Free Odette Speex: Time Traitors Book 1 by Padgett Lively Page A

metal.
    “Can he can fix it?” she asked.
    “Well, that’s 'Plan A' as Dr. Speex describes it,” Joseph answered. “It will all depend on—”
    A soft click interrupted their conversation. They turned expectantly toward a segment of the wall that looked no different than any other. The hidden panel swung open, and Odell stepped in bringing with him the smell of rain and new leaves. March was slowly fading into April and with it the biting chill. Odell’s scarf hung loose, and his topcoat was unbuttoned.
    Adelphia straightened and advanced toward him. “Any luck?”
    “No,” he answered matter-of-factly. “We were able to ditch the tail… uh… I mean,” he amended at their confused looks, “loose the surveillance team following us. I visited six of the apothecaries on the list but had no luck locating Professor Smyth. Let’s hope Odette fares better.”
    *
    The tiny shop in the heart of Little Italy was so cluttered with strange and interesting objects, Odette could barely move. Jars and packets containing dried herbs and ground substances sat upon the shelves. Roots and leaves hung in bunches from the ceiling. Odette saw some fossilized bones but couldn’t even speculate as to what they had once been. The smell of incense hung heavy in the air.
    A very small and wizened old woman faced her across the counter, and a young girl sat polishing fine sliver.
    “You wouldn’t by any chance have a supply of globular sea slugs?” Odette asked, and heard the clang of sliver as the little girl quickly grabbed at a spoon that had slipped her grasp.
    “Very rare. No one sell this,” the old, Russian woman replied, before turning and shuffling off toward the back of the store.
    Odette blew out an exasperated breath. This was the fourth apothecary on her list and still nothing. She was starting to believe that Kevin Smyth was just a myth. But Odell had insisted. Professor Smyth was the only one who had what they needed. And it was like he had fallen off the edge of the earth.
    Odette walked over to the door and looked out. She tried to peer through the lettering on the glass. She and Odell were followed this morning as they left his rooms at the Academy. Odell told her he was often under surveillance in the first months after his return, but that Drake had grown lax of late. Nevertheless, they were prepared for the eventuality and quickly split up, leaving Odette at Chez LaRoche , Cara’s store on Fifth Avenue. As predicted the tail followed Odell, and Odette was free to pursue the most promising leads.
    Cara wasn’t at the store, so she didn’t need to offer any excuse for her odd behavior. In one of the curtained rooms, Odette quickly changed into her trousers and cape and quietly slipped out the back. Other than an absentminded nod, Emile had barely noticed her.
    Through the glass door she watched the street scene for a few moments more. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. This was a busy part of town. The city’s merchant class frequented the stores and restaurants along the treed avenue. A group of ladies emerged from a salon. Their faces freshly painted and hair perfectly coiffed in anticipation of an evening’s entertainment.
    Little Italy was also known for its halo-clubs. She knew of at least two in the area. One catered to families and group celebrations, typically birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings. The other provided less wholesome entertainment. Patronized mostly by men, the club accommodated various predilections without troublesome and expensive human employees. While Odette found the business distasteful, she had to admit it was better than submitting actual people to the perverse activities that went on there.
    A little bell chimed as she opened the door and walked out onto the pavement. There was only one other apothecary to visit, and so she turned her steps toward the East Village.
    Odette had gone only a short way when she heard the bell chime behind her. A veteran of off-hours, black