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He gave an elegant little shrug "A test, if you will" He sat in the recently vacated chair in front of her desk, while Duncan took up position behind his left shoulder Raphael looked up at her, and in the brighter light, she could see his eyes were not siestured "Sit, Ms Leighton"

Cynthia regarded the pair of theave Lonnie a poisonous stare before once again pulling her chair over and sitting down

"How did you know?" Raphael asked He had a warm, rich voice that flowed like sweet honey, a voice she could not only hear with her ears, but taste with her tongue, feel its heat against her lips She licked those lips self-consciously and wondered if he was using soical vas," she said finally, clearing her throat to speak h the door and I pulled unhe uard, and if you were any good, he would never have been in ood it would have done," she muttered to herself

Raphael nodded, his eyes lit with humor "And the other?"

"He has a Southern accent From the American South It’s hardly there, but if you listen, you can hear it That makes him no more than three hundred years old, and probably quite a bit less Froe equals power and that’s not old enough to run an empire the size of which I’one, his eyes were cold, onyx pits in an emotionless face "And what have you heard about my so-called empire?"

Cynthia forced herself to relax, scoot back in her chair and cross her legs casually "Nothing, really Hints here and there I put theether It’s what I do"

"Indeed" He studied her quietly, then lifted his head slightly to the left "Duncan?"

"Yes, my lord" He said it in answer to an unvoiced question

"Ms Leighton, I have a job for you"

Cynthia gave a short nod She’d assumed as much from Lonnie’s cryptic comments Why else would he have coet on with it so she could get hiain Hell, sheand move somewhere far away

Raphael’s lips twitched in brief aain about the vampire’s extraordinary powers Could he read herpeople’s faces

His expression hardened "Someone," he said "Someone important to me, has been kidnapped I want you to help me find her"

Cynthia sat up, suddenly very interested in what this particular bloodsucker had to say "Kidnapped? Are you certain? I hed out loud His laugh had a harsh, artificial quality It was especially jarring in contrast to his hton You can be assured Alexandra did not run away She would never willingly leave me," he finished softly

Cynthia took his word for it, although she’d heard the sa from the faated on the job "How do you knoas a kidnapping, then? Have they contacted you? Wait, as this?" she asked abruptly, reun" fire

"Before sunrise on Sunday, more than two days now"

"You didn’t call the police?"

"No, nor will I be doing so Tell hton, why did you save Lonnie’s life?"

Cynthia did a little double take at the sudden switch in conversation, but she answered without hesitation "I don’t understand the question He hadn’t done anything wrong I wasn’t going to stand there and let hiot"

"But he isn’t one of your own, not human Why did he matter to you?"

Cynthia snorted indelicately "I don’t consider a lot of hu to stand by and watch theave her a curious look "Indeed Well Nonetheless we try tominimize our contacts with human law enforcement Given your rather unique history with Lonnie, I’m sure you can understand our reasons"

"Unfortunately," she agreed, although she felt compelled to add, "Not all cops are like that Most of them aren’t"