Chapter 25

40 minutes later, Wen woke up to the sounds of someone moving around the apartment. It was probably a bad sign, but Wen found he didn't care. Either it was Caid bustling around, or someone here to kill him. Either option was just as annoying.

Wen drowsily stumbled out of his room, almost slamming into a maid. She looked at him disapprovingly, then went back to picking up the half-empty coffee mugs that had been scattered around.

She piled up dirty dishes and trash with surprising efficiency. When she was done clearing the table, she pulled a plate of reheated food out of the oven and shoved it in Wen's direction.

"Eat," she instructed, pointing at the dinner table.

Wen was still dizzy from his nap, but now clear-headed enough to realize he hadn't eaten a real meal in days. He sat obediently and picked at the food, watching the maid continue her work out of the corner of his eye.

When she had finished the kitchen and living room, she moved to walk down the hallway toward the guest bedroom. 

"Wait!" Wen sprung from his chair, ignoring the clattering sound it made as it fell behind him. The maid sent him a questioning look as he came to an abrupt stop in front of her.

"Not that room," Wen said quickly, "that one…hardly gets used. Or it hasn't. Been used, for a while. No need to clean it."

"All the rooms cleaned," the maid said sharply. 

"I just," Wen said, rubbing his hand over his face, "I need to look in it first. Before you clean it. In case he left something there…I just, I need some time, to go through everything. Before anything gets moved or changed."

The maid narrowed her eyes, considering. Finally, she nodded sharply.

Wen breathed out a sigh of relief, before she added, "I will come back tomorrow morning. Go through whatever you need tonight."

Wen nodded, finding he didn't have the energy to argue.