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When I was turning, I caught a blur of a face. Quinn, judging by the height. His dark clothing blended with the shadows.
Jack positioned us so we were standing side by side, partly turned toward one another, our backs to the alley as we watched the traffic.
Jack smoked while I told Quinn and Felix what had happened. To anyone driving by or watching from the opera house, I'd seem to be speaking to Jack. When I finished, Quinn let out an oath.
"So he did manage it," Felix murmured. "We thought as much when we noticed the agents stream into the street after the show began."
"So they're out here?" I said, scanning the road. "They think he left."
Jack passed me the cigarette. As I took it, I caught a glimpse of Quinn. He'd moved to the edge of the alley, still in shadow, but behind Jack now. He frowned as he watched me raise the cigarette to my lips.
"Yes, it's a nasty habit," I murmured. "And one I'm supposed to have quit but, sadly, I'm not above temptation."
I smiled as I spoke, but his expression didn't change. He watched me take a drag, then pass it back to Jack.
"Can't spring for a fresh smoke for Dee, Jack?" he said.
Jack grunted, and my cheeks heated as I realized what Quinn had been gawking at. Not the cigarette, but the sharing. I'd never really thought much about it, and I knew Jack was only being considerate. He knew that as an ex-smoker, I'd refuse a full one, but could reason that a few puffs didn't count, like a dieter taking bites from someone else's dessert. To an outsider, though, the shared cigarette might seem rather...intimate.
"So where are they?" I asked, looking around.
"Most went back inside," Quinn said. "But a few are still patrolling the perimeter, stopping people who look like they might be leaving."
As I turned left, my heart skipped a beat. "Someone like that?"
Jack followed my gaze to see silver-haired man cutting briskly through the smoking crowd. He checked his watch, as if hurrying off to do something before the intermission ended.
"Son of a bitch," Quinn said. "What do you want to bet...?"
"I don't," Jack said. "Watch, Dee. Don't react."
"I know."
He held out the cigarette again, and this time, I'll admit, thinking of Quinn's reaction, I hesitated before taking it. But I did take it, if only for the nicotine hit.
The man crossed the road, walked past us on the other side and ducked into an alley.
"Felix?" Jack said under his breath.
"I know, Jack, but we can't. If Quinn and I cross that road, we're going to be seen. We can try looping around--"
"Do that." Jack retrieved the cigarette and stubbed it out on the wall, then dropped it into his pocket and took my arm. "Let's go."
We walked about fifty feet farther down the road, bringing us past the alley. Jack was curbside, so he looked down it.
"Still there," he said. "Walking."
We crossed, jogging between cars, then backtracked.
Jack's arm tightened around my waist, getting my attention. "Your turn."
I looked down the alley. It was dark, but I could see the silver-haired man had passed through into a well-lit parking lot on the other side. I swallowed the urge to tear after him and told Jack. He only nodded, still moving.
"Find another way," he murmured. "Lane up here."
"And, judging by that parking sign, it leads right where we want. Can--" I stopped and rephrased. "Should we turn down it?"
Jack hesitated, then nodded. As I passed the lane, I started veering that way, my gaze fixed on the entrance, a tunnel that would lead me to--
