Tamsin and Isla were waiting two streets over, tucked into the shadow of a shuttered fish stall. Corin stood a little further back, arms crossed, watching the rooftops. The moment Mercer came into view, Tamsin pushed off the wall and crossed the distance fast.
"You're alive," she said. "That's the only reason I'm not furious with you right now."
"Hale was there," Mercer said. "Not my mother. Him."
Isla's face went hard. "Alone?"
"He said he had men around the building. I never saw them." Mercer rubbed a hand over his face. "It might have been true. It might have been a bluff. Either way, nobody moved, and he walked out without a scratch."
"What did he want?" Corin asked, stepping closer.
Mercer told them everything on the walk back, keeping his voice low as they moved through the emp
