The door was shut behind me and I startled.
The founder turned, his mask still on, hat tipped forward covering the long stretch of his brow. He had lightly tanned skin and a thin mouth that stretched into a crooked smile.
“It seems congratulations are in order,” he said. “Miss?”
“It’s Mrs., actually,” I said. “Thank you. Is there something I need to sign?”
He waved his gloved hand dismissively. “In a moment. All the formalities can certainly wait. I wanted to meet the young woman so enraptured by a snake.”
The way he spoke felt familiar to me. It wasn’t so much his voice but the sense that I had to be careful with every word I uttered. It felt as if I were playing a complicated game of chess, and he knew every move there was to make while I was still trying to understand the rules. “Well, now you’ve met her. Perhaps we can handle the particulars? I’d rather be on my way.” I gestured toward the window where the night had burned away some of its darkness. The morning light would dawn soon. “The hour grows late. Or is it early?”
The founder smiled at me. “How did you hear about the auction? You weren’t issued an invitation.”
There was no use lying. He would certainly know how many invitations were sent out and to whom. “From a friend. I couldn’t resist attending,” I added.
“What friend?”
“I’m not going to break any of your rules,” I said. “I’m a collector.”
“Are you?” he said. “I thought you were a tourist.”
I blinked at him in confusion. “Tourist?”
His lips twisted into a smile. “That’s what you told me last time.”
Horror dawned upon me. I had seen that smug smile, and his slick tone recalled an unpleasant conversation I’d had earlier. The founder raised his hand and pulled off his glove with his teeth. And there, on his littlest pinky, was the golden ring my father had sent me over the summer, right before he disappeared.
“You,” I whispered.
The founder peeled off his auction mask to reveal the face of Basil Sterling, complete with his outrageous mustache and condescending air.
Anger swam in my blood, a fast-moving river that made my heart race. This man had given the order to kidnap me, but his henchmen had mistakenly taken Elvira instead—thanks to Lourdes’s sly involvement.
“My cousin died,” I said, my voice shaking. “Shedied.”
“I know,” he said. “An unfortunate occurrence that could have been entirely avoided. We could bypass another such occurrence if you cooperate.”
Fear crept over my skin, turning it ice-cold. My stomach churned at our close proximity, and the instinct to run overwhelmed me. This manwas a monster. I glanced behind me, measuring the distance to the door, and prayed Isadora still stood on the other side of it.
Mr. Sterling chuckled. “I only want to have a productive conversation with you. I promise that you will leave this building unharmed.”
I noticed he hadn’t included Isadora. “My companion, too.”
“Certainly,” he said. “If you cooperate.”
“You’re not letting me go,” I said, hating the slimy texture to his voice. I felt as if it were coating my clothes, poisoning the air I breathed. “I’ve seen your face; I could easily turn you in.”
His grin widened. “To whom? The authorities? Mostly made up of my countrymen?”
Frustration ate at me, making it hard to talk. He was right, people I could trust were in short supply. But perhaps Monsieur Maspero could be reasoned with?
Mr. Sterling eyed me shrewdly. “I wouldn’t count on Monsieur Maspero, either. I believe he’s enjoying the spoils of my efforts. But please, go ahead and try it, my dear. I can’t wait for you to discover how few options you have left.”
“There must besomeonein this country who isn’t corrupt.”
“Everyone has a price.”
“You’re despicable. A criminal with a license.”
