Page 33 (2/2)

It was the evening after we’d discovered the connection between Edie and Felicia A couple of Stefan’s deputies had been immediately dispatched to see if the won of theive the aparth search the next day, after we’d rested and regrouped

Today, as soon as they were up, recharged, and ready, Ryu, Caleb, Daoud, and Caone to check out Edie’s Cans of either her or Felicia Meanwhile, I’d volunteered to help Julian sort through the results of his search for recent fire-related deaths in the Chicago area We were looking for people whoto do with the corporation that ran Conleth’s laboratory, flagging any well-connected, wealthy people who’d been barbecued under suspicious circu number of possibilities to choose fro type of victiht, or they were obviously and genuinely accidents But we’d put together another five names to add to the short list Dr Donovan had sent to her boyfriend

Anyan also stayed behind with Julian and me Most of the political and territorial machinations of the Alfar and their Court were still adeal that the barghest had contacts in the Borderlands I could tell Anyan hadn’t wanted to make his calls with Ryu around, no doubt because the baobhan sith’s sharp hearing would pick up things to which Anyan didn’t want hihest had stayed behind ostensibly to help us search, but really because I kneanted a modicum of privacy

As soon as Ryu had left with the others, Anyan had called in Dr Donovan’s original list That had been hours ago, and ere still waiting to hear back from his contacts Julian was still at work, but both Anyan and I had had enough of looking at police reports He’d been teaching me silly little tricks to play with our power, before I’d found the old Nintendo

"Victim’s rich," Julian continued, and I finally put down ave him my full attention "Had connections in both business and politics, and died in a house fire Police figure he fell asleep, s But his ex-wife insisted to theht, ever Also, that he’d quit s the divorce, and I quote, ‘just to piss her off’ They dismissed her claims, as forensics was unable to find any sort of accelerant or other signs of arson or ns of trauma to the body, but it was so badly burned that the autopsy results were inconclusive and his death was eventually declared an accident"

"Add the name to the list," Anyan said after a second, and then he swore I looked up to see he was still playing Mario Kart The barghest had been uniae flat-screen But once I’d switched it with the newest, state-of-the-art console already in place and had started playing, the big ed his tune

"Drinks, boys?" I called over my shoulder as I walked toward the kitchen Both Julian and Anyan asked for water

I had just gotten Julian and Anyan their waters when the troops returned Alone, luckily, since I enjoyed being in the same room with Grae at reeted lass inback to his cupboard for another

I went to give Anyan and Julian their water only to find Daoud already playing against the barghest They both wore the same intense yet paradoxically eht, sly

I’d just set down Anyan’s drink when I felt a sparkle of strange power along , but not elemental in any way A pall of tense silence fell on the rooic intensified until, suddenly, a little creature poofed in right before lass I’d just set down and causing nified shriek

Anyan’s hand touched ly, as both he and the creature threw up spheres of protective energy around it not a er’s presence with a big girlie squeal, everyone else was ready to reply withchittered at us in a strange language, and Anyan laughed

"No worries, people Calods," I heard Camille breathe from across the room "Is that a… ?"

"Brownie?" Anyan replied "Yes, he’s a brownie"

Everyone in the rooet a better look at the tiny creature standing on Ryu’s glass-and-steel coffee table It was only about a foot and a half tall, with brown fur so dense and fluffy it hid both features and figure It actually looked a bit like an Ewok, if Kali had been the Ewok’s paternal grandrandfather Six furry aresture, as six solid-black eyes glared while the creature continued its nonstop stream of tiny-voiced, incoht was a bizarre ritualistic dance Then I realized its little feet et fro to the kitchen to grab a towel before rushing back to mop up the spill The little creature eyedahen I held out a dry corner of the towel I kept still, until it finally approached Balancing two of its six hands on my forearm, the brownie finally wiped dry its hairy feet It took it a while to sop up the water from all that thick fur, but I held my arm still the whole time When it was done, the wee creature patteda third down one of le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>