Under the Rose

We arrived at Grand Central Station, and Poe deciphered the tangle of subway lines while I ran into a nearby shop to grab a couple of umbrellas. Though the tu

“So what’s the plan?” I asked Poe as we picked our way through the puddle-riddled streets.

“I don’t have one. I thought we’d go up to the apartment and knock, see what happens.”

“Sounds brilliant.” I rolled my eyes.

“That I am.” We turned the corner. Je

We entered the vestibule and buzzed Je

“Delivery,” I said, and the door buzzed open. I smiled at Poe. “You aren’t the only one with little tricks up your sleeve.”

A middle-aged man in a work shirt streaked with grease stuck his head over the banister. “Mind telling me what you want?” he said, lumbering down the steps and wiping off his hands with a towel. “You don’t look like you got a package.”

“Are you the super here?” I asked. “We’re looking for the resident of 4A. Ada Lovelace?”

“Never met her.” He shrugged. “She leased the place a couple months ago, when the new owner took over. But I don’t think she’s here much.”

“Do you know if she’s been in this weekend?”

“Look, girly, why don’t you and your boyfriend—”

“We’re not trying to start a fight,” said Poe, stepping forward. “We merely wanted to leave this note for her.” He held out a small card emblazoned with the Rose & Grave seal.

The man’s eyes went wide, and he looked at us each in turn. “Who are you guys?”

“Who do you think we are?”

“Couple of punks.” The super nodded at the card. “You’re the second crew to come in here waving that symbol around like I should care. What are you, a gang?”

“You don’t know what this symbol means?” asked Poe, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice.

The guy shrugged. “Some Da Vinci Code crapola. I don’t give a shit. Now, why don’t you get out of here before I throw you out.”

Back on the street, Poe kicked at the cornerstone. “I don’t get it. The D-bomb usually works like a charm.”

“Maybe in New Haven,” I said. “And D-bomb?”

“Drop the Digger name into a conversation and see how quickly your way is smoothed for you,” Poe said.

“Isn’t that against the secrecy policy?”

Poe lifted his shoulders. “What’s the point of power if you can’t use it every once in a while? The policy of the society is to fly under the radar, it’s true, but they do occasionally throw their weight around.”

“You mean like last spring when they made us lose all our internships?” I looked back at the building. “Well, we don’t seem to have much influence here. Plus, I’m about to freeze or fall asleep standing up—possibly both. So let’s continue this conversation in the nearest coffee shop, okay?”

Poe sighed. “Fine. Let me run around the corner real quick and see what the fire-escape situation looks like. If I can get up there—”

“Whatever, Spider-Man.” But I couldn’t help smiling.

“I have some skills you aren’t aware of, Miss Haskel. Anyway, if I can’t jimmy the window, I can at least peep inside.”

“And get yourself shot and/or arrested?”

“Just let me look. I’ll be back in two seconds. Don’t drown while I’m gone, okay?” He winked and took off.

I ducked under the bodega’s canopy and rubbed my arms through my coat. I should have brought gloves. I should be in bed right now, curled up with the fall issue of the Lit Mag. Damn Je

The guy nodded and went to pour the cups. He looked over at the boy. “Buddy, go

The boy picked up two PowerBars. “Yeah,” he mumbled.

But it was enough. I turned my head toward the kid with the familiar voice, who looked up, facing me fully. “Oh my God…”

“So,” Je

16. D-Bomb

I hereby confess:

I’m not proud of myself.

“Where the hell have you been!” I cried.

“Amy—”

“What the hell happened to you!”

“Please, just calm—”

“I thought they fucking kidnapped you, do you know that?”

“I know,” she said, and her eyes went from me to the attendant, to the door.

“How do you know? What the hell, Je

“I wasn’t…just—I wasn’t, okay?” She lifted her hands. “Who is that with you?” she asked. “Poe?”

“You know what?” I said, walking toward her and stabbing my finger at her raincoat. “I’m not even going to say you’re fined for that. You’re a traitor!” Now that I saw she was safe (though shorn), all of my i

“Whoa,” said the guy behind the counter. “You’re a chick! Weird. Wait, is this some kind of butch lesbian thing?”

“Amy, wait a second!” Je

“Well, he can’t stand you, either,” I snapped. “And though I may have been on your side about that a few days ago, now I think I’m on his.”

“Amy.” She squeezed my hands. “Please. Help. Me.”

Je

And this chick needed me.

“Je

“No, you can’t tell him I’m here at all. Please? I don’t trust him.”

This, coming from the traitor with the secret apartment and the false name. “I don’t have a particularly high opinion of the people you do trust.”

Je

“Then strike what I just said.” I looked out at the street. Poe was probably already searching for me.

“Get rid of him, okay?” She thrust a restaurant postcard at me. “Then meet me here.”

“Absolutely not!” I said. “You’ve been missing for two days and you think I’m letting you out of my sight? Forget it.”

“Amy, I swear—”

“Bullshit. I don’t believe anything you swear. Not after what you did.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I swear. I swear on the Bible.” She reached behind her neck and unclasped her crucifix and chain. “Here. This was my grandmother’s. Take it as assurance that I’ll meet you. But don’t tell Poe about me. Please. There’s a lot going on you don’t know.”