Chapters (20)
“Not a company we supply to.” Mark hesitated. “I think we did do a quote for them at one stage, though. Hang on, and I’ll grab the file from the archive.”
The archive turned out to be a box sitting on the top of the upright cabinet. Mark fished through it until he found what he was looking for—a file in a suspension folder bearing the name of Rosen. He handed it to Jackson who opened it up and did a quick scan. “Just quotes, as you said, and several years old at that.” He handed back the file, then glanced at me. “Anything?”
I checked the desk drawer, just in case. Unsurprisingly, it also wasn’t a match. “No.”
“Sorry we couldn’t be of more help,” Frank said.
I shrugged. “It was always a long shot, but thanks for your cooperation.”
Frank nodded and took us back downstairs. Once we were in the car again, I said, “Now what? Hamberly’s place?”
“I don’t think we have any other choice. I’m right out of options as to where else to look.”
“That makes two of us.” I sighed and scrubbed a hand through my hair. It’d been a hell of a day, and my energy levels were beginning to flag. Not because I needed fire, but simply because I was tired. Even a phoenix needed a decent night’s sleep occasionally.
“We can leave Hamberly’s until tomorrow if you’d prefer,” Jackson said, obviously catching those thoughts.
I wrinkled my nose. “I’d rather just get it over with. That way we’ve a clear run for new options tomorrow.”
Jackson snorted. “Because we’re so overrun with options right now.”
“Hey, we just might be after a decent night’s sleep.”
“And tomorrow the wish fairy will serve us Rinaldo’s head on a platter.”
I grinned. “Or the rats will.”
“That is even more unlikely.” He paused as he reversed out of the parking spot. “You want to punch Hamberly’s address into the GPS?”
As I did, he added, “If the rats uncover Rinaldo’s whereabouts, I very much doubt they’ll inform us, no matter what they might have agreed to.”
“And I think they will, if only because Radcliffe knows how dangerous I can be and will want that firepower as backup.”
“He’s too egotistical. He wants Rinaldo’s scalp all to himself.”
“He may have an ego the size of a planet, but he’s already lost a number of men in Rinaldo’s attacks—”
“The very reason why he won’t want our help. He’ll want to save face and prove he can handle any situation.”
“I guess time will tell which of us is right.”
His grin flashed. “We can always place a small wager on the matter.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What kind of wager? Or is that a really stupid question?”
“It can be anything you want.”