“Sure is. It’s not really my area of expertise,” she hedged. “I’ll reach out to the museum in Philadelphia. If you could give me the name of the curator, you contacted I’ll—”
“Where’d the fleam come from? And why would the art museum want something like this?” Adam asked. “You never did say.”
“Yeah, no, I didn’t. Well, I mean, it’s confidential and all. You know, it’s just one of those things.”
“Sure is.” He nodded with a smile that didn’t match the cold expression in his eyes.
“And these friends of yours?” Adam looked to Viktor, Greyson and Rafe then smiled at Waverly. “They are friends from San Diego? Coming to New York?”
“A girl can never feel too safe in the city,” she replied.
“So, uh, are you sure you don’t have time for dinner? It’s only eight o’clock. I know a great place in the village.”
“I’m so sorry but I’ve got to catch a flight. We’re leaving soon. Taking a private jet. Thankfully.” Waverly gave a nervous laugh and carefully put the lid on the box while continuing to speak. “It’s a long flight. I’m going to have some serious jet lag, right?”
“How about a drink?” Adam closed the distance between them. “We can catch up.”
Waverly heard a loud growl and snapped her head around to Viktor who gave her a cool smile.
“I, uh, I’m sorry. We’ve got to go,” she told him
“Just one drink. I haven’t seen you in years,” he told her, edging closer.
“Dude. She just said it’s negative. Let it rest,” Viktor told him. “We’ve got to go.”
“Waverly. Who are these guys?” Anger flashed in his eyes.
“I’m someone who doesn’t like a lot of questions,” Greyson said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Adam, I really appreciate you helping me tonight, but I can’t meet up this trip. I promise we’ll go for coffee next time. The truth is that Viktor’s my boyfriend. He’s helping me and was nice enough to accompany me tonight. We’ve really got to get going.” Waverly picked up the box and handed it to Rafe, who stood ready to help.
As she turned back to Adam, he’d disappeared. Waverly yelped as the lights went out, leaving them in darkness. “Adam! What’s happening?”
Viktor rushed to her side. “We need to get out of here.”
“Wait. Where’s Adam? Something’s wrong,” she insisted. Within seconds, a thick smoke choked her lungs. Disoriented, her head began to spin.
She clutched at Viktor’s arm as he unexpectedly fell to the floor. “Viktor! Greyson, help me! Rafe. Please. Something’s wrong with Viktor. I can’t see. What’s happening?”
“Waverly!” she heard Adam call to her through the din.
“I’m over here. I need help.” Choking, she pulled her neck scarf over her mouth. “What’s going on?”
Waverly screamed as a pair of unfamiliar arms cinched her waist, lifting her up into the air. “Put me down! Let me go!”
“It’s okay,” Adam told her. Light peeked into the darkness as a sliding door opened.
Dizzy, she fought the nausea, kicking as he dragged her through the doorway and into the tunnel. Waverly wrenched out of his grip, falling onto the cold floor. The rough cement scraped her palms, a stinging pain slicing through her hands.
As blinding lights flashed and illuminated the room, she squinted, shielding her eyes with her bloodied hands. As Adam came into view, her stomach dropped. Her heart raced in panic. “What did you do? Where’s Viktor?”
“I didn’t do anything,” he claimed as he calmly brushed the powder off his hands.
“What’s going on? Where are they?” She protectively pulled her legs under her, to steady her balance and clear her head.
“I had to get you away from them. I know what they are,” he told her, wearing an icy smile.
“What?” A wave of nausea hit her, initiating a coughing fit.
“It’ll pass,” he said, turning his back to her. “It’s a synthetic colloidal silver spray.”
“What?” She shook her head in confusion.
“It’s part of the high-tech security system we have here. Operates by an app on my watch. We installed it because of security concerns. Humans aren’t the only ones who want to steal art.”
“Why?” Waverly’s legs wobbled as she struggled to stand. She reached for the wall, steadying herself.
“You don’t think I know vampires? You know full well it breaks protocol to bring others into the facility. My life was at risk,” he claimed.
“But you said it was okay. This was a special circumstance.” Waverly glared at him as she managed to steady herself on her feet. “They’re my friends. You can’t keep me from them.”
“I can. And I did. I’m having security remove them and take them to another location.”
“Are you crazy?” Waverly studied Adam. He’d removed his jacket, revealing a tattoo on his forearm. Horns.
“I’ll call PCAP. Have them arrested in the morning. You and I will be long gone by the time they are released.”
“Do you know who you’re messing with?” Anger surged through Waverly, realizing he’d planned to kidnap her.
“I don’t know who Viktor Christianson is but—”
“I didn’t tell you his last name.” Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind swirling with confusion and conspiracy.
“You don’t think I can do my research? I already heard about the big donor at your exhibition.”
“You’re following what I’m doing?”
“I know about Teagan. We’ve kept in contact through the years.”
“Teagan? Do you know where she is?” she asked, her voice growing louder.
Adam smiled and tapped at his watch. “I think you should stay here until the vampires are gone. We can have that dinner we discussed.”
“I don’t think so.” Waverly scanned the area for an exit, noting a secondary door at the end of the tunnel. Empty paint buckets were stacked in a corner, paint brushes piled onto a drop cloth.
“There was a time we were close.” he smiled. “The fleam was the perfect opportunity for us to connect again. It’s a blessing you found it in the painting.”
“I didn’t say where I got it.” Waverly’s pulse raced. “You can’t keep me here.”
“I’m not doing anything of the sort. You’re perfectly safe. You saw the guards outside.”
“I want to leave. Let me out of here right now,” she demanded.
“I’m afraid you’ll need my fingerprint for that. Please just give me a second. I’ve got a text.” Adam tapped at the face of his watch.
Waverly looked around the room, which appeared to be under repair. She took a slow deliberate step backwards, and quietly brushed her hand over the edges of the stone wall. With the tips of her fingers, she tugged at a loose brick, praying it wouldn’t make noise.
Waverly froze as she heard a woman’s voice call Adam’s name from beyond the second door. His head snapped up in attention, his gaze landing on hers.