I shrugged, turning sideways for some privacy. “It’s what I would have used.” I returned to the gaming room as Ivy picked up. “Hey, Ivy,” I said, refusing to lower my voice lest I give Mr. Elf the impression I hadn’t planned this. “Saladan locked us in his gambling boat and ran away. Could you come on out and jimmy the door for me?”

Trent was peering out at the parking lot. “Jonathan is there. Call him.”

Ivy was saying something, but Trent’s voice was louder. I covered the receiver with a hand and said to Trent, “If he was still conscious, don’t you think that he might be a little curious as to why Lee left and already have come to take a look?”

Trent’s face went a little whiter.

“What?” I said as I focused back on Ivy. She was almost frantic.

“Get out!” she shouted. “Rachel, Kist had a bomb put on the boiler. I didn’t know that’s where you were going! Get out!”

My face went cold. “Um, I gotta go, Ivy. Talk to you later.”

As Ivy yelled, I closed the cover to my phone and tucked it away. Turning to Trent, I smiled. “Kisten is blowing up Lee’s boat as an object lesson. I think we need to leave.”

My phone started ringing. I ignored it, and the call—Ivy?—was shunted into voice mail. Trent’s confidence melted away to leave an attractive, well-dressed young man trying to show he wasn’t afraid. “Lee wouldn’t let anyone burn his boat,” he said. “He doesn’t work that way.”

I clutched my arms about myself, scanning the room for something—anything—to help me. “He burned down your orphanage.”

“That was to get my attention.”

I looked at him, tired. “Would your friend let his boat burn and take you with it if Piscary was blamed for it? Heck of an easy way to take over the city.”

Trent’s jaw tightened. “The boiler room?” he asked.

I nodded. “How did you know?”

He headed for a small door behind the bar. “It’s what I would have done.”

“Swell.” I followed him, my pulse quickening as I stepped around the unconscious people. “Where are we going?”

“I want to look at it.”

I stopped dead in my tracks as Trent turned to go down a ladder backward. “You can dismantle a bomb?” It would be the only way to save everyone. There had to be a dozen people.

From the bottom of the ladder, Trent peered up at me, looking odd in his dress suit among the filth and clutter. “No. I just want to look at it.”

“Are you nuts!” I exclaimed. “You want to look at it? We have to get out of here!”

Trent’s upturned face was placid. “It might have a timer on it. Are you coming?”