Peri was too worried to laugh. Adrenaline spilled through her as she saw Harry through the wide glass windows, the big, wide-shouldered man looking more security than receptionist, but then again, that’s what he was. There was a reason he was on the night shift, and it wasn’t because he was stupid. The man was an anchor, meaning he’d know if she drafted, remember it while she forgot. He’d have a weapon under the counter along with his reception data pad, and Peri eased Rachel to a stop in the shadows outside the door.

“Okay,” Peri said as Jenks dropped down and settled on Rachel’s shoulder. “Just like we talked about. I keep him occupied as Jenks makes his computer wonky, and, Rachel, you slip in when he goes to fix it.”

“No problem,” Rachel said, drawing deeper into the shadows. “It doesn’t even look like the door is locked.”

“It’s not locked because he’s got a handgun under the counter and a gold star from his shooting coach. I mean it, Rachel,” Peri said, and the woman raised her eyebrows in question. “Don’t hurt anyone, and try not to be seen. It’s not just my job. I know these people, work with them. They trust me. I don’t have anything else to fall back on. This is my life.”

Rachel grimaced, and Peri heard Jenks’s wings clatter. “Yeah, I got it,” the woman said sourly. “I won’t hit anyone. Though it’d be a hell of a lot easier if I did.”

Isn’t that the truth. Peri started when Jenks shifted to her shoulder, his wings cold as they tickled her neck. “We’ve got this, Rache,” he said dryly. “Cool your jets and wait for the signal.”

Satisfied, Peri went in. Harry looked up from his tablet at the sound of the door opening. “Hi, Peri,” the soft-spoken man said as he pushed back from his desk. “I saw Jack come through earlier and figured you weren’t far behind.”

Arms swinging freely, Peri came forward to sign the visitors’ book, her expression freezing when she caught sight of Jenks flying low to the floor, swinging around behind the desk. “Bump on the head. I had to clean up the wine before it set. You don’t know where he is, do you?”

An alarm began sounding softly behind Harry, and he turned away. “They moved Jack into one of the doctors’ apartments. B-2. Just down the hall to the right.” His frown deepened, and he tapped the array of video monitors set to the side. “Another one down. This is so weird.”

“Thanks, Harry.” She signed her name with a flourish, catching sight of Rachel as the woman hustled into the nearby hallway.