Free The Scratch on the Ming Vase by Caroline Stellings Page A

a man out there. I don’t know who he is. He’s talking to the concierge.”
    Nicki looked out.
    â€œThat’s Newman!” she said. She snapped off the computer.
    â€œNow what?” asked T’ai.
    Nicki spotted a first aid kit and yanked it off the wall.
    â€œGet down on the floor,” she said, “and follow my lead.”
    The door opened.
    Newman looked at Nicki. Then at T’ai. Then at Nicki again.
    â€œNobody—and I mean nobody—enters this office when I am not here! This is the end of the line for you. I’m not kidding.”
    â€œI can’t talk now,” she said, slapping the sides of T’ai’s face. “Quick,” she told Newman. “Look in there. Do you have something to revive him?” She pushed the first aid kit toward him. Everything spilled out onto the floor, including a half-used bottle of iodine.
    â€œWhat happened to him?” Newman tried to stop the iodine from flowing out of the bottle.
    â€œI don’t know,” she said. “He just collapsed. His pulse is weak. Help me, please.”
    â€œDid you call 911?” he asked.
    Nicki couldn’t think up an answer fast enough. She pinched T’ai, and he opened his eyes and coughed.
    â€œWha…what happened?”
    â€œYou were feeling ill, sir. I brought you into Mr. Newman’s office to get first aid, but you passed out. Can you stand up now?”
    T’ai slowly got to his feet.
    â€œAre you…all right?” Newman asked.
    â€œI think it’s the heat. I…I just need some water.”
    Nicki supported T’ai, and the two staggered out of the office.
    Newman slammed the door shut.
    T’ai rubbed his cheeks.
    â€œDid you have to be so convincing?”

Chapter Sixteen

    â€œFenwick? Where are you, Fenwick?” Nicki called from outside the subway station on her way to the university residence. After several attempts, she left a message.
    â€œFenwick, I won’t be back in time for dinner tonight. It’s already past six, and I’m on my way downtown.” She went to click off the phone, then spoke again. “Where are you, anyway? I’ve called a dozen times.”
    â€œI’m here, Miss.” The butler was out of breath. “I’ve just returned home from the market. I found some lovely champignons .” She could hear bags rustling in the background.
    â€œHow about tomorrow night?” asked Nicki.
    â€œSplendid,” said Fenwick.
    Nicki walked across campus to the building that housed Mac’s room. Two girls her age stopped her to ask directions to the English department, where orientation for the upcoming fall semester was about to take place.
    â€œI’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you,” admitted Nicki.
    â€œThat’s okay, we’ll find it.” The first girl opened up a folder to check a map of the campus.
    â€œSo what are you going to be studying?” the second girl asked Nicki.
    â€œI’m, uh…I won’t be taking classes,” she said. “Not here.”
    â€œYork?” the girl asked Nicki, referring to another university in Toronto.
    â€œNo, I’m not planning on university.”
    â€œOh, that’s too bad,” said the other girl, with a hint of insincerity in her voice that Nicki detested. “It’s going to be great.”
    I don’t have time for it , Nicki told herself. Not now. I want to focus on my training.
    The two girls chatted and pointed and went on their way, so excited about their future at the university, their feet hardly hit the ground.
    That’s not for me.

    Mac’s door was open, and he was working at his computer. A large bandage taped neatly under his eye and an even larger bottle of pain medicine next to his bed could only mean one thing.
    â€œMargo been to see you?” asked Nicki from the hallway. She wasn’t going to make the mistake of entering Mac’s room until invited to