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It was forty one in silence, with Victor doing things on his phone, typing or looking at so to the limit for the most part

Nathan was glad they were distracted He wasn’t in the oing after

Eventually, Silas pulled off of the Interstate and they passed Market Street Tourist season ell over, but there was still activity at bars they passed As it was Monday, most restaurants closed early, and it was uncomfortably quiet

Silas parked along a side street in a lane of houses not too far from the tourist streets Nathan scrubbed at his own face as he readied hiine was off, the air inside started to chill iht He’d picked up a hoodie on the way out the door, but he wondered if he shouldn’t have grabbed a coat

They were sitting in front of a three-story home, the colonial style much like the others on the street It was hard to tell in the dark the exact color, but it was pale, with fancy columns on the porch The house was narrow, liketo the back Old Worth a bundle Not as big as Victor’s parents’ house, but a good size

Victor kept his ot out as well and stood on the sidewalk together Victor checked his phone and then noted the brass nuarden wall

“This is the place,” Victor said He tucked his phone into his back pocket and hiked thestrap onto his shoulder

“Who is this guy?” Silas asked

“Outside contact,” Victor said “An Acadeive him too many details, but he should know not to ask too many questions”

Nathan peered up at the old ho not to feel intimidated by the location or who this person was

Contractors were rare within the Academy People they trusted to know the Academy existed but couldn’t be part of the Acadeh places who respected the Acadeh to feed them information or set up what they asked They earned favors, only they didn’t know Someone in the Acade, the Academy did what they could The Academy always paid back debts

Contractors were rare, because it was rare anyone wouldn’t try to take advantage of theain It took time to be sure they could be reliable

It didn’t mean contractors could be totally trusted They were the last resort in cases hat you needed was beyond the Acade the police, usually

Victor took the sidewalk and opened the garden’s low gate He held it, waiting for Silas and Nathan to follow

They hurried to the front step Standing together, Nathan kept his hands in his hoodie pockets while Victor rang the bell Realizing he probably looked shady as hell, Nathan reached up and threw back his hood to reveal his face just as the door was opening

A tallout at them He was maybe in his early thirties, and wore a black T-shirt and dark blue jeans and boots Hispanic features He cocked an eyebrow and waited “Who are you?”

“My naan,” Victor said He motioned to the others “This is Silas Korba and Nathan Griffin We’re from the Academy We wanted to ask for your help”

The

“You are Mr Raator?”

“It gets a little weird when they send teenagers to o Rauess”

They stepped in, crowding the entryway There was a set of closed doors to the right, and to the left, open doors into some type of parlor with fancy couches There were vases on top of tiny tables that lined the hallway, and a set of stairs twisting up to the second story

Mr Raroup He put his hands on his hips and spoke in low tones “What’s this about? Why didn’t you just call?”

“We can’t,” Victor said “It’s more for you than us”

He cocked an eyebrow again, tilting his head “Just how much trouble are you in?”

“Do you have so if you need”

Mr Ramirez waved him off andthe stairs He opened a door to the right, an office

He walked in, going to the desk Nathan was the last to enter, and he closed the door behind hi and leather chairs with a couch along one wall

“Have a seat,” Mr Ramirez said

Silas and Nathan took the couch Victor took the chair that was positioned in front of the desk

Mr Raainst the front of his desk, crossing his arms over his chest “So, what’s this about?”