Page 100 of Thief of Night
“Are you out of your mind?” she demanded once the door was shut.
Posey gave her a self-satisfied look. “Surprised?”
“That you’re putting Malhar, yourself, Red, and me in danger?” Charlie said. “Of course I am, because it’s stupid. I’m supposed to be the stupid one.”
Posey made a face. “I’m sorry about what I said to you, but you keep acting like you need to protect me, because you protected me when we were kids. I know more than you do about being a gloamist. I can protectyou.”
Charlie hated that they’d argued, but she was also unwilling to let her sister off the hook so easily. “You holed up in our house, not even willing to go out for groceries, for months. You were scared to go on the lawn. You left me with most of the bills. And now, you’re not scared, even when you should be, and you’re going behind my back. Fine, maybe I am too protective of you, but you made me be that way.”
Posey took a step back. Her eyes looked shiny.
“You think you want me to tell you the truth, to open up,” Charlie said. “Maybe now you understand why most people prefer lies.”
“That’s not fair,” Posey told her.
“You’re going to get Malhar killed and you’re talking about fairness?” Charlie grated out. “It’s one thing to put yourself into danger—that’s your right, I guess. But bringing him in is cruel.”
Posey waved her hand, as though Charlie was just being dramatic. “He’s got a zillion theories about shadow magic. He knows so much that he’ll convince them he must be a Cabal leader.”
“Not if the real head of the puppeteers is here,” she told her sister.
“But he’s not,” Posey said, although she seemed less certain than she had been a moment before.
“How would you know?” Charlie asked. “You have no idea what he looks like. He could beArchieand you would have no idea.”
Posey looked briefly stunned, then angry. “Why are you trying to scare me?”
For a moment, Charlie understood the urge to drug someone. If she could have knocked Posey out and woken her up in a week, she would have been sorely tempted.
“Because you don’t understand what’s going on here. Wealthy people aren’t paying Archie exorbitant amounts of money so they can eat fancy food, visit the spa, and get lectures from elusive gloamists. They’re buying quickened shadows, supplied by Rooster Argent. And since Rooster is dead, Archie is expecting the rest of the shadows from Mr. Punch. Those shadows are what I’m here looking for.”
“What?” Posey’s eyes widened with panic. She glanced at the door. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were offended that I wasn’t asking you for help. And this wasn’t something I wanted your help with.”
“Well, I’m here. I might as well do what I can, right?”
Charlie leaned her head against the wall. “I guess so. But you have to be careful. The real Mr. Punch might show up at some point this weekend. And even if he doesn’t, those three guards will know that Malhar isn’t him.”
“I have access to information. And I know more about Cabals than you think.” Posey’s voice rose at the end in a leading manner, as if she had more to say and was just waiting to be asked.
No possibility was good. “What do you mean?”
“I joined the alterationists,” Posey said, chin in the air as though anticipating more scolding from Charlie. “I’ve been working with them. That’s why I’ve been out so much. That’s how I could afford the apartment.”
“The apartment that you told me was cheap?” Charlie’s thoughts were all over the place.
Posey gave her a guilty grin. “But don’t you love it?”
“Is working for them what you want?” Charlie asked. “I thought you hated the Cabals.”
Posey chewed on her lip. “It’s what I want for now.”
It wouldn’t be easy to get out if she changed her mind, but since Charlie had made the same bad bargain, there was no point in saying so. It occurred to her that Posey seemed serious about protecting her, and Charlie very much hoped that wasn’t her real reason for joining. “Then okay. I’m glad for you.”
Posey seemed flummoxed by that reaction. “So I can help.”
Charlie surrendered to the inevitable. “If anyone can find out where the shadows are being kept, it’s Malhar right now. I’ll get out of the way. Text me what you find out.”
