“But if they find out about the Eye and learn it was there, they’ll know you were after it.”
“I don’t intend to do anything with it that would give them a reason to worry. In fact, maybe it’s better that I have official witnesses along the way. Then nobody can accuse me of anything.” I would have expected him to say something like that with bitterness, but he was remarkably cool about it, if perhaps a bit weary.
Even though the restaurant was well out of sight by this time, I couldn’t help glancing back over my shoulder to see if we were still being watched.
Chapter Four
Much to my horror, the flying carpet didn’t let us off at ground level when we reached MSI headquarters. Instead, it stopped and hovered in front of the open window of Merlin’s tower office. It was bad enough getting off one of those things when it was a few feet off the ground. Stepping from the carpet to a window ten stories up in the air was sure to give me nightmares for the rest of my life. Rod had the longest legs, so he made the jump into the building and then helped Owen and me across the terrifying gap. Once inside, I clung to Rod until I convinced myself that I really did have a solid floor under my feet. I’d never had a bad fear of heights, but if I had to travel by flying carpet too many more times, I thought I might develop one.
A tray of sandwiches on the conference table reminded me that it was lunchtime. I decided to wait until my stomach made it the rest of the way downtown before I tried to eat. Owen also looked a little green, but Rod leaned over and grabbed a sandwich and took a big bite before he picked up a plate.
Minerva Felps then burst into the office, making another dramatic entrance. “Unfortunately, engagements aren’t a matter of public record, so we can’t just get the documents from the courthouse, and not everyone gets a write-up in the Times,” she said. “We’re digging, though. I’ve got my people reading his cards, and then the hackers are looking for wedding registries and cross-referencing that with any galas happening tonight. Oh, and Katie? Your roommate’s looking for you—the glamorous one.”
No sooner had she left with Rod to do further research than Trix, Merlin’s fairy receptionist, came in and said, “Katie, Perdita called and said Gemma was looking for you. She’s at work.”
While Merlin and Owen discussed possible ways to destroy the Eye, I used Merlin’s desk phone to call Gemma. “Wow, you’ve been out of the office all morning,” she said when she answered.
“I’m on a quest.”
“In your line of work, I have a feeling I should take that literally.”
“You should. What’s up?”