“They only took Lucy like six hours ago, Quarn. It couldn’t have been a week.”
Lallielle interrupted us. “I’m so sorry, Aribella. Josian and I should have mentioned: it takes time to move through the wormholes. I’m not sure of the exact ratio, but a week could definitely pass on Earth. Even though we move at the speed of light, our planets are very far away, inhabiting their own star systems.”
Josian gave a succinct nod. He was proud of Lallielle’s Walker knowledge.
I blinked a few times. “I guess that explains my exhaustion. I’m jetlagged, apparently. One day to one week is quite a time-zone jump.”
Quarn spoke again. “Since that day, no one has come back to the compound.”
Josian stepped forward again, but this time, instead of ignoring him, Quarn’s expressive features narrowed in hostility.
“What are you doing here, Josian? I trusted you with Lallielle and you left her alone and pregnant. My Hallow was killed coming to Earth and there’s no one to blame but you.”
Lallielle gasped then. Moving forward, she stopped in front of Quarn. “No ... Qua... tell me it isn’t true. Hallow can’t be gone.” Her pain was palpable as she gulped back tears, although a few overflowed. “My choices cost so many people.”
Quarn shook his head. “No, Lalli, it was not your choices, and it wasn’t Josian’s either. I just have seventeen years of anger, and since he’s an arrogant piece of ... well, let’s just say I was content to focus my ire on him.”
Josian’s face twitched and he ran his hands through his red mane. Generally he didn’t seem to possess the same nervous twitches as the rest of us. Mostly he seemed upset by how close Lallielle and Quarn were standing.
“Hallow was killed as we arrived on Earth. We landed in the midst of a gang shootout. I did the best I could with Aribella, but without Hallow I couldn’t look after her. I left her in a rebel’s compound and stayed around to protect her.” He glared at me. “Which wasn’t always easy. The girl has a slight problem with staying put.”
I shrugged. “It’s not my fault. I obviously have some crazy-ass genetics. I was looking for home and freedom.”
I wondered if all those ‘lucky’ close calls I had on the streets were mainly due to Quarn’s vigilance in keeping me alive.
I smiled at him. “Thanks for being an awesome protector.”
His return expression told me two things: he loved me and he loved my mother. I just hoped Josian wouldn’t notice and decide to kill him.
I focused again on our mission, starting to pace back and forth.
“I thought Lucy was missing for only six hours. Now I find out it’s been a week.” My voice rose a little as the potential images flooded my mind. “We have to hurry.”
“The only reason for them to take Lucy from First World is as a trap for you, Red. Someone knew about your relationship, because Lucy has no significance to either world.”
My head flew up; we locked eyes.
“Olden knew. She’s our compound leader. But how would she know about First World?” I started pacing again, musing as I went. “Olden had an awful lot of cash in her room. Maybe it was bigger than just working for the gangs.”
“If it’s a trap, Aribella can’t just stroll up there and hand herself over. I won’t let her.” Lallielle’s black hair was practically bristling around her, hands firmly planted on her hips.
I shrugged. “I’ll be going no matter what. Lucy would do the same for me and I’ve left her long enough.”
Josian was also exuding annoying levels of concern. “They’ll expect you to have that very attitude.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.
“All Walkers have a slight problem with impatience, so I understand. I’m not saying don’t go, I’m saying be smart about it. Running in there blind, without a plan, is just stupid.”
I sighed, conceding to them for the moment. “Okay, we need some type of plan. But first let’s see what weapons we can be packing on our way.” I turned to Quarn. “Give me a quick rundown on where they’re being held.”
A blind moron could tell Quarn was military trained. His reply was quick and succinct.
“Large warehouse in the Upper East Side. Surrounded by deserted industrial zones. Isolated but close enough to the compounds to get any supplies they could need. I observed two entrances: one in front and the other on the left side. The rest of the building is locked down very tightly. Each entrance is guarded by two men. They’re armed, dangerous, and highly trained.
“An armored hummer arrived each day at fourteen hundred hours. A cloaked person would exit with four armed guards. They entered the building, and stayed around forty-five minutes each time. The guard shift changes at seven hundred and nineteen hundred. The rotation of guards is the same each day.”
This was good information, but we needed weapons. There was no doubt the guards would have them.