“You can’t get rid of me, Conway,” She let Lorie’s hand go and crossed her arms stubbornly. “We do this together. You promised.”
“Hell, I did, didn’t I?” He didn’t look happy about it, but he grabbed her arms and tugged her closer. “This love stuff is harder than it looks.”
She gasped in surprise and he took that opportunity to kiss her. Right there in front of Harrison, Lorie, and any underground resident who happened to pass by.
“Okay, you two.” Harrison snapped her fingers. “Cursed book to steal. Criminal to catch. Sister-in-law to save from clutches of evil man with a stupid name.”
Lorie laughed. “Sounds like we have our hands full. Can’t wait.”
Sarah leaned back in Con’s embrace and noticed his sister’s narrowed gaze. Specifically when it turned on her. “What have you done with my brother?” Harrison demanded. “He’s never been the adventure type.”
Sarah winked. “You’d be surprised.”
“No I wouldn’t, because you’re never going to tell me. Believe me there is such a thing as oversharing. My best friend married my other two brothers—a girl can only take so much.” Harrison shook her head and pushed passed them, striding ahead of them down the tunnel. “Come with me if you want to meet Winnie. And follow my lead.”
When they reached the stained steel door, Sarah was ready. She obediently stayed behind Lorie and Con, not wanting to be seen in case, for any reason, she was recognized.
A Maris had the book.
Hester Maris had been an evil woman. She reveled in the pain of others. Human or Magian. Any misfortune that befell another became a reason for her to delight. If her relative was anything like she’d been, Sarah wasn’t sure she would be able to contain her loathing.
She wondered now if it had been Hester’s idea all along. If she’d been the keeper of the second book, the book that would ensure Sarah’s eternal suffering. Perhaps she’d made a deal with Aaron.
But Hester had never been a powerful Magian. Or incredibly bright. What she had been was manipulative and sly, which in the right circles, made up for her other deficiencies.
“May I help you?” a nasally voice asked through a small opening in the door.
“Oh, I hope so.” Harrison’s tone had changed. It sounded sultry. Feminine. Helpless. “Is this the home of Mr. Maris? My sister-in-law asked me to come and get her right away.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “She doesn’t want my husband to know about her little money problem.”
“Of course. Of course.” The door opened and Sarah leaned around Con, attempting to catch a glimpse. “Helluva way to keep a secret. Who did you bring with you?”
Harrison’s laugh was careless. “These guys? Just overprotective family, you know how that is. For some reason they didn’t want me, a grown woman, coming down here alone. Isn’t that silly? But I have to admit I might have gotten lost in those tunnels. I never knew this place existed. Is it very exciting to live here?”
They moved forward and Sarah caught her first glimpse of Winston Maris. At first glance he reminded her of a mottled, bald, beaver. All teeth and jowls and unkempt eyebrows. He was also suspicious. “Terribly exciting. The last few days in particular have been particularly thrilling. Leah is a delightful bundle of curiosity and energy. Although you might find she’s spent the money I paid her for her trinket already. I have quite a collection.”
“What am I going to do with her?” Harrison sighed, stepping into the man’s crowded foyer and gesturing to Lorie and Con. “Leah? Leah, dear we’ve come to take you home now. You’ve intruded on poor Mr. Maris long enough.”
Sarah kept her head down, clinging to Lorie’s hand as she passed close enough to brush against the man’s dirty shirt. Poor, status-hungry Hester would be rolling in her grave at the state her family’s name had been reduced to. Was it wrong of her to feel a thrill of satisfaction at the thought?
“Harrison?” A young woman’s voice preceded her down the stairwell cluttered with boxes and newspapers.
Sarah watched the perky blonde float down the stairs; her confused frown disappearing the instant Maris turned in her direction. “My dear Miss Gryffin. You didn’t tell me you’d sent for your sister-in-law. I would have rung the maid.”
He chuckled at his own joke and moved further into his living room. “Come in, come in. If you see anything you like, I can guarantee you I will sell it.”
Leah joined them and, following along with the ease of a professional actress, embraced Harrison. “Thank you for coming. I wouldn’t have called if it weren’t important. I was wondering if you could loan me the money to buy a particular pair of earrings. They are a steal, really. Well worth the price. Infused with the kind of power that could change my life.”
“Earrings that could change your life?” Con snorted, every inch the disi
nterested male. “Mr. Maris, you wouldn’t happen to have an infused pair of earplugs would you?”
Sensing a kindred spirit, the squat man’s smile grew, revealing a disturbing absence of teeth. “Women will be women, I suppose. But now that you mention it, I have something even better. My own special sleeping tonic. You won’t need earplugs, that I can swear to.”
She and Lorie had entered the living room when she sensed something. It made her stomach churn and stole her breath. It was here. Sarah squeezed Lorie’s arm so tightly she worried she might hurt him.
He covered her hand with his and squeezed back, letting her feel the connection between them. Telling her without words that he would keep her safe.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”