Night Study (Soulfinders, #2)(65)

After an hour, Valek rejected the idea of bored teens as the culprits. No. The Storm Thieves were organized and had a precise plan. The building supplies meant their hideout either needed major repairs or they’d built a place. But any new building would have been found during the search.

Repairs? The salt air was corrosive. Each structure in a coastal town needed a new coat of paint every couple of years, and replacing rotted wood was a typical renovation. But why this much wood? Unless both the exterior and interiors had been rebuilt. Would the guards notice this during the inspections? He asked Endre.

“It depends on the person. Some of the officers are more observant than others, sir. The reports on the searches might mention something like that.”

Guess he’d have to wait until later. In the meantime, what else needed repairs? Fishing boats. Just like the buildings, each boat needed extensive upkeep, and they’d been searched. Unless the boat was out to sea at that time. Suicide, unless magic was involved. Assuming a magician was on board, Valek mulled it over and found a flaw in his logic. The fishermen would notice if a boat sailed away during the storm season. They’d think the captain was insane and talk about that “damn fool” at all the local taverns.

No. The Storm Thieves couldn’t risk such odd behavior. Unless... Valek straightened. Unless they left before the storm season and never returned! They’d be considered lost at sea. No one would suspect them because they were all dead. A perfect alibi.

Valek asked Endre if any boats had disappeared during the fishing season.

“There are always a few that don’t come back. The Port Master in each town would have those records. Also Annika might know. When a ship is lost at sea, everyone gathers at the inn.” Endre paused. “Why is that important?”

He explained his theory.

“That would be a right smart trick. But why go to all the trouble? Living on a ship ain’t fun.”

“Are there places along the coast only accessible by boat?” Valek asked.

“Yeah. There’s a few. Up north there’s a couple coves hidden in those cliffs. Do you think they could be there?”

“It’s possible. Or they could be stocking up for a journey to Sitia.” Which would be a safer place for the magician to live.

“That’s too dangerous. Out of dozens of ships, only one has crossed the Rattles intact.”

But would a boat with a Stormdancer aboard be able to? Valek considered. The Rattles extended over a hundred miles into the Sunset Ocean from the knob of land jutting from the southern coast of MD-1, which was also the western edge of the Snake Forest. It twisted over underwater rocks, contained pockets of shallow water and created unpredictable riptides and strong currents. The sound of the turbulent water reminded sailors of rattlesnakes when they shook their tails in warning. And it fit perfectly with its location at the end of the Snake Forest.

A Stormdancer influenced the weather and not water, so Valek doubted having one on board would make a difference in an attempt to cross the Rattles. One thing Valek did know—the Storm Thieves must have a grander scheme than stealing in mind. Once he figured that out, they’d be easy to find.

Annika arrived with two steaming containers of seafood chowder for them. Valek’s stomach lurched in sudden hunger as the tangy, fishy aroma reached him. She served Valek first, but she gave Endre a sweet dimpled smile with his bowl. Ah. They’d been working together too long. In the past, he’d break them up and assign one to the other side of Ixia. But as Hedda had said, he’d changed. Valek no longer believed love or romance negatively affected an agent’s ability to do his or her duty. In fact, he thought it made them a stronger team.

Pah, you’ve gone soft, old man, Janco’s voice sounded in his head. He ignored it. Instead he asked Annika about the boats that had disappeared this year.

“There’s always a bunch that wreck or sink or catch fire,” she said. “Mostly those have a few survivors, but there were two that sailed from Gandrel and never came back. The Starfish and the Sea Serpent.”

“Do you know who captained the boats and worked on them?”

“No, sir, but the Port Master will have all that information.”

“Can you get the names for me without anyone knowing?”

She hesitated, then glanced at Endre. “Do you have any sleeping juice left?”

“Yep.”

“Then that would be a yes, sir,” she said to Valek. “The Port Master is a frequent customer.”

“What about the other towns?” Endre asked him. “There have to be other boats that disappeared.”

“The Stormers are from Gandrel.”

“How do you know?” Annika asked.

“You tell me,” he said. “What’s changed?”

She stared at the map in concentration. A section of her long brown hair fell in front of her face, and she tucked it behind her ear with an impatient tug. Her darker skin tone reminded him of Yelena.

Annika tapped on the map with her finger. “Stealing weapons from a security office is a dangerous hit.” She met Valek’s gaze. Long eyelashes framed lovely brown eyes. “There are a number of offices along the coast, but they picked Gandrel’s because they’re very familiar with the town. There’s no need to worry about getting lost while a storm rages when you know every street, and the chances of encountering an officer are smaller when you know their patrol patterns.”