Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“Why now and why here are what we should be asking,” Lann said.
“I’ll tell you why.” Sean crossed his arms. “Times are frightening. People are grasping at straws. They’ll follow any movement that’ll make them feel safer.”
“They’re fanatics,” Lann said. “Fanatics are dangerous, and according to a shop owner near the club I asked about it, they’ve already gained a lot of ground worldwide.”
“How could this have happened right under our noses?” Clelia asked.
“It’s a secret movement,” Cain said. “They would’ve stayed underground until they’re strong and numbered enough to surface.”
Sara picked up the knife and resumed chopping an onion. “So, you’re saying they’re already strong and numbered?”
“I’m saying we shouldn’t take this lightly.”
“We don’t have time for chasing fanatical witch hunters.” Ivan looked around the group. “Not while we’re hunting Godfrey, and we’re so close on his tail too.”
Maya studied the print. “Medusa. That’s our clue.”
“The winged woman with the monstrous face and venomous snakes for hair who turned those who gazed upon her into stone,” Lann said. “It has a ring of mythology. I’ll have Katherine look into it.”
“Keep your ears on the ground.” Cain took the poster from Joss and pinned it to the message board. “For now, our priority remains Godfrey.”
“Speaking of which,” Joss turned to Bono, “what’s the progress?”
“I have to go slow with her.” For the mission, but also for selfish reasons that had nothing to do with finding Godfrey. “Rushing it may ruin everything.”
“I need something soon,” Cain said, “or we’ll have to use a quicker method.”
Trying to keep his cool, he didn’t change his casual stance. “Such as?”
“Torture,” Joss said darkly.
Bono clenched his fingers on the cup. Over his dead body. The porcelain splintered with a fractured sound, coffee sloshing over his shirt and jeans.
The kitchen had gone quiet. Maya gave an inconspicuous warning shake of her head.
“Damn Delft,” he said, grabbing a paper towel from the counter and dabbing at his shirt. “Thin as paper.”
“You’ve got a strong hand. You’re too used to handling joysticks,” Maya said, coming to his rescue.
As he bent down to gather the broken shards, Clelia loosened herself from Joss’s embrace and placed a hand on his arm. “I’ll get it. You go change for your date.”
He offered her a grateful smile, knowing she’d given him a means of escape.
“Where are you taking Sky?” Lann asked.
“Wherever the lady wants to go.”
Frans sat at a metal table in front of the zoo kiosk with a cup of coffee in front of him when Sky arrived. He was a PI who operated on the lower end of the social scale, but he had a trustworthy reputation and he was all she could afford.
Worried that Godfrey would have her followed by a footman or satellite, she’d taken the metro and changed over several times, walking through malls and covered markets until she was sure she’d lost any possible tails. The precautions had made her late.
She sat down in the vacant chair. “Sorry you had to wait,” she said in Dutch. “I had to make sure I wasn’t followed.”
“I understand.”
Taking the envelope from her pocket, she pushed it toward him. “Two hundred.”
He hesitated several seconds before snatching up the envelope and shoving it into his inside jacket pocket. “We’ll find your son. You mustn’t lose hope.”
She dropped her head into her hands. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll last.”
“Hey.” He pushed the coffee toward her. “Have a warm drink, why don’t you. Doumar is clever, but even clever people screw up sooner or later. You have to believe.”
Tears she didn’t want or need burned at the back of her eyes. She took his hand over the table. “Thank you for being so kind. You’re my only friend.”
“If I could, I’d help you for free, but a man’s got to eat, and there’s the missus and my kid.”
Sniffing away her tears, she patted his hand. “I know. I’ll have more money soon. We have to hurry, Frans. You have to find him.”
He leaned in. “I’m getting closer. I can feel it in my bones. You hang in there, little Sky. Before you know it, you’ll be together with your precious Niels.”
She nodded, unable to speak with the lump in her throat. As always, Frans knew when to be quiet. He was a man of few words, which was one of the things she appreciated about him.
When she’d gathered herself, she pushed back her chair. “I have to go. I’ll call you in two days.”
“If I find out anything before, I’ll get a message to you via the club.”
“No,” she said quickly. “It’s too risky. If Doumar finds out…”
He clicked his tongue. “One day, that son of a bitch is going to get what he deserves.”
That day might have come. Godfrey was a devil who’d come to them disguised as a savior. All she could hope for was that Frans would find Niels before she had to betray Bono and his team.