I found the nook easily enough, but there sure as hell wasn't any entrance.
Azriel appeared behind me, his heat fiercer than the day itself, but a whole lot more welcome. "It wouldn't be evident given that the vampires have no desire for humanity to know its existence."
"Logic is not what I need right now." I ran my hand over the sunbaked apricot-colored concrete wall. It was rough and grimy under my hands, and there were vague stains lower down that smelled faintly of urine.
"Then may I suggest that you press what looks to be a piece of chewing gum on the upper part of the left rear wall?"
"Seriously?" I studied the gum a little distastefully, then stepped forward and did as he bid.
Nothing happened. Not immediately, anyway. I stepped back and frowned at the wall. As I did so, there was a faint crackle. "And you would be Risa Jones, I'm guessing," a deep, somewhat dry voice said. "Hunter is nothing if not efficient with her people."
"I'm hardly her people," I retorted, my gaze searching the top of the wall for some sign of the camera that had to be there, with little success. Whoever had installed them had done a damn fine job.
"If you work for her," the voice said, "then you're hers. There is no escaping her web once she has spun it around you."
A comment that echoed Ilianna's fears, and not something I wanted to hear. "Look, I'm here to see Brett Marshall. If you're him, let me in. If not, tell him I'm here."
"My, we are an impatient one, aren't we?"
"The sooner I check this place out, the quicker we may be able to track down the killer." And the sooner I could get away from it. I might not have been inside yet, but Hunter's words loomed large in the back of my mind. I did not want to be here any longer than necessary.
"Then by all means, come in."
As he said the words, the wall gently slid to one side, revealing a long, steep staircase that led down into darkness. Trepidation flicked through me and I hesitated.
"I will lead if you'd like," Azriel said softly.
I frowned as I glanced over my shoulder and met his gaze. "You can see in that ink?"