by R. D. Brady
Stay in the courtyard, Laney warned. There are new kids at the school and I don’t want them getting scared.
Cleo gave only the slightest of responses but it was enough for Laney to hear.
She turned to Victoria. “What was that?”
“What?” Victoria asked.
Laney gestured in the direction the panther had disappeared. “Cleo. She just bowed to you.”
“She was just being polite.”
Laney stared at her mother, all the questions she had about her piling up in her mind. She thought back to the first time she had seen Victoria and Cleo interact. Victoria had stopped by Henry’s unannounced. Cleo had been outside and had sprinted for Victoria before anyone had realized what was happening.
But then Cleo had just stopped. Victoria had walked up to her and patted her head. And then Cleo went on her way and Victoria kept walking as if nothing had happened.
“You’re the only person I didn’t have to introduce Cleo to. She automatically behaved as if you were a friend. Why is that?”
“Is that what you wanted to discuss?” Victoria asked, amusement in her voice.
And with those words, Laney knew she wasn’t getting an answer to that question either. “You are going to tell me one day though, right?”
Victoria nodded. “Yes. When the time is right, I will tell you.”
Laney thought about pressing the point now, but she remembered her conversation with Patrick. She let out a breath and pushed her questions about Victoria from her mind. She had other priorities.
She steered Victoria toward the bench outside Cleo’s cage. “Okay then. So the reason I called is sort of about the missing kids. I don’t think it’s the Fallen, but I’m not sure.”
“Okay. What do you need?”
“We know there’s someone else collecting potentials—the teenagers—like Amar was. This last camp is proof of that.” She let out a breath. “I think it’s Samyaza. I don’t think Amar was Samyaza. I don’t think Samyaza is dead.”
Victoria looked back at Laney, her expression unchanged.
“You’re not surprised,” Laney said.
“No.”
“You don’t think Amar was Samyaza either.”
Victoria shook her head. “No. I don’t.”
“Is Samyaza dead?”
“No. Amar wasn’t Samyaza.”
Laney had been expecting the response, but it still stung. “Is Samyaza behind the latest abductions?”
Victoria shook her head. “I would doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Probably for many of the same reasons you don’t think he’s behind it. But most of all, it’s just not Samyaza’s style. When he kills, he kills. There is no grey. Grabbing children… it’s cowardly. If Samyaza wanted them dead, he would wait until they came into their powers, see if they were of use to him, and if not, kill them.”
Laney tried not to dwell on the fact that Victoria spoke about Samyaza as if she knew him personally. Instead she focused on Victoria’s interpretation. And her mother was right: everything about these abductions smacked of cowardice.
“Do you know who Samyaza is?” Laney asked.
Victoria paused. “No. But I’ll keep digging. I’ll find him.”
“I know you will,” Laney said.
Laney thought about asking Victoria about the High Council, but she wanted to speak with Northgram first. Besides, after what Clark had said about his men going missing, she wanted to learn a little more to make sure they were even related to the missing kids.
As Laney watched Cleo creep along the grass after some poor unsuspecting bird, she couldn’t help but be aware that Victoria wasn’t telling her the whole truth. After all, if there was one thing Laney could count on with Victoria, it was that she was holding back. Still, there was another, darker part of her mind that wondered if this time she was holding back more than the normal amount. Victoria knew so much and shared so little.
Laney glanced at Victoria out of the corner of her eye. “But it’s safe to assume Samyaza is part of the other triangle, right?”
Victoria nodded before her gaze turned to follow Cleo’s antics. “Yes. That’s a safe assumption.”
Laney watched Victoria in profile. Who was this woman she had learned was her biological mother only a few months ago? And why did she know so much? Laney clutched her ring. She knew Victoria wasn’t a Fallen. But she was something. Of that she had no doubt.
Laney turned to watch Cleo as well, but her mind wasn’t done with its thoughts about Victoria. And a question that always lurked in the back of her mind came to the forefront:
But is she a good something or a bad something?
CHAPTER 17
Chicago, Illinois
Laney glanced out the window as the Escalade pulled up in front of the Hanover Building the next morning. It wasn’t the tallest skyscraper she’d ever seen, but it was definitely up there. Northgram’s company, Banchfield Trust, had floors five through ten.
The doorman hurried over, first opening Jake’s door in the front and then Henry’s in the back. Once on the sidewalk, Henry extended his hand back to help Laney out.
“Thanks,” she said.
He grinned down at her. “Any time.”
But then all their smiles faded as they headed into the lobby. Laney rubbed the ring on her finger.
Jake leaned down, whispering. “Sense anything?”
“No. Nothing. The only nephilim or Fallen nearby is Henry. Henry?”
He shook his head. “I don’t sense anyone, either.”
“Well, great,” Laney grouched. “So much for my superpowers.”
Jake put his arm around her. “Guess if there’s a fight you’ll just have to fight like us mere mortals.”
“Hey, I can still affect the weather. And if Northgram has a pet cat, they’re toast.”
Jake laughed. “Well, let’s hope Fluffy is hanging around.”
They headed through the revolving glass doors, and a brunette in a tight-fitting grey suit and “how do you walk in those” heels strode over with a smile. “Mr. Chandler, Dr. McPhearson, Mr. Rogan. I’m Olivia Reid, Mr. Northgram’s assistant. I hope you didn’t have any trouble finding us.”
“No, no problems,” Henry replied.
Olivia smiled. “Wonderful. Mr. Northgram is waiting for you upstairs. If you’ll follow me.”
She headed away from the main elevator bank and over to a private elevator. She inserted a key and the doors slid open. “This way, please.”
As they stepped into the elevator, Laney noted Jake eyeing the ceiling at each corner, pausing at the left hand corner over the door. Laney looked at it for a moment and finally noticed the small camera lens.
Jake looked back at Laney and she shook her head, answering the silent question: still no Fallen or nephilim.
The elevator whisked them up ten floors smoothly. The doors opened with a small burst of air. Olivia stepped through, holding the door open with one arm. “Here we are.”
The hallway was lush, with dark wood floors, a navy runner, and stark white walls. Olivia led them to a door at the end of the hall and knocked.
“Come in,” came a male voice from the other side of the door.
Olivia held open the door for them and called out each person’s name as they stepped through. “Mr. Northgram, Mr. Henry Chandler, Dr. Delaney McPhearson, and Mr. Jake Rogan.”
Laney couldn’t help but think of old movies she’d seen when the butler would announce the lord and lady’s arrival at the ball.
Northgram came around from behind his large desk, his hand extended. “Mr. Chandler, wonderful to meet you. Dr. McPhearson and Mr. Rogan. It’s a pleasure.”
He was pushing sixty but he kept in good shape. And judging by his tan, he obviously spent a lot of time outdoors, or at least a tanning booth. His eyes, though, were distractingly small for his face, and his chin was tiny.
He gestured toward three chairs placed in front of his desk. Laney hesitated. Th
e chairs were slightly lower to the ground than normal chairs, which would make anyone siting in them at least a head lower than Northgram.
She smiled at him and gestured to the conference table in the corner. “I think the table would be preferable.”
Northgram’s smile faltered for only a moment. “Of course. Whatever you prefer.”
Laney smiled sweetly. Nice try, buddy.
She led the way over to the table and took a seat on the side nearest the wall. Henry took a seat on the other side. Jake eschewed a seat altogether and stood behind Laney, leaning against the wall.
Northgram sat down at the end of the table, between Laney and Henry. He looked back and forth between them. “Now, what can Banchfield Trust do for the Chandler Group today?”
Henry sat back, the picture of a confident CEO. “We had some questions regarding the Council.”
Northgram tilted his head to the side. He reminded Laney of Moxy when you mentioned biscuits. “The Council? What Council?”
Laney pictured Sophia Watson, the missing little girl with the braids. “The Council. The one you head.”
Laney could almost see Northgram’s gears moving as he debated what to say. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid—”
Laney arched an eyebrow. “Why don’t we cut through the bullshit? You know who we are, and we know who you are.”
Northgram’s eyes narrowed, and for just a second Laney could see the man behind the smooth veneer. But just as quickly, the facade returned. “Of course. Delaney McPhearson, the ring bearer. And Henry Chandler and Jake Rogan, the other two members of the triad.”
“And you’re Phillip Northgram, the head of the Council.” Laney paused. "Well, sort of.”
Northgram raised an eyebrow. “Sort of?”
Laney kept her gaze on Northgram. “We hear you’re more of a figurehead. And we’re more interested in the real head of the Council.”
Northgram tried to act nonchalant, but the tremor in his hand gave him away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Henry leaned in closer. “There are children missing. And we think the Council is involved. Now, who is the head?”
Northgram pushed back from his chair. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you—”
He tried to stand, but Jake pushed his chair back in, forcing him back in the seat. “How dare—”
“Enough,” Laney said. “Who’s taking the children?”
“Children? What children?”
Laney studied him and realized she believed his look of ignorance. He really didn’t know anything about the children. Damn it.
“Does your organization keep track of the offspring of the Fallen?” Jake asked.
Surprise flashed across Northgram’s face. Laney wasn’t sure if it was because of the topic or their knowledge. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
“Mr. Northgram.” Henry’s voice was smooth. “I took the liberty of reviewing your portfolio on the plane ride over. Over the past several months, your firm has lost quite a few clients.”
Northgram bristled. “We have not lost any critical clients. And it was a mutual agreement to end our business relationships.”
Henry glanced at his tie and flicked off an imaginary speck of dirt. “Be that as it may, I was quite happy to see that a number of my business contacts remain your clients.” He looked up. “I’ve found them to be very happy clients—and always very appreciative of my business advice.”
Northgram paled. “I didn’t realize that.”
“Yes. I was just speaking with Frank Catalino over at the Grevigor Group this morning. We have plans for golf soon.”
Northgram stiffened.
“I do hope nothing happens to any of your other clients. It does look like your firm would have difficulty coming back from losing the Grevigor, Access, or Trident accounts.”
Laney knew those were Banchfield’s top three clients. She looked at Henry with a new respect. Every time she thought she understood him, she saw one more facet of his personality.
Northgram’s voice was stiff. “There’s no reason they would choose to leave.”
“Hmm,” Henry mumbled. “Now, I believe Mr. Rogan just asked you a very reasonable question about the Council’s record-keeping habits regarding the Fallen. What was your answer again?”
Northgram paused. He licked his lips. “Um, I um… I may have some information on that. But I’ll have to check to see for sure.”
Henry smiled and stood. “Of course. But we’ll hear something by the end of tomorrow, I’m sure.”
Northgram stumbled to his feet. “Of course.”
Laney bit back her own smile as she stood and exchanged an amused glance with Jake. Laney and Jake often thought of themselves as badasses. Today, that title belonged to Henry.
Northgram walked stiffly to the door and opened it.
Henry stopped at the door, using all his height to his advantage. “We will hear from you by tomorrow. Correct?”
Northgram nodded. “Yes.” He paused, his voice quiet, his tone ugly. “You three, you think you’re so powerful. But you’re not. You’re not even unique. There’s another triad.”
He smiled with no warmth in his eyes. “As for the head of the Council, you should go looking for him. Let me know how that turns out.”
CHAPTER 18
Laney stepped out onto the busy sidewalk, Jake and Henry right behind her. “Well, that earned us nothing.”
“Not true. We confirmed that the head of the Council is a complete asshole,” Jake said.
Laney laughed. “Totally worth the trip then.” She glanced over at the Escalade. The driver had already gotten out to open the door.
She looked back at Henry and then Jake. “I don’t know about you guys, but I am not ready to get back on the plane. Anyone hungry?”
“There’s a place a few blocks over,” Jake offered. “Supposed to have great egg sandwiches.”
“I’m in,” Henry said.
An hour later, Laney pushed her plate away. “That’s it. I’m stuffed.”
Henry leaned over and plucked a piece of toast off her plate. “I’ll take this, then.”
Laney glanced out the window. She could see the top of the Hanover building a few blocks away. “So what do we think?” she asked. They hadn’t discussed the meeting with Northgram yet.
“He’ll call,” Jake said with a grin at Henry. “He’s terrified of losing those contracts.”
“He knows about the other triad,” Laney said.
Jake nodded. “Has Victoria had any luck tracking down the members of it?”
Laney shook her head. “No. Not yet.”
Of course, if she’s a member of it, she wouldn’t share any of that information with you, would she? Laney shooed the voice away, but the thought was always there in the back of her mind.
“Northgram also mentioned the other triad. He knows more than he’s saying,” Henry said.
Laney put up her hand. “How about one crisis at a time? We’ll deal with the second triad after we find the kids.”
Henry nodded. “Okay. So what’s our next step?”
Laney and Jake exchanged a look. “Clark arranged for us to visit two of the families of the missing kids. We’re going to head down to Atlanta, meet with the Watson family. See if maybe there’s something we can learn. Then tomorrow we’ll stop over in North Carolina, meet with the Seeleys. See if there’s anything they can share.”
Henry nodded. “Well, why don’t I take the—”
Laney took Henry’s hand. “Jake and I can handle it. Why don’t you head home? Spend some time with Danny?”
Henry blew out a breath. “Not sure he wants to spend some time with me.”
“Maybe not. But you have responsibilities there. We can handle this,” Jake said.
Henry nodded agreement. “Well, let’s get back to it.”
They stepped out onto the sidewalk, blending in with the flow of
pedestrians, and headed back for the Hanover Building, where the driver and Escalade awaited. Jake slipped his hand around Laney’s. She smiled and took a deep breath. Okay, the air quality might not be the best, but there was something about the bustle of a city that just energized her.
They made it back the two blocks quickly—too quickly in Laney’s opinion. For that short time, she could pretend that life and death were not in the palm of her hand. That she was just a normal person out for a walk with the love of her life and the brother she loved more than life.
They had just turned the corner onto Northgram’s street when a familiar electric tingle slid over Laney’s skin. Her head jolted up and she stopped short as her gaze swept the street. Her eyes came to rest on a man exiting the building across from the Hanover Building.
He stopped suddenly too, but his eyes rested on Henry.
Laney’s heart raced and she took off at a run. “Fallen!” she yelled back at Henry and Jake.
Henry and Jake leapt into motion behind her. Henry quickly outpaced them, although for appearances’ sake he kept his pace at a human one. A really fast human.
The Fallen paused for a moment, his eyes darting back down the street before he ran back into the building.
What the hell’s he doing? Laney thought.
Henry disappeared into the doorway after him. Laney looked up at the building. It was easily twenty stories high. Oh, please let him be going out the back door and not to the roof, she thought as she sprinted inside.
The lobby was empty but the door to the stairs was wide open.
“Stairs!” Jake yelled, pulling his gun and pulling ahead of Laney.
“Of course it’s the stairs,” Laney grumbled, but she picked up the pace. She sprinted behind Jake, taking the stairs two at a time and thanking God for her grueling workouts. Nonetheless by the ninth floor, her thighs were screaming from the exertion.
Still, Laney didn’t dare slow. Not with Henry up there, facing the Fallen alone. Please don’t let there be any more.
Grunting sounds and a yell came from the next floor, the tenth. Jake threw open the door; Laney burst out next to him. Her skin tingled, telling her that a Fallen and nephilim were down the hall.