Alec stood behind a meat smoker’s chimney, the mouthwatering scent of rendering pork filling the air. Jen landed softly beside him. “Anything?”
He shook his head. “I really want some bacon.”
“We can have some for breakfast after we rescue Master Shen.”
Jen leapt away. Three blocks further on she reached Rhys. The oldest member of the team stood in the shadows of a snow-clogged alley. “Anything?”
“Edward slunk by a minute ago. He was tailing a likely looking fellow, but I have no idea if it panned out.”
“Which way?”
He nodded to the right.
“I’ll see what he found. If we need help I’ll whistle, so keep an ear out.”
He nodded again and settled deeper into the alley. Jen leapt to the roofs and ran along above the street, eyes straining for any sign of Edward. She gritted her teeth. He should know better than to tail someone on his own, especially after seeing what the thugs could do.
At last she spotted him standing in the shadows of an empty alley, his maul leaning against the wall behind him. His gaze was focused on a two-story brick building across the street. A glow lamp hung above a closed door at the top of a short flight of steps. Nothing about the place seemed remarkable to her.
She leapt down and landed beside him. Edward never flinched. “Report.”
“I followed a guy in a coat like the ones the thugs were wearing to that building across the way. He knocked and when the door opened he rolled up his sleeve and showed the raven tattoo. The door guard let him in then slammed and locked the door. That was about a minute ago.”
Jen grinned in the dark. This was the best sign they’d found so far. “Do you think this is their base?”
He shook his head. “No idea. I couldn’t see past the guard. You want to go kick the door down?”
Kicking the door down was the last thing she wanted to do. If the Unkindness heard them coming they might kill Master Shen, assuming he was still alive. “Do you remember the knock he used?”
“It didn’t sound like a code if that’s what you mean. He just knocked, the door opened, and he showed off his tattoo.”
“Perfect. All we need is to get the door open. I’ll fetch the others. If anyone comes out before I return take them into custody. And for heaven’s sake keep it quiet.”
Chapter 18
It took ten minutes for Jen to collect the rest of her people and rejoin Edward. When they arrived, a dead man lay on the ground beside him. Jen grimaced. “This is not what I meant when I said take him into custody.”
“You said keep him quiet. He shouted when I grabbed him so I punched him. I may have hit him a little too hard.”
“No kidding,” Talon said.
“Did he have anything on him when he stepped out?” Jen asked.
Edward shook his head. “My guess is he’s a messenger.”
Jen eyed the dead man then turned to Alec. “You look about the right size. See if his jacket will fit.”
Alec leaned his staff against the wall and shrugged into the dead man’s long coat. It was a little short, but not bad. “What now?” He reached for his staff.
“Leave it.” Jen pointed to the hilt of a dagger sticking out of the top of his boot. “Use that. Knock on the door and when the guard opens it, take him out. We’ll be right behind you.”
Alec walked across the street, the boot dagger in his right hand behind his back. He climbed the steps and knocked.
Jen held her breath. If the guard raised the alarm they’d had it, and most likely so had Master Shen.
The door opened and the guard said something. An instant later Alec drove the dagger up under his chin and into his brain. They rushed across the street. Edward shouldered the body and dumped it with the first one. Jen tossed Alec his staff and they slipped inside, locking the door behind them.
Beyond the door was a small room with a hard wooden chair and rickety table with a broadsheet on it. Apparently the guard enjoyed reading gossip while he waited. Jen glanced at the front page. Two months out of date; maybe he covered his eyes with it while he napped. A second door led deeper into the building.
“What if someone knocks?” Alec tossed the nasty jacket into the guard’s chair. “Won’t they wonder where the guard is?”
“We can’t worry about that, unless you’re volunteering to fill in.” Jen raised an eyebrow.
Alec waved his free hand. “Just asking. What now?”
“Now we have a look around and see if we can’t figure out what’s happening in this city. Talon, take point. Edward, rear guard. Let’s move.”
The second door opened on well-oiled hinges. Behind it a long, narrow corridor led deeper into the building. Talon went through first, silent as a hunting cat. Jen let him get a short lead before she followed, the others right behind her.
As she slipped down the hallway she trailed her fingers along the wall. Whoever built it had faced the walls with rough-cut lumber. Whatever business fronted this place it wasn’t high end.
Talon stopped at the end of the hall. It ended in a T. “Which way?”
Jen couldn’t see that it mattered. They’d have to search both directions anyway. “Right.”
They continued right maybe five paces before coming to a door. Talon gave it a tug and it creaked open. Jen winced at the noise, which certainly sounded louder to her soul-force-enhanced ears than it really was.
Inside they found crates, coils of rope, and block-and-tackle sets hanging from pegs on the wall. Apparently this building served as an outfitter for sailors. That made sense. There were probably another two or three just like it further down the street.
“Keep going, unless you hear a heartbeat,” Jen said.
Talon nodded and continued down the hall. He paused at two more doors before
