The Gadgeteer

Chapter 17

ARABETH PULLED HERSELF up, slowly climbing up the only stack of crates outside the warehouse. Why were the windows all on the second storey? She just wanted a peek in. Even in the middle of the day, this area 'felt' dark.

The crate she climbed wobbled a moment, then steadied. She pulled herself up to the next one. It seemed convenient. A single, stacked but slightly staggered line of crates, going just to the line of windows and no higher. Looking around, she saw this was the only whatever was through that window was staged. Fake. She needed the truth. She needed to find Henry Walsh, and this was her best lead. Deflated by this burst of logic, she climbed back down.

She looked around for Marble, but the fox was missing. Maybe she'd smelled something worth pursuing. Arabeth pulled the collar tracker out and flipped the switch. She was close. And she was stationary.

Arabeth started walking, half watching the tracking display, half watching where she walked. As she went, she noticed there was a slight smell of tar, and it was getting a little stronger as she went. That wouldn't lure a fox, and unless it was related to something Marble believed Arabeth was chasing, it wouldn't draw her.

Peeking around the warehouse corner, she spotted Marble sitting to one side of a group of men. A little too close. They were ignoring her, so that was good.

"Marble," she called at a whisper. One of the men looked her way. She pulled back around the corner. Maybe a little cover would be better. She looked for something to hide behind. She was sure the man saw her. The alley was bare, empty. This was a newer warehouse, newer neighbourhood. Off to the other side, a pile of loose wood and metal sat. Construction leftovers. It wasn't much, but it'd do.

Daisy was on to something, but this felt more like criminal activity than investment bankers. She should report it, not sneak around risking her neck. She wanted to laugh. Her not investigate? That was unlikely.

She was the one acting suspicious. If she were to act smart, she should boldly walk over, calling out for Marble, and be surprised to find her there.

Standing, she walked back to the edge of the warehouse, thinking she'd walk confidently over and retrieve Marble, using the fox as the reason. If things went badly from there, she had skills. Tools. Illusionist's flash-bombs, things like that.

"Marble, where did you go?" she called out, rounding the corner.

The men were gone. Did they go inside? Marble sat, looking disappointed with Arabeth. Projecting. Arabeth was projecting again. She was disappointed with herself.

"All right, sweetie, where did they go?"

Marble stood up and walked to a metal door. Arabeth stopped there, common sense threatening to kick in. How could she explain walking in? She cracked the door open, a little surprised that it wasn't locked. Marble was about to go in, but Arabeth quickly scooped her up. She wasn't risking her. After the damage Marble had taken at the checkerboard houses, this was a "detector first" scenario. She tucked the fox into the crook of one arm and pulled out her detector with the other hand.

The readings started mid-range, then fluctuated all over the display. It was worth a try, maybe. She put it away, planning to tweak it when she got home.

Stepping inside the warehouse, she waited for her eyes to adjust. The lights were out, which was strange enough, but there were voices at the other end of the building. Calm, quiet voices. She felt her way along the right wall, thinking to ease her way back close enough to hear.

Marble wiggled to be set down. Arabeth held her anyway. Better to know how Marble was doing, in case she needed help. Marble started grumbling and pushing to be put down, getting a bit too loud for the task at hand.