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“Keep us posted in the chat,” said Alex, waving his hand before jumping down the stairs.

Alex hopped off the last step and stopped. The lower floor wasn’t the basement he’d pictured, but another glass-and-concrete level, opening onto a bamboo patio with a stone fire pit and an outdoor bar. Fewer people were down here, but it wasn’t empty. The hallway continued around a corner to the left.

“I’ll go this way,” said Ken, heading in the opposite direction, seemingly mirrored by a turn of the corner.

Alex saluted him despite Ken not looking back. Hands in his pockets, he blended in and headed for the far end of the corridor. It only led to more stairs, this time marble. He guessed they went down to the garage or basement. He put a pin on that and investigated the rooms.

To his disappointment, they were just fancier bedrooms, some with more or less furniture, most empty. One bedroom he walked into had two girls who snarled at him—he backed out without a word. He started down the opposite side of the hallway to a large, sterile bathroom, which was surprisingly the cleanest room he had seen so far.

He decided he might as well do his business and take advantage of using an expensive toilet. His phone buzzed as he washed his hands.

Hal: looked through all the doors

Hal: nothing

Augs: same

Alex was typing a reply as he left the bathroom when a shoulder slammed into his, sending the phone spinning across the floor. He squared up—fists ready, jaw tight—but a tall man in a black bomber jacket was already holding the phone out to him. He wore fingerless gloves, and his face was hidden behind a cloth mask and a curtain of dark bangs. He bowed slightly, gloved hand raised in apology, and brushed past without a word. A motorbike helmet hung from his other hand.

Alex stared at his phone. His brain caught up a beat too late.

That man had a small beauty mark under the left eye. Just like—

He whipped around. The man’s black jacket was already disappearing down the stairwell. In that split second, Alex had a choice: chase after him and confirm his suspicions, or let it go.

It couldn’t be him. Nobody comes back from the dead twice. Alex’s brain said coincidence. His heart said something else entirely.

Ken appeared from around the corner. “Did you find anything?” He waved in front of Alex’s face. “Hello? I know you can hear me down there.”

Alex tsked, swatting his hand away. “Shut up,” he snapped and jerked his head towards the stairs. Not waiting to see if Ken would follow, Alex stormed after the mystery man.

As he got to the top landing, a young woman in a tight black sleeveless crop top stepped up onto the second-to-last step, blocking his way. High black space buns with red-streaked highlights. Cloth face mask with cat whiskers.

“You heading out?” she asked.

It was impossible to tell if she was smiling behind the mask, but the glittery purple makeup around her eyes creased as if she was.

Alex sniffed and rubbed his nose. “Not yet.”

“Down there’s the garage.” Her voice was shrill, high-pitched, like it was made for cartoons or entertainment, with over-enunciated words. “So unless you’re heading out, you ain’t gonna find much except a bunch of cars.”

A low hum, like an engine, vibrated through the glass walls. At least the man he bumped into was real and wasn’t a hallucination. Alex kept his posture casual, eyes drifting towards the garage stairs behind her while he pretended to care about the conversation.

“Just looking for someone,” he muttered.

The girl gasped and leaned closer, the small diamonds pasted across her eyeshadow catching the light. “Don’t tell me. You looking for the boss?”

Jackpot. Alex’s pulse kicked. Not only had he found the girl Jun and Snowy described, but she could lead him straight to Covey. “Yeah, actually,” Alex playfully exclaimed. “You know him?”

The girl, presumably Ashley, shrugged. “Well, he’s not here right now. But I can tell him you’re looking—”

“Hold up,” Alex interrupted. The girl had access to the stash. Alex wasn’t letting her out of his grasp. “I heard he gives out some exclusive dope at his parties. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, or am I just hearing some washed-up rumor?”

Ashley’s eyes lit up, her spidery mascara reaching her thin eyebrows. “Oh, so you’re one of those guys,” she teased.

He didn’t know what that meant, but Alex smirked and crossed his hands, anything to ruffle her feathers. “And what if I am one of those guys?” he teased back in a deep voice.

Ashley giggled. “Even if you were, I can’t just give it out to handsome guys like you. Comes with a price.”