“Proves you didn’t leave the apartment when Blake was killed. Doesn’t show anyone unusual who might have delivered a letter.”
“Maybe he’s a ghost,” I said with a sigh.
“Ghosts rarely obsess over humans,” Petra said. “That’s actually a myth.”
I had been joking, but decided I’d take her word for it. “What about Blake?”
“There’s no surveillance video of his death; he was left in a security camera blind spot,” Theo said. “So either the killer got lucky or knew where the cameras were located.”
“Maybe he works in the building?” I wondered.
“We’re going through the list,” Theo said with a nod.
“I still think it’s weird he was in the Brass & Copper building ten minutes before dawn to get coffee. Why did a member of the AAM walk into that building for coffee when there are a dozen coffee shops on the street within a few blocks?”
“Maybe because it’s across the street from the Portman Grand,” Petra said.
I stared at her. I’d known they were both on Michigan, but hadn’t realized their proximity. “It’s across the street?”
“Give me a sec,” she said, frowning as she began typing, pulling data onto the wall screen. A search, a map, an image of thatblock of Michigan. And the Portman Grand sitting right across the street from the gleaming Brass & Copper building.
“Awfully convenient,” I murmured, thinking about the rising sun and the very short time the victim—and killer, if a vampire—would have had to make their escape.
“Still—why would you risk it?” I asked again, the same question that had been gnawing at me. And then I realized—he didn’t have to risk it.
“The Pedway,” I said. “Does it connect the buildings?”
The Pedway was a system of under- and aboveground walkways through downtown Chicago that allowed Chicagoans to get around even in the depths of winter. What would a vampire like better than a safe underground passageway between your hotel and a little caffeine?
“Well, holy shit,” Petra said, looking at the map of crossing red and blue lines she’d pulled up. “It totally does. It’s not part of the marked Pedway,” she said, gesturing to the screen. “That’s why the section is yellow. But if you could find the access points, I bet you could get in.”
“I bet you don’t even need to look for them,” I said and glanced back at them. “They aren’t the first vampires to stay at the Portman. I bet Pedway access is something they use to sell vampires on staying there. Move around the city without fear of sunlight or something.”
There was a gleam in Roger’s eyes now, and he nodded at me. “Good, Lis. That’s good.” He looked at Petra. “You make that call. Theo, see if we can get security feed in the hotel or tower near the access point. Maybe that will give us an ID.”
Maybe it would give us something.
***
I sent Connor a message, assuring him I was on my way and that Roger was giving me a ride. He was out on Pack business, he responded, and said he’d meet me at the NAC building. Traffic was light, and we made good time across the city.
I recognized the roar as we neared the building; sure enough, Thelma came toward us from the opposite direction. Low and dark, its rider equally so.
Yuen had nearly reached the curb when I heard it. The sudden acceleration, the screeching of tires. And saw in the side mirror the white sedan that turned onto the street somewhere behind us and was now barreling toward us.
No, I realized with horror. Barreling toward Connor.
My heart simply... stopped. In that second, the world slowed, Connor nearly to the curb, the sedan racing, the driver’s hair color—blond—the only thing I could see.
And when time snapped back again, I had the door open and was out of the car before Yuen had even come to a stop. I heard his shout behind me, his confusion, but screamed toward Thelma. Screamed towardhim. “Connor! Move!”
Still wearing his helmet, his head popped up to find me, then behind to find the threat, and I saw the brace of his shoulders.
I’d never known fear before. Never known real and icy terror until I’d seen him realize a vehicle was bearing down and there was nowhere to go.
He leaned to his right, bringing Thelma into a slow skid that put bike between shifter and sedan. Undeterred, the car struck. Metal met metal, met concrete, met man as the vehicle spun Thelma around, taking Connor along for the ride. They hit the sidewalk, then the building wall, and the car accelerated, took off.
Tires squealed as Yuen slammed his door closed, sped after it.