Night's Deep Hush: Reveler Series 4 Read Online Free Page B

shook the excess off like glitter.
    “We let the woman go,” she said again, and there, in the water, was something that felt clean.
    Could nightmares disguise a lie?
    Chuck heaved a groaning sigh. “I suppose I can go find her to prove it to you.”
    “Just leave her alone.” Rook didn’t want Chuck anywhere near Jordan. “Which one of you am I doing business with?”
    Mirren waved a hand in Chuck’s direction, and he disappeared into a vortex of darkness, taking the suspended woman and the rock-star memory with him. “Find my boy.”
    “I have no idea how.” Plus, the kid might try to eat him. That’s what the inhuman creatures in the Scrape did—ate revelers. “I’m being honest with you. Can you tell I’m being honest?”
    “I can tell you won’t even try.”
    Rook bowed his head and looked at the sand. Kid missing. The mom would grow more ruthless with her desperation, not less. “Do you at least know who took him?”
    “Yes. I do.” Her mouth drew into a needle-sharp line. “My father.”
     
    ***
     
    Jordan’s stride warmed her body. Her hunger made her mind sharp. The blocks passed, dark and impersonal buildings loomed, but no one tried to stop her.
    Maybe she had gotten away. Or maybe they were watching to see what she’d do, where she’d go.
    There’d been a time in her life when she’d felt helpless. The world had become huge and dangerous in the split second that had taken her mother’s life in a car wreck. She’d refused to feel helpless ever again because even alone, with $4.37 in change in her pocket, and unable to turn to the police for help, she wasn’t helpless.
    So she walked while her thoughts flew ahead to envision all the things she’d need to put in place and in what order. The goal was to safely contact Steve Coll and her sister, so that together they could make a plan to find and retrieve Malcolm. The safely part of initiating contact was the difficult bit. She had to find a way that wouldn’t entrap them in case she was being watched. In order to do that, and to survive in the short term, she’d need cash.
    She didn’t know a soul in the city, had no one she could ask for an emergency wire, and she was unable to use credit for fear of Chimera locating her. Nevertheless, she was going to get money one way or another.
    Ahead of her on the sidewalk strode a woman with a gorgeous bag hanging off her bent elbow. There was likely money in there ,though probably mostly credit. Jordan cast her gaze around—people coming out of restaurants, crossing the street, and walking in front of her—she noted that the women all held the straps of their purses and bags tight in their grips. No careless women here. This was the city; you watch yourself.
    She stared at men’s asses for a while, contemplating the bulges outlining their wallets, but she didn’t know how get her fingers in and out without batting her eyes, and she wasn’t in any kind of mood to try to sell herself that way.
    Besides, she had other skills.
    She kept walking, a plan forming in her in mind. It was dangerous, and it made her, the good girl, feel powerful. She could be ruthless if she wanted.
    The street began turning quieter. Steam belched up from grates in the pavement. It was past midnight, and the side streets were almost silent. For the second time that night, only her footfalls sounded in the shadows. The rest of the waking word seemed far away. The shadows had grown deeper in the hush of night. Great cavities filled with darkness punched misshapen holes in the city, as if the waking world were God’s unfinished dream.
    Jordan knew she shouldn’t be alone, here, now. Fear tickled her, but she smiled at her reaction and turned down an even darker passage, picking up her pace so that her boot heels knocked on the pavement, Come hither.
    The state of humanity rose in her good opinion over the next hour as she traversed deserted streets, passed hunched and angry-looking men, and remained unaccosted. She