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Ryrik scanned the room around us. I did the same but didn’t spot any suspicious characters spying on us. But maybe he saw something I couldn’t, which was just more evidence that I’d be no help to him.
“Dinner?” I responded. “I’m still on shift. I don’t have a break for a few more hours. Even then, I’m only allowed?—”
“I’m your boss. You get a break if I say you do.”
Ryrik then grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away. Before I knew it, he had taken me to a private dining area in a restaurant somehow even fancier than the one I worked in. Cloth on tables. Chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Soft music playing from somewhere. The room was gorgeous yet empty besides us and a waiter rushing to greet us.
“Two of whatever the chef’s special is tonight,” Ryrik ordered before the waiter even reached us. He then pulled out a seat and gestured for me to sit down. “Don’t worry, dinner is on me.”
“Oh,” I said as I sat down. “Thank you.”
A feeling tugged at my chest. I was well aware that normal women got to go on dates with men who adored them. I’d never had the pleasure of being on one myself, but I had to imagine it would feel something like this. For a moment, I let myself imagine I was Ryrik’s date, rather than his employee turned captive. It felt nice, and, for a moment, I smiled at him.
“Of course. But with that, I expect something out of you in return.”
“Oh…” Nothing that I hadn’t been through before. Though part of me had hoped Ryrik wasn’t going to see me in that way.
“No,” Ryrik said quickly. “I see that look on your face. Not that. I just have some more questions for you that I want the truth for.”
“Of course.” Relief flooded into me. “But what more could you need to know?”
“Whatever there is to tell me, Amber. Any detail about Conii and her plan, no matter how small, could be the key to stopping her.”
“Okay,” I responded. “But I truly don’t know much. She wasn’t exactly monologuing her plan to me or anything.”
“Still,” he said. “What exactly was it she needed from you? Were you just passing information along? Did you smuggle anything into the casino? Anything out?”
I wondered how many times I’d need to tell this guy the same answer. Maybe he still didn’t trust me. Maybe he was waiting to see if I’d crack, if my answer would change.
“Just information out. I was instructed to eavesdrop, flirt, bribe, or really anything to get guests to spill their guts.”
“And exactly what information did you pass along?”
“Everything and anything. Financial information, mining reports, what businesses are about to merge with who, who’s having an affair, who’s getting divorced, and anything else I’ve heard. I don’t know what she plans to do with any of that, if she even can do anything.”
“But you weren’t told to target anyone specific? Prod for anything in particular?”
“No. No specific areas or targets,” I responded quickly. “I mean, I guess judging by where she got me a job, she wants information on the wealthy guests. Which bartenders are sleeping with which chefs doesn’t really interest her. But you probably already assumed that.”
“Yes, our guests being the targets does make sense,” he said. “Did she ever say anything that implied she worked with anyone else, or for anyone else?”
“No, I don’t think so. Again, at least around me, she kept her plans close to the chest.”
“Of course,” he said. Ryrik looked a little disappointed. As if he had really hoped I was about to say something that would knock over all the dominos until Conii was in his custody. “Final question for the evening… Do you know where Isa is being held?”
I simply shook my head.
“I know she’s somewhere in the complex of buildings that Conii uses for her base, but that’s all.” My throat closed for a moment. “It drives me crazy when I think of it. I’ve been to the stronghold, gotten orders from Conii. But I can’t find Isa. She’s got to be there somewhere, but…”
I couldn’t continue, but I didn’t need to.
“I figured not,” Ryrik said. “But it was worth asking.”
At that point, the waiter returned. He silently placed a plate down in front of both of us, some sort of roast. I didn’t even know what the dish was called or what animal the meat came from. But from a single look, I could tell it likely cost more than all the food I ate in the last year combined.
A second waiter appeared to pour us each a glass of wine. Then they both disappeared without a single word.
“Dig in,” Ryrik said.
