Personal Demon

HOPE: UNWELCOME

“Have you spoken to your mother?” Karl asked as we walked to Cortez headquarters.

The question was so unexpected I could only gawk. “What?”

“Have you called your mother since you’ve been in Miami?”

I had the day I arrived, but since then had told myself she’d expect me to be busy with my story. Truth was, I’d been uncomfortable calling her while playing Faith Edmonds.

“Benicio can tempt you all he wants,” Karl said. “You have a long way to go before he stands any chance of winning you over.”

That’s what he’d meant by the question about my mother. Would I ever stop being surprised-and maybe a little discomfited-by how well Karl knew me?

I took his point, but I only had to think back to those few minutes in the panic room to make me wonder how right he was. As long as my ties-to home and family, work and the council-stayed intact, I didn’t have much in common with the young supernaturals in the gang. Yet, at times, like them, I felt alone and alienated by my powers.

I still mourned the perfectly open relationship I’d once had with my mother. There’d been a level of honesty there I’d never have again.

Even in the world of supernaturals, I’d never be truly understood or accepted. My powers were too different and disconcerting. Who wants to be around someone who can read their worst thoughts? Karl had worked around it, but I’m sure it hadn’t been easy, which made me cherish his friendship all the more.

Still, I had a good life, especially compared to Jaz or Sonny. I wouldn’t easily be swayed to a Cabal. That was Karl’s point. But was he right?

In that panic room, my moral core had shut off. I’d looked at Troy and I hadn’t even known who he was. I’d thought only of feeding off his death.

What if it happened again and I stood by and let someone die? I’d never be able to face my family again. I’d never be able to face the council. Wouldn’t be able to face myself…

“Hope?” Karl was frowning.

“Sorry, I’m just-” I shook my head. “I’ll be fine.”

“You will. And I want you to call your mother in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I want you to invite her to…What’s her favorite restaurant?”

“Odessa’s in Philly.”

“Invite her there to dine with us next Saturday night.”

“Us?”

“Is that a problem?”

“It just sounds very…couple-ish.”

“Is that a problem?”

I looked up at him. If it all did fall apart, there’d be one person who’d still be there, who wouldn’t care what I’d done. Would he ever know how much that meant to me?

“Karl Marsten?”

We looked up to see Troy’s partner, Griffin, walking toward us. Did his blue eyes frost over as they met mine? Probably my imagination. I was in the mood to see disapproval everywhere.

Karl extended a hand. When Griffin pretended not to see it, I didn’t imagine the icy look in Karl’s eyes. If he was going to make the effort, he didn’t appreciate being repulsed by a glorified security guard.

“Have you heard from-” I began.

“This way,” Griffin said, then headed back toward the building.

I hurried to catch up, but Karl caught my arm, his look reminding me that we were here to assist the Cabal, and damned if we were chasing after our escort.

“I’m sorry you were called away from home at this hour,” I said, as Griffin looked back at us impatiently.

“You think I care about that?” His tone was so sharp I jumped. “My partner’s lying on a hospital bed, fighting for his life. My boss was almost killed, and now he’s guarded by security team flunkies I barely know. And I’m stuck playing escort for-” He stopped himself.

“A werewolf?” Karl said smoothly.

A grunt that could be a yes.

“I don’t know why Lucas assigned you to us, but we had no say in the matter, and as soon as we find William, we’ll be out of your hair,” I said as we approached the front doors.

“Better yet,” Karl said. “We could leave right now.”

“You’re not going anywhere until Lucas says so.” Griffin yanked open the door.

Karl caught and held it. “I beg your pardon?”

“Lucas told me to guard you, and I will until I’m relieved of that duty.”

“Is that Lucas’s order?”

“I know my job.”

In other words, Lucas had said no such thing. As we stepped inside, my cell phone rang. It was Paige.

“We just got to the office,” I explained as I answered.

“Is Griffin there?”

I looked at the bodyguard, who glowered back at me. “Yes.”

She gave a throaty laugh. “Is he giving you a hard time? Ignore him. He’s a good guy. He just takes the whole bodyguard image very seriously. Not like…” A slight catch in her breathing.

“How’s Troy?” I asked.

“He’s in surgery now.”

That’s all she said. I guess it was all there was to say-that he’d survived long enough to get onto the operating table and we just had to wait and see what would happen there.

I could hear voices in the background. It sounded like an argument. Had they run into trouble?

“Anyway, I wasn’t calling to pester you about your progress. I just wanted to say…be careful.”

“Okay…”

“We just got to Hector’s house. He’s here in the study apparently, and has been all evening. Carlos was here an hour ago. So that’s two pretty much accounted for.”

I caught her meaning, one she probably didn’t dare voice with others around. If Benicio’s attacker had gone after one of the sons following his failure at the house, it would be William. If that attacker had managed to get into Cabal headquarters, he could be here now.

“Just be careful,” she said. “Let Griffin take the lead. He’s the professional.”

GRIFFIN LED US past the young man at the front desk.

“Shouldn’t we speak to him?” I said as we headed for the elevator. “He might know if William left yet.”

Griffin grunted and kept walking, so I stopped. Karl did the same. Griffin reached the elevators, saw that we’d left him and strode back, passing us and walking to the desk.

“Mr. Cortez would like you to answer these people’s questions.”

The receptionist/guard gave him a discreet questioning look. Griffin’s chin dipped a quarter-inch. In this business “tell these people what they want to know” could easily mean “tell them what they’re allowed to know.”

“Is William Cortez still in his office?” I asked.

“I believe so.” He dropped his gaze to a display just below the desktop and tapped the screen. “His car is still in the garage, and I haven’t seen him leave.” Another tap. “Nor has he used his code on any of the other exit doors.”

“When’s the last time anyone saw him?”

I expected him to say, “How should I know?” but the guard tapped the screen a few more times. “He requested dinner at seven-thirty, and it was taken to his office at eight. He asked for coffee at nine.”

“Has he had any visitors?”

“None that came through me, miss, and I’ve been on since seven.”

We headed to the same elevator we’d been taken up in yesterday. As we waited, Griffin glanced over at Karl, eyes narrowing.

“Is that Mr. Cortez’s shirt?”

Karl stretched his arms, the sleeves riding up past his wrists. “A poor fit, but the fabric and tailoring are superb.”

“Where’d you get it?”

“I stole it, of course. While everyone was beating the bushes for assassins and trying to save your partner’s life, I decided to do some shopping in Benicio’s closet. I have a nice pair of diamond cuff links in the car too.”

Griffin scowled, as if not quite certain Karl was joking. When we got onto the elevator, he covered the panel as he entered the code, just in case.