lacking in papers of any kind, sat in the middle of the room, its singular prominent feature being an antique lamp. Behind the desk, I saw a bookshelf, a small refrigerator, and an old office chair.
As I sat down in one of the guest chairs, I noticed a securely locked glass case pushed up against the wall. Antique guns of all shapes and sizes rested on velvet pads within it. “I guess I should explain,” I began.
“No need. By the way, what do you think of my firearm collection?”
“Pretty impressive. The Colt Army Model 1860 is in particularly fine condition.”
“I didn’t know you were an enthusiast.”
I shrugged. “Chalk it up to coincidence. We used to have that exact same model on the mantle when I was a boy. It belonged to my third great-grandfather. He fought in the Civil War.”
“I see bravery runs in your family. My favorite is the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. A remnant of a simpler time, when war was considered a noble, necessary response to a dangerous world.”
“Speaking of a dangerous world, have you been outside lately?”
“Walker gave me the traffic report after you, uh, left. I understand it’s quite a mess out there.”
“It is.”
“The union bosses have this city in a death grip. They make far more than their nonunionized counterparts and yet, provide mediocre services. They’re protected from layoffs and practically unaccountable. Frankly, I’m sick of it.”
“The timing seems fortuitous.”
He gave me a shrewd look. “Do you think I planned it to facilitate your search?”
“Did you?”
He chuckled lightly. “So, other than traffic, I trust that your trip was satisfactory?”
I was annoyed at his refusal to answer my question. But that wasn’t the only thing that bothered me. Something else gnawed at my brain, something unsettling. “How did Walker find me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Out of all the places in the city to look, why’d he search for me at the Explorer’s Society?”
Chase stared at me for a long minute. “We placed a homing beacon in your satchel.”
“Are you serious?”
“Please try to understand. I’ve invested a lot of time and money in this hunt. I can’t afford anything happening to you.”
“I’m touched.”
“If you want, you may remove it. It’s attached to your blade.”
I reached into the satchel and felt around. At the base of the machete, I felt a small, hard object. Peeling it off, I tossed it onto his desk. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m already wavering on this assignment. If you pull another stunt like this, I walk.”
“I understand. You have my word it won’t happen again.”
I nodded. “Now, before we proceed, I have one more question for you. What do you know about Ryan Standish?”
“Standish? That name sounds familiar.”
“It should. Beverly hired me to steal the cacique from him.”
“Ah yes, the crooked archaeologist.”
“Did you know he’s in Manhattan?”
“No, but I suppose I’m to blame. I have many friends within the Colombian government. As such, I was able to arrange for his deportation.”
“They moved fast.”
“My friends are powerful.”
I sat back. “I guess so. Well, I prepared a search plan. Are you ready to get started?”
“In a minute.”
“What are we waiting for?”
“Your partner.”
My lip curled in annoyance. “I work alone.”
“What if something goes wrong? What if you’re injured and need help?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Maybe not, but all the same, I’d like you to have someone watching your back.”
“You mean you want someone to spy on me.”
He didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes shifted. I followed his gaze to the metal door. As it opened, my muscles tightened.
“I know you two met before but let’s make it formal,” Chase said. “Cyclone Reed, meet your new partner. Beverly Ginger.”
Chapter 9
I barely controlled my anger as Beverly glided into the room. The last thing I needed was a partner, especially
As I sat down in one of the guest chairs, I noticed a securely locked glass case pushed up against the wall. Antique guns of all shapes and sizes rested on velvet pads within it. “I guess I should explain,” I began.
“No need. By the way, what do you think of my firearm collection?”
“Pretty impressive. The Colt Army Model 1860 is in particularly fine condition.”
“I didn’t know you were an enthusiast.”
I shrugged. “Chalk it up to coincidence. We used to have that exact same model on the mantle when I was a boy. It belonged to my third great-grandfather. He fought in the Civil War.”
“I see bravery runs in your family. My favorite is the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. A remnant of a simpler time, when war was considered a noble, necessary response to a dangerous world.”
“Speaking of a dangerous world, have you been outside lately?”
“Walker gave me the traffic report after you, uh, left. I understand it’s quite a mess out there.”
“It is.”
“The union bosses have this city in a death grip. They make far more than their nonunionized counterparts and yet, provide mediocre services. They’re protected from layoffs and practically unaccountable. Frankly, I’m sick of it.”
“The timing seems fortuitous.”
He gave me a shrewd look. “Do you think I planned it to facilitate your search?”
“Did you?”
He chuckled lightly. “So, other than traffic, I trust that your trip was satisfactory?”
I was annoyed at his refusal to answer my question. But that wasn’t the only thing that bothered me. Something else gnawed at my brain, something unsettling. “How did Walker find me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Out of all the places in the city to look, why’d he search for me at the Explorer’s Society?”
Chase stared at me for a long minute. “We placed a homing beacon in your satchel.”
“Are you serious?”
“Please try to understand. I’ve invested a lot of time and money in this hunt. I can’t afford anything happening to you.”
“I’m touched.”
“If you want, you may remove it. It’s attached to your blade.”
I reached into the satchel and felt around. At the base of the machete, I felt a small, hard object. Peeling it off, I tossed it onto his desk. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m already wavering on this assignment. If you pull another stunt like this, I walk.”
“I understand. You have my word it won’t happen again.”
I nodded. “Now, before we proceed, I have one more question for you. What do you know about Ryan Standish?”
“Standish? That name sounds familiar.”
“It should. Beverly hired me to steal the cacique from him.”
“Ah yes, the crooked archaeologist.”
“Did you know he’s in Manhattan?”
“No, but I suppose I’m to blame. I have many friends within the Colombian government. As such, I was able to arrange for his deportation.”
“They moved fast.”
“My friends are powerful.”
I sat back. “I guess so. Well, I prepared a search plan. Are you ready to get started?”
“In a minute.”
“What are we waiting for?”
“Your partner.”
My lip curled in annoyance. “I work alone.”
“What if something goes wrong? What if you’re injured and need help?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Maybe not, but all the same, I’d like you to have someone watching your back.”
“You mean you want someone to spy on me.”
He didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes shifted. I followed his gaze to the metal door. As it opened, my muscles tightened.
“I know you two met before but let’s make it formal,” Chase said. “Cyclone Reed, meet your new partner. Beverly Ginger.”
Chapter 9
I barely controlled my anger as Beverly glided into the room. The last thing I needed was a partner, especially
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