Sweetwater. You started seeing every man as a potential fire hazard.
Clutching the gym bag, she hurried out the door and down the stairs.
Chapter 9
AN HOUR LATER , DRESSED FOR WORK, VINCENT PERCHED on her shoulder, Lyra kicked the back door of the Halifax Gallery three times with the toe of her black business pump. Knocking was out of the question, because it took both hands to hold on to the package she was carrying.
Nancy opened the door immediately and leaned out to look both ways, checking to see that the alley was empty. Satisfied, she smiled at the sight of Lyra clutching the blanket-wrapped object.
“Oh, good,” she said. “It’s a big one this time.”
“You told me you wanted them larger.”
“Size matters to my clients.”
“Give me a hand,” Lyra said. “This thing is heavy.”
“Right. I’ll take this end.” Nancy moved out onto the bottom step and grasped one side of the package. “Ugh. You’re right, it weighs a ton. I can’t believe you carried it six blocks.”
“Through back alleys, no less.”
“Why didn’t you just put it into your car and drive it over here?”
“You know I’m trying to walk more these days.”
“Yes, but this is ridiculous.” Nancy angled the package through the door. “By the way, I assume you know you’re on the front page of both the Herald and the Current today? Also on the morning rez-screen news?”
“Just like old times. At least Vincent looked adorable.”
They got the package inside the back room. Vincent hopped down from Lyra’s shoulder and scurried to the top of the small refrigerator, where Nancy kept a plate of cookies for him.
“So that was the real reason Cruz Sweetwater showed up at the reception last night?” Nancy studied Lyra closely. “He needed you to rescue that team?”
“Yes, but he claimed that was just unfortunate timing. He said he was planning to call me, anyway, because he wants another chance.” Lyra winced. “What are the odds?”
“I knew it.” Nancy lit up with excitement. “I told you he’d be back one of these days. You said yourself that from his point of view he was just doing his job three months ago. You have to admit you were in danger. Those antiquities gangs are utterly ruthless. If one of them had found out about that ruin, you would have been jungle plant food by now.”
“Thanks for that visual.”
“I gotta tell you, I was scared to death that whole time you were trying to move those relics on the underground market. It was sort of a relief when your first client turned out to be an undercover agent from Amber Inc. Security. So where do things stand now?”
“He asked me out to dinner tonight.”
“You said yes, I hope?”
“I’m thinking about it,” Lyra said.
“Oh, that’s real decisive. Don’t be an idiot. Where’s the harm in a dinner date? If nothing else, you’ll get a free meal out of the deal, and it will probably be a very, very expensive meal. It’s not much in the way of pay-back, but it’s better than nothing.”
“There is that. But it turns out the AI lab still hasn’t been able to locate anyone who can rez amethyst amber.”
Nancy’s enthusiasm faded. “In other words, you think Cruz Sweetwater may have ulterior motives for asking you out to dinner?”
“I’d say that’s a distinct possibility, yes.”
“Damn.” Nancy wrinkled her nose. “And here I was thinking that we were going to be looking at a happy ending after all.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
They lowered the package onto the wooden surface of a wide workbench.
“I still say you should have dinner with the guy,” Nancy said. “Give him a chance. At the very least, being seen with him will be good for your career.”
“Hmm. Hadn’t considered that angle.”
“Are you kidding?” Nancy grinned. “You’re already famous again this morning, thanks to Cruz. Didn’t you read any of the stories in the papers?” She nodded toward the copy of the Herald lying on a nearby
Clutching the gym bag, she hurried out the door and down the stairs.
Chapter 9
AN HOUR LATER , DRESSED FOR WORK, VINCENT PERCHED on her shoulder, Lyra kicked the back door of the Halifax Gallery three times with the toe of her black business pump. Knocking was out of the question, because it took both hands to hold on to the package she was carrying.
Nancy opened the door immediately and leaned out to look both ways, checking to see that the alley was empty. Satisfied, she smiled at the sight of Lyra clutching the blanket-wrapped object.
“Oh, good,” she said. “It’s a big one this time.”
“You told me you wanted them larger.”
“Size matters to my clients.”
“Give me a hand,” Lyra said. “This thing is heavy.”
“Right. I’ll take this end.” Nancy moved out onto the bottom step and grasped one side of the package. “Ugh. You’re right, it weighs a ton. I can’t believe you carried it six blocks.”
“Through back alleys, no less.”
“Why didn’t you just put it into your car and drive it over here?”
“You know I’m trying to walk more these days.”
“Yes, but this is ridiculous.” Nancy angled the package through the door. “By the way, I assume you know you’re on the front page of both the Herald and the Current today? Also on the morning rez-screen news?”
“Just like old times. At least Vincent looked adorable.”
They got the package inside the back room. Vincent hopped down from Lyra’s shoulder and scurried to the top of the small refrigerator, where Nancy kept a plate of cookies for him.
“So that was the real reason Cruz Sweetwater showed up at the reception last night?” Nancy studied Lyra closely. “He needed you to rescue that team?”
“Yes, but he claimed that was just unfortunate timing. He said he was planning to call me, anyway, because he wants another chance.” Lyra winced. “What are the odds?”
“I knew it.” Nancy lit up with excitement. “I told you he’d be back one of these days. You said yourself that from his point of view he was just doing his job three months ago. You have to admit you were in danger. Those antiquities gangs are utterly ruthless. If one of them had found out about that ruin, you would have been jungle plant food by now.”
“Thanks for that visual.”
“I gotta tell you, I was scared to death that whole time you were trying to move those relics on the underground market. It was sort of a relief when your first client turned out to be an undercover agent from Amber Inc. Security. So where do things stand now?”
“He asked me out to dinner tonight.”
“You said yes, I hope?”
“I’m thinking about it,” Lyra said.
“Oh, that’s real decisive. Don’t be an idiot. Where’s the harm in a dinner date? If nothing else, you’ll get a free meal out of the deal, and it will probably be a very, very expensive meal. It’s not much in the way of pay-back, but it’s better than nothing.”
“There is that. But it turns out the AI lab still hasn’t been able to locate anyone who can rez amethyst amber.”
Nancy’s enthusiasm faded. “In other words, you think Cruz Sweetwater may have ulterior motives for asking you out to dinner?”
“I’d say that’s a distinct possibility, yes.”
“Damn.” Nancy wrinkled her nose. “And here I was thinking that we were going to be looking at a happy ending after all.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
They lowered the package onto the wooden surface of a wide workbench.
“I still say you should have dinner with the guy,” Nancy said. “Give him a chance. At the very least, being seen with him will be good for your career.”
“Hmm. Hadn’t considered that angle.”
“Are you kidding?” Nancy grinned. “You’re already famous again this morning, thanks to Cruz. Didn’t you read any of the stories in the papers?” She nodded toward the copy of the Herald lying on a nearby
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