My shoes echo on the dingy linoleum, and from how quiet it is at the station, the darkness outside the windows, and the way my stomach turns over on itself with every step, it has to be well after eight.
Outside, the warm evening air holds the promise of rain. I dig in my bag for my phone so I can call a taxi, but before I can unlock it, the device vibrates in my hand.
Unknown: Install this app right now. Then get somewhere private. -Z
I do not understand how Zephyr found my phone number or why the message arrived the moment I was outside the police station, but I don’t care. She is the only way I will find Leo.
The app is the same one Leo used to talk to her. I recognize the name. As it downloads, I hurry away from the station until I find a bench a few blocks away. It’s well lit, and across the street, a bar is crowded enough I should be safe here for a few minutes. I reply to the text message, telling her I’m alone, and within seconds, the app dings.
“Zephyr?” I ask.
“What happened? Where’s Leo? I remote-locked his phone and tablet less than an hour after the assassination attempt, but—”
“The…what?” My entire body starts to shake. I can barely hold onto the phone.
“Domina, focus,” she says. “It’s all over the news, even in the United States. I pulled the footage from the rally. Only limited angles, but from what I can tell, there was a sniper on one of the scoreboards. Leo saw him, but those IPS idiots beat the crap out of him and dragged him away rather than thanking him for saving Cortez’s life. I’m sorry it took me so long to get you out of custody, but we had to getsomeoneto admit they had you first.”
I sink against the back of the bench, fresh tears burning my eyes. “Youconvinced the police to let me go?”
“No. But I activated the Bat Signal. You’ll have backup in five or six hours, tops.”
My head hurts, and her words mean nothing to me. “I do not understand. What ‘Bat Signal’?”
A tight laugh carries over the connection. “Leo might not believe this from what Trevor told me, but he actuallydoeshave friends. Ones with enough clout and resources to make things happen. Get somewhere safe and stay there. They’ll come to you.”
“Is…is my apartment safe? I do not have anywhere else to go.”
Zephyr sighs. “I don’t know. But I’d feel a hell of a lot better if you were somewhere no one can find you. Hang on a minute.”
While she does whatever it is that requires her to type faster than anyone I have ever heard, I check my text messages.
Larissa: Where are you? Cortez got shot! He’s okay, but the police questioned all of us. They think your guy had something to do with it.
Rafael: Don’t bother coming back to work. Your boyfriend almost got Manuel killed. You’re fired.
I choke back a sob. Everything I have worked for is gone.
“Domina? What’s wrong?” Zephyr asks.
“Everyone thinks Leo is responsible for the…attack.” I cannot bring myself to say the word. Assassination.
“Fuck. I was afraid of that. Is there any way you can change your appearance? Hide your hair? Get different clothes? I booked you a room at the Hotel de Palmas under a clean alias. You just have to get there. But your face has been all over the news tonight. Some reporter caught the police handcuffing you and putting you into the back of a squad car.”
My heart hurts. Even sitting here is dangerous. “I have nothing with me. Just my wallet, my tablet, and my phone. Lipstick.”
More keystrokes, and then she whispers “yes” under her breath. “There’s a store at the end of the block to the south. See it?”
I turn, and she’s right. The little bodega is lit with colorful lights, and a man sweeps the sidewalk out front. “Yes.”
“Please tell me you at least have cash.”
Digging in my briefcase, I check my wallet. “Twenty dollars, yes.”
“Buy something to cover your hair. A t-shirt if they have one. Sunglasses. Then call a cab and get to the Hotel de Palmas. Go to Room 422. I’m sending the hotel’s keycard app to your phone. Use that to open the door. Then donotleave until reinforcements show up. When they do, they’ll identify themselves as Clark and Jimmy. Ifanyoneelse knocks, you call me immediately. Got it?”
“I…no. Zephyr, you have to find Leo…”
“Focus,” she says sharply. “I’m working on it, but if I don’t get you secured first, Leo would never forgive me. Hair. T-shirt. Sunglasses. Hotel de Palmas. Room 422. Clark and Jimmy. I need to know you understand.”
