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I strode back along the sidewalk.
"That was not what I was going to suggest," she said.
Once we passed the taxi-waiting group, I saw there was indeed someone behind them, following us. Someone I recognized. Anita Barrington stood in a delivery lane. When she saw us coming toward her, she didn't retreat. Just lifted a hand, as if to motion us closer, then wheeled, staring down the empty street. Without looking our way again, she took off.
"Follow?" I said.
"You're asking?" Cassandra arched her brows. "A little skittish these days?"
"No, a little careful these days."
"As long as I can sense her, we won't get jumped."
We made it to the end of the lane, then Cassandra lifted a hand to stop me.
"Let me guess," I whispered. "She's waiting right around that corner."
She shook her head. "Farther down. She's stopped. Someone else is approaching."
"Where are they?" It was Eloise's voice.
"I couldn't make contact. Someone was watching."
"I'll phone them," Eloise said. "I'm sure if I ask them to meet me for a drink--"
"No. Subterfuge will only make them suspicious. I'll find another way. Giles can't see me meeting with her and he has spies everywhere."
Their voices faded as they walked away. Cassandra motioned that we should follow. We did, only to find the alley dark and empty. We proceeded with caution until we reached a metal door. Cassandra stopped there, paused, then nodded.
"They're inside."
The door wasn't locked. We went through and found ourselves in a back hall lined with doors, ending with one that led onto the street front. Cassandra pas
sed by all of them without pausing. Her goal was the last one on the right. Also unlocked.
She opened it. When I peered through, I saw what looked like the darkened stockroom of a restaurant. I remembered passing an Indian takeout that'd been closed for the night.
Cassandra crossed the dark room and reached for the next door handle. I hurried in and grasped her shoulder.
"They're in there," she said.
"Um, yes. Inside an empty restaurant. In the dark. Alone. Does this really seem like a good idea?"
She turned to me. "Timidity does not become you, Savannah. Has this loss of powers really had such an effect on your nerve?"
"No. I mean, yes, I'm a little more cautious. But having screwed up and gotten myself kidnapped had a bigger effect. It's not nervousness. It's maturity."
"No, my dear, it's not. But clearly this isn't the place to have this conversation, so you will wait here, where I can assure you it's quite safe. The one who is impervious to harm will continue on."
She slipped through the door. It closed behind her.
Damn it. Now this wasn't a matter of maturity. It was a matter of doing what was right, and protecting my partner.
I went through the door. Dark. I took out my phone and activated my new flashlight app. It cast a very weak light, barely enough to bother with. I could survive without magic, but it did make life easier. And safer.
I made it into the restaurant front--a counter for service and a few chairs for waiting customers. A sign pointed to restrooms around the corner. I followed it to a set of stairs. At the top were restroom doors. Farther down the hall, a door was open.
When I peeked through the open door, I found a makeshift apartment.
