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Choosingin a verbal minefield, I said, "Is Leo a suspect? How can he be a suspect based on the footage we just saw?"

"Person of interest Person who is supposed to know, and have control over, every vaion Who is supposed to keep the hu in her fury, barely, butfrom her in heated waves "Person who may have just lost any ability to keep the vaal system Person who could end up in the va, "in a cave in chains, along with the rest of his species, if certain ress have their way And this"--she swept an arm to the video of the kill bar on the laptop and lowered her voice--"just estion You could go to the Council House and knock politely and ask to be let in," I said

Jodi leaned to h I stood nearly a foot taller, her cal She breathed, "I don’t feel like being polite I feel like taking a couple dozen guns and walking into fanghead central and shooting everything that moves And if I feel that way, how do you think the rest of the city is going to feel? How do you think this city is going to react to anything supernatural after this? To the witches?" Her voice lowered, hissing with fierceness "To my people To my family"

I didn’t move away I didn’t touch her I simply pulled my wallet and removed my Enforcer cards I tore the what I was about to say et me killed By Leo "I’m a vampire hunter It’s what I do" I held Jodi’s eyes withhers redden and fill with tears Tears that didn’t fall "I’ll start research now I’ll verify his name I will track down and I will find thisit to you You Personally"

"And Leo?" she whispered, her breath brushing my cheek

I didn’t know the answer to that one yet "He host of a sovernor and get hiive me a contract to cover liabilities He should have one on file from the olf problems in Houma last winter But I’ll do it even without the contract For you For the witches For these people and their fa there must have satisfied her "I want you on camera with me at a press conference, live for the six aalia And I want you to announce that you are going after this guy Maybe that will keep this city calm for a day Maybe"

"Fine Yes I’ll be there I need to talk to Leo first, and there’s not " Jodi pulled an envelope-shaped evidence bag from a pocket and held it out to me "Do you knohat this is?"

I took the envelope, which hadn’t been sealed, hadn’t been ti to crime scene nu to protocol I looked to Jodi, who refused to nize all the proble and looked inside At the botto fly, tied and knotted hite string, a bit of stereenish, though curled and wilted I pointed at it, the question on et prints from it, and it’s been handled by too many of us DNA is i somewhere and mishandled it and Jodi had absconded with a piece of whatever they had found Gotcha I lifted the hairy tuft and held it to the lamp The white cluer white hairs, the tips so pure they looked al it, but I sniffed anyway, drawing air into ainstto a particular olf--Brute, a olf stuck in wolf for history, one that involved fights, a little blood, and an angel

I dropped the hair back into the envelope and resealed it before handing it back "S," I said

Jodi stepped away slowly, pulling her control around her like a steel corset, co all the pain inside She shoved a strand of blond hair behind her ear and the envelope back into her pocket "Can you still ride a bike?" she asked "Herbert has a Harley"

I couldn’t keep the snark in, though I kept my voice low, for her "Can I sanitize the seat first?"

The laughter that broke froht have a bottle around here soet me the bike I’ll be back as fast as I can"

"Move it Take your partner We need this space"

Still side by side, Eli and I left the tent

While Herbert went for his motorcycle, I called HQ and asked for Del "You see the breaking news?" I asked her When she said yes, I said, "A vamp did it Tell Leo I’m on the way in" I closed the Kevlar cell phone cover without waiting for her reply

And dang if Jim Herbert didn’t push up a custoe Softail with pillion-style seat If I thought he hated ular ol’ hatred into hatred tiret it for the rest of your life," he stated

"If I hurt that bike, I’ll deserve it"

I had no idea the words calared harder My co extra chins It lance at me froht be a pig, but he had great taste in motorcycles "I’ll take care of her"

Eli and I helmeted up I shoved my stakes into a cup holder set discreetly in the bike’s fra to make me ride the bitchseat, are you?"

"Oh yeah And it’s pillion, not bitchseat" I straddled the bike and got the feel of her balance, the weight distribution of her, the soundness of her She was gorgeous, easy to handle even with one arth levels "This baby’s mine" I keyed her on and ood thing in this godforsaken night I looked up and met Herbert’s eyes "What’s her name?"