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In the hallway, ainst the wall to keep en I had depleted in fear When I could stand without the help of the wall, I texted Alex to tell ot back that the vamp was still with Leo, still in his office, so far as cae allowed us to tell, and Del was in her roo energies press intome ease before I texted back, Pull up prev research how Adrianna knew Joses Check to see if Joses owns property for lairs Collate with any of Adrianna’s known lairs Educated guess how Leo plans to use Adrianna re Joses

Adrianna was, hopefully, brain-dead, but that didn’t make her valueless If she had planned to pull Joses off the wall, then she had planned where to stash hiht be able to use that history to track hireement How had I ever lived without texts? How had anyone ever lived without instantaneous co before we had little chips inserted into our skin or directly into our nervous systems and brains so we could be with people all the ti before the hivebefore I screwed up and got everyone I loved killed?

Cell still in hand, I thought about contacting Del to see how she was, have a little girl time before I headed home, but I was too tired to do the whole "He doesn’t love irl and I had already told one person to pull up his panties tonight I had the feeling that Del needed so more kind After careful consideration, I texted Amy Lynn Broho had known Del in Asheville Ah the entire devoveo in two years, finding sanity in record tilance, she had a good head on her shoulders, was calm under fire, shead at a party that went sour Amy sent word that she was honored to pay the priood deeds were done, which took soet over the shakes--and when did I become the vamps’ therapist? That left only Jodi Richoux, the vamps’ liaison with NOPD, and that could wait until I had some rest I texted Eli to meet me at the porte cochere where the SUV had been delivered froot back a text that sih HQ was now quiet and inactive in reaction to the events of the daytime, I left Protocol Aardvark, Procedure B in place as I left the back of the building Night had fallen hours past The air was huulf, and heading our way Lightning flashed fro the thunderheads

In the distance, uptown frohts lit up the horizon; sirens carried on the wind said it was an accident of so one And not ot home, I put the inert iron discs on my bedside table, showered, and pulled on clean sleep clothes before I cliarden to coot settled, the official phone rang frotone of Latin danceabashed, Alex came out the side door and handed up the cell to reveal Jodi Richoux’s nah attitude to take down a vaood mood, he mouthed

I frowned but took the call That late, it had to be business, and not the good kind "Jodi?" I asked

"I need you at Pauger and Burgundy in Marigny Now Park down the street and follow the lights"

"Okay" I unfolded rit scraping hts on the horizon uptown The sound of distant sirens could have been in Marigny, I thought But no accident "What do I need to bring?" I pointed Alex to the house and he fell in behind ness seeot vas, fifty-two humans, all dead where they stood"

A frisson of fear and shock raced throughand sharp I pressed a hand toI’d misheard "What?" I whispered Jodi repeated her words evenand quick with suppressed emotion

Oh crap The Son of DarknessMouth as dry as paper, I asked, "A as the Enforcer or as a consultant?"

"I’m not sure" Which didn’t sound like Jodi She was always sure of s, even if I wasn’t "Maybe a little of both"

Soso "I’ll co else, I can downgrade"

"Make it fast"

The call ended and I entered the house to see Eli standing in the foyer, waiting "Gear up," I said, my voice hoarse "Fifty-two humans dead by vamp"

Eli swore and took the stairs up two at a time Maybe three To Alex, just before I closed the door to my room, I said, "Notify HQ Tell them to notify Leo Tell him to stay away Please," I added "Tell him to please stay away And if you still have a backdoor into NOPD, I want to see what they have But only if you can do it safely"

Alex nodded, popped the top on a can of energy drink, and went to work, an all-nighter staring him in the face

I braced my body off the toilet with both arms as I dry heaved Fifty-two dead humans It had to be Joses It had to be I should have found a way to stop hi HQ I should have tackled him and stabbed him and staked hirenade and I should have thrown et away because I was hurt Duht, one hand pressed to ht this second I should eat I shouldI stopped and tried to order et to Jodi

And the fifty-two dead humans

I threw off my tacky T and the ratty pj’s There was a time when I’d worn only jeans and boots and attitude, but respect for the dead suggested so moreformal, maybe Like funeral clothes