While what we found on the computer won’t mean much to humans—assuming they can figure out the language—it will matter to Doug.
“Let’s have a drink.”
She stares at me. “But you’ll be found out.”
“And they will follow us out of the restaurant and into the alley, and then we can deal with it.” Shadow doesn’t like the plan. He is recovering and if both our bodies are injured, it puts us at a greater disadvantage.
From the expression on Cadence’s face, she doesn’t like the plan either. It’s not our best plan, but there isn’t another option.
I offer her my arm. “Shall we?”
“And why were we hiding in the bathroom?”
“If it was an actual bathroom, I could think of a few reasons…” I wrinkle my nose with distaste at doing anything in this room. Shadow is finding this very amusing. “We will pretend I am drunk and needed to expel the liquor.”
She nods. “A quickie in the bathroom would be a bit obvious.”
It takes several seconds for me to piece together what she means. “Humans do that in here?”
“Yeah, and worse places.” She takes my arm. “At least being drunk explains your stumble.”
“And it gives us a reason to leave early and for the Ursh to underestimate me.”
“We don’t have to join them. We can walk out. If you think they will follow anyway, let’s cut the talking and get straight to the fight.” She smiles, flashing her teeth at me. We like her attitude.
“Very well. But let me do the fighting.”
She snorts. “Sure.”
We do not believe her.
CHAPTER5
CADENCE
As I leadThistle out of the restaurant, I explain that he’s not well and that the men already at the table will pay the bill, since we never joined them.
Thistle slurs his thanks, and leans on me as he weaves out the door like he’s been drinking all day. His arm slides round my shoulder in a way that is more comforting than possessive. As soon as we are out of sight, he walks normally, though his arm doesn’t move.
We approach the alley where the car is parked—I’m not even sure that is the right word since it’s in the air—and I listen to every noise, waiting to be jumped by one or both of Doug’s guests.
I guess now we know he wasn’t operating alone. Though how useful that is, I’m not sure. Was Thistle here to arrest Doug or take down the whole operation?
I go to ask, but a scuffle makes the words freeze on my tongue.
There’s no way Doug’s friends could’ve gotten out of the restaurant so fast.
Thistle’s grip tightens, and he leans in and whispers in my ear, “we are being followed by the Ursh. I’m not going to reveal the car however, don’t stand under it either.”
I hadn’t been planning on it. Nor was I going to let Thistle fight alone.
We walk deeper into the alley. It’s open at both ends, so we could be taking a shortcut to somewhere. The alien’s heavy steps draw closer.
“Doug,” the alien calls out.
Thistle stops and turns with a stumble, drawing me with him. He’s back to acting drunk.
“I’m sorry Mikhail, he’s been drinking all day and he wouldn’t stay home.” I usually sit at the table and look pretty. Sometimes Mikhail brought his latest girlfriend, and we both sat there, making inane chat about the wine list, or what TV shows we’re watching.
