Page 73 of Wild Escape

I told Joshua we’d be in touch.

We left the auditorium, strolled the hallway, and stepped outside.

"I don't know about you," Jack said, "but I want to speak with Rachel firsthand."

"We're not going to get anywhere at the sorority," I said. "We need to catch her out in the wild."

“I think he did it,” Daphne said.

“Nobody asked you.”

She made a pouty face. “Are you still mad about the kick to the nuts?”

I gave her a sour look, then made a phone call to Isabella. I asked her to keep track of the chapter president. She said she’d let me know when Rachel was on the move. Maybe we could catch up with her on campus or around town somewhere.

My phone buzzed with a call from someone I did not expect. I swiped the screen and said, "This is Deputy Wild.”

"Deputy, this is Hendrick Van der Valk. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time."

"No. Not at all."

"I've recently heard something I think you might find interesting."

"I'm listening."

37

"Ican't confirm this," Hendrick said, "but I am hearing chatter about the Codex,” he said in a salacious voice. “I've heard whispers that it's on the market and available."

"Who are you hearing this from?" I asked.

"I can't divulge my sources. But it might be in your best interest to get back to the convention and start snooping around. That is what you do, isn't it?"

Hendrick was a shit starter, but I didn’t mind.

"Thanks for the heads up. If you have anything more concrete, please get in touch."

"Just doing my part," he said, then added, “You didn’t hear this from me, but you should talk to Devon Anderson. He might have more insight.”

“I’ll keep that between us.”

“I would appreciate it. I suspect you’ll find him at the hotel bar, wheeling and dealing.”

“Can you confirm that?”

“Yes. I’m looking right at him. You should hurry.”

I ended the call.

I wasn’t sure what his motive was for giving us the information. He didn't strike me as a particularly altruistic person. But maybe a rival of his had an angle on the book. Hendrick struck me as the kind of guy who didn’t like to lose. If he couldn't have something, he didn't want anybody else to have it, either.

We drove back to the convention, parked the car with the valet, then hurried inside. We made our way to the bar and spotted Hendrick right away. He sat at a high-top table, sipping a martini.

We made eye contact, and he gave a nod across the bar to a booth. Devon sat across the table from another gentleman. They shared a drink and a few laughs, but there was no mistaking this was a business meeting.

Devon was in his mid-50s with wavy dark hair, a trimmed mustache and goatee, and a navy suit.

The gentleman he talked to was a little older, bald, and wore thick square glasses.