven
Thea
Wesley’s eyes are wide as he takes in our location. I bring the car to a stop at the front of the skinny townhouse.
“I thought you said the Sisterhood had no money.” He stares up at the tall historical facade.
“We don’t. This has been in the Hildegard Sisterhood for generations. If it’s worth money now, we can’t access it. We need our ties off bank records.”
“So you can’t even use it for equity.”
“Nope. But we can use it for other shit.” I open the car door and enter the code on the gate’s security box. There’s only room for one car inside, but that’s all we need. I drive the car inside the gate and straight into the open garage. The door shuts on its own.
Before I go anywhere or do anything, I have to call the Rev. This delay might be costly to Prue’s health, and I’ll never forgive myself if we fucked up with that power outage. It was my idea, after all, and I would have planned an appropriate risk analysis if I’d been less distracted.
After two rings, she picks up.
“Thea, you have news?”
Wesley watches me as I reach for the staff. The length stretched into the back seat and almost hit the roof. It wants to be close, and after what it did to Vepar, I’m okay with that.
“I have the relic.” I glance at Wes and realize he should be a part of this conversation. If Lilith is trying to divide us, then we need to do the opposite. I have no more doubts that this danger is coming.
I put her on speakerphone and say, “Wes is here with me.”
“Evening, Reverend Mother,” Wes greets.
“Mr. Wesley.” The Rev’s sigh of relief is audible. “I’m sensing a but from you, Thea.”
“The power outage went so far as to hit the airport, making it impossible for us to leave the country. The pilot said we should be okay in the morning, but there might be a backlog of planes trying to get out. We could drive to another airport and take our chances on a regular flight, but it will be filled with passengers doing the same, and the staff will be difficult to hide. Even in a container or wrapped up, it’s obviously long. Best case scenario, we’ll be home in under forty-eight hours. Worst case, the authorities are chasing us down… but I’ll still find a way to get home.”
The Rev exhales. “Okay. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing until you arrive.”
“The relic works, Rev.” I try to suppress my excitement but fail miserably.
“It works?” she whispers.
“It goddamn works!” I exclaim.
“Language, Thea.”
“Sorry. But yeah, so, get this… Wesley was bleeding out from when I stabbed him, and then I healed him completely—even the old scars. Not only that but the demon we fought—”
