Page 113 of The Prize

Peeking through a window at the front I observed the stylish decor. It seemed like it had been decorated with a woman’s touch. Maybe this was one of Paige’s homes? It would make sense for Eli to bring Tobias to a place that wasn’t his father’s or even his.

What I vaguely remembered from what Wilder had taught me was the garden lights could come on at any time, even in the day should motion be detected. I’d noted the skylight as I’d approached and felt a sick feeling that would be my only option. Trying the front door was reckless. Yet entering through the roof was suicide, surely?

With Jade above me, I reached up and hooked my fingers through her base. Tobias had told me he exercised with her like this by doing pull-ups and she was capable of carrying his weight. This was the mother of all experiments because I had no idea if he’d been joking.

Jade supported my weight.

I let go and knelt to draw in deep breaths, rallying my courage to pull off the most demented stunt of my life.No, that was me coming to the States, I mused darkly.Next time stay at home. Order takeout like a nice chicken tikka masala. Read a good book; something by Jane Austen or J.K. Rowling. Why not read it in the bath? With a bloody big glass of Chardonnay.

Screw it—

I rose to my full height and wrapped my fingers around her base again. “Entry point is the roof, Jade. Don’t fucking drop me.”

With my legs dangling and my body fighting this drag of gravity, I felt the rush of air blasting my face and the strain in my hands was agony as they trembled with the tension of being carried up and up and up...

These were the longest seconds of my life.

My feet met the roof and I let go and crouched—I was really doing this.

I was breaking into a private home off the meager intel I’d gathered from a drone that couldn’t speak and wasn’t able to convey meaning. This was a practice in trust like no other. Ironically, the trust I’d always sought was coming from a machine. A device Wilder had created. I wondered if he took Jade with him on his adventures too.

I pointed to the skylight. “I need to get in there.”

I’d always wondered how Tobias cut the glass of the Burells’ rotunda in Amboise. It wasn’t a power tool as the police had reported, it was Jade who was providing a demonstration of her laser skills as she cut a hole in the glass big enough for me to get through. Out of her bottom protruded a suction cup and it connected to the glass and tugged the central piece out and placed it carefully to the side. There was no time to gawp in wonder at this impressive technology.

Grasping Jade’s base again I used her to lower through the hole and glanced down as I descended.

Two men appeared beneath me.

“Stop,” I whispered.

The drone held me halfway between the ceiling and the ground hovering over them. My hands were numb. My heart banged furiously against my rib cage. I drew strength from Wilder. He’d tell me to breathe slowly to endure the pain, to center myself, to calm, and he’d tell me it was all worth it.

The way of Icon.

I recognized one of Eli’s bodyguards who had attacked Tobias. There was too much pain in my fingers to feel the relief of being in the right place. They went in separate ways and I was lowered to the ground. I let go of Jade before my feet hit the carpet, and doubled over, hugging the pain out of my hands.

Then hid in an alcove.

Following Jade’s lead, I trailed after her toward a staircase. The sound of a television came from one of the rooms. A morning talk show with an audience from the sound of it. With my back against the wall I hurried down, alert and ready for anyone who might try to stop me.

Halfway along another hallway we came to a stop and Jade pointed to a door. After turning the handle and peering inside I saw a staircase leading down. With the door closed behind me I tiptoed, praying the floorboards wouldn’t creak.

This basement had an eerie feel to it and the atmosphere worsened when the scent of bleach hit my nostrils and it reached the back of my throat. I counted ten doors either side with round windows. Jade pointed to the end one. I was so close I could feel Tobias’s spirit, I was sure of it.

Inside the room, I was filled with horror at what looked like a clinical setting with a medical chair. Jesus, what did they do in here?

The room was empty.

Tobias’s wristwatch was on the floor. I picked it up and suppressed a sob as I hugged it to my chest. Jade’s arms lowered to her side and if I believed she was capable of emotion, that looked like defeat.

Dear God, tell me I’m not too late.

I shoved his watch into my rucksack and made my way out and ran from door to door, peering into each room.

I saw him—

My heart soared with relief. Tobias was slumped in a corner on the floor and was shackled to a wall, his face bruised, his eyes closed, and his shirt and jacket stripped from him.