Page 34 of The Scribe (Irin Chronicles 1)

Her heart sank. “Oh.”

“Why did you want to know?”

“I didn’t… It just reminded me of a language I heard once. That’s all.” Ava watched the old man for a few more moments, memorizing the rise and fall of his voice before she handed the remote control back to Leo. It had to be a coincidence, but for a brief second, the man had sounded like he was speaking the silent tongue of the voices she’d heard her whole life. Ava had studied languages. She’d traveled the globe, listening to accents and intonation. The peculiar rhythm of foreign lands. She’d spent years searching for the language that haunted her.

She was never successful.

Leo was still watching her, clearly suspicious of her excitement over the news program. She concentrated on the computer screen, ignoring him, but his silent voice was colored with curiosity.

Ava tried to change the subject. “So how many languages do you speak?”

“I…” He hadn’t been expecting the question. “I’ve never counted, to be honest.”

“That many?”

Leo shrugged. “I’m not fluent in all of them, but I speak many. It helps when you travel.”

“Have you worked for Malachi long?”

“We, uh, we work for the same company. He’s more senior than I am, but we’ve both worked for the company a long time.”

“Oh?” She continued fiddling with the color balance on one file. “You’re not from Istanbul, I’m guessing.”

“Outside Moscow, originally. But I’ve traveled a lot.”

Ava snorted a little. He couldn’t have been older than his late twenties. Of course, she knew firsthand you could cover a lot of ground when you wanted to avoid home.

Leo asked, “How about you?”

“Malachi didn’t tell you?”

“No.” His answer caused Ava to look up. He’d finished his sandwich and was wiping his mouth. “He wouldn’t. He hardly talks at all except to yell at me and my cousin if we drink his beer and don’t replace it. He’s known for being very focused when he’s on a job.”

For some reason, Ava found that endearing. It sounded like her shadow was a cranky old man to more than just her.

“I’m from L.A.”

“Really?”

“Yep. And I hate it.”

Leo laughed, a deep chuckle that filled the lounge and made her smile.

“So that’s why you travel all the time? Because you don’t like home?”

“Among other reasons.” She couldn’t concentrate on her work. Leo’s silent voice was alive with excitement, like a little kid just begging to play. She finally snapped her laptop case shut. “Why don’t we go for a drink? There’s a café on the corner. I feel like getting out of here.”

“I don’t know…”

She could tell he was uncomfortable with the idea, but Ava knew drowning out Leo’s presence would be easier in a crowd. Hopefully, he could blend in with the group of people and create a white noise affect that wouldn’t pierce her temple.

“Okay,” she said, standing. “How’s this? I’m going to go for a drink because you’re not, in fact, my babysitter. Then you can follow me, like I know Malachi told you to do. You can either sit with me or lurk suspiciously on the edge of the room. It’s up to you, but I’m going.” She packed her laptop in the case and walked down the hall to her room. Within moments, she was back in the lobby, and Leo was waiting, glancing at his phone like he was expecting a message.

Ava nodded at it. “You already tell on me?”

“It’s just… Malachi said you usually stay in at night.”

“That’s when I’ve been walking all day. I’m not tired. I want a drink.” She brushed past him and opened the door, nodding at the burly doorman on the way out. “See you.”

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