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The outside of the café had quaint tables, a bright blue awning, and a neon sign with a picture of a rooster. Inside, we found yellow walls, exposed brick, and comfortable-looking places to sit.
We stood in the to-go line instead of taking a table. I ordered a double espresso for Em and Mexican hot chocolate for myself. Lily ordered a mint tea, and then watched every move the barista made, seeming satisfied with the results.
I paid, Lily grumbled at me for paying, and then we stepped back outside.
“What other options did you and Em come up with for finding Jack?” Lily asked. “Did Dr. Turner tell you something?”
“Not exactly.” I sipped my hot chocolate, grateful for the kick and the heat of cayenne.
“Don’t waste time being cryptic.” The wind blew her dark hair over her shoulders. It was out of the messy bun, sort of half up and half down. It softened her. “We’re all on the same team, with the same goal.”
“He didn’t really give anything away, but some of the conversation seemed odd. I asked him about Teague and Chronos, and then Jack, and he suggested we go sightseeing.”
“That’s weird.”
“And he mentioned an island. Maybe he meant Mud Island. The Pyramid, too.”
“What if that was a hint? Do you think we should try to look for Jack there?” she asked.
“Maybe. Or …” Em’s coffee delivery sloshed around inside the cup as I came to a stop. “Maybe we should focus on looking for Chronos and Teague there.”
Lily removed the bag from her tea and dropped it into a metal trash can on the street. “Would he have given you their location that easily?”
“I wouldn’t think so, but he didn’t claim any affiliation with anyone. Maybe he dislikes Teague and Chronos as much as we do. He didn’t leave the college with Teague.” I shrugged. “There might be some animosity there.”
“It’s worth a try. We’ll hurry back and look at the map.” She replaced the plastic lid and blew into the tiny hole to cool off the liquid.
I was avoiding looking at her lips when I saw him.
Poe, head down against the wind, on Union Avenue. He jaywalked across the street.
I handed Emerson’s espresso to Lily. “Go back to the room.”
“Where are you going?” She followed my line of vision.
“That way.”
“Why? Who is he, Kaleb?”
I downed the rest of my hot chocolate. “His name is Poe.”
Terror. Em had told her about Poe. A truck lumbered down the street, blocking my view. Once it passed, he reappeared.
“I know exactly who he is, and I’m coming with you,” Lily insisted.
“No way.” I couldn’t justify dragging her into an unknown situation, and I never wanted anyone else I knew to end up with a knife at her throat. “I’ve seen what he does to innocent bystanders.”
“And I’ve heard.” She nailed me with a look, standing her ground. “Good thing I’m not innocent.”
I shook my head. “Go back. Tell Em and Mike what’s going on. I’ll call as soon as I know something.”
“I’m coming with you.” She dropped Em’s coffee and her tea into the trash, and then pointed down the street. “You don’t have time to argue about it, either. You need me because Poe’s already gone, and I know exactly how to find his boots.”
“Damn.” I looked both ways, and then we did some jaywalking of our own across the street. “Once I see him, you’re going straight back. If I were just a little bit closer, I could track him by his emotions.”
We stepped up onto the curb simultaneously. “You can do that? Track by emotions?”
“I can if I’m close enough to a person, physically or emotionally.”
