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“Any specific, credible threats against you lately?”
“Not that I’m aware of. If there’d been something credible, my staff would have told me.”
My grandfather nodded. “What about Sanford King? Can you describe your relationship with him?”
“Perfunctory,” Reed said, turning the chair to face the room and steepling his fingers over his chest. “We’re acquainted, and that’s nearly overstating it. He’s a member of the charity’s board of directors. His invitation was pro forma.”
“So no business dealings?”
“None.”
“I understand he presented you with a business opportunity earlier tonight.”
Reed’s expression flattened. “I don’t hold with gossip. And I declined the offer. As I said, no business dealings.”
“Thank you for clarifying,” my grandfather summed, making a note in his book. “Sanford King likely has enemies.”
“As I indicated, we all have enemies.”
“And would there have been any reason for the perpetrators to believe you and Sanford had a closer relationship?”
“What are you asking?”
“I’m asking if you’re aware of any particular reason they decided to attack him here and at this particular time.”
“I assume they wanted to punish King as publicly as possible,” Reed said impatiently. “Otherwise what’s the point of attempting an execution at a gala? Why not just take him out on the street?”
“Was there anything unusual about his agreement to attend the party, or his interest in it?”
“I didn’t organize the party or send the invitations. I have a staff. I allowed the charity the use of my house, made a substantial in-kind contribution with respect to food and alcohol.”
My grandfather nodded. “There was considerable press coverage about the party, your involvement. You’ll get even more publicity after tonight.”
My father stiffened, apparently shocked by the insinuation. But my grandfather wasn’t there to help my father kiss Reed’s ass. He was there to probe, investigate, untangle.
“As I’m certain you’re well aware, I don’t need publicity. And I don’t appreciate the tenor of the question.”
My grandfather smiled his blandly polite cop smile. “I just want to make sure I understand the facts.”
“The fact is, two vampires entered my house apparently with the purpose of killing Sanford King. If you want the cause, ask them.”
“We have done so, and will continue to investigate their involvement,” my grandfather assured him.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page. I’ll talk to my lawyers, decide how we’d like to move forward. I’ll be in touch.”
And just like that, Adrien Reed dismissed my grandfather.
* * *
We walked him back through the gallery and ballroom. The room was still decorated, but the guests were gone, adding a grim sense of abandonment.
No one spoke until we exited the house, stood together on the sidewalk.
“Jeff’s in the van if you’d like to say hello,” my grandfather said. “Or good-bye, since it looks like we’re wrapping up here.”
The van, clearly marked as Ombudsman property, sat just up the block. It was a mobile office and response center, fully equipped with computers and gadgets that only Jeff likely knew how to operate.
Brody had squeezed the Range Rover in front of it, and he and Jeff chatted quietly until we approached. Brody nodded at Ethan, who held up a hand, signaling him to wait.
