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"Yes," Luc said. "We still haven't found any other Internet sources, but they're clearly recruiting members through some kind of network. Could be military. Could be informal."
"Could be hate groups," offered one of the Grey House guards. "Preexisting network of humans who make a hobby of hatred. It can be easy to rile them up to fixate on another group."
"True," Luc said, then glanced at Jeff. "Anything like that pop up on Robin Pope?"
"Not so far. Her background is bland. Nothing suspicious. Nothing even interesting."
"Could it have been wiped?" Jonah asked.
"Sure," Jeff said. "But there's also nothing so glorious it looks fake. She just seems dull."
"General awareness of the riots is undoubtedly helping recruitment," Luc said. "Media reports are all over the twenty-four-hour news stations, the Web."
"We're actually hoping we have an ace there," Ethan said. "Merit's family is friendly with the Breckenridges, including Nicholas, the reporter. She called him and asked that he consider preparing a feature about how the riots are impacting the Houses, the neighborhoods. The darker side of hatred, as it were."
He glanced at Scott. "I've offered him access to the House, but you can grant whatever access you'd like - or none, if you prefer - for your people. I know the spotlight isn't comfortable for all."
Scott nodded. "I'll think it over."
"While we're taking roll call," Luc said, "has anyone heard from Morgan?"
"He finally called," Scott said. "Said he wasn't able to offer room in the House. According to him, Will, the guard captain, is new and not equipped to handle an influx of vampires, and they're still reeling from the recent deaths."
Unappreciative silence followed that explanation.
"Each Master must make his own way," Ethan said.
"That's generous," Scott said. "I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the first few months of his term, and when Darius tightened the reigns. But he is Master of his House, and he's not exactly doing it proud."
Morgan was an odd duck. He'd gotten control of Navarre House under unusual circumstances, and he hadn't exactly made the most of it, at least not with respect to the other Houses. He seemed to be well intentioned, but he was emotionally immature. I'd hoped he could grow into his position, but he hadn't gotten there yet. Unfortunately, each time Navarre House huddled farther into its shell, he damaged his relationship with the rest of us. Some night, that was going to bite him in the ass.
"Harold Monmonth also called," Scott said. "He 'forbade' me from staying at Cadogan House. Said the GP would consider it a violation of our charter if we live in sin with blacklisted vampires who'd so recently defied the GP and all it stood for. He gave me a lengthy speech about loyalty and punishment."
Ethan blinked. "And how did you respond?"
"I reminded him Darius West was head of the GP, and Darius was the only individual who had the authority to forbid Grey House from doing anything. I told him I haven't heard from Darius, although personally I suspect that does not bode well."
"Monmonth or not, you may take heat for your decision," Ethan said.
"My decision was keeping my vampires safe from the rising sun. Any member of the GP who doesn't understand that is an idiot, and not worthy of the position."
I couldn't help but smile at that comment.
"Is this when we talk about taxation without representation?" asked one of the Grey House guards, a woman with cocoa skin and a gorgeous pouf of dark hair. She was tall and trim, so the jersey nearly overwhelmed her lean figure. But paired with short nails painted yellow and a bright pair of yellow Converse sneakers - both of which matched the yellow in the Grey House jersey, she pulled it off.
If it was appropriate to judge a person based on her footwear - and it obviously was - I decided I liked her immediately.
The other Grey House guards chuckled, but Scott looked less than amused by the comment. I guess it was still too soon for jokes about defecting from the GP.
"Back to the riots," Jonah said in a serious tone, apparently taking his cue from Scott. "Two riots, two nights in a row. It's not unreasonable to surmise they'll hit another location tomorrow night."
"And not necessarily a House," Luc said. "They hit a Blood4You distributor the first time. That means they like businesses with connections to vampires, and they have enough information to ferret out places that aren't commonly known to humans. We've put together a potential list of targets."
Luc switched the image on-screen, and the bulleted list popped up. Navarre and Cadogan Houses made the list, as did Benson's, Red, and Temple Bar, the official bars of Grey House, Navarre, and Cadogan, respectively.
The harbor lighthouse in Lake Michigan, which served as the Red Guard's headquarters, did not make the list. Probably because Jonah and I were the only two vampires in the room who knew its purpose.
"Anybody know if Robin Pope has connections to any of those places?" Jonah asked, glancing around the room, but no one offered an answer.
Luc tapped a spot on the screen near the Houses. "If these rioters were really aiming for maximum impact, Cadogan House would be the target. It's in a neighborhood they haven't hit before, and we're all here together."
"Maximum impact and damage," Jonah agreed. "You hit one place, and two Houses."
"Yeah, but that assumes these guys are doing anything by the book," Lindsey said. "They clearly aren't. If they really wanted to hit vampires and for maximum publicity, you hit Cadogan House first. We're more infamous."
"Which suggests Robin Pope is on the riot steering committee. She's picking the locations - not because they'll make the biggest bang, but because she's got personal vendettas." I glanced at Luc. "You might want to poll the House, make sure she doesn't know anyone here."
"And we'll keep looking into her background," Jeff said.
"Just in case," Ethan said, "we've doubled the number of guards outside. They're humans, but they have guns. At dusk, let's discuss how we can work together to increase our guard presence while we have the bodies to do so. Chuck, could you also apprise the CPD of the possibility the House may be a target?"
"Of course," he said.
"I thought the CPD wasn't exactly on our side right now?" asked one of the Grey House guards.
"They aren't," Grandpa confirmed. "But they are on the side of humans, and there are plenty in Hyde Park. In particular, there are wealthy humans who own sizable homes and contribute to the mayor's election campaign. That will probably spark some considerable interest on the part of the CPD."
