Free Tyranny of Coins (The Judas Chronicles) (Volume 5) Paperback by Aiden James Page B

sent a text earlier with what they had learned about him,” Roderick explained, after cautiously scanning the hallway. We were definitely alone. “Look, we can go over this in my room tonight, or when you stop by in the morning.”
    As tempting as it was to get the details right then, often these updates can turn out much longer than expected. Especially in a situation like this, where my own curiosity about what happened to Agent Wilburn and the German guy named Riefenstahl was heightened. Then there was also the story behind the obvious protocol breach of enlisting CIA personnel for this mission—highly inappropriate. My assumption was that it came as an owed favor to Roderick, and at worst, would be treated as a harmless misappropriation if Thomas made it out of this alive. Roderick’s expression told me this wasn’t likely, and would have additional unpleasant news to share with Cedric and me at daybreak.
    “It can wait until morning,” I said, grasping his shoulder as I held him in my gaze. “I don’t often say it, Rod, but I really appreciate you. Thank you for sticking with me and keeping me on point.”
    “Are you sure?” he said, smiling impishly. “The dynamic of pursuing your coins is changing. Or, rather, it has changed.”
    He didn’t have to spell it out, as it was the exact same thing I had been telling myself since Alistair, and later, Beatrice, got younger. My passion for ending my long stay on this earth was waning. Instead, I was becoming more and more like the other immortals we’ve known for so many centuries. None of them are in a hurry to die. Just me, and now it was no longer the case.
    “I’m sure.”
    I watched him move down the hall to his room. Just like in our Sedona ranch home, he preferred his distance. But at least we parted ways that night wearing smiles. Maybe, it could be the thing to bridge the gap between us that had steadily widened for far too long.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Beatrice slept harder than she had in months—her need for rest likely impacted by her stress-laden misgivings from the past few days. After leaving her a note reminding her I would be in Roderick’s suite, should she need me, I set the Do Not Disturb sign outside our door and stepped over to Cedric’s room across the way, quietly moving past Alistair and Amy’s room. There was no answer when I knocked, and for a moment I worried something had happened to him while I slept.
    “Please tell me Cedric is here,” I told Roderick, as he opened his door to let me in. “Everyone else is sleeping.”
    “Gotta admit I’m touched, Willie Boy,” said Cedric, calling from beyond the partition separating the living area from the bedroom. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sound this worried about my welfare!”
    He peered around the corner, smiling wryly with a steaming cup of coffee in hand.
    “Good to see another vice has returned,” I teased, offering a knowing smirk to Roderick as I stepped inside. “When did you resume the caffeine?”
    “This morning. Right after Roderick told me the news,” said Cedric, motioning for me to come over to the dinette, where an array of pastries surrounded two tall silver pots, one for coffee and the other tea. “I’m damned close to opening the floodgates to all my vices, William. You heard the latest shit yet? If you haven’t, you might want to hit Roderick up for a highball or two to go with breakfast.” He pointed to the scotch bottles sitting atop the mini-fridge.
    “I hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said, feeling my smile fade. The look on Roderick’s face confirmed the revelation wasn’t going to be pleasant.
    “Michael will be joining us on video in about fifteen minutes,” said Roderick, moving over to the dinette to pour himself a cup of coffee. He motioned to see if I wanted one, and I waved him off for the moment. “I wish I had good news to report.”
    He moved to his laptop sitting open on a coffee table, and turned it toward