Chapter 38

We stayed on the heels of Mei-Lien as she wove her way through the crowds on Fremont Street. Bruce and I each carried a case containing a crossbow and Shen carried one with a supply of arrows. We reached the novelty shop and sent Bruce inside to look around.

Besides the surly faced clerk who forever had his face buried in a horror novel, there were only a few customers inside the store. Bruce stood in front of the door that led to Wadim’s den and looked back at the clerk and the few customers that were mulling around. Making certain he wasn’t being observed, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small leather pouch. He held it in his hand and walked very slowly toward the door. He eased himself as close to the door as possible while doing his best to appear like a browsing shopper. When he was certain no one was looking, he tossed the pouch in the corner next to the door and watched in wonder while a barely visible grid slowly formed. Its color blended with th