Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Kestrel nodded, not wishing to upset the Littles. Magnus would have shared the information right then if there was nothing concerning.
To distract everyone, he quickly asked Zara, “What did you do today?”
“I spliced some genes together. It was super cool.”
“J-e-a-n-s or g-e-n-e-s?” he asked, spelling each word out.
“The G one, of course!”
“Sounds like Celeste is ready to make her next big discovery,” Kestrel said.
“We’re working hard to explore a variety of components to target. Zara came up with her theory, and we’re testing it. It has potential,” Celeste shared.
“You’re being too kind. I’m learning so much. It’s a thrill to work in the lab with a scientist who thinks concretely but outside the box,” Zara said enthusiastically.
“We’re a good pair,” Celeste agreed.
Sadie smiled. “Meanwhile, up at the front desk, it’s getting busier all the time. We had three empty rooms and sold out of all three when people without reservations appeared. There was even one guy I couldn’t find a room for after that who wasn’t too happy with me,” Sadie informed them.
“You remember that panic button,” Rocco warned with a concerned look.
“I won’t forget. He left quickly after verifying that we have a room opening up tomorrow.”
Kestrel shook his head. “You mentioned that people arrived without reservations yesterday, too. This concerns me. Is this a new trend or does it happen often?”
“Hmm. Not too often,” Sadie confirmed. “More in the last week.”
“Since I got here?” Zara squeaked.
“Yes,” Sadie said, screwing up her mouth in concern as the pieces started falling in place.
“New rule,” Kestrel said. “There are no rooms available for men arriving by themselves without reservations.”
“Can we do that?” Sadie asked.
“Won’t they just go online and make a reservation before coming to check in?” Celeste asked.
“She’s right. They’ll find a way to get around any rule we come up with. Or just come hang out in the lobby. We can’t strongarm all the guests and visitors to screen out who we don’t want here,” Hawking pointed out.
“I’ll just be very careful in case someone has figured out where I am,” Zara said.
“The problem is that we don’t know if these are the same traffickers from Mexico or new ones who saw you as you came through the airport,” Phoenix pointed out.
“They’re like cockroaches showing up everywhere,” Zara said in disbelief.
“We don’t know they’re after you…yet.” When a ding sounded almost underlining his words, Magnus turned to look at the screens in the computer area. Instead of results popping in from one of his searches, a picture of a food tray appeared.
“Dinner’s ready. I’ll go get it.” Phoenix stood and walked to the elevator.
He returned a few minutes later with a laden cart filled with dishes that smelled divine. Covered dinner plates were stacked on the top. “I’m just going to circle the table and deliver these. They’re hot, so they gave me gloves.”
“It’s a good thing we sent the fire expert,” Caesar joked.
Phoenix waved his gloved hands before starting around the table. He set a plate down in front of Magnus and waited.
It took a few seconds for Magnus to realize he hadn’t moved on. “You’re killing me here. There’s no spoon, so now we have a talking dish instead?”
“Oh, I forgot! I took care of that. We have a backup,” Phoenix tried to pick up something from between the covered plates. His gloves made the act awkward, creating a problem.
“I can help,” Sadie offered. When she saw what was on the cart, she giggled and bumped her shoulder into Phoenix’s broad one. Lifting it into the air, she held the serving spoon out to Magnus with a flourish.
“The kitchen staff was glad to send one down for us. They said we could keep it here,” Phoenix explained.
“Well, at least our food won’t get cold,” Magnus commented, accepting the spoon. He launched into his activities of the day, giving Kestrel the impression he was coating over the things he’d found out about the men showing up without reservations and the helicopter guy.
After Magnus passed the spoon on, Kestrel stared at Magnus until the other man met his eyes from under that shielding baseball cap he seemed to live in. Seeing Magnus’s infinitesimally brief nod, Kestrel knew there was more.
Chapter Twelve
Zara watched the men gathered around the tech center and stewed. Something was going on, and they weren’t sharing. She knew it had to be about her. Every second that went by, she got angrier.
“I have every right to know what they’re talking about, right?” she demanded of Sadie and Celeste as they watched a television program none of them were interested in.
“Yes,” the two women agreed without hesitation.
Pushing herself to her feet, Zara tried to calm her suddenly speeding heart rate as she stomped over to the clump of men. “What’s going on?” she said, her tone a little belligerent.