Phoenix Contract: Part Five (Fallen Angel Watchers) Read Free Page B

leading her on a merry chase.
    “Then how do I find this lost heart and O-positive?” she asked. “Or the guy that has them, anyway?” She’d worry about other minor problems later, like how to get the stolen items back from the thief who’d been powerful enough to destroy Cassio.
    Niall scowled, his bushy eyebrows drawing together to form a hedge. Obviously, he didn’t know the answer. “I know a woman,” he finally volunteered. “A seer. She will be able to help you.”
    He tore the corner off the cover of a periodical and scribbled something, then pressed it into Aiden’s hand. “I’ll call her and let her know that you’re coming.”
    “Thank you, thank you so much.”
    As he escorted her to the door, she wondered if it was just a ploy to be rid of her. However, the more trusting aspect of her nature was grateful for the help he’d offered. It was more than she’d expected, especially given Matthew’s betrayal.
    She stepped onto the porch.
    “Good luck,” Niall said. “Oh, and remember our deal! If you make it, then return and we’ll have a talk.” He started to close the door.
    “Wait!” Aiden exclaimed. “How long do I have? How much longer till this One Night?”
    “The One Night is tomorrow,” Niall supplied with a cynical, tired smile. “Like I said, good luck!” Then he shut the door in her face.

Chapter Twenty-Three

     
    With the Phoenix due to rise in less than eight hours, Aiden experienced the pressure of a serious time crunch. If she couldn’t unravel the mystery, then Father Matthew’s and Katsue’s deaths would be in vain. The specter of failure haunted her. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
    Aiden hurried through Chinatown, negotiating the busy streets automatically. Reaching into her pocket, she removed the crumpled scrap of the magazine cover. She crushed it between her fingers, worrying the sharp folds and the torn edges. Following the crowd, she entered a crosswalk without glancing at the sign to see if it was still clear to walk.
    Brakes squealed. Her heart hit her throat.
    The yellow cab veered sharply to the left as it rounded the corner. Simultaneously, Aiden leapt from the street to the sidewalk. The driver shouted something in Arabic through his open window, but she didn’t catch the words. Spinning, she shot a dirty look after the speeding taxi and almost walked into a fellow pedestrian.
    “Sorry!” Hands outstretched, she spun on her heel to avoid colliding with the businessman. He offered no reply, only a flat stare before he continued on his way. She took a step and then realized she’d dropped the paper. Swooping, she turned back and recovered the scrap from the sidewalk.
    “Get it together, girl,” she muttered to herself and resumed walking. The last thing she wanted or needed was to attract unnecessary attention. The double deaths hadn’t made the newspapers yet, but that didn’t mean that the police weren’t seeking her for questioning. Aiden had no plausible explanation to offer if and when the bodies were discovered, and so far, the only reasonable alibi she’d been able to come up with involved pleading complete and total ignorance.
    Aiden scanned the tightly packed storefronts for an address number and quickly located the shop she sought on the corner of Mott Street next to Joe’s Shanghai. Delicious smells wafted from the restaurant, causing her stomach to rumble. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten, and she spent a minute paused in front of the eatery, waging a battle of willpower versus temptation. In the end, her will won out, because she simply didn’t have time for any delays.
    The sign in the shop’s front window was printed in Kanji with the English translation written beneath. It read:

    Herb Medicine
     

    Shaman
    A twinge of anxiety struck Aiden when she noticed the closed sign on the door. No “Out to Lunch” or “Be Back Soon,” the store was simply closed during the posted hours of operation without any