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"The same thing I believe responsible for the blackout," Jeremy said. "Either that or we have a zombie in the basement who tripped the breaker. Not quite so dramatic as a spell, but equally effective."
As Nick came up behind me, I could hear someone yanking on the outside door.
"You think I turned off the lights?" Tolliver said with a tight laugh. "On werewolves? Who can see in the dark? And I locked myself in with them?"
"We can't see in complete darkness," Jeremy said. "No more than you can. As a doctor, I'm sure you figured that out."
Clay's footsteps thundered down the hall. His face was red, as if he'd run six miles instead of feet.
"It's not jammed," he said, breathing hard. "Doesn't seem locked either. Antonio can snap the hinges..."
"Not yet," Jeremy murmured. "Tell him to stand by."
"It's spell-locked," Jeremy called to Tolliver and Shanahan. "A backup plan to distract us when the power outage didn't do the trick, I suspect. You have two choices. Either we relocate this meeting--quickly--or I will make that Cabal call for you, to Benicio Cortez, whom I suspect will handle this in a much less diplomatic way."
Tolliver was silent.
"Quickly was the key word in that offer," Jeremy said, voice still calm. "In sixty seconds, I'm going to declare this a potential ambush and instruct--"
"There's a room down the hall. A meeting room. Smaller than this, but it has windows. It'll be light enough to talk."
Truth
WHILE I WASN'T DISCOUNTING TOLLIVER AS THE SOURCE of the power outage, my money was on Shanahan. His "horrified innocent" act didn't work with me. I'd seen too many mutts pull the same routine. We'd show up at their doorstep and they'd stand there, stammering and wide-eyed at the very notion that they would be hunting people, denials pouring out on breath that reeked of human flesh.
Tolliver paused at the meeting room door as if expecting a wolf to lunge out from behind it. When Antonio closed the door behind them, Shanahan jumped, fingers flying up in a spell.
"If you finish that cast, this meeting is over," Jeremy said.
As we moved to the center of the room, Clay whispered weakly, "Nicky?"
Nick started--surprised by Clay's tone, the childhood nickname or both, so out of place here. Clay's face was still as flushed as when he'd come running in from outside, and now neither heat nor exertion could be blamed.
"You're--" I began.
Clay silenced me with a meaningful nod at Jeremy. Frowning, Nick moved up beside Clay.
"Watch Elena, 'kay?" Clay whispered, voice hoarse as if speaking cost more effort than he could afford.
"Are you--?"
"No, I'm not. So watch her. Please."
Jeremy caught my eye, but Clay had turned away, as if st
ill talking to Nick. Jeremy waved me up beside him. I glanced at Clay again, but his eyes warned me to stay quiet.
Jeremy began, "I'll presume Dr. Tolliver has told you what's happened this week, and your suspected role in it."
"I--" Shanahan said.
"Then you know the charges are serious. These negotiations are equally serious. If you claim to have played no role in these events, and I discover otherwise, I will claim justice as our jurisdiction, to be decided by me--"
"But--"
"A member of my Pack is under direct threat, and neither the interracial council nor the Cabals will deny me justice if I demand it."
Shanahan swallowed. His gaze shot to Tolliver, who said nothing.
