It was hard to complete an effective multi-surveillance operation with only two people, but it was far from impossible. I picked up speed and circled around the block. By the time I returned to Lennel Road, there was no sign of the thrall but Thane was waiting for me by the corner.
‘He’s gone into the bakery about thirty metres that way.’ He pointed behind.
‘Good.’ I gestured to a café. ‘Nip in there and buy a hot drink to go. Wait until I’m back before you come out.’
He winked then went inside the shop while I ventured down the pavement and entered the bakery. Thankfully it was quiet, with only a troll, the shifty grey thrall and me waiting at the counter.
The thrall glanced over his shoulder and clocked me instantly. I managed not to react when I saw his face: it was definitely the thrall I’d seen reflected in the echo spell. I gave him the disinterested smile of a stranger and his eyes glazed over. I was a middle-aged woman, which meant I was practically invisible.
The troll collected her order and ambled out. ‘A smallsourdough loaf, please,’ the thrall said to the apron-wearing man behind the counter. ‘And two pineapple cakes.’
As the baker prepared the order, the thrall looked out of the window. He was certainly twitchy and on the lookout for anyone tailing him. I pretended not to notice and focused on an array of buns in front of me.
The thrall paid for his order and dropped one of the cakes and the bread into a bag. He started munching on the second cake as he stood in the bakery doorway and scanned the street.
‘Four morning rolls, please,’ I said.
The baker obliged. As I took out my purse to pay for my order, the thrall finally left the shop and turned right again.
‘I can do you a few apple turnovers at cost,’ the baker offered. ‘We’re closing soon and I doubt I’ll sell them.’
‘No, thanks.’ I handed him the money and then, as he turned his back to use the cash register, I left them on the counter and walked briskly out of the shop. The rolls had looked tasty but I didn’t need the extra burden; they’d already served their purpose.
I crossed the street so quickly that I overtook the thrall. As soon as I was level with the café, I waved. Thankfully, Thane was keeping a close eye and he immediately exited carrying a takeaway cup. He was smart enough not to look to his left; instead he turned in the opposite direction and paused at the corner. He sipped his drink, apparently waiting for a break in the stream of bicycles and horses that were passing by.
The thrall drew level with him. As soon as the road was clear, Thane stepped off the pavement and the thrall did the same. They both crossed, with Thane slightly in front until he stumbled and paused. Some of his coffee spilled. The thrall passed him and I grinned. That was smoothly done: now Thane was on his tail again.
I kept abreast of them both on the opposite side of thestreet, trying to work out where the thrall might be heading. Ideally, I would get in front of him, but there were several shops ahead and he might go into any one of them.
I considered my options then took a gamble. If I were a thrall illegally sneaking into the Understream, I would want as many magical defences as I could muster. The witchery shop was a few metres in front of him. I drew ahead, crossed the street for a second time and ducked inside. The thrall was about twenty metres behind me.
Unfortunately, my plan didn’t pan out. As I pretended to examine a display of dried herbs, the thrall walked past the witchery store and kept going. A moment later, Thane joined me. ‘I think he’s suspicious,’ he said in a low, urgent voice.
I trusted his instincts. Damn. ‘Okay, keep after him but don’t try to disguise yourself. Make it obvious that you’re tracking him.’
‘Is that a good idea?’
It was all I had. I nodded and touched his hand. ‘I’ve got this,’ I said. ‘I have a plan.’ Hopefully it would work.
We left the witchery store at the same time. Thane turned right after the thrall while I went left and backtracked through the streets at high speed. I passed the bakery, veered around the corner and jogged back to Chester Longchamps’ front door.
In an ideal world, a cat would have passed by right about then because swallowing a clump of fur and effecting a feline transformation would have worked well. Alas, with no strolling cats in evidence, I had to make do with my human body. Ignoring the magicked bloodstains, I descended the stone steps to the door and pressed myself into the corner. If my plan worked, I wouldn’t be seen until the last moment.
I slid out my curved dagger from where it was nestling against my skin and slowed my breathing. It was essential to keep the inevitable rush of adrenaline at bay for as long aspossible because cooler heads always prevailed. I needed my palms to stay dry and my nerves to remain solid.
While I prepared myself internally, I counted the minutes. I’d estimated it would take eight minutes for the thrall to appear at the top of the stone steps. I wasn’t far off.
If he’d been on the ball, he would have noticed me straight away because I wasn’t well-hidden; my corner was far from ideal as a hiding place. But Thane had done well and the thrall was in a state of high anxiety. I noted his tense shoulders and his set jaw – even his ridiculous moustache appeared to be quivering. He was clearly aware that he was being followed and he was very concerned as to the reason why.
He fumbled in his pockets and drew out a small set of keys. Stumbling in his rush to get to safety, he darted down the steps. He’d barely made it halfway down when Thane appeared, looming from above.
The thrall squeaked with fear, moved faster and threw himself at the door. He got the key in the lock, but before he could open it he caught sight of me in his peripheral vision. About time.
I grinned coldly and stepped forward. ‘Hello,’ I said. ‘We need to have a little chat.’
Chapter
Seventeen
