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“We know each other,” he said, repeating her words. “See you later.”
He watched her return to Lionel, looking for the telltale signs all over again. When he found none, Maddox slunk out of the bar and prepared.
He waited in the cold, unaffected for the most part as his body adjusted and his coat kept him from freezing. Patrons came and went, some sensing his presence but brushing it off as remnants of other patrons’ energy. Most were oblivious, just up here to let loose before they returned to their duties in the morning.
He spotted a warlock making out with a witch the moment they stumbled out of the bar, then giggled as they raced toward somewhere more private. An argument broke out between a group at the entrance, heated enough that two faced each other and began filling their fists up with energy.
“Quit it, you two. Or I will spell your asses out of here!”
The third person dragged them away while the fourth and fifth yelled out reasons not to fight. A few patrons came out to check the commotion…and a shadow slipped out of the back door, cloak in place and rushing in the opposite direction.
Maddox stayed in the shadows as he trailed after the figure, who also crouched in the darkness from time to time. He glimpsed a tendril of orange before her hand came out and plunged a key into the keyhole. His stomach dropped when she disappeared inside James Magoo’s office building, the debate raging in his head.
“What are you up to, Ruby?”
There would be no answers to his question if he didn’t move now. Maddox grappled with the risk and slunk in, too, then locked the door. There was no need to pause for his eyesight to adjust as he envisioned the building’s layout in his head, then crept toward where the most important rooms were located. The storage and file rooms were empty, baffling him. Then his eyes widened and he was hurrying toward the last important room.
“—and you shall open.”
The muffled words had the door to James’ office opening and Ruby’s face lighting in triumph. She strode in, cloak billowing, and was so silent inside. When he took a peek, he found her rummaging through the desk drawers before she abandoned it and entered the next door inside the office. Maddox gritted his teeth, wiped the drawers clean, and followed her inside.
“This is a bad idea.”
The freedom to talk in James’ private file room was a discovery that was more luck than investigation, but Ruby not knowing that had her exploding in a panic as she shushed him.
“His private file room has no detectors. I suggest not talking anywhere else but here.”
Astonishment flew as she marched over to him.
“How long have you been following me?”
“Bar.”
“What are you doing here?”
He raised a brow, quietly pointing out that he should be asking her that question. Chagrined, she shook her head.
“You need to leave.”
He raised another brow.
“And stop giving me that look! I should have known you would figure it out.”
“Figure out what?”
“Nothing. It’s none of your business.”
“If I wanted to be on James’ good side…”
He hadn’t meant to say it, and the look of betrayal that blazed on her face pressed tight against his chest. Then her gaze narrowed.
“But you can’t prove anything.”
“Ruby—”
“So, just leave me alone and let me do my thing.”
She whirled, determined to ignore him. Frustration rose and he reached out to clarify.
