Page 6 of Locked in Wonderland

I put my fork down to place a hand over it. “Warren gave it to me on the last night we were together. He had it engraved and everything.” I took it off and showed him, Nico offering it only a cursory glance.

I was hungrier than I thought, wolfing the food down in record time, then pushing the plate away from me. “Thank you,” I said. “I needed that.”

“You’re welcome. You looked like a man so intent on achieving your goal that you’d forget to eat.”

In contrast to me virtually inhaling my breakfast, Nico was only halfway through his. I watched as he painstakingly cut off a small geometric piece of egg and toast, brought it to his mouth, and chewed methodically. It showed a man fully in control of his movements. At least, that was what I got from it.

“I don’t know much about Wonderland,” I said.

He finished chewing his mouthful and swallowed. “What do you want to know?”

“How to get there, for a start. I’ve never seen a boat. I looked for a timetable, but there isn’t one.”

“There’s only one ship a day. And you have to get a boat to get to the ship. Security regulations are strict,” he explained when I frowned.

“What time is the boat?” I asked, excitement at getting the information I needed bubbling over.

Even though his plate still had food on it, he carefully placed his knife and fork together to show he’d finished eating. Then he deliberately sat back in his chair and studied me. “You said you’ve only been seeing—”

“Warren,” I supplied when the pause went on too long.

He nodded. “Warren. You said what? Two weeks?” He waited for my nod. “That’s not very long.”

“Long enough,” I said defensively. “Besides, this goes way past him being my boyfriend. Someone kidnapped him.”

“So you say.”

Irritation had me sitting up straighter. “Now you sound like the police. What point are you trying to make?”

He took a sip of his tea. “Do you live around here?”

“No. I’m here for work. I’m an environmental health inspector.” The waitress carrying a plate of food came to an abrupt halt halfway across the cafe. “I’m not here to inspect you,” I called across. I looked back over my shoulder at the kitchen. “Although that reaction makes me think they’ve got something to hide.”

“Go home. Forget about Warren. Forget about Wonderland.”

I laughed. “Have you been listening at all?”

“I’ve listened to every single word you’ve said.”

“Then you know I can’t do that. What time is the boat?” I asked again.

The pause before Nico answered stretched for an eon. “Six o’clock. Wonderland operates on more of a nocturnal schedule. Party all night. Sleep all day. That sort of thing.”

“Makes sense,” I said. “How do I get a ticket? And how much does it cost?”

“Your face is your ticket.”

“That makes no sense.”

Nico pushed his chair back and stood. He threw notes on the table that far exceeded the cost of the meal. “It makes perfect sense. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting.”

“What do you mean my face is my ticket?”

Nico kept walking without so much as a backward glance. Either he hadn’t heard me, or he’d chosen not to answer. I suspected the latter. What a strange guy. Undeniably hot, but strange.

Chapter Four

A six p.m. departure left me plenty of time to return to the hotel, pay for my stay, and pack my stuff. I was back in front of the cafe by five, the waitress offering me a nod as she packed away all the tables I’d watched her get out this morning. “Still not here to inspect,” I shouted across to her. She smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.