Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls - Jane Lindskold [82]
“Sarah, you couldn’t have sent that. Who did?”
Puzzling for a way to answer, I see as we pass through Jersey’s office a series of framed documents on the wall. Guessing, I point to one.
“Jersey R. Kravis, Ph.D. and all the rest. Enough degrees to make a thermometer break.” Abalone grins. “This Dr. Kravis is the one?”
I nod, feeling odd that I never considered Jersey by any other name than the one. With a sweeping motion of my hand, I mimic cutting my throat. Grey Brother sees the gesture and halts.
“You think he’ll be in trouble for doing it?”
I nod, biting hard on my upper lip, remembering that Dr. Aldrich is still missing, wondering where he is.
Outside of the elevator, Abalone links her tappety-tap to a wall unit and starts sketching commands. With a triumphant chortle, she reads off a line of data.
“Jersey Kravis, Floor Three, Rooms 323–324.” She glances up at the elevator, then at a wall sign. “That’s this floor, just down there a ways. C’mon.”
We pelt down the hallway, Abalone in front muttering off room numbers as we pass. She brakes in front of a closed door.
“This is it”—she looks uncertain—“Sarah, you’d better knock. If he has a scan, he’ll know you.”
I step forward and rap my knuckles on the hard white plastic. Then I notice a buzzer and thumb that too. There is no answer and a blazing tension makes my stomach begin to roil. After I bang repeatedly, Grey Brother pulls me back.
“Little Sister, he won’t answer. I need to check with the Four. Perhaps one of the guards we’ve captured has a pass.”
I reluctantly agree to follow, my fears for Margarita returning in an icy wave. My Pack can be brutal if they feel the need and these were the people who had kidnapped both me and Head Wolf, who had chased us from the Jungle. Would they see them as any better than Mowgli’s wolves had seen the Red Dogs of the dekkan?
My feet cease to drag and I hurry after. Grey Brother and Abalone lead the way down the stairs to the ground floor, the recorded cry of the Pack beating at us from an open intercom we pass. I have never been here before and yet I hurry along without a glance as we pass various offices. The air smells of artificial scent and is without any trace of humidity. The corridor ends in a set of heavy fire doors, and when Grey Brother opens them, I hear many voices.
I hardly know whom to greet first and stand frozen with a stupid grin on my face. They are here—my people—Peep, seeming a foot taller since last time I saw him, a new grimness etched about his dark eyes; Midline, lean and arrogant, allowing himself the faintest smile. But two tear my heart: Professor Isabella, strangely militant in camouflage fatigues, and Head Wolf, paler, thinner still than he should be, but his dark eyes as mad as ever.
Unable to do anything, I pause, seeing them assess me, the shaved head, the strained, wild expression that I know remains for hours after any interchange session.
Abalone breaks the awkward reunion by being briskly businesslike.
“Sarah says the fellow who got us the message is a Dr. Kravis. She’s afraid he’s in trouble for doing it. We checked his rooms, but there wasn’t an answer, so we need to find if the guards have a key.”
Professor Isabella nods. “Are you sure we don’t have him here? Chocolate and Edelweiss scared up a few people who weren’t in uniform.”
My pulse leaps hopefully. Professor Isabella squeezes my shoulder.
“We’ve got them this way, Sarah. Come along.”
I take her hand and we go to another set of double doors, which are opened from within when Professor Isabella rhythmically knocks. The air in this room is even drier than without and smells heavily of herbs and spices.
From her seat on a stool by the door, Edelweiss grins tightly at me. “We put ’em in the larder—nice and tidy. Wonder whether they’ll take the seasoning?