The professor’s gaze ticks toward me. The buildings surrounding the downtown plaza contain a variety of institutions, from a library to a boutique movie theater. Most relevant to our community and this excursion, three departments of the lucent government run out of the top floors of the central tower.
Cole pulls the car onto the road. “That’s not where yourfather works.” He sounds reasonably certain but requesting confirmation.
I shake my head. “This has nothing to do with him.”
Dad’s office is in one of the other two clusters of lucent authority around the center of the city. He sometimes complains about the hassle of arranging face-to-face meetings with other departments when downtown traffic gets in the way, but they teach us at the academy that the long-ago lucent leaders split up our governing bodies out of caution. With too many comings and goings in the same place, there’s more chance they’ll draw scrutiny from the drab people nearby.
We cruise around a corner and merge with the traffic on a busier street that’ll lead us most of the way to our destination. Cole keeps his gaze on the traffic now. “What does it have to do with, then?”
I’ve had plenty of time to craft my story, but my throat still clenches up before I push the words out. “I remembered I heard Kenneth mention going over there. Saying he was missing class because he had an appointment at two—and it was a Wednesday. I thought it’d be good to see what’s going on around there on Wednesday afternoons.”
It’s not the strongest explanation in the world, but it seemed like the best I could offer without revealing how I actually heard about the place.
Professor Raith makes an incredulous sound. “It could have been a one-off meeting, if it had anything to do with his intentions toward you at all.”
“I know,” I reply evenly. “But while we’re grasping at straws, we might as well grasp at all of them, don’t you think?”
“I could have looked into this on my own without you skipping class.”
I can’t hold back a retort. “Are you so concerned aboutmy grades now? I thought you were looking for ways to fail me.”
Cole’s jaw works. “That’s dodging the point,” he says, his voice rougher, though I can’t tell whether it’s with annoyance or chagrin.
I shrug. “I’m sure I saw more of Kenneth in our classes and when our families got together than you did. I’ve known him a lot longer. I’m more likely to be able to tell if something’s relevant.”
My reluctant companion can’t argue with me there. I’m not sure he’d even recognize Kenneth’s dad if Mr. Hearst jumped in front of our car right now.
Granted, I wouldn’t know him from the King of El Dorado either, but Other Elodie would have.
“Fine,” Cole bites out. “But I’m staying with you the entire time.”
“Thank you so much for watching over me.”
He doesn’t quite restrain a grimace at my sarcasm. But at least he keeps quiet for the rest of the drive.
We park in a paid lot a few streets over from the plaza. I’m about to offer to cover the cost with Other Elodie’s credit card, but the set of Cole’s expression shatters the urge. I think he might kill me himself if I wounded his dignity that much.
Instead, I get back to planning. “We should stay concealed. But I don’t think we want to hang around right in the plaza even with magic disguising us. Whoever sent Kenneth after me obviously has some high-level skills. She might detect us and take off or even send security after us.”
I don’t know how big a risk that is, but considering how concerned Uncle Nik was about this woman, caution seems like the logical approach. I’d rather not be almost murderedagainif at all possible.
Another tickle of ephemera passes over me. Professor Raith has cloaked us both even though I was perfectly willing to handle my own subterfuge.
Is that kindness or a reminder that he doesn’t trust my abilities?
“How were you planning to observe, then?” he asks.
This is where my scheme gets particularly dicey.
I peer around us as we walk toward the plaza. The triangular courtyard makes a pretty picture. Limestone planters bursting with spring flowers line the edges, and an abstract fountain burbles merrily in the middle.
The tower at the far end and the two buildings on either side gleam with mirrored windows and burnished steel. The one in the middle looms tallest, but its neighbors are no slouches, both at least twenty stories tall.
Across the street stands a more subdued brick office building and a concrete condo complex. I study them as if I’ve never seen them before, but the sour flavor of stomach acid creeps up the back of my throat.
“Security’s a little lax in the office building,”Nik told me.“The cleaning staff leave the side door unlocked during the day so they can come and go easily on their breaks. They’re the only ones who use the lefthand stairwell, and they start cleaning at the top. Get to the fourth-floor landing, and no one will disturb you.”
Let’s hope the staff haven’t changed up their routines across the years and universes.