“Huh?”
“Mr. Hunt said you’re part of a much larger operation. Are you?”
Erik faltered, obviously taken aback by the question.
Daniel pounced. “Then it really is true! Who are you people?”
The thief darted him a wary glance. “Better if you don’t know. We like to fly under everybody’s radar—especially the Nephilim’s.”
“It’s too late for that.” Daniel shook his head regretfully. “My father knows about you now. He’s ordered Mr. Hunt to find your leader and to destroy your organization, so you can’t interfere with the quest for the Sage Stone.”
“That’s just great!” Erik threw his hands up in disgust. “Like we didn’t have enough plates to spin already.”
“You should protect yourselves. Go into hiding,” the scion urged.
“It’s not your concern,” Erik retorted dismissively. “You and I have got other things to discuss today.”
Daniel rubbed his head distractedly. Chris was intruding on his thoughts again as if this day weren’t already bad enough. “What do you want from me?” he asked in resignation.
“A little information. A little help. We want to rescue Hannah.”
The scion sat up straight and turned to stare at the thief. “Are you insane?”
Erik smiled derisively. “You already called me crazy so why would you even be surprised?”
“The Nephilim compound is run like a prison these days. There are guards at the gates. Guards with guns.”
“I’m well aware of that, chum,” Erik countered.
“There are also security cameras set up around the outer walls and inside the hallways of the main building. It would be impossible to get Hannah out of there.”
“By yourself maybe,” the thief retorted. “But with a little help from us...” He trailed off.
The scion still couldn’t follow Erik’s train of thought. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that if we join forces, we might be able to pull it off.”
The thought had never occurred to Daniel before, but these thieves had shown remarkable ingenuity in the past. Knowing that they had a pool of resources from which to draw actually gave him some comfort. Perhaps they and their associates could find a way where he could see none. He permitted himself a faint glimmer of hope. For the first time that afternoon, his attention was entirely riveted on Hannah’s escape. “How would we go about it?”
Erik grinned triumphantly. “I knew you’d see things my way. What I need from you is some information. You’ll have to stroll around the grounds of the compound and note the location and angle of every surveillance camera on the outside wall. You’ll also need to check the cams around Hannah’s room. I’ll want schematics of all that stuff.”
“What possible good would that do?”
“It will help me pinpoint blind spots. There are bound to be sections along the fence line that can’t be seen by one or more of those cameras. The same rule applies to the corridors inside the building. I should be able to map a path to get her out of there without anybody noticing.”
Erik paused as another thought struck him. “I assume she’s got somebody guarding her room?”
“Actually, no. She’s locked inside her chamber, but several people have the key. I’m sure I can get a copy myself.”
“Hmmm,” Erik rubbed his chin. “That’s a break for us. How long will it take you to pull the information together about the cameras?”
“A few days, I suppose. How will I get in touch with you?”
Without replying, Erik handed him a cell phone. “It’s a burner. My number’s already programmed. When you have the intel I need, call. I’ll meet you here.”
“Don’t expect to hear from me for at least two days.”
“Fair enough.” Erik handed the car keys back to Daniel and opened the passenger door.
“One final question before you go.”
Erik was already outside the car, but he leaned back in. “What is it?”
Daniel wavered. “I know my reasons for wanting Hannah to escape. Her return could create some difficulties for me personally.” He eyed the thief skeptically. “But why on earth would you go to all this trouble to help her?”
Without even pausing to consider his answer, Erik replied, “Because everybody should have the right to be free.” He slammed the door and disappeared.
Chapter 44—Choosing Up Sides
The pythia sat behind her obsidian desk with the chatelaine and the scrivener opposite. They’d chosen this venue for their strategy sessions since it was larger than either Maddie’s or Griffin’s offices. Cassie also found she could think more clearly surrounded by lighted waterfalls and the grounding stone of the desk itself.
“Hey.” Erik strode into the room carrying a roll of papers under his arm.
“Um, how are you?” Cassie asked tentatively. It was the first time the two had met since their conversation on her birthday.
“Fine.” The paladin shrugged. “I hear your retrieval went well.”
“Who told you that?” Griffin sounded surprised.
“Rinchen. I’ve been getting an earful from him about the Dynamic Duo. That’s his new name for you and Cassie. He can’t seem to talk about anything else.” For some reason, Erik appeared mildly irritated by their success.
“We were rather brilliant.” Griffin gave Cassie a conspiratorial wink.
She laughed.
“So I’ve heard,” the paladin said testily. “Again and again and again. The only time Rinchen isn’t singing your praises is when he’s skyping with his new girlfriend in China.” He abruptly threw his stack of papers onto Cassie’s desk. “How about we skip the chit-chat and get down to business?”
“What put you into such a foul mood?” Maddie asked.
“Something a little birdie told me. Daniel says Hunt knows about the Arkana.”
His listeners exchanged shocked looks.
The chatelaine pursed her lips. “I guess I gave that hayseed one too many breadcrumbs to follow. Who would have thought he could put it together on his own?”
“He doesn’t know where we are, just that we exist,” the paladin added. “Daniel says the diviner ordered Hunt to find us and shut us down so we can’t get to the Sage Stone before he does.”
Maddie shrugged. “He’s welcome to try.”
Erik unrolled the sheaf of papers he’d brought. “We
