No one tried to kill me in the night. Which, in my line of work, is a victory.

I rolled out of bed and snagged the key on the night stand. I was still sore, but most of the tiredness was gone. Though I was itching to unlock the bracelet, I stretched my neck, back and shoulders, then stood and got my legs loosened up first. I needed to know how capable I actually was before applying the anesthetic.

I slipped the key in the slot and turned. The little spikes released me, some of them popping out of my skin easily, taking a tiny amount of blood with them, some of them a little reluctant to give up. I pulled the bracelet off, and strength flowed in.

In the bathroom, I rinsed the bracelet clean and wrapped a piece of gauze around my arm, taping it in place. The tiny cuts would close over during the day, as they had for the last several weeks. I dressed, then slid the cuff into one back pocket, and the key into the other.

I shrugged into my duster, snagged my staff, and headed into the hall. I knocked on the next door. It cracked open after a few seconds. Connie's face appeared. "Well, good morning, Sir Knight."

"Morning. Listen, I was wondering if you could do something for me?"

"Oh?"

"Yeah." I pulled out my room keycard. "If I hold this for too long, it'll just erase itself. Is there any way I could just leave with you, and ask you to open my door?"

She nodded, one side of her mouth ticking up. "Aye, I can do that."

"Thanks." I handed it over, touched my brow, and headed downstairs. As I reached the lobby, the elevator lurched, hard, as though the brakes had a sense of bad timing. Mental note: take a different elevator up.

I stood in the lobby for all of five minutes, during which every single guest stared openly at me, and every single employee very politely pretended not to. Try as I might, a tall guy in leather carrying a staff just will not catch on a fashion statement. Eventually, a cab pulled up, and in walked an attractive young man with naturally tanned skin and very short, dark hair, in a well-cut, light-colored suit, and wraparound sunglasses. He was pulling his own bag and had a serious limp; his right leg didn't seem to be working quite right.

Smiling, I stepped forward and extended my hand. "Carlos Ramirez."

"That's my name," he said, sliding his glasses up and clapping my hand, smiling a little. "Son of a bitch. I almost didn't believe it when the Gatekeeper made the announcement. But here you are, alive again. Or so it seems."

"Technically, I was only mostly dead."

"Oh, sure, just resting, maybe?"

I snickered. "Something like that."

He shook his head and the little smile disappeared. "Been over a year since that announcement. Where you been?"

I gave him a straight-faced answer. "Living on a creepy island in the middle of Lake Michigan."

"Uh-huh. Any particular reason?"

"Yup."

He waited for more, and when I didn't give it to him, he snorted. "Yeah, you sound like Dresden."

"Anybody who rides my dinosaur can call me Harry."

At that, he laughed out loud, and smiled broadly. "Wow, that sounded dirty. Okay, now I'm sure." He came in for a quick hug, and I found myself returning it. "It's good to have you back, man. You are back, right?"

"I am now." I led him towards the elevators, and dropped my voice. "Been smacking the Fomor around in Chicago all month."

"Ah, now, that I've heard about. Doing a hell of a job, if the rumors are true."

"Only the good stuff." I hit the call button. "How's the leg?"

"Could be worse. It's holding me up, now. Listens-to-Wind is a miracle worker."

"He's the best healer on the Council. It's kind of his thing. I need to call him." The elevator I had arrived in opened. Carlos took a step; I held him back. "Not that one."

He didn't question me.

A second later, another set of doors opened and a tourist family spilled out, ready to face the traffic on the way to the beach. I led Ramirez in and hit '40'.

"So," I said as we ascended. "Does this mean I'm off the Warden hit list?"

"Don't worry, man. When I told them I was coming to meet you, about a hundred people freaked out. The captain wasn't one of them."

Thanks, Ana. "Senior Council?"

"Only Cristos. But I'm guessing you know how much credit he has."

"Zilch?"

"As far as the important stuff goes."

"Good. The Merlin was okay with it?"

"Not the exact word I'd use. More like… 'resigned'." I pictured Arthur Langtry sighing in defeat, and it brought a smile to my face. "So, the Captain just asked me to get a feel for you. Decide if you were still you, or had become a bigger threat."

"Bigger? Not just, 'become a threat', but a 'bigger threat'?"

"What can I say? You have a reputation."

"That is true. Lot of people don't like me."

"Also true, but no one's willing to piss off Mab over you."

"Hmph. Good to know."

We were silent for a couple of seconds. "So, still hanging with vampires," he said.

I took a breath. Carlos didn't know Thomas was my brother, and it was probably better that way for everyone. I liked Carlos, but he was a Warden, and the Merlin, the head of the White Council, had a talent for putting thoughts in people's heads. I didn't yet know if he could pluck them out as easily. I mean, Captain Luccio knew, but why risk it? "Relax. They're friendly vampires."

"Really?"

"Yup. And they make finding the less friendly ones a lot easier."

"Is that why you're all chummy with the Raith? Using him to get to others?"

That was… close enough. "That's a huge part of it."

"But not all?"

"Carlos, sometimes, you have to give to get."

"But you're not 'giving' to his sister, right?"

Now I could be honest. "She's… a lot scarier."

He rolled his shoulders and tried not to look like the last time he'd met Lara, she'd considered him a gift basket to be devoured. "Very true."

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. I led him to the room next to mine, and knocked. Connie answered, soaking wet and wrapped in a towel. "Ah. Suppose you'd like me to open your door?"

"That would be much appreciated."

She let the door swing open and stepped past us, keycard already in hand.

Ramirez and I followed. Very quietly, he said to me, "I'll say this for you, Dresden: Alive or dead, you know how to make friends."

Connie opened the door. "I just spoke with Ms. Raith. She says the car will be ready in 15 minutes."

I nodded. "We'll be there."

"Good. Meet you down there." She headed back to her room as I led Carlos into mine.

Closing the door, he asked, "Who is that, exactly?"

"Her name is Connie. She spends most of her time as a seal."

"She's a selkie? Christ. Did you see her arms?"

"Yeah. Hard to miss."

"Wow. How did you - ?"

"The new job comes with connections, my friend."

He sobered. "I bet it does."

That got uncomfortable fast. "Hey, any recommendation for girl's names?"

"Say what?"

"A friend of mine recently found he's having a daughter. Needs suggestions for names."

"Oh. Well, my mother's name Jennifer."

I nodded. "I'll pass that along. You should get ready."

He nodded, lifting his bag to the bed. "Right. To business."

We had to wait for the elevator again before meeting the others in the parking garage. "Seriously," I said to Ramirez as we stood there. "Armor? For just your leg?"

"It's an exoskeleton," he said, tapping the articulated metal plate that wrapped around his right leg. He carried his Warden's sword wrapped in his grey cloak, making it look like a beach towel. He had a light, loose jacket closed over a tactical vest, to which he had fastened half a dozen small grenades and two handguns. Karrin would have been proud.

"Like when Batman fought Superman?" I asked.

"I was thinking more like when Matt Damon or Tom Cruise wanted to fight Jodie Foster or time-travelling aliens, but sure. It makes the limb work right. For a few hours a day, anyway."

Obviously, I couldn't help but think of Karrin. "Interesting."

"You really should spend some time with Listens-to-Wind. He and I came up with this together."

"It's on my to-do list."

Andi and Marci approached from the hallway. They were dressed as they usually were, in easy removed dresses and shoes. They didn't need to carry weapons since they were weapons. "Hi Harry," Marci said. "Warden Ramirez."

"We've had this conversation before; you can call me Carlos."

"She knows," Andi said. "She just likes hearing you say your name."

Carlos produced a charming smile while Marci closed her eyes and sighed, and tried to keep her cheeks from flushing.

The down arrow blinked on with a ding. "Oh, look," I said. "An elevator."

We rode it down to the lobby again, stopping at the 37th, 29th, 21st, 17th, and 8th floors to pick up or drop off other riders. This effectively scupperred any further awkward conversation. On the ground floor, we headed out to a waiting white limo. Mr. Talkative's partner, Mr. Large, opened the door for us.

The girls climbed in first, and I got in last. It was a tight fit. I squeezed into the rearmost seat beside Carlos. Lara was sitting against the driver's partition, Justine next to her. Thomas was on the side bench with Connie and Marci. Andi was on Carlos' other side.

Lara knocked on the glass, just like Molly had, and I found myself in the middle of a case of déjà vu. The car got rolling. "Seriously, wizard? You're bringing everyone?" Lara asked.

"It not like they have anything else to do."

Thomas leaned forward. "I told you; marching into a Malvora stronghold with all the king's horses and all the king's men, and werewolves, and selkies, is not a way to make friends."

"Don't need to make friends. Just need information."

"And you won't get it with a blatant display of power," Lara said. "Listen to me; be intimidating and make threats all you want, but be subtle. Anything overt will be seen as tactless and pathetic."

I thought about it. "I can do those things."

"Alone? From a position of weakness? Surrounded by monsters who can sense your fear, with no back up and no chance of escape if something goes wrong?"

Thomas leaned back, Carlos snorted, Marci and Andi gave each other a knowing look, and Justine tried to appear enthralled by some paperwork. Connie looked around. "Am I missing something?"

Carlos said, "You haven't known Harry very long, but Ms. Raith just described his preferred method for doing… well, everything."

"It's true," I said. "I don't even like to go for a beer unless I know someone in the bar wants to punch me."

"That reminds me," Thomas said. "Mac says he's calling in your tab."

"See? Even the bartender."

Connie leaned back. "You're an odd man, Winter Knight."

I wasn't sure if I was being complimented or insulted, so I kept my mouth shut. See, Karrin? No direct confrontation.

Danicka Malvora ran an investment bank. There are a lot of banks in Miami; they handle a simply enormous amount of money. They also handle all the related consumer products; mortgages, credit cards, lines of credit, car loans, hedge funds, ARMs, MBSs, CDOs, and a thousand things that I couldn't explain even with the complete names.

It's all extremely complicated, but it all boils back down to money. They have it, you need it, and they will do whatever they have to in order to make more of it. That often includes a lot of waiting, wondering, and worrying… Which, for many people, leads to fear: Did that student loan count against me? How will I keep my house? How will I put the kid through college? Can I keep my car? Will I even be able to put food on the table?

Now imagine your banker actually got off on that.

Like every industry, banking is mostly full of decent folks who are just earning their living, know the rules, and have to explain them to those of us who get frustrated with the system and are convinced they are out to simply take our money and throw us to the sharks. But the bank we pulled up in front of was the exception; these bankers actually were the sharks.

I ultimately decided Lara might have a point; I would go in with just her. Carlos and the Alphas would go back to the safe house to check for any clues, and Thomas would go with Connie back to the train yard.

Mr. Large opened the door, and I got out to take in the scene. The bank's building was about 35 storeys tall. You had to go up twenty steps from the street to get to the front door, which opened into a lobby with several armed security guards. The building itself was mostly steel and dark glass and right angles. It was about as imposing and impersonal as it could be.

But once you realized that's the way to was designed to be, it lost a lot of its impact. It was just a building, and there were several impersonal, imposing edifices up and down the street. The street itself was loud, full of traffic and people, a serious cacophonic assault. The building looked quiet and almost a relief in comparison.

The bad guys always want you to be scared; it's where they get their power over you (in some cases, more literally than in others). But if you know that going in, it's a lot harder for them to hold that advantage, and like a tourist trap haunted house, it ends up being more funny than scary.

But there was something else, something just at the edge of my awareness.

Lara appeared at my elbow. "Shall we?" I nodded and let her go first. "They're going to take your staff," she said over her shoulder.

"How many of them?" I asked.

"That's the spirit."

It took me a second to realize she was complimenting me on being ready for the upcoming psychological warfare. I was distracted; that something was getting stronger.

We got to the door, and I put my hand against it, holding before she could open it.

"What is it?"

"It's a ward," I said. "But this isn't a mortal home. There's nothing to anchor a ward to."

"Something laid fresh every morning?"

"It would have to be. And it would have to be damn powerful to exist at all."

"What does it do?"

I squinted and felt along the lines of force. "It's an alarm."

"That makes sense, for a bank."

"Kind of, but… ah. There it is. It's tuned to mortal magic only." I dropped my hand to the handle and pulled the door open, like a gentleman. "It'll only go off when a wizard crosses it." I followed Lara and stepped inside. I felt the ward tingle.

Nothing happened. Except for the sensation of being watched.

We both stood at the door for a second. "Oh," Lara said. "A silent alarm."

I started towards the security scanner. "Laugh now. But I think that's exactly what it is. They know I'm here, and what I am."

The guard immediately on the other side of the metal detector looked up at me. "Sir, please remove your coat, belt, and any metal you might be carrying. And I'll have to take the, uh, walking stick."

I leaned on my staff and looked him in the nose. "If I didn't need the stick to walk, I wouldn't have it with me."

"I'm sorry, sir, but you can't keep it. It's a weapon."

Well, he was right. "Can I talk to your supervisor?"

The man was professional, I'll give him that. He didn't even let out a sulky breath. I just waved at another guard, one with a slightly fancier shirt.

Before the new guy could open his mouth, I said, "No, your actual supervisor."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, come on." I let a little power seep into my staff, and most of the carved runes slowly lit up with a golden light. "We all know what's going on, and we all know the silent alarm went off the instant I walked through the door. So why don't we stop wasting time? I have a long day ahead of me."

The two men looked at each other, then the not-supervisor walked away, pulling out a two-way radio as he did. Two other guards, a little further away, kept their hands very close to their holstered weapons. I whispered over my shoulder, "How am I doing?"

"I'm seen worse entrances," Lara said, "but these are not the people you need to impress."

"These are not the people watching me through the security cameras." I pointed to a black plastic bubble directly above us.

One side of her mouth ticked up.

I looked at the poor supervisor. He was holding the radio away from his ear, like someone was shouting at him. Maybe it was just static from me. I passed the time by glancing around looking bored.

The supervisor came back. "Apologies for the hold up. If you would both please come with me."

Lara and I started walking, right through the metal detector, which coughed out a weak buzzing sound. He led us past a bank of elevators, around a corner, along a hallway and to another elevator. All of these things were coated in stainless steel and gave off a feel of cold, impersonal indifference. The floor was marble, but not shot through with anything interesting. The lights were all fluorescent.

He hit the call button, and the doors opened right away. He waved us in, but didn't join us. The doors closed. Only then did I realize there was no button on the inside. "Spectacular," I said. "Now what?"

The elevator began to rise.

"Now, you remember that patience is a virtue."

We were probably bugged, but I didn't want to risk getting trapped in the elevator, so I decided to just stay quiet instead of hexing it. I leaned against the wall and yawned. The car took a strangely long time to rise, and I realized it was moving slowly on purpose. Anyone with a hint of claustrophobia would have been left extremely uncomfortable. Eventually, we stopped moving. After an unusually long time, the doors opened. I followed Lara into a hallway coated in very nice, very expensive hardwood. There was a line of marble running down the middle three feet of the floor on this level, and it was beautiful, sparkling in subdued lighting. Compared to everything I'd seen up to this moment, it was a relief.

In other words, the gentle stroke on the cheek before the nails rip your throat out.

The hall led directly to a huge wooden door. Lara didn't pause before grabbing the handle and giving it a good shove. It swung wide into an office that my old apartment would have fit into nicely. Four or five times.

Again, there were beautiful woods everywhere, lush carpeting that looked hand-stitched, enormous floor-to-ceiling windows at either end, leather furniture, heads of extremely vicious animals mounted on the walls, an over-sized aquarium-like structure with a freaking boa-constrictor inside, a smaller aquarium-thing with a black widow, and, against the far wall, raised several steps on dais, were a pair of small, leather chairs, and a huge, ancient-looking desk.

Standing behind the desk, looking amused, was a more muscular, tanned version of Lara Raith, with bleached hair.

Danicka Malvora smiled, and it was predatory. "Cousin," she said. "So nice of you to drop by."

Lara plastered her own fake smile in place. "Danicka, it's been forever."

"Been even longer since I saw your father."

I almost jerked my head at that. It might have been nothing, but from her tone of voice, it felt like she was dropping a big hint that she knew about Lord Raith's… condition. Seemed the small talk with under-lying threats wasn't something they eased into around here.

To help me show no reaction, I glanced around at the trophy heads. Tiger, lion, rhino, a freaking elephant… a bunch of other species on the endangered lists. Which meant she'd either acquired them illegally, or killed them before they went on the list. Maybe both.

"Father's been busy," Lara said.

Danicka stepped from behind her desk. "Too busy to tour his own interests? Strange. He used to be so much more… hands-on."

Ooh, double-entendre.

Lara took a few stairs up to desk level, and I trailed along, a few stairs behind. "Oh, father's been throwing himself into work lately," she said. "New construction, film projects, of course. He has a new hunting preserve in Wisconsin." She took a seat. "He's hoping you'll drop by next month. You know, to help him get the first kill."

"Hunting 'preserve.' How quaint. None of his own children want to join him?"

"The smart ones don't," I said. I took a couple more stairs to be at eye level with our hostess.

Danicka gave a humorless, dry chuckle. "Ah, yes. The Winter Knight. The famed Harry Dresden."

"Famed? Really?" I took the last couple of steps and tried not to be obvious about looming over her. "Didn't know I had a reputation."

"Oh please, we both know you're lying. You're among empaths, wizard."

"Yes, I know. I was being sarcastic. Good to know you're over-reliant on that ability." I looked up at the trophies again. "Nice heads. Cut them off yourself?"

"Oh, I didn't use a knife," she said.

"Cool. So, do you know where I can find a Black Court vampire in this town?"

"According to my sources, you already did."

"Yeah, but you know how sneaky they are. Chase him ten blocks or so on foot, right into a Fomor nest, by the time you kill the Fomor, he's slipped away."

She turned and walked back behind the desk. "Why are you hunting him?"

"That's hardly important."

She shrugged. "You come to me with a question, I ask you one back. Balance. That's what your Queen wants, isn't it?"

I sighed, perhaps a little dramatically. "What she wants is a dead vampire." I made eye contact. Damned if she didn't blink first. I pulled out my pocket watch and very purposely looked at it instead of her. "Come on. I don't have all day. You have information that I need. A Black Court vamp running around town isn't good for business."

"Not bad for feeding, though."

"Not if he slaughters the kine," Lara said.

"Please. There are always more."

"This is a waste of time. Dani," I said, very purposely using a disrespectful nickname, "you have what I want. Are you going to give it to me, or do I have to add to my reputation?" I put the pocket watch away.

She paused for almost a full second. "You wouldn't dare."

"Look, I know you 'people'," and I used air quotes, "prefer to be subtle and deceptive when striking at each other, but I have no use for that. I'm far more direct. Ask the Red Court. And no one would take me to task for it. You may look human, but no vampire actually is, so the White Council wouldn't say boo. And as far as Mab is concerned, you're not the reigning power in the White Court, so she couldn't care less. Hell, I might even earn a few points."

She had become very still. "Your threat is pathetic. You would never get out of here alive."

I cracked my knuckles, one hand at a time. "One on one, I like my chances. This isn't your home, so there's no guest/host honor at stake. We both know Lara would probably stay out of it, for various reasons. And any goons you have aren't in this room right now, are they?"

"You're disgustingly blatant."

I shrugged. "Look at me and tell me I can't do it."

One of her lips curled up, and she made a disgusted sound. She grabbed a pad of paper and scribbled some lines out. Then she tossed it at me. I caught it one handed. "If he arranged a safehouse, he wouldn't have used his own name. Those are the only two locations that were recently arranged using names I couldn't trace. Take it. And get out."

I glanced at the paper. Two addresses. "Thank you."

I turned around, very deliberately showing my back to her, along with my disdain, and started away.

Lara was at my side as I passed back into the hallway. "Not as subtle as I hoped you would be, but quite effective," she whispered.

"What did I do that grossed her out?"

Lara bared her teeth. "You showed the one emotion with which she cannot deal."

"That being?"

"Confidence."

The elevator ride back down seemed a lot quicker. When we emerged back into the lobby, I noticed that the supervisor was nowhere to be seen. He could have been in the bathroom, or he could have been eviscerated in the basement; I wasn't sure and didn't really feel like sticking around to find out. Once we had finally stepped outside, back into the warm, noisy, bright street, I took a breath.

"Uncomfortable, wizard?"

I realized I was, but had been ignoring it. "Maybe. Just a little. You?"

"I'm used to dealing with Danicka."

"Has she always been like that?"

"Oh, yes. Her mother had very specific ways of raising children. In the same way that true love can kill the Hunger for the Raiths, true courage, bravery, and self-sacrifice have the same effect on the Malvora. They're raised to be bullies, not brave."

"Never thought I'd say this, but, on the whole, I prefer dealing with you."

She actually laughed at that. "Most people do." I followed her down the steps to the street, where a white town car appeared out of traffic. The driver got out; it was Mr. Talkative. He opened the door, and I clambered in after Lara. The car got moving. There was a glass barrier separating us from the driver. "Let me see the addresses," she said. I handed the pad over. "A condo in Coconut Grove, and a house in Coral Way. These are both in the south end of the city."

"We'll have to hit them both at the same time, to make sure he doesn't hear and take off."

"'We'?"

"Oh, come on. You want him dead, too."

"True, but he didn't come after me for a century. And still hasn't, I'll point out."

"Lara, you know you're a target."

"I don't, though. I know a destructive and manipulative Black Court vampire, who has recently been threatening, killing, or blackmailing other powers, has shown up in this city. This city, which I rarely come to, but which House Malvora holds."

"What, you think he's here to kill Danicka?"

"It makes more sense. He'd didn't have my travel itinerary, did he?"

I sat back. It did seem unlikely.

"On the other hand, my idiot brother is doubtless going to want to help you with this fool's errand, and I would be a terrible sister indeed if I didn't raise a finger to protect him."

I narrowed my eyes. "What's the catch?"

She didn't look at me. "He doesn't go in with you."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Which ever safe house you hit, he goes to the other one."

"Why?"

Now she did look at me. "We both know I'm not going to explain, and you are going to accept my help, regardless, so why talk about it?"

"Because you wouldn't put a caveat like that on this without a damn good reason, and I like to know as much as I can about dangerous situations I'm heading into, particularly when I'm leading friends into them. I'm funny like that."

She smiled, and it actually touched her eyes. "You are, aren't you?" She took a breath. "You have a reputation, wizard."

"So I've heard."

"No, not the threat you pose to enemies. To your allies."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Let's run down the list. Your first apprentice, murdered by a wild werewolf."

"She was acting without my - "

"Several of the police officers you used to work with, dead or crippled."

"They all knew the risks, and I did my best - "

"One Knight of the Cross dead, another grievously wounded."

I felt my jaw tighten.

"One of your pet werewolves had his throat ripped out by the same creature that later tortured Thomas himself."

"An old god," I said through teeth that didn't seem to want to separate.

"You've slain gods before. And I don't think I need to mention the numberless young Wardens injured and killed under your care. Nor the remarkable circumstances of your last apprentice."

I looked down and concentrated on opening my fists, which I did not remember making. I had to remind myself not to hit a girl. "The day I met you, you shot Thomas in the chest."

"I was aiming for you," she said. "Don't get me wrong, Dresden. I understand why you do what you do, and I know you don't mean for all the collateral damage to happen. But it does. And Thomas has already been a victim of your relationship more than once." I said nothing. Then she pushed a button with a little drawing of a speaker on it. Nothing happened except a tiny puff of smoke and a sudden smell of solder.

She looked at me. I forced my jaw open. "Gee, sorry about that."

She rolled her eyes and tapped on the glass. The driver did something and the partition slid down into the seat. "You got the redheaded girl's cell number, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Call her and my brother. Then send cars to collect them. We'll meet at the Melreese."

The Melreese is a golf course and country club. A nice one. It took the better part of 40 minutes to get there, and my stomach was starting to rumble. As you might imagine, Lara did not allow me to go inside. I passed the time leaning against the car in the parking lot, watching planes landing a couple miles away at the airport, glancing at my pocket watch, and giving strange looks to folks on their way in for a round.

I had made one request to Mr. Talkative before he hung up on Thomas, and as the Humvee pulled up, I smiled. My brother and Connie, wearing one of Marci's dresses and a pair of Andi's shoes, got out. Thomas smirked and tossed me a bag.

Smiling myself, I opened it up and took a deep breath. "You're a saint," I said, and pulled out a Whopper. "Wait a sec. Where are my fries?"

Connie stepped forward, mouth still full. "Apologies," she said, handing over the half empty fry bag. "I do love chips."

I eyed Thomas.

"What?" he said. "I got her a combo, too. She wolfed it down." He glanced around. "Speaking of which?"

"They'll be here in a minute," I said, and sank my teeth into the burger. "Anee if da rain?"

Thomas blinked. "What? Don't talk with your mouth full."

I swallowed. "Anything with the trains?"

"Oh. No. There are cops all over it, and the yard has safety crews swarming around. Couldn't get close enough."

I saw the limo pulling up. "That's about what I figured."

"Thomas," Lara said, "where's the man who brought your car to you?"

He shrugged. "I left him somewhere."

She sighed. I most definitely did not laugh.

The limo rolled to a stop, and Carlos popped out first, before Mr. Large even had the engine off. "Hey. The safehouse was a bust."

"Not too surprised. Cops?"

"No. That's just it." He helped Andi and Marci out.

"The place was cleaned," Andi said. "Even the window was replaced already."

Something twigged in my brain. Krejetzy didn't have that kind of pull locally.

Did he?

"I could smell blood in the air," Marci said as Carlos helped her out next. "But it was very faint. Whoever cleaned up did a thorough job."

"Fast one, too," Ramirez said.

"Speaking of moving fast," Lara said.

"Right," I said, rousing from my thoughts. "We have two possible locations we need to hit, at the same time, and as soon as possible. Preferably before sundown."

"They nearby?" Thomas asked.

"South of here, and not close to each other." I stepped closer to him. "Lara's offered a few men, but only if they all go with you."

He sighed and looked at her. "Seriously?" She said nothing. He gave her a fake smile that did not touch his eyes. "Fine." He looked at me again. "Where are we going?"

"There's a condo and a house."

He thought for a second. "I'll take the condo."

"Okay."

"And you will be careful."

"Obviously."

"I'm serious."

"So am I." I dropped the Burger King bag and pulled the notepad out of my pocket. I tore off the condo address and handed it to him. "So you'd also better be careful."

He nodded, and mercifully did not hug me. He walked back to the Humvee, asking Lara, "The team know where they're going?"

"They're already en route."

He got in the monster truck and was moving a few seconds later. I watched him leave, then I handed the pad to Mr. Large. He took the pad, glanced at it, then looked at Lara. She nodded. I snatched up my burger bag again – there was still another Whopper in it – and headed for the limo's back door. I held the door open, and looking at Lara, said, "Come on, folks. Let's go build a reputation."

The house was perfectly normal looking. A couple blocks from Shenandoah Park. Quiet neighborhood. It had a black metal fence. There were tall, thin palm trees all along the boulevard. It was one story, kind of U-shaped, clay tile roof. A fountain in the yard. All the blinds were drawn.

I walked down the other side of the street, trying to look casual. That was difficult in the duster, given the heat. Connie was walking towards me on the opposite side, cell phone in her hand. I'd convinced Mr. Large to loan Connie the phone; I'd asked about a gun, too, but she had declined.

I had to admit, she cut quite a figure; a perfect athlete's body, all lean muscle, dark hair and round face. Reminded me of Karrin, a lot.

Of course, that train of thought got me distracted, and I bumped into a car's fender. It didn't hurt – most things didn't, these days – but it snapped me back to reality.

Connie stopped walking, looking at the phone. She turned to me, and nodded. That was the signal; Thomas was going in, and had just sent a text message to Andi and Connie to let them know. I turned and ran at the house, dashing across the traffic-free street and vaulting the fence. Connie was just a couple paces behind me.

I had a shield ready, but didn't raise it. As I approached the door, I pointed the bottom end of my staff, where I had the magical equivalent of an invisible punching glove on a spring carved, and triggered the spell without breaking stride.

The door blew off its hinges, exploding into the house. I got my left hand through the remains of the frame and raised the shield. Even as the door came crashing down, I heard breaking glass and cracking wood from the back of the house; Carlos and the Alphas.

As the pieces of wood and metal sailed through the air, I tried to take in the whole living room at once. There was no furniture. There was only one occupant.

I saw Maggie.

I saw my daughter, lying motionless on the floor, covered in cuts and bruises, surrounded by a pool of blood. Even as my mind tried to comprehend what I was seeing, a baser, more instinctual part of me was already screaming in denial. My daughter was not here. She could not be dead.

But none of that was the worst part.

No, the worst part was when the corpse's eyes opened and looked at me.

The voice was wet and heavy and inhuman. "Daddy," it said.