I polished off the rest of my sandwich, Charles occasionally poking at me with questions, but for the most part, the conversation at the table was light and superficial.
“We’ll escort you upstairs and then head out to get your belongings,” Theo said. “Can you send me the address?”
I typed it into his phone, and we rose from the table. No one came to collect a bill, though maybe Theo had already paid. If he even paid at all here, given his high station in Cillian’s employ.
The tension grew as we headed toward the elevator, the way it always did when they were taking me back to my prison. Everyone apart from Cillian seemed to be aware I was a captive, and to their credit they were uncomfortable with the situation, yet none of them did a thing to set me free.
The ding of the elevator passing floors echoed as we zoomed to the top of the Spires, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Every time we rose up here, the weight grew heavier on my shoulders. When we reached the top and the doors opened, I stepped off.
“We’ll see you later,” Charles said. “Join us for dinner tonight?”
“Sure,” I responded, tucking my hands into my pockets as I headed down the hallway in the direction of my room.
Except this time I had purpose.
When I stepped into the room I’d become far too comfortable with, I headed straight over to the simple desk in the corner, which had a clock with neon numbers resting on it. I set up my laptop and settled into the seat. A different book sat on the nightstand this time, and I wasn’t sure whether Amelia was the one leaving them or not. However,Lupine Fairy Taleshad been a fascinating read thus far, so different from the stories I’d grown up with.
I turned on my laptop. I’d already searched for Thorin in association with casinos, and the primary one I’d found in Peregrine City was Thorin Glass, who owned Glacier Enterprises as well as Spectacle, the rival casino of the Spires. Cillian disliked him, but based on the articles and information available about Thorin and Spectacle, it was hard to discover why, unless he simply didn’t like the competition.
Cillian had also become irritated when the name Henrik had been mentioned, and from what I’d discovered, it would seem he was another Glacier Enterprises employee. Except, when I’d researched him, I couldn’t find much beyond discovering that he was one of the top technomancers employed by the company.
However, that wasn’t the name I was most curious about. On a hunch, I typed Olivia into a search as well as Thorin Glass.
Her name alone would be an impossibility to search for, but I’d keyed in on the topics Cillian tended to avoid.
Results turned up immediately. One of Glacier Enterprises’ lawyers was Olivia Waverly.
Hmm. I glanced at the shut door, as if any moment someone would burst in and try to stop me. Not like too many strolled through these halls, though, and I needed to understand what was going on here.
I typed Olivia Waverly and Cillian Ashmore.
Old headlines splashed across the screen.
Of them as a couple, spotted in locations across Peregrine City.
Of a messy breakup.
Of Olivia parting ways with the Spires, going to work for Glacier Enterprises.
I clicked out of the tabs and leaned back in my seat. Was his surliness, his avoidance, all over a broken heart? It seemed like an impossibility for the callous demon I’d met. However, the breakthrough sparked my mind to life. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, as if this discovery gave me some sort of foothold in my current situation. Any clarity beyond the murky non-answers and immediate avoidance.
An email notification appeared on my laptop. From my father.
I hate the idea of you stuck there, Beau. I spoke to a friend, who told me the West Wing holds the answers. I’m not sure what that means, or if the information will help you, but if it gives you any way to break free, please try.
Love,
Dad
My heart thumped in double time.
He might not know what the West Wing was, but I definitely did. And I had a map to it. If the West Wing held the answers, did that mean it held an avenue of escape?
Cillian was gone at the moment, on a business meeting, and Theo and Charles were out helping to get my belongings. I wasn’t sure where Amelia was, but this might be the only chance I’d have to learn what they were all hiding.
Time to go to the West Wing.
Chapter 10
