Wicked Release(23)
They moved forward and Sarah caught her first glimpse of Winston Maris. At first glance he reminded her of a mottled, bald, beaver. All teeth and jowls and unkempt eyebrows. He was also suspicious. “Terribly exciting. The last few days in particular have been particularly thrilling. Leah is a delightful bundle of curiosity and energy. Although you might find she’s spent the money I paid her for her trinket already. I have quite a collection.”
“What am I going to do with her?” Harrison sighed, stepping into the man’s crowded foyer and gesturing to Lorie and Con. “Leah? Leah, dear we’ve come to take you home now. You’ve intruded on poor Mr. Maris long enough.”
Sarah kept her head down, clinging to Lorie’s hand as she passed close enough to brush against the man’s dirty shirt. Poor, status-hungry Hester would be rolling in her grave at the state her family’s name had been reduced to. Was it wrong of her to feel a thrill of satisfaction at the thought?
“Harrison?” A young woman’s voice preceded her down the stairwell cluttered with boxes and newspapers.
Sarah watched the perky blonde float down the stairs; her confused frown disappearing the instant Maris turned in her direction. “My dear Miss Gryffin. You didn’t tell me you’d sent for your sister-in-law. I would have rung the maid.”
He chuckled at his own joke and moved further into his living room. “Come in, come in. If you see anything you like, I can guarantee you I will sell it.”
Leah joined them and, following along with the ease of a professional actress, embraced Harrison. “Thank you for coming. I wouldn’t have called if it weren’t important. I was wondering if you could loan me the money to buy a particular pair of earrings. They are a steal, really. Well worth the price. Infused with the kind of power that could change my life.”
“Earrings that could change your life?” Con snorted, every inch the disinterested male. “Mr. Maris, you wouldn’t happen to have an infused pair of earplugs would you?”
Sensing a kindred spirit, the squat man’s smile grew, revealing a disturbing absence of teeth. “Women will be women, I suppose. But now that you mention it, I have something even better. My own special sleeping tonic. You won’t need earplugs, that I can swear to.”
She and Lorie had entered the living room when she sensed something. It made her stomach churn and stole her breath. It was here. Sarah squeezed Lorie’s arm so tightly she worried she might hurt him.
He covered her hand with his and squeezed back, letting her feel the connection between them. Telling her without words that he would keep her safe.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
Sarah’s tense body jerked at the sound of Winston Maris’ voice behind her. Lorie gave the man a quick, condescending smile. “Lawrence. My name is Lawrence Abbott. And this is my,” he hesitated and sent the man a wink. “Let’s call her my plus one and leave it at that, shall we?”
The name Abbott made Maris pale, distracting him from studying Sarah too closely. “Any relation to Tucker Abbott?”
Lorie’s expression was scornful. “The prodigal son? Not that I’ll ever acknowledge. What he doesn’t know might hurt him, but it could help me, right?”
Winston’s rounded shoulders slumped in relief. “I like you, Abbott. Let your plus one look around before you go. Whatever she wants, I’ll sell you for half off.”
Lorie patted her behind obnoxiously and pushed her toward the bookshelves. His behavior was very out of character. Luckily, Maris didn’t seem aware of that. She watched him drape his arm over the weasel of a man and lower his voice. “Pardon me for noticing, but you seem determined to turn a fast profit. I think I can help you out.”
Mr. Maris chuckled nervously. “I am at what you might call a crossroads. I’ve been thinking of moving to another underground vista. Adventure is good for the soul, they say.”
Sarah tuned them out and let her senses guide her. It was in this room. The second doorway. The book that shouldn’t have existed. She had only remembered one. It had been open beside her on the floor when they’d formed their circle. When they’d cast her inside.
Somehow, it was here. In this hidden, disgusting rat hole with this small, disgusting man. It was difficult for her to believe he had the skills to rewrite a spell so complex.
It was difficult to believe he could tie his shoes.
There.
She attempted to emulate Harrison’s breathy tone, but to her it only sounded as if she were ill. Which wasn’t far from the truth. “Lawrence? I want this jewelry box. I must have it.”