Chapters (22)
Adelia grinned and continued sharpening Houndstooth’s ivory-handled blade. “I’m determined, Archie. Determination is everything. Besides, I had a few years of saving Cal’s pistol-ridden ass. You know how it is, in the water.”
Archie watched Adelia’s expert hands work. “I do know ’ow it is. Knives are a ’opper’s best friend. Pistols that can’t get wet, on the other ’and? A nightmare.”
Adelia laughed. “Well, Cal was an idiot, wasn’t he? I told him, a hopper with no knives is a dead hopper. But he didn’t want to listen.” She lowered her voice in a perfect imitation of Cal. “‘Well, actually, Adelia, a gun is more effective at a distance.’ See how well that worked out for him, hm?”
Hero and Houndstooth walked to the dining room for coffee, their heads tilted toward each other as they walked. Archie sat across from Adelia, her elbows resting on her knees.
“Adelia, mind if I ask you a question?”
Adelia did not look up from the knife. “Yes. It’s Cal’s baby. No, I am not sorry that he’s dead.”
Archie shifted uncomfortably. “Well, that’s . . . that’s good to know, but it’s not what I was going to ask.”
That made Adelia look up. Her face was, for the first time, completely open—Archie realized she had not seen plain emotion on the woman’s face before.
“What would you like to know, Archie?”
“I don’t mean any offense, of course—you are incredibly skilled, obviously you are an asset. But . . . why are you ’ere?”
Adelia’s face split into a wide, white smile. Archie realized that one of Adelia’s canines was made of gold, and she was reminded strongly of Ruby’s deadly sharp tusks.
“Why, Archie. I’m here to kill you.”
Archie was startled into laughter. Adelia went back to sharpening Houndstooth’s knife. She tested it against her thumbnail, then returned it to the whetstone.
“What? Me?”
“Well, not you precisely. But, all of you. Everyone on the team.”
Archie went very still. “I think perhaps I misunderstand your joke, madame.”
“Oh, it’s not a joke,” Adelia said, although her smile had not faltered. “I’m here to kill you all. If anyone goes rogue, if anyone tries to steal the money, if anyone sabotages the plan. I’m supposed to keep an eye on you, per the boss.”
“You mean the Bureau of Land Management? Or ’oundstooth?”
Adelia did not reply.
“Aha,” Archie said. “So you’re keeping an eye on us for this ‘boss’ of yours. But who keeps their eye on you, Adelia Reyes?”
Archie stood after a long, silent moment, and walked into the dining room after Houndstooth and Hero. Adelia watched her go, testing the knife on her thumbnail once more. This time, she found it more than sharp enough.