Squelched by Robinne Weiss

Author:Robinne Weiss [Weiss, Robinne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780473507718
Publisher: Sandfly Books
Published: 2020-01-25T05:00:00+00:00

21

Nico

Pain. Like nothing Nico had ever felt before. It tore at his gut, slicing through flesh and bone and magic. He could almost see the shape of her power. His eyes widened, and he just glimpsed her own shock before he doubled over in agony.

The spear was gone in an instant, though the pain lingered for a few minutes. Nico gradually recovered, and heard the librarian’s frantic voice. “Sir! Are you alright?” He peeled his arms away from his stomach, expecting to see a gaping wound. There was nothing. His shirt and jacket were pristine. He prodded. Not even a scratch on his skin. He took a deep breath and straightened. He felt pale and shaky and imagined he looked about the same.

He smiled. “I’m fine. Just a … a medical condition. Comes and goes. It’s nothing.” He waved a dismissive hand and took another breath. “The book?”

“Oh. Yes. Of course. Right over here.” She led him to the book, which was still open to the Squelcher page. Nico scanned the page, turned it over to make sure there was no more, and asked, “May I take photographs?” He had to get back out there and follow Tory. He could read the book later from his photos.

“As long as you don’t use a flash.”

Nico took two snaps—of the drawing and of the text. He pocketed his phone and nodded to the librarian, who hovered with a concerned look on her face. “Thanks. That’s all I need.”

He passed a tall man in a suit on his way out and heard the librarian say to him, “We have had the strangest visitors today.”

Nico took the stairs two at a time and burst out of the museum just as Tory and Jess ducked into a cab.

He hadn’t dared bring his own car downtown—it was a government vehicle, and he really didn’t need anyone from the Division noticing him. Damn! He’d never get a cab in time to catch up with them.

He called for one anyway. As soon as he hung up, a taxi pulled up at the curb. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young couple jogging over. “Sorry,” he muttered, trying to ignore their glares as he jumped into the car and gave the driver the address.

At the first traffic light, his taxi pulled up behind Tory’s, and Nico breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t lost her, and it looked like they were headed to the hotel, which is what he’d expected.

As the vehicle neared the hotel, Nico scanned the roof, the bushes, the fences, for any sign of a sniper. He saw nothing. Then a glint of light caught his eye. There was someone in one of the hotel windows. The barrel of a gun caught the light again. Second floor, third room from the end.

Wait a minute.

That was his room.

“Bastards!” he muttered.

Tory’s cab had arrived, and Jess was helping her out when the sniper fired. Nico was ready. This was something he’d trained for—deflecting bullets. It was tricky, but he was good at it.

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