“She helped me through the tough times,” he continued, “especially when my father succumbed to his darkness. In many respects, I owe her my existence.”
Darkness? Did he mean mental darkness, or something else entirely?
“And to repay her kindness, you now help her out with certain investigations?” It was a guess, but a pretty obvious one.
He hesitated. “Yes and no. We are involved in an ongoing investigation, but I do occasionally help out with other situations that revolve around my particular skill set.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Is one of those skills the ability to answer questions without actually answering them?”
He laughed softly. “My father had what some might call ‘interesting’ contacts, especially in the latter part of his life, when the darkness was falling around him, but he still retained some sense of sanity and self. As his heir, I maintain those contacts, even if unwillingly in some respects.”
“That’s an odd thing to say.”
The smile that tugged at his lips held little humor. “I live in an odd reality.”
Another strange comment, one I once again suspected he would not explain. Not to me. Not yet.
“Why you, though, when she has an entire organization to investigate anything and anyone she might wish?”
“Because, as I said, I can walk where few others dare.”
“Such as thick gray shadows in which demons stalk?”
“I was not the only one in those shadows, Hanna, and I rather suspect I am not alone in familiarity with them.”
“AndIrather suspect we are getting off topic.” The last thing I needed or wanted right now was this man guessing more about me than I was ready to give. I tapped my phone’s screen. “To repeat an earlier question, why did you send the telepath hidden by your magic in to see Tane?”
“How do you know the person I was hiding was a telepath? Are you telepathic yourself?”
“I daresay you’ve been well apprised by Sophie on what I can and can’t do.”
It was dryly said, and he smiled again. The man really did have a lovely smile. “She’s rather surprised you appear uninclined to move any higher in rank than your current position.”
“I enjoy being an investigator, and I hate paperwork. I amnotmy brothers. I just want to do what I do and enjoy my life. Now, answer the damn question.”
He chuckled, the sound as smooth and as warm as a whisky on a cold night. “Yes, it was a telepath, and yes, she was there to read Tane.”
“Why? What were you seeking? How is Tane linked to the investigation you’re undertaking for Sophie, and is Monica’s disappearance at all connected?”
“Are you working on the old ‘overwhelm them with questions and hope the truth falls out’ method of interviewing? Because I will never be overwhelmed by such attempts, I assure you.”
I raised an eyebrow and asked, probably unadvisably, “Then whatareyou overwhelmed by?”
“Women in emerald dresses that match their lovely eyes and skim their curves, promising much while revealing little.”
“Oh,verysmooth.” My voice was dry but the inner me flushed with delight.
He shrugged, a small but elegant movement. “Perhaps, but it is also the truth.”
“Hmm,” was all I dared say to that.
A smile teased his lips again, but it was the subtle gleam in his eyes that caused all manner of havoc to my pulse rate. “To answer your questions: One, I wanted Tane’s memories skimmed to see if anyone had contacted him recently about the runestones?—”
“Runestones?” I cut in. “Well, there’s an interesting coincidence.”
He frowned lightly. “Meaning?”
“Before I answer that, tell me, did you—or rather your telepath—order Tane to give me a USB containing a conversation about Monica between a man and a woman?”
