“To where?” he asked.
Horns honked behind us. People in the cab line glared. Soon they’d be making rude hand gestures and cursing in several languages. This was, after all, New York.
“The Empire State Building.”
I had to start somewhere.
I tried Jimmy’s cell several times between LaGuardia and Fifth Avenue. He never picked up. Like all the other instances, the phone never rang, just went directly to voice mail.
The cab let me off at Fifth Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street. Even though it was long past the time when people with day jobs should be in bed, the sidewalks bustled.
During business hours, tourists would stream into what was now the tallest structure in Manhattan. I’d never been to the observation deck. Not only was there a never-ending line for the privilege, but it cost money. I had better uses for mine.
The building from my vision—a lowering monstrosity made of glass and what appeared to be black marble—sat across the street. The sides reflected the city and its lights.
The edifice seemed almost as tall as the Empire State Building, but it was hard to tell from the ground. Guess I’d just have to check it out from inside.
That proved to be a little harder than I’d thought.
“Do you have an appointment?”
The security guard looked like something out of a graphic novel—as wide as he was tall, no neck to speak of, muscles straining the seams of his black rent-a-cop uniform.
People moved in and out of the revolving doorway— men, women, young and old—they all resembled lawyers on speed. Everyone was in a huge hurry and they were all dressed for court. Dark suits, briefcases, shiny black shoes.
Did 1 have the right place?
My eyes met the guard’s, and Ruthie whispered, Vampire.
Guess so.
I smiled, trying to appear stupid, which wasn’t as hard as it should be. “I just wanted to see from a higher window. The skyline, you know?”
The guard scowled and jerked his head—no mean feat considering the lack of a neck—in the direction of the Empire State Building. “Opens again in the morning. Pay the price, chicky.”
Chicky? Maybe I had scored pretty high on the dummy scale.
“What is this place?”
“Whaddya think it is? Office.”
“Who owns it?” I breathed, widening my eyes in fascination.
Too bad I hadn’t stopped and changed into a tight, low-cut dress and some do-me shoes. Too bad I didn’t own any. Still, I had the feeling this guy would have been more forthcoming if I’d shown a little skin.
As I’d expected, he didn’t bite—at least not on my simpering question—just jabbed a strangely skinny finger, considering his barbell-induced body, at the exit. “Go.”
I went. I wasn’t getting anywhere through the front door.
Which was why they’d invented back doors.
I allowed the crowd to cany me along, then slipped free and headed down a damp, disgusting alley. I didn’t plan on doing anything right away. I just wanted to check the place out. What harm was there in that?
No one lurked in the alley but me, so I tried the back entrance. Locked.
I leaned against the wall, wishing I had a cigarette, just for show. Sooner or later someone would come out.
Quicker than I’d expected, the door opened, and one of the suits strode away without even glancing back. I caught the edge before it closed and slipped inside.
I wasn’t going to stay long. I stuck out like a sore thumb in my flannel shirt, dirty jeans, and boots. If no-neck saw me, there’d be hell to pay. Around here I had a feeling hell would be just like… hell.
Inside, the walls were brilliant white, the fluorescents so bright they nearly blinded me on the reflection. If I worked here for any amount of time I’d need sunglasses— or new corneas.
All of the activity seemed focused at the front—in and out. a constant stream. Back here there was only me. I took thai as a sign I was supposed to do exactly what I was doing. Recon.
The first floor told me nothing except this was a very busy place. The elevators were right behind the guard; I ignored them in favor of the stairs. Slipping into the stairwell, 1 stowed my duffel in a shadowed corner, removing only my fanny pack, which contained my cash, credits cards, and ID, and the silver knife; then I hustled up the first flight.
The second level contained offices, as did the third. I discovered the hard way that no one cared I was here when I opened the fourth-floor door and bumped into an Oriental woman wearing a suit the shade of charcoal. She nodded and moved past me as I paused to listen to Ruthie’s whispered, Vampire. I sensed a theme.
Several other employees—also vampires—saw me and didn’t scream for a guard. I supposed that once I’d passed security, I was considered A-okay.