Sebastian was peering at Wesley from the tangle of sheets. Wesley curled his fingers in a beckoning motion. Sebastian frowned.
“Jianwei says to get dressed, by the way,” Jade said.
“Miss Robbins, what on earth is going on?” Wesley asked, eyes on Sebastian as he grudgingly crawled outfrom under the covers. “Are you implying Mr. Zhang is about to join us on the astral plane?”
Sebastian’s eyes widened. He grabbed Wesley’s full-length green robe, pulling it on as he hurried into the parlor.
Wesley bent slightly, tilting the receiver so they could both hear Jade. “We’re in the lobby,” she said, voice floating up from the telephone, “and coming up to your room now.”
The line disconnected. Sebastian and Wesley exchanged a look. “Why would we need to pack?” Wesley frowned. “Where are we going?”
There was a knock. Wesley went to the door, opening it to reveal Jade and Zhang. Wesley tilted his head. “No Arthur or Brodigan?”
“Not here,” Jade said. “We have news.”
“Clearly,” Wesley said dryly, holding open the door for them to come in.
They sat in the parlor, Jade and Zhang taking the settee together while Wesley picked up the phone receiver. “Tea or coffee?”
“Neither, I’m afraid,” said Jade.
“We can only stay a few minutes.” Zhang’s gaze had fallen on Sebastian. “Nice robe. Do those monogrammed initials stand forWebastian de Ceon?”
“Is that your own lipstick on your collar?” Sebastian said back, taking one of the armchairs.
Despite the tense set of his shoulders, Zhang smiled. “Flippant this morning, I like it.”
“He must likeyou,” Wesley said.
“That might be about to change.” Jade held out two tickets to Sebastian. “The R.M.S.Gastonleaves thisafternoon for the Port of Southampton. You two need to be on it.”
Sebastian took the tickets with open confusion as Wesley dropped the phone back into the cradle. “I beg your pardon?” Wesley said.
“I kept an eye from the astral plane on that jerk from the Magnolia, Billy, at the police station,” said Zhang. “He’s trying to claim he took that swing at Sebastian because he’s a criminal and a bootlegger.”
“I mean,” Sebastian said ruefully, “he’s notwrong.”
Wesley waved that away. “And the police are listening to that lout?”
“They might not have,” Zhang said, “except they also picked up the two would-be bootleggers from Yonkers yesterday, and they described you, Rory and Sebastian to the police. The inspector has latched on to the two stories and thinks Sebastian might be using you as a mark. He hasn’t been able to find any information on Sebastian either, thanks to a magical family that keeps themselves out of public records, and that’s made the inspector more suspicious.”
“And if the inspector keeps digging,” Jade said, “he might discover guests who remember meeting Sebastian at a masquerade that was supplied bootlegged liquor by Alasdair Findlay—whose death is also under police investigation.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Only a few weeks ago, they had jested about the police, because with a thought, Sebastian could have them all on the ground. Now, though, when he’d given up his defensive magic for Wesley—
“Outrageous.” Wesley started forward. “I’m going straight to the station—”
“Obviously we’re not going to let the police have Sebastian,”Jade said firmly. “But it will mean questions. Time. And we don’t have that anymore.”
Zhang was getting to his feet. “Jade, love, we have to go; Gwen’s cable has just arrived.”
“Whydon’t we have time anymore?” Wesley said. “And just arrivedwhere?”
Zhang gestured vaguely out the window. “Telegram office, a few blocks from here. I can’t get a good enough look from the astral plane; we’ve got to pick it up in person.”
Jade had also stood. “Arthur convinced his brother—the alderman—to distract the police. John has met both of you and will call the accusations ludicrous, but Ace also played a role in the bar fight at the Magnolia, and with John running for Senate, he obviously doesn’t want any touches of scandal involving family members. We’ll explain everything at the pier. Pack your trunks and meet us there, won’t you?”
Two minutes later, Wesley and Sebastian were alone in the hotel suite again. “We’re leaving for Englandnow?” Wesley said. “I can’t just tell the police to fuck off and leave you alone?”
