Page 37 of Sleep No More
“If you want to retain our cover, we can’t ignore all those people who are so eager to give us information.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I told you talkingto all those people would be a waste of time,” Ambrose said.
“Stop grumbling.” Pallas shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her jacket. “We collected a lot of information. Some of it may prove useful.”
Privately she had to admit it had been an incredibly long and boring afternoon, but she was not in the mood to give Ambrose the satisfaction. They had finished the last of the interviews an hour ago and were now walking to a restaurant that had been recommended by the front desk.
“I can’t believe how many versions of ‘I saw Catherine Carnelian’s ghost one night when I drove past the old asylum’ we had to listen to this afternoon,” Ambrose said. “Not to mention all the sightings of mysterious lights on the upper floors of the mansion.”
She smiled in spite of her mood. “You’re not really a people person, are you?”
“I’m a writer,” Ambrose said. “I can take people in small doses and for limited periods of time.”
“Be sure to let me know if you find yourself unable to tolerate my company for an entire dinner tonight. We’ve already spent a lot of time together. I don’t want to exhaust your limited supply of social skills.”
“You’re different,” Ambrose said. He sounded annoyed.
“The only difference between me and those people who wanted to talk to us this afternoon is that, for now, at least, we are working together. Partners with a common objective.”
Ambrose’s jaw hardened. “Not exactly.”
“Yes, exactly. Don’t worry, I’m not offended.”
“Yeah?”
“Not in the least,” Pallas said, going for an airy, unconcerned vibe. “Our association is based on mutual usefulness and shared goals. That’s a solid basis for a partnership.”
“It sounds like the arrangement you had with that architect you told me about.”
“Theo Collier?” Startled, she gave that a moment’s thought. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it? Feels different, though.”
“Because we’re not sleeping together?”
“No.That has nothing to do with it. Our association is just... different. That’s all.”
“Uh-huh.”
She was amused by his bad mood. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not going out on a limb and announcing the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but I am getting the vibe that tells me we might be on the edge of a breakthrough. At the very least I think we’re going to get a really good podcast out of this situation. Talia and Amelia will be pleased.”
“I am shocked,shockedto find out that you are only interested in me because you need content.”
Pallas stopped in front of the front door of the restaurant and looked at him. In the warm, welcoming light spilling from the interior of the restaurant, she caught a glint of wry amusement in his eyes.
“I thought it would make you feel useful,” she said.
“Look at it this way.” Ambrose pushed open the door. “If we can both quoteCasablancawe must have a few things in common.”
“Got news for you. Almost everyone who has seen a lot of movies can quote a few lines fromCasablanca.”
“I was trying to focus on the positive aspects of our relationship.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “You write thrillers infused with horror. You don’t get paid to look for the positive.”
“This is true.” Ambrose was visibly cheered by that logic. “Let’s eat. I’m hungry. Also I need a drink. Maybe two. It’s been a very long day.”
He followed her into the cozy, lightly crowded space. They were shown to a booth that Pallas was surprised to discover felt disturbingly intimate. She shot a couple of covert glances at Ambrose to see if he was experiencing a similar reaction.