We filed off the bus and down into the parking lot, where the idling vans waited for us—all of them except for Talbot’s. The class congregated around Gabriel, who was still going on about something, so it was relatively easy to whisper to Claire and April that I was going to go use the bathroom in the rec center, and then slip away from the crowd. I went inside the building, ducked past the receptionist, and headed out the exit on the other side. Talbot’s van waited for me under a large oak tree in the east parking lot. I looked back to make sure no one was watching, and then climbed inside.
Talbot met me with an approving smile. “Looks like my influence is finally rubbing off on you. You’re getting good at this sneaking-away thing.”
“All part of the job,” I said. “So what did you find? And where’s this big surprise?”
“I told you, you’ll see.” Talbot’s smile grew twice its usual size, and he pulled the van out onto the road. He headed in the opposite direction from the dojo, where we usually trained, and drove toward the city. I tried asking him questions about what had happened at the club after I left last night, but he just kept that goofy grin on his face and said, “You’ll see,” in a singsong voice. Which pretty much made me want to punch him in the arm—and made my heart pound with anticipation.
Talbot pulled the van up to an old apartment building near Tidwell Library. I could see the entrance to the alley where we’d saved that woman from the gun-toting Gelals.
“Soooo?” I asked, tapping my fingers on the dashboard.
“Those SKs showed up just after you left last night. I followed them around at the club, and I distinctly heard one of them say the name Jude.”
“They did?” My heart was banging ten times faster now. Why didn’t I stick around last night? “What did you do after that?”
“I followed them here.” He thumbed in the direction of the apartment building. “I think we’ve found the lead we need to get us to the gang—and your brother.”
“So what did you do? Did you question them?”
“Nope. You’re going to do it.”
“Me?” My heart felt like it had stopped cold in my chest. “I don’t think—”
“You’re ready. I know we’ve only been training for a week, but this it, kid. I know you can do it.”
Talbot held out his hand. “Where’s your stake?”
I pulled it out of my backpack.
Talbot made a choking noise—like he attempted to strangle his laughter—when he saw the jewel-encrusted hilt.
“April,” I said.
“Aha.” Talbot took my hand and pushed my sleeve up. He gingerly placed my bejeweled stake against my forearm and then tucked my sleeve over it. “Backup. Just in case you need it.”
“You mean I’m going in alone?”
Talbot nodded. He held my hand in his for a moment and then let go and moved his hand up to my neck. His fingers tangled with the white-gold chain of my moonstone necklace. I didn’t want his touch to send tingles down my spine, but it did anyway. I was about to ask him to move his hand—to remind him of the line that shouldn’t be crossed between us—when I felt a tug and a snap and he yanked my necklace away from my neck.
“What are you doing?” I reached for my pendant in his hand.
He pulled it away. “It’s a dead giveaway. You’re going to go up there pretending to be a lost little lamb; if those SKs see this, you’ll tip them off in two seconds flat.”