Michael Sullivan - The Crown Tower

“I didn’t. I sent it, and everything else, downriver with the current. All of five minutes’ work. Then I had a talk with the owner of the barge at his office. Convinced him to tell Malet he didn’t have a barge coming in that day. I’m certain the boat’s been found by now. Word might have even gotten back to Malet, who’s likely kicking himself for not having listened to you.”

“Wait a minute, you killed Andrew. Are you going to say he was in on this too?”

Royce shook his hood. “No, but you don’t kill four people and leave a witness behind. That’s just unprofessional.”

“You left me alive.”

“I was protecting you.”

“You really shouldn’t kill innocent people, Royce.” The professor scowled at him.

“And you really shouldn’t expect me to listen to you.”

“And the barge owner?” Hadrian asked. “Did you kill him later to cover your tracks?”

“I didn’t leave any tracks.”

Arcadius spoke up. “I guess I’m at least partially to blame. I should have known better. Royce isn’t terribly…” He sighed. “Well, social, I guess you could say. But now that we have that matter cleared up, can we discuss the original topic of this morning’s meeting?”

“Which is?” Hadrian asked.

The old man took his glasses off and wiped them once more with the same sock that he appeared to leave on his desk for that very reason. Either the tension had steamed the lenses or cleaning them served the same purpose as biting nails, or in Hadrian’s case, heavy drinking. “Your father asked me to look out for you upon your return. He anticipated your present state and knew you might need some guidance.”

“Do I really need to be here for this?” Royce asked.

“Actually you do, because this involves you as well.” The professor turned back to Hadrian. “As I was saying, I promised I would help you find a purpose.”

“And what does your great wisdom suggest?”

“There’s no need to take that tone.” The old man tilted his head, peering at Hadrian as if he were still looking over his glasses.

“Sorry, but he makes me nervous.” Hadrian jerked his head at Royce.

“He makes everyone nervous. You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t plan on needing to.”

“Well that’s just the thing. I brought you both here because I want you to become partners.”

Both heads turned.

“You’re not serious?” Royce said.

Hadrian started to laugh. “Forget it.”

“I’m afraid I am, and I won’t. Both of you are at an impasse, both have unique skills and yet suffer from the question of What now? As a teacher of young minds, I can tell that neither of you are ready for the world by yourself. Together, however, there might be hope for you both. To put it in simple terms, I think you will be a good influence on each other. Besides, I have a task that needs doing, and the only chance of success is to have you two work together. My hope is that once you see the benefits of each other’s skills, you’ll see the value in forming a longer-term business venture.”

Royce moved forward out of the recesses, and Hadrian marveled at how easily he traversed the treacherous landscape. He glared menacingly at Arcadius and accentuated his words with a point of his finger. “Look, old man … I don’t need him for the job. I don’t want a partner, and if I were looking for one, what I’d require is someone with stealth, finesse, and some level of intelligence.”

“I’m sure Hadrian possesses all of those qualities and others that you haven’t listed. As far as skills he doesn’t have, you’ll just have to teach him.”

“I don’t need him.”

“I say you do.”

“You’re a fool.”

“It’s my payment, Royce.”

Royce drew back his hood, revealing black hair. He was younger than Hadrian had thought, maybe five or ten years older than himself. “You promised it would be just one job. I won’t be saddled with him for life.”

“And I’ll keep that promise.”

“You’re certain?”

“Yes.”

“And that’s it? Afterward I’m through with both of you?”

“If that’s what you wish.” Arcadius had his glasses back on and sat with his hands folded at his desk like a man who’d just laid out his cards and was happy with his bet. “Although I would hope you’d still visit from time to time.”

“What if he dies? I can’t be responsible for his stupidity.”

“I don’t expect you to. But I will hold you to an honest attempt-a fair treatment. You can’t set him up to fail.”

Royce looked over at Hadrian and smiled. “Agreed.”

“I don’t know what you two think you’re talking about,” Hadrian said. “I just came up here to get whatever my father had left. That business is done, so I’ll be leaving.”

“And go where?” the professor asked. “Do you have a plan? An idea? Even a hint of what to do with the rest of your life? You wanted to know the other thing your father asked of me-your father’s dying wish.”

“Not if you’re going to say it’s partnering up with…” Hadrian hooked his thumb at Royce.

“Actually, yes.”

“And you expect me to believe you?”

“Why not? You believed everything Vivian and her boys said.” Royce resumed his earlier seat beneath the wasp nest, this time putting his feet up on a crate marked DANGEROUS: DO NOT OPEN UNTIL SPRING.

“You’re not helping, Royce.” Arcadius leaned forward and this time peered at Hadrian over his glasses. Why he wore the things when he never looked through them was baffling. “It’s the truth. You don’t honestly think your father trained you the way he did so that you could be a Hintindar blacksmith, do you?”

“That’s what he said.”

“That’s what he told a young boy with dreams of grandeur. The rest of the tale he was saving for later, only that boy ran away never knowing the truth.”

“And what is the truth?”

“You can only discover that by teaming with Royce.”

“Or you could just tell me.”

“If it was that easy, your father would have told you himself. This-like any real truth-must be discovered on your own. Honestly, I have no idea what your father might have told you. I do know he felt you were too optimistic, too naïve, and Royce is … well … not. At our last meeting, I spoke to him of Royce. It was Danbury’s idea-his last wish-that if I ever found his wayward son, I should introduce the two of you. I think he felt Royce could provide you with that last piece of the puzzle, the one thing he failed to give you. Consider it one last chicken test if you will, one whose lesson you might not see the virtue of just yet.” The professor stroked his beard around the edges of his mouth. “I suspect you have regrets at how you left home. Guilt perhaps. This is your chance to ease that feeling. This is the door your father left open for you. Besides, you don’t need to marry Royce-just accept this single assignment.”

“What assignment?” Hadrian asked.

“I need for you to fetch me a book. It’s a journal written by a former professor here at the university.”

“He means he wants us to steal a book.” Royce had picked up what looked to be a six-inch incisor from a bear and was rolling it between his hands.

“More like borrow without permission,” Arcadius expl-ained.

“Can’t you just ask, especially since you only want to borrow it?” Hadrian said.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. First, it would be heretical to read this book, and second, the owner doesn’t lend his things. In fact, the owner has lived his entire life sealed off from the entire world.”

“Who are we talking about here?”