“He’d want somewhere private,” I say, my gaze unfocused as I stare at the floor. “He’s been looking for the bones for months. He’s spent years getting Thaddeus’s journal, time tracking down Markus. I don’t think he’d want to wait any longer. He’s going to be in a hurry now that he has everything he needs. He’s going to want somewhere private to do this… reincarnation.”
"He wouldn’t be stupid enough to use one of my buildings now," Ares says, pacing. “It’s obvious I’m looking for him.”
Juliet shifts her weight from one foot to the other. She looks like she’s about ready to crawl out of her own skin with the need todosomething. "Then he’s using something new. Something that has no risk of you knowing about it."
"Let me try something," Ares says as he slides over to the computer. He types with the controlled intensity of a man ona mission. "If he bought something recently under his own name..."
It only takes thirty seconds before something pings.
“Closed today,” Ares says, his pitch rising with adrenaline. “James St. Claire. He paid cash.”
“Where?” Roman and Sysco ask at the same time.
“The Bronx,” Ares replies as he looks up and meets my eyes.
“Any other details?” Sysco asks. “Permits pulled, closing contingencies?”
“Nothing,” Ares says as he leans back in his chair, rubbing two fingers over his bottom lip. “No paper trail except the sale. But thisjustclosed.”
“What time?” I ask as my heart starts hammering.
Ares’ eyes flick back to the screen. “An hour ago.”
“He might not even have the keys yet,” Sysco says as hope and excitement pitch his tone. “If we get there first, we might head him off.”
“Let’s go,” Roman says as he stands and heads straight for the door.
The building is empty.At least, it seems pretty safe to assume since there are no lights on shining through the windows, and I see no signs for any businesses that might be operating during the day. It makes sense since it just sold.
Billings kills the engine, parked half a block down and across the street.
We pile out quietly. It’s always just me and Ares in this gigantic SUV. It’s almost comical to watch as Roman, Juliet, and Sysco climb out in addition.
“Think he’s here yet?” I ask. I’m straining my enhanced ears, listening for signs, but I’m getting nothing.
“Can’t tell,” Ares says as we walk down the sidewalk.
“We keep quiet from here on out, got it?” Roman says, and it’s actually kind of impressive to watch him in his element. Whatever his job in Chicago is, he’s damn good at it, it’s easy to tell. “Hand signals. Eyes open. If he’s already in there, we go with our instincts.”
I, and everyone else, simply nod that we understand.
We scan the building, and Roman picks a side door. Ares tests it and has the lock picked in under ten seconds.
The door is thankfully silent as Ares pushes it open.
We step inside, and it’s kind of miraculous that I can see. My eyes still dilate mostly normally, unlike the Born. Their eyes stay dilated at all times, which allows them to see amazingly well at night but makes them nearly blind during the day. So, I’m positive I can’t see nearly as well as they can at this moment, but it’s still far, far better than I could before I died by Giovanni’s blade.
There’s a lobby and a ticket booth. There are stairs that immediately head up on the left and the right.
I think this is an old theater.
But I hear the sound of faint voices on the other side of the wall before us.
Roman presses a finger to his lips, a reminder to stay silent. One by one, we follow him up the stairs. They’re old and dusty, but to our benefit, they don’t squeak. My skin turns to goosebumps as the temperature seems to drop with every step. Roman bypasses the main floor of seating, instead heading all the way up to the balcony level. As we walk out, the sound of the voices increases.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end when I recognize one of those voices as James’s.
We didn’t beat him.
