“Gertie Devereaux. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Snow lightly falls around her shoulders as she moves closer to Mason, quietly trying to determine her play. Will he be suspicious? Will he listen?
Will any of it matter if Archeron gets his hands on him?
Still, Mason wants an answer, so she keeps it casual. “Interested in grabbing a drink? I have a proposition for you.”
“Color me intrigued.”
It doesn’t take long for them to find a quiet booth to talk in, and she crosses one leg over the other as she leans in to him. “We need to talk about Gunther.”
“Gunther? What about him?”
“He’s in trouble. I don’t think he should be with Archeron anymore.”
“Why not?”
That’s the harder thing to dance around. She can’t tell him the truth. He won’t believe the truth. He’ll fall into the same trap that Gunther has, over and over again. She takes a breath before shaking her head.
“It’s hard to explain. It’s something I think is more effective if you see it for yourself.” She pauses before reaching over and squeezing his hand. “Just go see him? Please?”
Mason seems concerned, eyes narrowing as he tries to discern her meaning, but in the end, all he can do is sigh. “Gertie, I’m really busy—”
“Just go see him, Mason. And then tell me whether or not you’ll help.”
She pays for their drinks and sends him on his way. Two days later her phone rings, and when she answers, Mason’s voice is on the other end.
“What is Archeron doing to him?”
Some tension relaxes in her shoulders, and she lets herself have a bit of hope once again.
like a fire that keeps on burning | murder train | 300
“Gertie Devereaux. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Snow lightly falls around her shoulders as she moves closer to Mason, quietly trying to determine her play. Will he be suspicious? Will he listen?
Will any of it matter if Archeron gets his hands on him?
Still, Mason wants an answer, so she keeps it casual. “Interested in grabbing a drink? I have a proposition for you.”
“Color me intrigued.”
It doesn’t take long for them to find a quiet booth to talk in, and she crosses one leg over the other as she leans in to him. “We need to talk about Gunther.”
“Gunther? What about him?”
“He’s in trouble. I don’t think he should be with Archeron anymore.”
“Why not?”
That’s the harder thing to dance around. She can’t tell him the truth. He won’t believe the truth. He’ll fall into the same trap that Gunther has, over and over again. She takes a breath before shaking her head.
“It’s hard to explain. It’s something I think is more effective if you see it for yourself.” She pauses before reaching over and squeezing his hand. “Just go see him? Please?”
Mason seems concerned, eyes narrowing as he tries to discern her meaning, but in the end, all he can do is sigh. “Gertie, I’m really busy—”
“Just go see him, Mason. And then tell me whether or not you’ll help.”
She pays for their drinks and sends him on his way. Two days later her phone rings, and when she answers, Mason’s voice is on the other end.
“What is Archeron doing to him?”
Some tension relaxes in her shoulders, and she lets herself have a bit of hope once again.
“Archeron has magic. He’s using it to abuse him.”
“Then let’s get him out of there.”