The Dragon Conspiracy by Lisa Shearin

Author:Lisa Shearin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2015-01-06T23:00:00+00:00

13

THE Dakota.

I’d heard of it. I mean, who hadn’t?

Exclusive and expensive home to celebrities and the absurdly rich. Where John Lennon had lived and was killed a couple of years before I was born. But I’d never seen it in person. The apartment building looming over a chunk of Central Park was part French chateau, part fortress.

In my opinion, it couldn’t have been a more perfect home to New York’s only registered gorgon.

Vivienne Sagadraco’s limo stopped in front of the arched carriageway that extended through the thick walls of the sand-colored building. I half expected to see an iron portcullis over the entrance, ready to drop on any who had the audacity to pass through without an invitation from one of the residents. There was a guard in an actual sentry box like something you’d find outside Buckingham Palace, minus the big, furry hat. God help you if your name wasn’t on the guard’s list.

Naturally, the boss was on the list, and surprisingly, my name was on there as well. It didn’t merely say “and guest.” The guard directed the two of us through the carriageway and into an amazingly quiet inner courtyard. The sound of the water in the bronze fountains was actually louder than the traffic on the street outside.

We crossed the courtyard and entered a small lobby. I turned toward the elevator, and felt Vivienne Sagadraco’s light touch on my arm.

“This way, Agent Fraser.”

“But—”

“Helena has a private elevator to her apartment. She prefers to avoid contact with the other residents.”

I could certainly understand that. Turning people into life-sized action figures would be a surefire way to alienate your neighbors.

The boss led me to the far end of the narrow lobby where there was a small keypad set into a blank wall. Her delicate fingers flew over the keypad, hitting I had no idea how many numbers. There was a click and an elevator door–sized section of wall silently slid back, revealing a dark wood-paneled elevator illuminated by a pair of alabaster sconces set into either side of the back wall.

The elevator went up as quietly as the door had opened, so I couldn’t tell how many floors we passed going up. How we were getting there was less of a concern to me right now than what the heck I was going to say when I got there. Best to ask now than to embarrass myself soon.

“Ma’am, I don’t want to offend Ms. Thanos or embarrass you, but I have no idea how to act around . . . someone with her affliction. I was raised to believe that it’s rude not to look people in the eye when you talk to them, but with a—”

“I’ve told Helena that I will be bringing a guest. She will wear special glasses over her eyes out of consideration for you. It will be perfectly safe for you to look at her.”

I didn’t want to ask, but I had to. “Are you sure it’s safe, ma’am?” I spoke quietly. I didn’t doubt her word, but after seeing what’d happened to Sebastian du Beckett .

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