Page 79 of The Thief's Mark

A rustling noise came from overhead, and he glanced up just in time to see a coiled rope darting down at him from the rafters.He shouted in surprise that was only half-feigned as the rope bound his arms behind his back, slithering tight about his wrists like a fibrous serpent.

A figure dropped down after it, landing in a crouch before Cal. Though the figure wore a gray mask that covered everything except his mouth and eyes, Cal would’ve recognized his patchwork cloak anywhere.

“What’s the passcode?” Kelsith demanded.

Cal made a show of struggling against the rope, mimicking the indignant merchant he’d watched Griff interrogate. “How dare you! Unhand me at once, rogue!”

Kelsith sighed. He tugged a dagger from his belt, using it to pick at his fingernails. “Passcode. Quickly, if you please, unless you want this to end badly for one of us.”

Glaring at the cocky thief, Cal spat, “The silver squid has the blackest ink.”

He tried not to let his nerves show at Kelsith regarded him. This was the riskiest part of the plan. If that merchant had tricked them by giving them a false code…

Cal breathed out when the rope abruptly released his wrists, coiling back up and around Kelsith’s forearm.

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Kelsith chuckled as he tucked his dagger back in his belt. “It’s good to see you again, Gamund. Now, do you have the package for me?”

Cal huffed and made a show of brushing off his suit, straightening his tie. Only when Kelsith frowned impatiently did he finally tug out a manila folder. He started to hold it out, then pulled it back, feigning hesitation.

“This will wipe the slate clean with Bald Locke, right?”

Kelsith snatched the folder from his grip and tucked it beneath his cloak with a smirk. “Of course. Pleasure doing business with you.”

Cal held back a grimace. Their research had already determined that Kelsith was operating alone without the Brotherhood’s knowledge. Somehow, he’d caught wind of people who owed the Brotherhood money or favors and begun collecting, claiming that he worked for Bald Locke and that doing these tasks for him would clear their debt. As usual, Kelsith was nothing more than a fancy con artist.

Not that the minor merchant Cal was playing had any idea of that fact.

He feigned relief. “Good. That’s good.” The exchange made, he stepped back, watching as Kelsith moved toward the door. Unease bloomed in his chest with each step Kelsith took.

Where the Void is Griff?The protectors should have been in position by now. If Cal let Kelsith stroll out of here, they might never get another chance to catch him.

Improvising, he shouted, “Wait!”

Kelsith turned. “What is it? I was really hoping to catch this show. It’s one of my favorites.”

Licking his lips, Cal let his nervousness show. “Those documents are highly sensitive. What are you going to do with that information?”

Kelsith sneered at him. “That’s for Bald Locke to decide, not for you to worry about.”

He turned again to depart, and Cal shuffled a step closer. “Please. It would help me sleep better if I knew it wasn’t going to hurt anyone.”

Kelsith gave a derisive snort. His hand strayed back to his dagger, toying with the hilt. “Again, that’s not your concern. Now quit with the questions, or the only one here who’s going to end up hurt isyou.”

Cal clenched his jaw.Eternal Dark, this isn’t working.If he didn’t want this to devolve into a fight, he needed a new tactic.

“What about that recent job with the Vantoric traders?” he said, letting admiration leak into his voice. “That was you, too, right?”

When in doubt, stroking Kelsith’s ego seemed a surefire way to keep him talking. Judging by the way Kelsith’s eyes narrowed, however, Cal feared he might’ve overplayed his hand.

“What doyouknow about that?”

Cal shrugged. “Only what I’ve heard. Word is it was pulled off without a hitch, and with no one the wiser. Is that the same kind of thing that’ll happen with this info?”

Kelsith shrugged, turning away. “Sure. Why not? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a play to catch.”

He strode toward the door, reaching for the handle.

The Void with this!