Ultimate Nyssa Glass

by H. L. Burke

  “And where to?” Theo sniffled. “I don’t get it, Ellis. Nyssa wouldn’t have left us.”

  “Criminals will always let you down, kid.”

  Ellis’s jaw clenched as he spun his chair to face the voice. O’Hara leaned against the wall of the police station.

  “You were in there a while. That’s the last place your girl would’ve run to. I suggest the docks or the airfield, though she’s probably already sailed off.”

  Ellis scowled. “If you had anything to do with her disappearance, woman or not, so help me—”

  “Settle down, tough guy.” O’Hara snorted. “If I’d caught your girl, I wouldn’t be hanging around. My job was to bring her back to New Taured for trial. If she goes ‘missing,’ my case stays open. That does me no good. Her disappearance is a major setback.”

  He rolled his eyes. “How terrible for you.”

  Theo tugged at Ellis’s sleeve. “Let’s go. I want to start looking for her.”

  Evidence. Nyssa’s note mentioned evidence. That would’ve had to come from New Taured.

  “We’ll start with the customs office.”

  Theo’s face fell. “Another office?”

  O’Hara peeled herself off the wall. “Why? They won’t even be open on Saturday.”

  “That’s my problem, not yours.” Ellis grabbed Theo’s hand. “Let’s head home. I need to make a videophone call.” They started towards the nearest trolley station, at the end of the block. O’Hara didn’t follow.

  “Can’t I stay out and look?” Theo asked. “I won’t go far. Just down to the boardwalk. She likes the boardwalk.”

  “Yeah, but I doubt she’s sightseeing today.” Ellis closed his eyes. His plan to take her to the waterfront and propose was beginning to feel like an unreachable dream. “I don’t want you wandering around on your own.”

  They reached the trolley stop.

  “I’ve done it before. I can take care of myself.”

  Ellis considered this. A former pickpocket, Theo was incredibly street savvy, and they had no reason to believe he was in danger. Of course, they’d had no reason to believe Nyssa was either, until that morning. Still, knowing someone was actively searching for Nyssa would ease Ellis’s mind.

  The trolley rattled towards them. “All right, but be back at the shop by two and be careful.”

  Theo grinned and darted down the street. The trolley’s brakes squealed. Ellis flipped a switch on his chair and ski like attachments lowered from the undercarriage. He tilted up, and this portable ramp eased his chair up the steps and into the narrow aisle of the trolley. Ignoring the conductor’s stare, Ellis toggled a different switch. The chair reformed into bracers that clamped about his legs, holding him upright so he could grip the strap.

  The only other passenger, an old man at the back, whistled. “Handy machine you got there, boy.”

  “Thanks,” Ellis said.

  ***

  “I can’t believe Nyssa would just leave.” Amara’s voice wavered through the videophone’s speakers.

  “I don’t believe it.” Ellis leaned closer to the screen. He’d chosen to take the call in his study, rather than the shop. Nyssa’s tools and workspace had practically shouted at him, wearing on his already frayed nerves. “She tried to leave me a note, but I don’t think I got the whole message. I did manage to figure out she’s going after some sort of evidence. If anything involving Mr. Calloway’s murder exists on San Azula, it would’ve come from New Taured, probably recently. Is there a way I can get the manifests for recent zeppelins and steamers from there? To see if any names jump out or if anyone declared anything odd at customs.”

  Amara’s full lips pursed. “It’s the height of tourist season. Those departments would have created a crate of paperwork in just the last week. Renard won’t be happy with me if I have all the clerks focused on a personal research project.”

  Ellis laughed. “Amara, when has your husband ever said no to you?”

  She smiled slyly. “I do have my ways. Also he owes Nyssa—give me a few hours. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thank you.” His shoulders relaxed. Finally, progress.

  Amara’s smile faded. “And Ellis … I hope you find her.”

  “So do I.”

  The screen went blank. Ellis rested his elbows on the table and his head in his hands.

  “Master Ellis?”

  Glancing over his shoulder, he found Mrs. H in the door to his study.

  She tilted her head. “You look tired. Can I get you some tea or anything?”

  He rubbed his forehead, trying to relax his tense muscles. “No. I … I think I’ll look around her room. Maybe we missed something, some clue.”

  “Theo and I both searched it top to bottom.” She stepped towards him. “Wherever Miss Nyssa is, she wouldn’t want you to be tearing yourself up like this. Just stop and drink some tea—”

  “I’m not stopping until she’s home!” Ellis pushed himself away from the table. His collar constricted his neck, exacerbating his headache. He pulled at it, undoing the top button. “A man doesn’t give up on the ones he loves.”

  Mrs. H held up her hand. “Calm down. I didn’t say you should give up. I said you should have a cup of tea. Clear your head. You have a good mind. If you let it do what it does best, it will find a way to bring her home. I just know it.” She crossed the room and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. Her touch cooled his skin, and he remembered his mother, putting her hand on his father’s shoulder and talking him down when he became convinced his business partners were cheating him again. “Settle down, Ephraim. You lose perspective when you’re angry. Just think this through.”

  In spite of my best efforts, I’m still my father’s son.

  He sighed. “You’re right. However, I think looking around her room … it might help.”

  She nodded and started for the door, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll have your tea waiting for you when you’re done.”

  Ellis hooked his chair’s wheels up to the rail system at the bottom of the stairs and pulled the lever. With a jerk, it drew him up the steps to the second story, where he unhooked himself and rolled through the sitting room to Nyssa’s bedroom.

  Her bed was made, the white linen coverlet a pristine, even field, the pillows straight and plump. A scent of lavender and old books permeated the space, perhaps from the bookshelf filled with the mystery novels she’d collected since they’d moved in, though he sometimes thought the perfume rose from her very being.

  He swallowed. Dad, I know I haven’t thought well of you since your death, but I get it now, how you crumbled when Mom died. If something happens to Nyss … I don’t want to handle it. I think I’ll just want to shut down.

  Ellis poked about the room. Opening one drawer, he found himself staring at her undergarments. Heat rose to his face, and he slammed it shut. No, if Nyss wanted me to find something she wouldn’t put it there. He cracked open the second door. Still clothing, but less personal in nature, her spare shirts.

  The jewelry box Theo had gotten her for Christmas sat on top of the dresser. The necklace Ellis had given her turned out to be the only item inside. He touched it, then sighed.

  Come on, Nyss. Work with me here.

  Light, quick footsteps pounded on the stairs. Ellis turned away from the dresser as Theo burst in.

  “Ellis, I found something! Come on. Hurry!” Theo’s cheeks glowed red and sweat plastered his hair to his forehead.

  “What?” Ellis asked, his heart leaping.

  “A clue! Come on. I’ve got a steam car waiting.”

  Ellis frowned. “A steam car?” But Theo was already gone. Ellis hurried after him, down the stairs, wishing the rail system was faster, past a wide-eyed Mrs. H, and through the shop.

  A cabbie in a bowler leaned against the side of a scratched and dented steam car. He examined Ellis and rubbed his hands together. “The boy said you could pay? You can pay, right?”

  “Yes.” Ellis dug in his pocket and found
a coin. “How far did you take him?”

  “Just from the airfield. He said you’d need to go back. Normally I don’t pick up kids, but this one’s convincing. Promised me twice my fare.”

  “Twice, huh?” Ellis narrowed his eyes at Theo. The boy shifted from one foot to another. Ellis fished out another coin and flipped it forward.

  The man caught it midair. “All right, then. Get in the back. I charge extra to help with luggage … even chairs.”

  “I’ve got it.” Ellis pulled open the door and swung himself from his seat. “A winner of a cabby you picked out,” he muttered to Theo as the boy converted the chair into its briefcase form and passed it to him. “Great customer service.”

  Theo shrugged. “He was the only one who would take me, and I was in a hurry.” He slipped onto the seat beside Ellis.

  The car jerked forward. They hurtled through the street, ignoring several signals, and sending pedestrians scrambling for safety. Ellis gripped the edge of the seat. The worn leather smelt of mildew and tobacco smoke. Theo rocked against him as they careened around a corner.

  “Are you going to tell me what you found?” Ellis asked.

  “I did. A clue … oh gosh, don’t hit that …!” The boy covered his face. The driver swerved around a smaller steam car. A horn blared at them, but their driver just stuck his arm out the window and made an obscene gesture. He then wrenched the wheel around and skidded to a halt, half on the sidewalk. His hand shot into the back seat as if spring-loaded, his sweaty palm open and waiting. Ellis dropped a coin into it, biting his tongue to stop himself from assessing the man’s skill.

  No sooner were they on the sidewalk, than the steam car barreled away.

  Theo whistled. “At least it was fast.”

  “Yeah. Fast.” They stood in front of a weathered box-like building with high windows. A warehouse or factory. Behind it rose the mooring towers of the airfield. “So what are we looking for?”

  “This way, but quiet.” Theo drew him around the corner of the building. Laughter of young boys rose from the alleyway there. Theo motioned for Ellis to follow, and they both slipped behind a stack of crates. Something whirred, then zapped, and another something squeaked. Ellis peeked around a box. A group of young boys, most smaller than Theo, stood around a smoking gray rat. The creature twitched. The biggest of the boys held Ellis’s bug-zapper.

  “How did they get that?” Ellis hissed.

  “Nyssa, obviously.” Theo rolled his eyes.

  Ellis opened his mouth then closed it. There would be plenty of time to teach him not to sass later. “So what now?”

  “You got any more money?” Theo put out his hand.

  “I won’t by the end of the day at this rate.” Ellis handed him two small coins.

  Theo approached the boys.

  The big one squared his shoulders. “What are you doing here, fancy pants?”

  Theo shrugged. “Where’d you get that toy?”

  “None of your beeswax.”

  “I’ll give you some money if you tell me.” Theo flashed a coin but just as quickly stuffed it back in a pocket.

  The kids exchanged a glance. Then their leader grinned. “How about I just take it?”

  He lunged for Theo, but Theo stepped aside, kicked the boy in the rump, then planted his foot firmly on his back. The zapper skittered out of the attacker’s grasp. He squealed. Theo snatched up the zapper and prodded the boy between the shoulders with it. One of the other boys stalked forward, but Ellis shouted, “That’s enough.”

  The boys scattered with the exception of the one Theo kept pinned.

  “Really, Theo?” Ellis raised an eyebrow.

  Theo grinned. “That’s how we did it in my old haunt.”

  Ellis laughed. “Let him up. Don’t run, kid. We just want to talk, and you can have the coin, fair and square.”

  The boy picked himself up and rubbed his nose.

  “What’s your name?” Ellis asked.

  “Jem … what do you want?”

  “That toy you were playing with, I think it belongs to a friend of mine. Have you seen her? Brown hair, pretty, usually wearing a peacoat and trousers.”

  Jem shrugged. “Ain’t many girls down here. I found it under some crates. No one was using it.”

  “All right. Can you show us where, then?”

  “Sure. It ain’t far. You said I could have some coin. Can I keep the lightning gun?”

  Well, I can always make another. Plus I’m going to want some more significant fire power if things continue the way they have been.

  “Yes, you can. Now show me where you got it.”

  They followed Jem past two more warehouses to one of the hangars. Men worked in the distance, loading crates onto a zeppelin with a crane, but the immediate area was empty.

  Jem pointed to the corner of the hangar. “There was a stack of boxes there this morning. When they moved them, the lightning gun fell out from between them. My da’s a teamster so I bring the boys down here sometimes. You know, to see what’s happening.”

  “Were they loading a zeppelin?” Ellis rubbed his hands against his thighs.

  “Yeah, theOpheller.”

  “Ophelia, I’m guessing. New Taured liners have a Shakespearean theme.” His stomach clenched. Nyss wouldn’t drop her weapon willingly. Oh, Nyss, what happened to you?

  “I didn’t see any spears … you said I could have the money? And the lightning gun?”

  Ellis nodded. “Give him his reward, Theo. I need to find out when the next zeppelin leaves.”

  Chapter Six

  Hot … cold … thoughts like static … voices fading in and out … Am I dead?

  Nyssa woke.

  Darkness surrounded her. She reached up and hit rough wood. Clawing at her prison, she kicked and shrieked. Something with a sweet smell misted around her. Her head became too heavy to hold up, and more fuzzy, blurry dreams.

  ***

  A chiming bell called Nyssa back to consciousness. She sat up with a gasp. For the length of five more chimes, the room spun, then her vision cleared. A grandfather clock stared back at her from a wall lined with bookshelves. Two wingback chairs, upholstered in red velvet, sat on either side of a small table holding a pitcher of water and two glasses.

  Where am I?

  She rose from the velvet settee but immediately sank again, head between her knees. It took several deep breaths to prepare herself to stand. Her mouth tasted of iron and her lips stung from the cracks. She eyed the pitcher. I was obviously drugged. Probably shouldn’t go swallowing anything around here.

  Bracing herself in case she hit the floor, she stood again. Her legs wobbled, but she managed to cross the room to a set of tall curtains. She drew them away from the window.

  An orange sky silhouetted a forest of chimneys. In the distance, a familiar tower jutted above the shorter buildings.

  The clock tower of the New Taured National Bank? I’m back in New Taured? How long was I out? Oh Ellis, Theo, and Mrs. H must be going mad.

  Nyssa tried the window and found it painted shut. There was a single door across the room. An attempt proved it locked. She didn’t have her lockpicks, or any of her belongings for that matter, but there wasn’t a lock she couldn’t master with time. Perhaps a nail from the furniture or a pin from her hair would work.

  Running her fingers swiftly through her locks, she found more grease than she would’ve liked, but no pins.

  Nyssa bit her bottom lip.Shock me, the whole reason I started wearing hairpins was for such an occasion … oh sparks and shocks, whoever put me here must’ve gone through my hair and taken them out. That’s so creepy.

  She ran her fingers over the furniture, looking for something.

  The door creaked behind her, and she whirled, fists up.

  “I thought I heard you.” A short, slender man with slick black hair, a thin mustache, and brown eyes smiled at her. He wore a dark suit and moved like a dancer, crossing the room in elegant strides.

  “Who are y
ou?” she snapped. “Why have you brought me here?”

  “Plenty of time for that, but the short version is, I’m simply a delivery man. My employer asks me to fetch, I fetch. This time the package happened to be you.” He took the pitcher and poured a glass. The clear liquid called to her dry mouth.

  The door behind the man remained open. Nyssa was too small to normally think about taking on a man while unarmed … but this man was only about an inch taller than her. She bolted for the door.

  His leg shot out and tangled with hers. He grabbed her by the wrist. She flew backwards, landing on the settee. Her breath whooshed from her aching ribs.

  The man straightened his jacket. “Don’t do that again.” He closed the door.

  Nyssa eased into a sitting position. Well, not going anywhere any time soon, it looks like. Might as well figure this guy out.

  “What do I call you?” she asked.

  “My name is Aito. And you are the infamous Nyssa Glass … not an easy woman to find, even by my standards, and I’ve faced many challenges in my career as a delivery boy.” He winked.

  “Glad to hear it.” She rubbed her sides. “So who is your employer?”

  “I’m sure he’ll want the pleasure of introducing himself. Meanwhile.” He took up the glass and drank from it. “See? Harmless.” He passed it to her.

  Nyssa chugged the water, the prickles on her tongue finally easing. She sighed, but now her stomach sloshed and ached. “Do you have anything to eat?”

  “My employer was hoping you’d join him for dinner.” Aito took the glass from her and refilled it.

  She drained the second glass as well. “So … your employer isn’t the New Taured police department. I can’t think of anyone else who’d want me here, but last I checked, risking an international incident by kidnapping a woman from San Azula’s sovereign soil would be atypical behavior for government types.”

  “Hardly.” Aito snorted. “No, my employer is a private business man … though, we did take advantage of the police woman’s investigation to flush you out of your safe little nest.”