Page 7 (1/2)

Her hand shook as it hovered over the keys I can do this, she told herself It’s the only way Ja ofinto the deeply lined face of a gray-haired , Padrone Ra her memorize the faces of all the men on the tresoran council "I’" Lord, she was already apologizing Be professional Show him that you’re already a tresora in attitude if not name "How may I be of service?"

"The council has deliberated over your request to be granted official status within Suzerain Lucan’s household," Ramas said "Is it still your desire to attain the rank of tresora?"

"Yes, sir" Under the keyboard shelf she crossed her fingers "I want that "

"We appreciate your service to the suzerain, Miss Lang The letters of recommendation you sent from Mr Burke and Lady Samantha were most persuasive Burke indicates that you have successfully co in all aspects of protocol and household ers in front of his chin "However, attaining the rank of tresora is no s Only a very few humans are trusted with our masters’ secrets and livelihood Your service would be for the duration of your lifetime, and you would be expected to attend to and protect your lord’s well-being and safety, even at the cost of your own Once you e back or changing your mind If you have any uncertainty, now is the ti herself into slavery, which in a sense she was "I understand, Padrone, and I don’t have any doubt about this decision The Darkyn are lad to hear it, for the council has decided to set you one final task hich to prove your loyalty and resourcefulness" He held up a page of parchh lord has sent out this suhold in the Americas; it will be delivered by private courier to your master within the next several days In short, it presents a challenge to every Kyn warrior under rule to recover three jewels known as the Eeiven rule of Ireland"

Chris frowned Should she tell him that the summons had already arrived, and had nearly started a sarrison and the visitors? Burke had always advised her that whatever happened in the stronghold stayed in the stronghold "That’s very generous of the high lord"

"Were these coree with you But these particular jewels are very rare, and quite lethal" He put down the suh lord’senthusiasrievous threat these gems present Were they to fall into the hands of our enemies, I assure you, their enormous poould be used to exter we cannot per made no sense to her "Sir, how can I stop the Kyn froreed "But you can find the jewels before the Kyn do, and bring the all the data we have about the emeralds; we know that they were stolen from Jamaica in the seventeenth century, possibly by pirates"

"Pirates" This was just getting est you also make use of the extensive research that has been done by Americans on piracy, shipwrecks, and lost treasure troves," Ramas said "Of course you cannot tell any of the Darkyn about this, as it could strain relations between the high lord and the council It could also result in unpleasant repercussions for you"

"Unpleasant" Chris loved Lucan, and was pretty sure he liked having her around, but the former master assassin had a very bad te he touched literally explode "Yeah" A sudden flood of resenth her There was no way she could outwit the Kyn, and when she failed, the council would blow off her petition "With all due respect, Padrone, I’d like to request another task to prove reat, and no task impossible" He looked down his nose at her "Find the e, and you will be made one of us Fail, and you will not"

The monitor went dark

Chapter 4

Sam borrowed Lucan’s Porsche and drove to the address sent by dispatch, at the sa the station to check in with her boss

"Sounds like a robbery that got ugly," Captain Garcia told her "Do you want me to send Massey down to work the scene with you?"

Jonah Massey was one of the newest detectives assigned to homicide, and unlike her boss, he wasn’t one of the Kyn’s human allies "That’s okay, I’ll use the uniforms for the canvass" She pulled up and parked behind the medical examiner’s van "I’"

Sam showed her ID to the patrolhtly lit shop The coppery, sewer-pipe sht, baldingnext to a body sprawled on the expensive carpeting in front of an eot, Evan?"

"Dead guy, multiple contusions, broken bones, stab wounds, impact wounds, defensive wounds, you nahtened and shook his head "Your basic fucking mess"

Sa autopsy, uination Throat’s been slashed from ear to ear Liver temp puts time of death around seven pm" He frowned down at the battered body "Not as much blood as you’d expect The perp worked on him somewhere else; maybe sliced him there and then duloves and removed a wallet from the dead man’s front trouser pocket "The ID reads Noel Coburn, sixty-eight" She looked up at the solden letters mounted on the wall behind the trashed, empty display cases that spelled out COBURN FINE JEWELERS "He’s probably the owner"

"Robbery is checking on it," Tenderson said "The killer cleaned out the place He even emptied the safe in the office"