Disclaimer: I do not own Blood Ties or any of its characters. They are Tanya Huff's creations.

Thanks to my story consultant, Lena! Thanks for finding one of the loose ends I had missed and for all of your other suggestions.

Chapter 13

When Mike and Vicki arrived at the abandoned psychiatric hospital, the Jaguar was completely engulfed in flames. As soon as the sedan parked, Vicki ran towards the luxury car.

"Henry!"

Mike caught her in mid-run. She struggled in his arms. "Let go of me!"

"Vic, no one could survive that. Not even Henry."

"He's not dead."

She wormed her way out of his grasp and circled Henry's car. The rational part of her mind was telling her that Mike was probably right but she refused to believe it.

Vicki spun around looking for any signs that Henry was still alive.

Mike noticed two figures in the distance near one of the buildings on the hospital grounds.

He cocked his head in that direction. "Vic, look."

Vicki ran toward the building.

"Vic, wait!" Mike's trench coat fanned out like a cape as he hurried after her.

As they approached, Henry glanced their way before returning his attention to his prisoner.

His grip around the man's neck tightened. "Who hired you?"

"Miss Moneypenny."

"How original? Using a character from the James Bond movies," Vicki chimed in.

"Why did she hire you?"

"Something to do with her sister."

"What else did she divulge about me?"

"That you were a demon."

"What proof did she have of this?"

"Copies from her sister's diary."

"When is your next meeting with this woman?"

"Once the job is finished."

Henry lowered the man to the ground and whispered in his ear. "I want you to go back to your car and call your client. Tell her that the job is finished and you wish to meet her tonight at midnight in Queen's Park."

The man walked to his car oblivious of Mike and Vicki's presence.

"So that's it, Fitzroy. You're just going to let him off the hook. Just like that."

"Yes, for now, Detective. I am."

"What did you just say to him, Fitzroy?"

Henry ignored Celluci's question. "I want to thank both of you for your assistance but I'll handle the rest of this business on my own." He sped away.

"Henry…Henry!" Vicki called after him.