Merlin caught up with us outside the headquarters building as we left. Gloria whirled on him, and for a moment I thought she’d hit him with her purse. “That was the best you could do, accuse him and then turn him into a fugitive?”
“We could not have won today,” Merlin said grimly. “I’ve bought us time. And now we should make use of that time. Miss Chandler, you are best equipped to find Owen. Any illusion he hides behind won’t work on you. Then find out what his mother left at the fire station as soon as you can.”
I wasn’t sure how to go about doing that, but I had time to think while Ethan gave Rod and me a ride back to the city. Owen had a head start, but not a huge one, and if he’d managed to disguise himself, he might be able to stay undetected for a while. I’d likely be watched, though. That meant that I’d only put him in danger if I found him. I’d have to be careful.
By the time Ethan dropped me off at my building, I had an idea of where to look. I changed into jeans and sneakers, wandered the neighborhood for a while to see if I noticed anyone following me, then took the subway to Grand Central. I milled around the main concourse and flowed with a crowd toward a platform. Then I slipped away into the darkness at the end of the platform, toward Owen’s dragon lair. He was supposed to have sent the dragons to a sanctuary after the conference demonstration, but there weren’t too many people who knew about this location, and he knew that I knew.
Without the dragons, it was dark and quiet in the unused tunnel that opened to the side of the underground rail yard. I probably should have brought a flashlight, I thought, but since I was here without anyone magical to hide me, I’d worried it might draw unwanted attention.
I thought I saw a glint of light ahead, and I flattened myself against the wall. Was it a railroad worker, an untamed dragon, or something else?
And then I realized that there was someone next to me. I didn’t plan to scream because that wouldn’t do any good and would likely draw unwanted attention, but whoever it was got a hand over my mouth anyway while wrapping his other arm around my waist.
Chapter Twenty
“It’s okay, it’s me,” Owen’s voice whispered into my ear.
He removed his hand from my mouth, and I said, “I know. And I wasn’t going to scream.” Then I turned to face him and threw my arms around him. He hugged me in return, holding me like I was a lifeline.
“That must have been a good diversion,” he whispered as his lips brushed my temple.
“It was a real scream. So, now what?”
“We need to get to the fire station, but I’m being followed. I gave them the slip inside the terminal, but they’re probably still waiting for me to leave.”
“Merlin thought you might use an illusion.”
“I did, but somehow they still spotted me. They may be tracking my magic, so I’m just as recognizable with an illusion as I am as myself. I may have to resort to the hat and funny glasses kind of disguise. I definitely don’t want to lead them to the fire station.”
“You need a safe place to stay. You can’t stay down here.”
“I’m open to suggestions. I made a quick run by my place to pick up a few things before they caught up with me, so I’m set for at least a couple of days.”
“Nita!” I said with a burst of inspiration.
“What about Nita?”
“She works at a hotel—she handles registration. I could probably get you a room there under another name—maybe say you’re a celebrity involved with a charity thing I’m doing at work. Nita would totally go for that. Since my friend works there, it wouldn’t look suspicious for me to go to the hotel. Could you do that teleport spell you did with me that time? Or does that only work to a familiar place?”
“Anything familiar would work. I can travel to you if you’re there. But doing that would wipe me out magically for hours.”
“You could probably use the rest, and if you vanish for a while, maybe that’ll throw off the bad guys. Meanwhile, I could find a hat and some funny glasses for you.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.” He released me and conjured up a small, glowing orb of light that hung in front of his shoulder, then bent to dig in the duffle bag at his feet. “We’d probably better use cash for the hotel because credit cards can be traced.” He stood with a wad of cash in his hand, which he then handed to me. “Two nights should do it, and that ought to be enough.”
“This is a couple of thousand bucks,” I said, thumbing through the bills in the dim glow of the orb. “You keep that much cash lying around?”