She hesitated, then sighed. “It’s really not my story to tell,” she said apologetically. “He should tell you himself.”
“Oh, sure, ’cause that’s gonna happen.” Rory dropped his voice to a frustrated whisper. “Are you telling me Ace could be a target and we’re just letting that magicless high hat walk up and down Fifth Avenue alone?”
Her lips twitched at that, despite the worry in her eyes. “Zhang is keeping an eye on the city from the plane. But the plane has been strange, as of late.” She looked troubled. “Arthur thinks he’s just going to make a quick drop at the hotel, then come here.”
Arthur and his ex, together at a hotel. Rory’s bare finger seemed to pulse. Mrs. Wang had phased the ring inside a solid brass sphere that looked like a big marble, then she’d phasedthatinto a heavy metal trunk that was welded shut. He wasn’t getting his ring back himself. A good thing. Probably.
Rory crammed the last of the bun in his mouth before he could think too hard about having both the ring and Arthur’s former fella around at the same time.
“The thing is, I’ve met Fine,” Jade said, “and I’m afraid he’s a little higher maintenance than that.”
Rory frowned. “I’m going to Arthur’s pad.”
Jade cocked her head. “You’re welcome to stay here, you know, or we’re always happy to have you at the Magnolia.”
And even though he was worried, an unfamiliar warmth crept through him. Been a long time since he had anywhere to go but his room or the shop. “Thanks,” he said, “but I bet you need to go check on your family too, and you haven’t gone yet ’cause you’re worried about Arthur.” When she bit her lip, he huffed. “I’m not as young or helpless as everyone thinks. I’m gonna go scry Ace’s place instead of City Hall. If someone’s ever tried to plant a spell bag or messed with his stuff, I’ll find it in history, and then we can make a plan to make them sorry.”
“All right, then.” She had a small smile of relief as she patted his arm. “For the record, I’m worried about you too. But you make a convincing case.”
Outside Dragon House, Rory gave himself a very fierce order as he headed up toward the train on Canal Street.
Don’t get jealous. Ace said he doesn’t want his ex back. You’re gonna trust him.
Rory stopped on the street and sighed. Hedidtrust Arthur.
It was the other fella he was worried about.
Someone knocked into Rory’s shoulder.“Fammi passare, figliolo.”
Rory startled as an older woman pushed past him and continued up the street. He glanced up, to the sign on the corner, and realized he’d hit Mulberry Street where it turned from Chinatown to Little Italy. Up ahead, he could hear more chattering in Italian, could see Italian on the signs hung outside the buildings.Ristoranto, said one.Pizzeria, another. Wooden carts lined the curb and Rory could smell the seafood and produce.
Arthur had a whole kitchen to himself and the only thing he had in it was aspirin and instant coffee.
He’d detoured into Little Italy before he’d realized he was moving again. The crowd on the sidewalk was thick and loud, but that just gave Rory an excuse to linger over a vegetable cart with stacked onions and garlic, trying not to look too obviously like he was smelling everything.
The sidewalk next to Rory flickered as Zhang’s astral projection appeared. “Weren’t you heading to Ace’s apartment?”
Rory side-eyed him. “You following me?”
“I thought you were going to stay with us,” Zhang said impatiently. “We don’t know what’s going on. You want to go to Ace’s, fine, but go there. You can sniff Little Italy some other time.”
Rory gave Zhang’s projection a dirty look.
“Geez, buddy, what’d that sidewalk do to you?” said a passing man.
Rory folded his arms, eyes narrowing. Zhang raised his hands innocently. “I’ll leave you alone once you’re on the train.”
“Ohi, compare, vieni qua!”The interruption was from a man with a mustache, who beckoned Rory to the next cart.“Vongole fresche!”
Fresh clams. It’d been years since Rory’d had better Italian food than the Italian-style spaghetti that came in a can. He held up a finger. “Clams on the shell; couple things for Ace’s empty kitchen. I’ll be quick.”
Zhang huffed. “Fine. Hurry up.”
The puttering of the Cadillac’s engine was loud in the awkward silence. Wesley was looking out the window, at the streets of Midtown.
Arthur cleared his throat. “I can go by Times Square, if you want.”
“This isn’t a pleasure trip. I’m not a tourist. Why waste that time?”
