“If we don’t find him there?”
“Then he’s likely in the Diet Building.”
“And if—” Before Nico could finish what was no doubt an additional worry, he paused at the stop of the stairs.
Every other member of the Society (save Pan and Snow) sat in the Four-Way or right at the beginning of the hall that led to the common area. Eslar sat on a couch, reading, his air of calm unflappable. Samson was at his side, fiddling with some random object. Wayne lounged on the stairs across from them, flipping his nickel. And Takako stood by one of the tall windows. Jo wondered if she was looking at the mountains in the distance, filled with longing and concern for her home.
All heads turned when they appeared at the top of the stairs, and all eyes were on the canvas-shaped bundle slung over Nico’s shoulder.
“It’s done?” Eslar rose to his feet.
“It is.” Nico sounded far more confident than he ever looked in the recreation room.
“We wanted to see you off,” Wayne pointed out the obvious, rising as well and pocketing his nickel along with both hands. “Wish you luck.”
“Jo is coming with me,” Nico said quickly. “In case I need help getting in somewhere.”
“Smart idea.”
“Careful Eslar, or I’ll think you value me as a member of this team.” Jo took a shot at levity as she started down the stairs.
“Why, of course—”
“I’m kidding.” She gave him a small smile that relaxed the elf’s face as well. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Good luck,” she heard Samson’s small voice say after them, as they started toward the briefing room.
Jo folded her arms over her chest, then undid them. She put them on her hips, then let them sway at her sides. When had having arms become so awkward?Everything would be fine. Nico’s power was impressive and they had the whole team behind them.This would work.
Yet Jo found herself wishing Snow could’ve been there to see them off as well. As if, somehow, the presence of the Wish Granter himself could bestow some sort of innate blessing onto their mission. At the very least, seeing his face would’ve given her a much-needed boost of courage.
Without fail, by her own magic or the magic of the Door itself, the alphanumeric keypad seemed to light up only in Jo’s mind, pulling her fingers toward the numbers that would lead her to where she wanted to go. Eventually, Jo thought she might be compelled to figure out the pin system—how and why certain places had certain strings of numbers and how the other members knew them—but for the near future, she was content to let it remain a magical mystery.
Pulled through the portal to reality, the Texan and the Italian stepped onto Japanese soil.
Jo didn’t want to fuss with anything more than they had to. The more variables that were introduced on a project, the more room there was for error. This was fairly simple: get in, show the painting, leave.
“The Door could’ve put us right in his office.” Jo sighed heavily.
“It’s not an exact science.”
“It’s not science at all,” she said in exasperated agreement.
They found themselves in a clean if dated lobby. A receptionist busily answered phones, looking no doubt frazzled due to the extra commotion the panic had brought on. Jo felt some sympathy for the woman; it wasn’t her fault that her boss was being pig-headed.
“We could try again,” Jo suggested. “See if we can get closer to the office now that we’re here.”
“The Door has never worked that way.” Nico shook his head. “I’d rather not risk it, not when we’re already this close.”
Jo bit her tongue a moment, chewing over the fact that the Door had, indeed, worked that way for her on more than one occasion—notably their first wish. But she didn’t want to give any cause for Nico to panic or stress. If he didn’t want to make an attempt with the Door, they’d just go it on foot. “Come on, this way.”
“Do you know where you’re going?” Nico asked.
“Just a hunch. . .”
Jo followed the flow of people in the lobby toward a back elevator, walking undetected. She listened in on the chatter. Most of it was general government business; the cavalier attitude grated on her. If they didn’t start evacuations in the next twenty-four hours, it would be too late.
They emerged on an upper floor and Jo trailed behind one of the men she’d decided to follow from the elevator around the hall and up a short side stair to yet another reception area. However, unlike the main lobby of the building, this was much smaller. A single couch sat opposite a small desk where a woman greeted the man. Jo looked down the hall to a lone door bearing the white and red Japanese flag proudly.
