Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows (Coyle and Fang Adventure Series Book 1) Robert III (first color ebook reader txt) 📖

and grunted, but the leather strap wouldn’t give. She slipped between the straps as the room erupted. The trap door slammed shut, throwing her down the tunnel. Her hands reached out, scraping rough stone she couldn’t see. Then her scream was cut short as she plunged into freezing seawater as dark as the fears that haunted her.

***

Thick, black smoke marred the blue sky. The flames reached to other wooden structures, creating a tremendous challenge for the fire suppression team. Soldiers escorted them away from danger and back to the safety of their transit.

“I can’t wait to get back and go over what we’ve learned with everyone,” she said. “I want all of us there in the same room.”

So I can slit your throats.

“Well, we certainly need a wash-up first,” Vonteg said. “Aren’t you the least bit harried by this ordeal?”

“Of course I am, sir.” Her eyes shifted between the two. “And I’m forever grateful to the both of you for protecting me, especially you.” She patted Poes on the shoulder.

He glanced at his shoulder. “For?”

She turned and met his gaze with teasing eyes. “Maybe that’s something we can talk about later.”

Poes blinked.

The driver helped each of them inside, mentioning a series of safety checks to go through before they could leave. The assassin sat comfortably and pretended to be interested in Treece’s water-borne carriage. She had much more pressing engagements, though and her daggers itched to be used.

Veiul looked around. “Charming, isn’t it?” She had a bright smile and sparkle in her eye. “When do we leave?”

“In a couple of minutes,” Vonteg said. He glanced at her. “Say, you feeling healthy? Head in good shape? There was a lot of smoke back there.”

“Perfectly fine, I say,” she said. “I guess I’m just eager to get back and share with everyone what we’ve learned. All together as a team, and all in the same room would be nice.”

“You sure make it a point to have us all in the same room,” Poes said, squinting at the woman who smiled back.

The carriage hummed, and they heard a series of gears turning before the machine rattled to life.

Poes shifted in his seat and studied Coyle for a few moments.

“What?” she asked.

“Do you like puzzles?”

“Sure, they can be fun.”

“Fun?”

She nodded, her smile tight.

Vonteg frowned. “You two want to tell me what’s so interesting about puzzles?”

“Go ahead, Coyle. What’s so fun about puzzles?”

“I’ll let you share. It was your question, after all,” the woman answered.

Poes and Veiul studied each other.

“The thing about puzzles is that you won’t know the piece fits until it falls into place,” Poes said.

“What are you talking about?” Vonteg said.

“He’s saying I’m not right for the team,” she said, pulling out a pistol.

“What the hell?” said Vonteg.

Poes knocked the gun away and slammed his fist into her face. Veiul kicked once, crashing Poes into the wall, and kicked again, knocking Vonteg out cold.

Veiul shifted in her seat, grabbed Poes’s arm, and shoved her boot into his neck. He punched her knee, but she held fast. Poes’s face reddened, his veins bulging.

“Not,” Poes gasped, “Coyle.”

“No,” Veiul dropped her guise, shifting into a formless face. “She’s dead, and you will be too.”

“No.” Poes struggled to breathe. “Not. Dead.”

Water splashed, and a woman called for help. Veiul glanced outside. The real Coyle was swimming toward them. The driver shouted.

Veiul turned to Poes, sneering, and then she glanced down. He pointed the pistol at her and squeezed the trigger. Her dress tore open, spilling blood. She screamed, released her grip and evaporated in blue smoke and light. Poes clutched his throat, gasping and coughing.

The carriage leaned to one side as the driver helped Coyle into the cabin. She climbed in, splashing water and sputtering, and plopped onto the bench in a sopping heap. She leaned into the corner, breathing hard. Her eyes met Poes’s, and they both shook their heads, words escaping them.

Vonteg stirred and opened his eyes. Blinking at Coyle, he hopped up and clenched his fists. Coyle shrank back. Poes stopped him before anything else could happen, and he spent the rest of the journey explaining the situation to both of them.

***

Nearby, a sloop skimmed through the surface of the bay. Its crew busy with lines and sails, though one member kept a steady eye on Treece’s curious water carriage.

“Status report,” chimed the radioed voice.

The agent set the spyglass aside and held his fist in the air for the skipper: stop.

“Yes, sir.” He cleared his throat. “Veiul had an altercation with Mr. Poes on—.”

“Tell me about Coyle.”

“Of course, sir. I’m unsure how this happened, but she ended up swimming from the shore before she was rescued.”

“By whom?”

“Mr. Poes and Mr. Vonteg. From the, uh, water carriage, sir.”

“Then she found the sea-cave exit from Trevin’s underground lair. Interesting. I do hope she’s not too badly put out by Veiul’s assault. I also hope she found the materials I left for her. Goodness, the mystery of not knowing if she found my clues is almost more unbearable than the mystery itself.”

“Well, she was carrying the satchel you left, and she swam about twelve meters, proving she was strong and healthy.”

“Good news, then, on both queries. I expressly told Veiul not to kill her, so it looks like she didn’t have trouble following orders. Have you ever asked a trained killer not to kill someone? I tell you, it’s like herding cats.”

“I can’t say I have, sir.”

“Speaking of trained killers, did you spot Fang?”

The spy cleared his throat. “No sign of her, sir.”

“Goodness, she is keeping a low profile. She’s doing exactly what she was trained to do, and I don’t like it one bit.”

“It’s worrisome, sir.”

“While on her side, I was quite happy to have her as an operative. But now we’re on the business end, as it were, and I’m afraid it’s unnerving to be hunted by a weaponized vampire with a righteous motive for revenge. Has there been any word from our contacts on the streets? Any criminals drained of blood turning up?”

“No