to have some kind of low-level patron who liked to play with him. It was quite another for Michael to be making deals with the head of the line.
“I know New York,” Michael replied, not bothering to get defensive. “If you want to hunt here, you have to know the territory. Be grateful.”
Jay said, “Okay, let’s not start bickering. If Sarah wants to turn herself in, she’ll get a message to us tonight, and we’ll … do what needs to be done, what she asks of us. But what if she doesn’t?”
“Then we’ll deal with that tomorrow night,” Zachary said.
Jay shook his head. “We need some kind of decision tonight. Dominique won’t drop her claim just because we decide Sarah has a right to live. We need to know if we’re planning to try to fight the law. We’re representing three lines here. Is there some kind of plan to—”
“I’ve got it covered,” Adia interrupted. “I’ll make sure Dominique accepts however things come out tonight.”
“Care to tell us this plan?” Zachary asked, but this time Adia didn’t want to share. He probably wouldn’t approve, and given what she had learned recently, he certainly wouldn’t have the guts to do what needed to be done even if he agreed.
Jay gave her a long, even look. She didn’t know what he could hear in her mind. After a moment, he said, “If you’re sure.”
“Whatever,” Michael said. “As long as the Vida line gets rid of the hooks it’s using to play with the rest of us, I’m fine with it.”
“By sunrise,” Adia assured him, “the Rights won’t be a factor. But for now …” She let out a long breath as she focused herself. Where should the pieces go? “Jay, you wait with Michael on the street outside the theater. That’ll put you close enough that you can try to pick up a sense of how Sarah’s feeling. See if she seems scared or hopeful or angry or … whatever you and your line do with your mojo.”
Jay nodded, so apparently the instruction was sufficient for him.
“Zachary, you wait here until we know Sarah is coming out of the theater. We don’t want them to see you too early.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to scope inside the theater,” Adia said. “Sarah will sense me there. Maybe she will come right to me.”
“And the twins?” Michael asked. “It seems pretty certain they won’t let Sarah go without a fight. Do you really want to be alone on the front line?”
“Have we confirmed whether or not we took one out in the fight?” Zachary asked. “Michael, you say you saw Nikolas. But has anyone heard anything about Kristopher?”
“Nikolas is considered pretty unstable,” Michael said. “If I had successfully killed his brother, there’s no way he would have looked me in the eye and played nice when I saw him.”
“So it’s safe to assume we’ll be dealing with both of them,” Jay said.
“My source implied pretty much the same thing,” Adia answered. “That’s why the three of you are going to be close. I want to try to see Sarah alone, but if I get into a fight, I
He nodded.
“Good. Then that’s that.”
She didn’t have any more. Her plan was concise and specific. If anything, she was relying on Michael’s assurance that Kendra had given her blessing to this, and on the ability of certain individuals to talk fast.
“ ‘The play’s the thing,’ ” Zachary murmured.
“What?” Adia asked.
Zachary looked embarrassed as he explained, “It’s from
Adia knew of the play, but she hadn’t read that one in class. “I don’t read a lot of Shakespeare.”
Zachary seemed like he had to gather his nerve to reply, but nevertheless he did so. “Neither did I,” he said. “But I have a friend who likes it. We’ve seen a couple shows together.”
Adia didn’t know what to say to that, or why Zachary said it almost like it was a confession.
“Well, good for you,” Jay replied after a long hesitation. “Someday, Zachary, I think it would be interesting to meet your friend.”
“Okay, everyone,” Adia said slowly, thinking over the very few details they had. She absently patted the knife sheathed on her wrist. “Operation Seat of Our Pants is a go.”
They all moved toward their places. As Adia had predicted, it was a few minutes before intermission. Broadway shows were always too long for Adia’s taste. She never understood how people could tolerate just sitting, watching people walk and sing on a stage.
Was Sarah enjoying it?
Adia flipped through one of the souvenir programs, concealing her anxiety and even her presence from those around her. She had her aura masked so the vampires would not sense it, but Sarah had more than a vampire’s abilities; Adia was sure she would have enough of a witch’s magic left to be able to sense such familiar power near to her.
If Sarah really was still Sarah, and not just a monster, then if she knew that Adia was alone, she would come alone to talk.
CHAPTER 24
SATURDAY, 8:05 P.M.
THE CROWD WITHIN the theater was made up of individuals of all ages, in all types of casual or formal wear. Sarah saw more than a few double takes from other men and women as the vampires presented their tickets and were escorted to their seats, and she was acutely aware of the image she, Kristopher, Nikolas and Kendra made as they cut through the crowd.
Sarah had never lacked confidence. She knew she was attractive, in a trendy blond kind of way. But no fine clothes or fancy hairstyle would
Sarah knew she looked good enough on Kristopher’s arm to merit envy. The four of them together, however, turned heads in awe. Kendra, Nikolas and Kristopher were obviously used to the attention, but to Sarah it was a new and somewhat unsettling response. She had spent most of her life blending in and knowing that too much attention would get her killed.
Of course, too much attention here that night might
She ended up sitting with Kristopher on her left, Nikolas on her right and Kendra on the opposite side of Nikolas—too close for comfort, still, but at least Kendra didn’t lean over to whisper things conspiratorially in Sarah’s ear like she did to Nikolas. It was almost hard to remember, with the head of their line looking radiant and excited for the show, that she had given tacit approval of Sarah’s death if it did occur that night.
It was too surreal to contemplate, so Sarah tried not to. As they settled in, she wondered instead why box seats were considered
She waited too long to ask where and when the story took place. The lights dropped, and the music began.