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It was good to be with Pallas Llewellyn.
She stirred something inside him in ways that made him realize he had been alone and lonely for a very long time. It wasn’t just the sexual attraction, although that was definitely a serious factor. There was more to the experience—at least on his end—a new and unfamiliar layer of connection. He had never felt anything quite like it.There were no words for it. Or maybe he was afraid to call up the right words.
One thing was evident: it had been the best evening he’d had since the amnesia episode in San Diego. Granted, San Diego did not set a high bar, but still, the night was a good one and he wanted to enjoy it. He was, therefore, pissed to have the quiet walk back to the hotel interrupted by the realization that he and Pallas were being followed.
He listened to the footsteps echoing in the fog. Whoever was back there was moving deliberately, maintaining a cautious distance. It should have been good news. It indicated that roiling the waters with the interviews had not been a waste of time today. Then again, maybe they were about to get mugged on the main street of Carnelian.
As if she had read his mind, Pallas gave him an inquiring look.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“We’ve got company,” he said, keeping his voice low.
“Company?”
“Someone is following us.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw her aura spike. “No, don’t turn around.”
“How did you know I was about to—? Never mind. Do you think we’re being paranoid?”
“Let’s run a little experiment and see what happens.”
He took her hand to make sure she didn’t stumble when they quickened their pace. Pallas didn’t resist. They moved a little faster. The footsteps behind them hesitated and then picked up speed to close the distance.
There was no one else around. The lights of the hotel glowed on the corner of the next block, a long way off if their pursuer proved to be a mugger. They were walking past a row of closed shops, and theywere alone on the sidewalk except for the person who was following them.
He tightened his grip on Pallas’s hand and moved faster. She kept up with him and did not ask any questions.
“There’s an alley up ahead,” he said quietly.
She glanced at him but she did not argue. When they reached the dark entrance of the narrow passage he pivoted and hauled her into the dense shadows. She promptly stumbled and uttered a small, choked gasp of alarm.
He caught her and wrapped one arm around her, pulling her close to his side.
“Damn,” she whispered.
He decided not to take it personally.
The footsteps got louder. A figure appeared in the light of the streetlamp-infused fog. A woman.
“Nice night, isn’t it, Ms.Luckhurst?” Ambrose said from the alley. “What can we do for you?”
Jodi Luckhurst yelped, stopped abruptly, and whirled around to stare, wide-eyed, into the darkness of the alley. Her aura was flashing wildly. She was anxious and scared.
“Who’s there?” she gasped.
“Ambrose Drake and Pallas Llewellyn,” Pallas said calmly. “But, then, you know that, don’t you? We met earlier today at the Institute. Why are you following us, Jodi?”
“You scared the shit out of me,” Jodi said.
“Because we don’t like being followed,” Ambrose said.
Jodi checked the sidewalk on either side and lowered her voice. “I need to talk to you but I have to do it privately.”
“This alley is private,” Pallas pointed out. “Unless you’ve got a better idea?”
“No, I guess not.” Jodi scanned the sidewalk one last time and then took a few nervous steps into the alley. “This is kind of creepy.”
“Yes, it is,” Ambrose said. “But here we are. Why do you want to talk to us?”
