“Yes, I do.”
We walk slowly towards the exit, Mrs Wyatt hunched up as if she’s trying to make herself look smaller, and I wonder how many more people in this city have a story similar to hers.
“I’ll keep a lookout for your report, Miss Bransby, and thank you for taking this seriously. I’m sorry to say that some of the other papers wouldn’t even come out and talk to me.”
The doors to the entrance of The Eldorado Food Emporium open, letting a gust of wind whip at the back of Mrs Wyatt’s coat. She smiles weakly, turns, and walks out of the shop just as Jupiter walks in.
Instinctively, I step back, pulling my coat around my body and then stuffing my hands into my pockets.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Jupiter grins, and I take two steps back, hoping to God he’s either bumped into me accidentally, which I doubt, or that he’s been following me the old-fashioned way and this has nothing to do with his gift. He didn’t touch me the last time I saw him, but even so, uncertainty niggles at me.
“What do you want?” Tracking his hands, I keep my distance.
But he picks up on it and glares at me. Holding both hands in the air, he stops moving. “I just want to talk.”
“About what?” I ask.
His eyes narrow. “I know who you are.”
“Congratulations.” I smirk.
“And I know who you work for,” he adds.
“So?”
“So, I’m sure you can appreciate my concern over what you’re talking to Valdemar about,” Jupiter says.
“If he hasn’t told you, then it’s clearly none of your business,” I tell him, sounding braver than I feel.
“See, that’s where you’re wrong.” He takes a step towards me as I try to slip around him, and he reaches out.
“Don’t touch me.” It comes out louder than it sounded in my head, and I see beneath the glare that he knows I know about his gift.
“It’s clear that Valdemar has told you things, things he has no right telling you. I need to know what your intentions are.” His voice lowers, dangerously low.
“I don’t have any intentions. He asked me to come and see him, so I did.” I hold my ground.
“I know he wants to talk to you because of who you are, who your brother was, but I need to know that what he’s telling you isn’t going to be splashed across the front of theAmontillado Gazette.”
“Even if I did write about it, do you think anyone would believe me?” I say.
Jupiter eyes me, flexing his fingers, his jaw tensed. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t.” Like the flick of a whip, I turn and walk back down the freezer aisle.
Taking my time to steady my breathing, I circle and arrive back at the entrance to see Jupiter has left.
Is that all he’s worried about, keeping the secrets of the Raven Hands hidden? Or is there something else? It doesn’t sound like he trusts me—or Valdemar, for that matter. What is their relationship like? Does Jupiter want full control of the Raven Hands? He’s been the frontman for ten years while Valdemar has been locked up. Is he reluctant to let go of that power now that Valdemar is to be released? Or is he going to fight to retain it by whatever means necessary?
I climb into my black car and pull out the note I’ve been keeping in my bag, wondering if these are the words of Jupiter Prospero.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Sunday night loomsover me with a heaviness that feels stifling.
For three nights, I’ve endured the dream of being on the stage with the ghostly women touching but not touching me while Valdemar sits and watches, his words stoking things in me that won’t be doused.
