Usually I grabbed something in the east kitchen. Fabian, the main chef there, always treated me right. And the waitresses who’d been working at the Angelus since before I was born took care of me too. They’d make me up a plate of pasta or cold roast pork or garlic bread and red olives and cheese. I’d eat at one of the tables for the staff or take my food to one of the back offices if I felt like being alone.
Now, with a box of food made up for me by Maria-Claire, a carafe of coffee, and even a new fan mag I got from the hotel news dealer, I went down to Anna Z’s hiding place. I was nervous as I fiddled the key into the door. I didn’t think the whole night before had been a dream, and I was about to wake up. I just wasn’t sure if she’d stayed.
A little spasma of panic went through me. The couch was empty. I whispered her name, though shouting it wouldn’t have made us any less safe. The lights were on, and I saw a complex pattern of footprints on the dusty floor. I said her name a little louder now, and she peeked out from the closet. I asked if she was okay and she nodded. Setting down the box and the carafe, I went over and took both her hands in mine.
First thing, I described to her what I’d seen in the sky. She said it was electrum light and that she’d seen it before. “Electrum is an alloy, a mix of silver and gold.”
It was clear she didn’t have a million words in her that afternoon, so I didn’t dig deeper, though of course I would have to soon enough. We drank coffee, ate sweet rolls and prosciutto and cheese. Actually, she did most of the eating, making me wonder when her last meal had been.
When she’d gathered up the last crumbs on her fingertips and licked them clean, she wanted to know what was next. I told her I had a better hideout for her, safer because absolutely nobody ever went there. Of course she asked why this place was so different than all the other suites. “I’ll explain later,” I said. “Right now, we need to get up there without being seen.”