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So what are you two doing here this morning, anyway? I asked. And help yourself
to my coffee, by the way. I glanced at Dominic, slaving over my stove. And help
yourself to my kitchen.
Thanks, Dom called cheerfully, frying up something that involved peppers and
onions and filled the air with the most enticing aromas imaginable. Short of coffee. He
must have been shopping before he d come over no way he d gotten anything that
smelled that good out of my fridge.
I thought you might want to know that your parents have flown the coop, Adam said,
and I almost choked on my coffee.
What?
When I went to interview them last night, they were gone.
I figured I must not have had enough coffee yet. Surely he wasn t saying what I
thought he was saying. What do you mean gone ?
I mean packed up everything they own and disappeared.
That s impossible.
Adam shook his head. Oh, I assure you, it s quite possible. Aside from packing up
everything they own, they also cleared out their bank accounts.
Andy came over and joined us, looking as shocked as I felt. But Morgan was just over
there yesterday! he protested.
Yes, I know, Adam said with exaggerated patience. I was there, too, remember?
But I assure you, when we went there last night, they were gone. Naturally, I m trying to
find out where they disappeared to, but no one can disappear this thoroughly and this
suddenly without some kind of outside help.
Bradley Cooper, I said, knowing the slimy little weasel had to have contacts all over
the place. And that he wouldn t hesitate to use illegal means to cover up whatever the hell
it was he and the Spirit Society was hiding.
His name did spring to mind, Adam agreed.
Have you had a chance to talk to him yet?
He claimed to know nothing. He said he was given the name of the demon to summon
by his superiors, and he didn t ask any questions.
Yeah, and cows grow on trees.
Of course, since we know what demon he summoned now, I don t suppose his
knowledge or lack thereof matters too much. I think we re pretty much on our own with
Der Jäger. But I d definitely like to have another chat with him.
So would I, not that I d spoken to him anytime recently. I hadn t been able to entirely
cut my parents out of my life, but Cooper had been a different story.
The problem was, Cooper was in this up to his ass, and that meant the likelihood of us
getting any straight answers out of him was approximately zilch. I shuddered as I took
another sip of coffee, wondering if Adam would now use his special interrogation
techniques on Cooper. Better than on my parents at least, from my point of view but
still dangerous. If Adam resorted to violence, then he d have to kill Cooper when he was
done. Otherwise, he d be declared rogue and his life would be forfeit.
I couldn t stand Cooper, but I didn t want his death on my conscience.
Let s hold off on talking to Cooper for now, I suggested. I d say he s about the last
person we re likely to get info out of.
Adam gave me a penetrating look, telling me he d followed my thought process easily.
And who would you suggest we talk to instead?
Luckily, I had an idea. Maybe my pediatrician. We have more than one mystery to
solve, remember. I know he retired right around when I went to college, but we can
probably track him down.
Adam arched an eyebrow skeptically. And what exactly do you expect him to tell
us?
He might be able to tell me what happened to me at The Healing Circle when I was
thirteen.
And the reason you expect to get a straight answer out of him is&
I shrugged. I probably won t. But I might be able to tell if he s hiding something or
not.
I remembered Dr. Williams as a kindly old man, who was nice to me even when I was
my usual difficult self. I had a hard time believing he d have been involved with any kind
of evil plan to harm me. But he d been my doctor at the time of what I now was
convinced was a suspicious hospitalization, and he had to know something.
I d have to deal with the Adam problem no matter who I approached with questions,
but with kindly old Dr. Williams, I thought I was more likely to get cooperation and
less likely to trigger Adam s dark side.
So you ve become a master interrogator? Adam asked.
I kept my temper firmly in check. I just plan to ask him a couple of questions, not
interrogate him. And you re going to stay here and keep the people I care about safe
while I do.
He laughed, as I d figured he would. Brian, freshly scrubbed, his hair slicked back with
water, emerged from the guest bedroom. He looked back and forth between me and
Adam like he was trying to figure out the joke.
Dominic? I asked, raising my voice to something just under a shout to be heard over
Adam s laughter.
Dom seemed to have finished cooking and was now opening random cabinets in the
kitchen, probably looking for dishes. He stopped with his hand still on a cabinet door.
Yes?
Can you talk your boyfriend into staying here on guard duty while I go do a little
investigating? I tried not to emphasize the word boyfriend, and I also tried not to
glance at Brian to see his reaction. I failed on both counts. When I accidentally caught his
eye, he flashed me a rueful smile that could have meant anything.
Do you really think that s a good idea? Dom asked from the kitchen. He d located
the plates, and was now scooping something out of the pan.
As long as I stay out in the open where people can see me, Der Jäger wouldn t dare
come after me. Not unless he wants a date with the state of Pennsylvania s cremation
ovens!
That s true, I suppose, Dominic said, carrying a pair of plates out to the table, which
was barely big enough to seat four average-sized people. None of my unwanted visitors
was average-sized not that I was, either and I didn t know how we were all supposed
to fit at the table.
Since I was asking for a favor, I decided to make myself useful and help serve. I saw
the plates were laden with extra-fluffy omelets and home fries, and I was tempted to take
two of them for myself.
I set the plates in my hand down on the table, then turned to go get the last one. I
almost ran smack into Adam, who d come up behind me like a sudden summer storm.
Leave Dom out of this, he said. If you have to argue, argue with me.
All right, fine. I do not want your company when I go talk to Dr. Williams. I don t
want you I almost said exactly what I didn t want him to do, then remembered just in
time that Brian didn t have the faintest idea what was going on. And despite the fact that
Lugh had given me permission to tell him everything, I knew I wasn t going to.
I glanced over at him and saw him watching and listening with silent curiosity.
Damn it! We d already said way too much for my comfort. That s what I got for talking
before being fully fueled up on coffee.
Look, I said more quietly, feeling almost defeated. I need to do this my way. Let me
at least try. I ll be careful. I ll take a Taser. I ll stay in public places where Der Jäger
won t dare attack me. And I need to know these guys are safe. I made a sweeping
gesture to encompass Brian and Andy and Dom.
Dom grabbed the last plate from the kitchen. Everyone sit down and eat, he said,
leaning a hip against the kitchen counter as he dug into his own breakfast.
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