Industrial Magic
Page 75
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He looked at Cassandra.
Im not going anywhere until I get some answers, she said.
Yes, I understand, but given the animosity between the Cabals and vampires
Its not animosity, Cassandra said. To have animosity, you have to acknowledge that the other party exists. You neednt worry. I will be as the Cabals wish me to be: invisible. Since no one can outwardly recognize vampiresshe shot a pointed look at Jaimetheres no need for him to know what I am.
A knock at the door. Lucas opened it. Sean Nast walked in, followed by a man who could only be a Cabal bodyguard. Sean turned to his guard.
Wait outside, he murmured.
Mr. Nast said the guard began.
Please, Sean said.
The guard nodded and retreated into the hall. Lucas closed the door behind him.
Granddads getting paranoid, Sean said. I feel like Im twelve again.
Sean, this is Jaime Vegas, Lucas said. Jaime, Sean Nast, Thomas Nasts grandson.
Sean grinned. Hey, my frat watches you on The Keni Bales Show every month.
As they shook hands, Seans gaze flicked to Cassandra.
Sean, this is Cassandra, Lucas said. Cassandra, Sean Nast.
If Sean noticed the lack of a surname for Cassandra, he gave no sign of it, only shook her hand with a Pleased to meet you, then turned to us.
Tyler Boyd is missing. He glanced at me and added, Thats the Boyd CEOs youngest son. Hes seventeen.
Hes missing? Since when?
We arent sure. Tyler went to his hotel room around eleven last night. When he didnt show up for breakfast, his dad sent someone to get him. His bodyguard was in the room, dead, and Tyler was gone. Mr. Boyd called Granddad and the Cabals have been out searching ever since.
Good, Lucas said. My father has excellent shaman trackers.
Thats the problem. They didnt call your dad, or anyone in your Cayour familys Cabal.
What? I said. But he went missing here, right? In Miami?
And the Cortezes have all the resources here, I know. Its crazy. I am so f**king He glanced at Jaime and Cassandra. Sorry. Im just fed up with their crap. Joeys dead and now Tylers missing and all the Cabals can do is bicker about whos to blame and whos trying to take control of the investigation. Without your dads trackers and CSIs, all we have is a bunch of VPs and bodyguards milling around the city, hoping to bump into Tyler.
So you want me to call my father.
Sean rubbedhis hand over his chin. Yeah, I know youre on the outs with him, and I hate to ask, but I dont know what else to do. I tried phoning his company switchboard but, of course, they just kept routing me to some junior, junior assistant who wont even relay a message. If you have your fathers direct number, Ill make the call.
Your family wouldnt appreciate that. Better let me handle it.
Im not worried about what my family thinks. You can tell your dad Im the one who told you to call.
Ill call him, because he has the resources to process the scene and search for Tyler. I wont, however, tell him it was at your instigation. Youre angry, with good reason, but thats not a decision you want to make right now.
I dont care
Lucas is right, I said. Not only dont you want to start a rift with your family, but you dont want to widen the one between your Cabals. Itll only make things worse.
Sean nodded. Okay, but after you make the call, will you come to the Boyds hotel with me? I came here because I wanted to get your dad involved, but also because I wanted to get you two involved. So far youve done a hell of a lot more than the Cabals.
Well certainly go, Lucas said. But I believe it would be best if we arrived independently. Why dont you give Paige the hotel address while I phone my father?
When Lucas was gone, Sean glanced at Jaime and Cassandra, neither of whom was making any attempt to pretend they werent listening. He obviously had something else to say to me, so I offered to walk him down to his car. The bodyguard followed us to the elevator. While we waited, Sean gave me the address for the Boyds hotel.
So, you, uh Sean said as we stepped onto the elevator, youve got someone with Savannah, right? Shes someplace safe?
With friends, I said. When I saw him hesitate, I added, Supernaturals.
Good, good. I figured that. I tried mentioning it to my uncle, that someone should ask whether shes being protected, since shes a potential target. I cant mention it to Granddad. Afterafter what happened with my dad, hewell, we arent allowed to talk about Savannah. My uncle wouldnt ask Benicio about her, either. I think they
Would rather pretend she doesnt exist? After last spring, Im just as happy if they do.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. I should have kept my mouth shut. Nothing stops a conversation deader than reminding someone that his family is responsible for sending your life swirling down the gutter.
Im not going anywhere until I get some answers, she said.
Yes, I understand, but given the animosity between the Cabals and vampires
Its not animosity, Cassandra said. To have animosity, you have to acknowledge that the other party exists. You neednt worry. I will be as the Cabals wish me to be: invisible. Since no one can outwardly recognize vampiresshe shot a pointed look at Jaimetheres no need for him to know what I am.
A knock at the door. Lucas opened it. Sean Nast walked in, followed by a man who could only be a Cabal bodyguard. Sean turned to his guard.
Wait outside, he murmured.
Mr. Nast said the guard began.
Please, Sean said.
The guard nodded and retreated into the hall. Lucas closed the door behind him.
Granddads getting paranoid, Sean said. I feel like Im twelve again.
Sean, this is Jaime Vegas, Lucas said. Jaime, Sean Nast, Thomas Nasts grandson.
Sean grinned. Hey, my frat watches you on The Keni Bales Show every month.
As they shook hands, Seans gaze flicked to Cassandra.
Sean, this is Cassandra, Lucas said. Cassandra, Sean Nast.
If Sean noticed the lack of a surname for Cassandra, he gave no sign of it, only shook her hand with a Pleased to meet you, then turned to us.
Tyler Boyd is missing. He glanced at me and added, Thats the Boyd CEOs youngest son. Hes seventeen.
Hes missing? Since when?
We arent sure. Tyler went to his hotel room around eleven last night. When he didnt show up for breakfast, his dad sent someone to get him. His bodyguard was in the room, dead, and Tyler was gone. Mr. Boyd called Granddad and the Cabals have been out searching ever since.
Good, Lucas said. My father has excellent shaman trackers.
Thats the problem. They didnt call your dad, or anyone in your Cayour familys Cabal.
What? I said. But he went missing here, right? In Miami?
And the Cortezes have all the resources here, I know. Its crazy. I am so f**king He glanced at Jaime and Cassandra. Sorry. Im just fed up with their crap. Joeys dead and now Tylers missing and all the Cabals can do is bicker about whos to blame and whos trying to take control of the investigation. Without your dads trackers and CSIs, all we have is a bunch of VPs and bodyguards milling around the city, hoping to bump into Tyler.
So you want me to call my father.
Sean rubbedhis hand over his chin. Yeah, I know youre on the outs with him, and I hate to ask, but I dont know what else to do. I tried phoning his company switchboard but, of course, they just kept routing me to some junior, junior assistant who wont even relay a message. If you have your fathers direct number, Ill make the call.
Your family wouldnt appreciate that. Better let me handle it.
Im not worried about what my family thinks. You can tell your dad Im the one who told you to call.
Ill call him, because he has the resources to process the scene and search for Tyler. I wont, however, tell him it was at your instigation. Youre angry, with good reason, but thats not a decision you want to make right now.
I dont care
Lucas is right, I said. Not only dont you want to start a rift with your family, but you dont want to widen the one between your Cabals. Itll only make things worse.
Sean nodded. Okay, but after you make the call, will you come to the Boyds hotel with me? I came here because I wanted to get your dad involved, but also because I wanted to get you two involved. So far youve done a hell of a lot more than the Cabals.
Well certainly go, Lucas said. But I believe it would be best if we arrived independently. Why dont you give Paige the hotel address while I phone my father?
When Lucas was gone, Sean glanced at Jaime and Cassandra, neither of whom was making any attempt to pretend they werent listening. He obviously had something else to say to me, so I offered to walk him down to his car. The bodyguard followed us to the elevator. While we waited, Sean gave me the address for the Boyds hotel.
So, you, uh Sean said as we stepped onto the elevator, youve got someone with Savannah, right? Shes someplace safe?
With friends, I said. When I saw him hesitate, I added, Supernaturals.
Good, good. I figured that. I tried mentioning it to my uncle, that someone should ask whether shes being protected, since shes a potential target. I cant mention it to Granddad. Afterafter what happened with my dad, hewell, we arent allowed to talk about Savannah. My uncle wouldnt ask Benicio about her, either. I think they
Would rather pretend she doesnt exist? After last spring, Im just as happy if they do.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. I should have kept my mouth shut. Nothing stops a conversation deader than reminding someone that his family is responsible for sending your life swirling down the gutter.
