Page 47 of After 5
“He came to the office today and took me out to lunch.”
Gertie smirked. “He’s moving in to claim his territory.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He heard about Caiyan and was concerned.”
“Concerned you might need a big, muscular shoulder to cry on.”
“Gertie, about the battle…”
“That’s true. The battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863.”
I chewed on a jagged cuticle as I thumbed through the information on my phone. “Gert, there’s battles all around the town of Gettysburg, I’m not sure there will be a safe place to land if the Mafusos jump there next moon cycle.”
Gertie flipped open a page of her book and showed me an illustration of the area around Gettysburg.
“Since the commanders didn’t have good forms of communication, the troops were directed by signal flags and scouts. It was like a huge game of telephone, and not one I’d want to get in the middle of.” She paused and a whimsical look came over her face. “But what I wouldn’t give to see General Lee in all his glory.” She shook off the fangirl moment. “Let’s hope the Mafusos aren’t stupid enough to jump in the middle of that heap of trouble.”
It wasn’t the Mafusos who concerned me. If Caiyan got his hands on a key, he’d be crazy enough to jump to Gettysburg and take whatever they sought there.
After we watched a documentary about the famous battle focused in the small Pennsylvania town, accompanied by a generous portion of Chicken Chow Mein and glasses of wine, Gertie clicked off the TV.
“That was intense,” I said.
“I agree. I hope you’re not going there.”
“I need to find the sword. I’m supposed to wait until I hear from Jake before I search Caiyan’s apartment.”
Gertie stopped opening her fortune cookie. “I know that look, and the answer is no. You’re not dragging me to New York to rummage through Caiyan’s belongings.”
She knew me well. “C’mon Gertie. I need someone to watch my back in case the Mafusos have the place watched.”
Jake had eyes on the apartment as well, but it would be too late by the time he found out.
“What if Mahlia’s at his apartment? Or worse, Caiyan’s home? You know how he hates you sticking your nose in his business.”
“I believe the sword has a clue to where Caiyan needs to go.”
“I’ll make you a deal. Brodie’s heading to Scotland to search Caiyan’s house and his European and New York offices. Give Brodie two weeks to do his job. If he comes up empty, you’ll contact Jake and get approval, then I’ll go to the Big Apple with you.”
“OK,” I said. My shoulders drooped as I chose a fortune cookie. My patience was running thin, but I knew Gertie was right.
She ripped off the plastic from her cookie and broke it in half, peeling the white strip of paper from its insides.
“What does it say?” I asked.
“Your true love will show himself to you under the full moonlight.” Gertie frowned. “I guess I’ll have to drag Brodie outside next cycle.”
“It’s supposed to happen naturally, like you see a guy and realize he’s standing under the moonlight.”
“Sounds kind of corny to me. What’s yours say?”
I pulled out the white paper. “No distance is too far, if two hearts are tied together.”
“Huh,” Gertie said. “Let’s hope those tangled up hearts don’t lead you to Gettysburg.”
* * *
A week and a half later,I drove home from my morning shift at the chiropractic office. I loved Fridays because we only worked half the day, leaving me the afternoon to scour the gossip sites for tales of Caiyan. My cell dinged, and I put Jake on speaker phone.
