Industrial Magic
Page 96
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Why? Brigid said. Who cares about another dead Cabal brat?
The Cabals do.
John hesitated, then nodded. Lets talk.
At Cassandras insistence, we moved out of the basement. John suggested the backyard, so we waited for him there. Like the front yard, the rear was surrounded by a high fence. Here, though, the fence had been erected by John, not his neighbors. The yard was almost as big a shock as the home office, which is probably why he kept it hidden.
It was small, no more than a few hundred square feet. Instead of grass, it had rock gardens and koi ponds surrounded by gravel paths. In the center of the yard was a pagoda with a teak table and chair set, where we waited for John.
Brigid had already made it clear that she wouldnt be joining us. Apparently, she took her role as a true vampire very seriously, never venturing outside during the day. I suspected this was why John chose to have the meeting outdoors, so he could speak without her interruptions.
As we waited, Lucas explained how theyd found us. Aaron had called him early this morning, thinking wed be sleeping in after our night chasing John. They decided to hook up and come to New Orleans together. Lucas knew we were heading to Johns house, but didnt have the address. Aaron had the address.
I was anxious to hear Aarons findings, but before I could ask, John returned. He was dressed in black leather pants and a white linen shirt. Still pretty Goth, but not as theatrical as last nights attire. I suspected there was a lot of theatrics to Johns image. Last night hed gushed about Aaron, but when the man showed up in person, Brigid had been the only one vamping it up.
Its Edward, isnt it? Aaron said as John pulled out a chair.
That would be my guess, John said. I dont know him well enough to say for certain
No one knows them well enough to say for certain, Aaron said.
Them? I asked.
Edward and Natasha. Theyre a couple. Been together a very long time.
Ive heard those names, I said. In the council minutes. Theyre immortality questers.
Did the council investigate them? Lucas asked.
Investigated and exonerated, if I remember correctly, I said. It was at least thirty, forty years ago. Another vampire expressed some concern about their questingno outright allegations, just a bad feeling. Anyway, Edward and Natasha werent breaking any codes, just searching for answers, like most questers.
Well, its gone beyond bad feelings, Aaron said. Seems rumors have been circulating about them in the vamp community for a while, saying theyve gotten into some nasty shit up in Ohio. Aaron caught my look. Yeah, theyve been living inCincinnati. Lucas told me thats where you figure the killers from. Id say weve got ourselves a suspect.
Is this connected to their questing? I asked.
Possible, Lucas said. They may have uncovered a ritual requiring supernatural blood.
Then wheres the Cabal connection? Sure, its a great way to find supernaturalsjust hack into the Cabal employment recordsbut you think theyd stick to the periphery, with runaways like Dana. Attacking a CEOs family is only going to raise the stakes.
That could be a side effect of the killing itself, Lucas said. After Dana and Jacob, Edward saw the chaos he was creating and couldnt resist a bigger challenge.
Or maybe the ritual wasnt working and they thought Cabal royal blood might help.
Not they, John said. Only Edward.
Cassandra shook her head. Those two dont do anything alone.
They do now, Aaron said. No ones seen Natasha for months. Rumor is shed finally had enough, that things got too bad, and she took off.
I find that hard to believe, Cassandra said. Theyd been together for over a century. After that long, you dont just Her gaze flicked toward Aaron. What I mean is, it seems unlikely that those two would separate.
Well, one way or another, she is gone, John said. And I doubt Edwards happy about it.
Quest for Immortality
NEXT STOP: CINCINNATI, OHIO. USING EDWARD AND NATASHAS known aliases, as provided by Aaron, Lucas had found two Cincinnati area addresses for the vampires. There, we hoped to find either more evidence or some clue as to their current whereabouts. Aaron offered to come along, and Cassandra was in for the long haul, so all four of us were going, which seemed an expensive propositionuntil Lucas led us to the private airstrip at the Lakefront Airport.
I wondered how you two got to New Orleans so fast, I said as we approached the Cortez jet.
Lucass gaze slid away and he shifted our bags to his other shoulder. Yes, well, after I spoke to you, my father called and when I told him we were pursuing a lead, he offered the use of the jet. It seemed a wise idea, allowing us to bypass the schedules and restrictions of commercial flight. He shifted the bags again. Perhaps I should have
You did the right thing, I said. The faster we can move, the better.
I dont see what all the fuss is about, Cassandra said as the flight crew scrambled to lower the boarding ramp. This business about refusing to join your own Cabal makes absolutely no sense. If you want my opinion
The Cabals do.
John hesitated, then nodded. Lets talk.
At Cassandras insistence, we moved out of the basement. John suggested the backyard, so we waited for him there. Like the front yard, the rear was surrounded by a high fence. Here, though, the fence had been erected by John, not his neighbors. The yard was almost as big a shock as the home office, which is probably why he kept it hidden.
It was small, no more than a few hundred square feet. Instead of grass, it had rock gardens and koi ponds surrounded by gravel paths. In the center of the yard was a pagoda with a teak table and chair set, where we waited for John.
Brigid had already made it clear that she wouldnt be joining us. Apparently, she took her role as a true vampire very seriously, never venturing outside during the day. I suspected this was why John chose to have the meeting outdoors, so he could speak without her interruptions.
As we waited, Lucas explained how theyd found us. Aaron had called him early this morning, thinking wed be sleeping in after our night chasing John. They decided to hook up and come to New Orleans together. Lucas knew we were heading to Johns house, but didnt have the address. Aaron had the address.
I was anxious to hear Aarons findings, but before I could ask, John returned. He was dressed in black leather pants and a white linen shirt. Still pretty Goth, but not as theatrical as last nights attire. I suspected there was a lot of theatrics to Johns image. Last night hed gushed about Aaron, but when the man showed up in person, Brigid had been the only one vamping it up.
Its Edward, isnt it? Aaron said as John pulled out a chair.
That would be my guess, John said. I dont know him well enough to say for certain
No one knows them well enough to say for certain, Aaron said.
Them? I asked.
Edward and Natasha. Theyre a couple. Been together a very long time.
Ive heard those names, I said. In the council minutes. Theyre immortality questers.
Did the council investigate them? Lucas asked.
Investigated and exonerated, if I remember correctly, I said. It was at least thirty, forty years ago. Another vampire expressed some concern about their questingno outright allegations, just a bad feeling. Anyway, Edward and Natasha werent breaking any codes, just searching for answers, like most questers.
Well, its gone beyond bad feelings, Aaron said. Seems rumors have been circulating about them in the vamp community for a while, saying theyve gotten into some nasty shit up in Ohio. Aaron caught my look. Yeah, theyve been living inCincinnati. Lucas told me thats where you figure the killers from. Id say weve got ourselves a suspect.
Is this connected to their questing? I asked.
Possible, Lucas said. They may have uncovered a ritual requiring supernatural blood.
Then wheres the Cabal connection? Sure, its a great way to find supernaturalsjust hack into the Cabal employment recordsbut you think theyd stick to the periphery, with runaways like Dana. Attacking a CEOs family is only going to raise the stakes.
That could be a side effect of the killing itself, Lucas said. After Dana and Jacob, Edward saw the chaos he was creating and couldnt resist a bigger challenge.
Or maybe the ritual wasnt working and they thought Cabal royal blood might help.
Not they, John said. Only Edward.
Cassandra shook her head. Those two dont do anything alone.
They do now, Aaron said. No ones seen Natasha for months. Rumor is shed finally had enough, that things got too bad, and she took off.
I find that hard to believe, Cassandra said. Theyd been together for over a century. After that long, you dont just Her gaze flicked toward Aaron. What I mean is, it seems unlikely that those two would separate.
Well, one way or another, she is gone, John said. And I doubt Edwards happy about it.
Quest for Immortality
NEXT STOP: CINCINNATI, OHIO. USING EDWARD AND NATASHAS known aliases, as provided by Aaron, Lucas had found two Cincinnati area addresses for the vampires. There, we hoped to find either more evidence or some clue as to their current whereabouts. Aaron offered to come along, and Cassandra was in for the long haul, so all four of us were going, which seemed an expensive propositionuntil Lucas led us to the private airstrip at the Lakefront Airport.
I wondered how you two got to New Orleans so fast, I said as we approached the Cortez jet.
Lucass gaze slid away and he shifted our bags to his other shoulder. Yes, well, after I spoke to you, my father called and when I told him we were pursuing a lead, he offered the use of the jet. It seemed a wise idea, allowing us to bypass the schedules and restrictions of commercial flight. He shifted the bags again. Perhaps I should have
You did the right thing, I said. The faster we can move, the better.
I dont see what all the fuss is about, Cassandra said as the flight crew scrambled to lower the boarding ramp. This business about refusing to join your own Cabal makes absolutely no sense. If you want my opinion
