I slung my backpack over one shoulder and followed our group toward the rear. People rose from the outside benches as the doors opened and passengers spilled out. It wasn’t a big station, so there wasn’t a huge crowd to deal with. Not like the subway. That place was a madhouse.
When we reached the last car, a gentleman in a blue shirt and cap greeted us. “Tickets?”
Viktor handed him a stack.
“Very good, Mr. Watson. This is our luxury car, which I’m sure will meet all your needs. Our latest model is roomier than the average passenger train. There’s comfortable seating and a bedroom with two beds. In addition to a private restroom, you’ll have our service staff on call. There’s a private door that separates you from the next car, and it only unlocks from your side. Feel free to roam about the train and join us in the dining car if you need to stretch your legs. Do you have any questions?”
“No,” Viktor said tersely, his American accent forced. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Step inside and proceed through the open door to your right. Have a good trip.”
Everyone boarded, one at a time. When I got on, I spied people through a window on the connecting door to my left. Our door was half-open, but there was no window that would allow someone to spy on us.
I moved inside an open space that led to a passageway on the left. The first room was a bathroom, spacious with a toilet, standing shower, and sink. I walked farther down and stopped at the next door on the right. My jaw dropped when I poked my head in to take a look. It was nothing like the pictures I’d seen of passenger trains. Pastoral paintings hung on the mahogany walls, and a small wooden desk to the left added a dash of sophistication. Above it was a mirror, allowing anyone sitting on the leather stool to gaze at their reflection. Someone had switched on the green desk lamp, which gave the room a warm ambiance. No one would have to worry about a cold floor because a beautiful red rug with intricate gold designs covered it. There were two single beds—one against the left wall and the other straight ahead in the corner. Drapes covered the windows, and a ceiling fan above allowed the air to circulate.
Christian came up behind me. “Now this is what I call traveling in style. I claim the left one.”
“Nice try, Vamp. You don’t sleep.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Who said anything about sleep?”
We strolled to the open area of the car, and I gaped at the design and layout. This place was like a miniature palace. Red carpet blanketed the floor, and a thrill moved through me when I caught sight of the corner bar on my immediate right. Since we were in a moving train, they had locked the alcohol inside wire cabinets to keep the bottles from tipping over.
Claude set his stuff down in a breakfast nook near the bar.
The three figures lingered at the rear of the train, looking out the window.
Viktor approached us. “Relax until the train leaves the station. Then we’ll have drinks.”
That was code talk. Viktor wanted us to keep our mouths shut.
Just past the breakfast nook were booth seats with tables where passengers could play games and look out the window. I could only imagine how beautiful it looked at night when the light from the fixtures mounted between the windows would soak into the mahogany wood. The seats were a plush red fabric with brown tufted leather backings and dividers with wood tops to set your drinks on. Both sides of the train had wide seats facing center in addition to some facing front. You could easily fit two or three people in them. A sofa ran along the left side of the train in front of a large panoramic window, and the back of the car had corner couches that looked comfy as hell. Between the variety in seating and décor, this car was designed for socializing.
I dropped my bag on one of the tables and collapsed onto the seat.
Viktor handed Christian a note. After reading it, Christian disappeared down the hall, and I heard a door shut.
Shepherd inspected every nook and cranny with the meticulousness of a police detective. He looked behind the curtains and jiggled the lamps to make sure they were attached. After removing her cloak, Blue unzipped her tall boots and crawled onto the sofa across from me. We both watched Niko walk the car and memorize everything about it.
“Anyone thirsty?” Claude asked from the bar. “There’s a fridge under here stocked with cold drinks.”
“Me!” an unfamiliar voice called out.
All of us turned to look when our passengers drew back their hoods and revealed themselves.
I blinked in surprise. They were just teenagers. The two Latinos were a boy and a girl. Despite the height difference, they looked like twins. Same dark brown eyes, same broad mouth—though hers had pink lipstick—and even the same ears that stuck out a little. The only real difference was that he had a very short buzz cut and her hair was past the shoulders and parted on the side. By the looks of his pudgy face, I suspected the boy was overdue for another growth spurt. The other girl had milky-white skin and thick, beautiful hair. The golden-blond tendrils barely reached her shoulders and somehow made her heart-shaped face seem even smaller. She must have been our sneezer.
The train began moving, and the station slid out of view.
Shepherd tapped one of the sconces that ran along the panel above the windows. “How do you turn these on?”
“Did you try the switch?” the boy asked facetiously.
Blue smirked at Shepherd as he grumbled and stalked toward the bar.
The blonde unzipped her black jacket and tossed it onto a chair. She fluffed her wavy hair, which held a natural frizz. Her clothes were slightly too big for her, but that might have been the style. Her finger looped around the thin gold chain on her neck while she explored the room. I couldn’t help but notice the dismal look in her eyes, one I was all too familiar with. Our surroundings should have warranted some enthusiasm and curiosity from a kid her age, but she looked upon everything as if it didn’t matter.
She sneezed, kicking her foot out comically when she bent over.
