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Amusement touched her lips again. “You would have made a good guardian, Risa, if you’d chosen such a path.”
It sure as hell would have been an easier path than working for her. “Does that mean she did meet someone?”
“She caught a cab in Glass Street.” I didn’t ask how they knew this, because I knew she wouldn’t tell me. She continued. “I will send you the details of the company and driver.”
Hunter paused and gave me that face. The one that said I’d better do what I was told. And yet her face didn’t even twitch—it was more a darkness that crept into her eyes. “Do not inform Rhoan where you got the information.”
Or you’ll both die.
The unspoken words seemed to hang in the air, despite the fact that the conversation was over a phone, not in person. But then, this wasn’t the first time I’d heard that warning or seen that look.
“I know the drill,” I said. “What about Dani herself? Could the manager tell me anything about her?”
“He did not know her personally—he had to look up her membership form to remember who she was. I will send you the relevant details.”
“Thanks.”
“Remember to check in when you uncover any new information regarding the keys.” And with that, she hung up.
I sighed in relief, then glanced at my phone as it indicated an incoming message. Hunter was fast, I’ll give her that. But then, she had been warned about the situation by Markel and had undoubtedly been waiting for my call.
There wasn’t really much information about Dani—nothing more than her address and banking details, which suggested that at the Dove, members paid for the privilege of easing their addiction. But maybe they did that at all the clubs—if they were a moneymaking venture, it would certainly explain the council’s reluctance to address the problem.
The taxi driver who’d picked Dani up was Charlie Tan, and the depot was in Tullamarine, which was only about ten minutes away.
“You wish to go there now?” Azriel asked.
“No, I don’t,” I all but snapped. “But it’s not like I have much of a choice, is it?”
He raised his eyebrows at me. I sighed again, and waved a hand. “Sorry. The anger isn’t aimed at you.”
“This time.”
I half smiled. “Yeah. No guarantee about the next time, though.”
Amusement touched his lips, and warmed places deep inside me. “Something would have to be very wrong for you not to be angry with me at least a couple of times a day.”
“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad—”
“Oh, but it is.” The smile still tugged at his lips, and took away some of the sting of the words. “But then, you are not alone in feeling frustrated by the situation we find ourselves in, Risa.”
I guess that was true. He just seemed to control it better than me. I double-pressed the ear stud and said, “Rhoan, I need to disappear for a few minutes. Give me a call if you find anything.”
“I won’t ask where you’re going, because I have a suspicion you won’t tell me,” he replied. “But if you find anything and don’t tell me, there will be hell to pay.”
“I’m just going to check in with a hacker friend. He might be able to help find either this club or what the hell Hartwell is.”
Rhoan grunted. Whether he believed me or not was anyone’s guess. I turned off the earpiece again and glanced at Azriel. “Let’s go.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and zapped us through the gray fields. We reappeared in the middle of an industrial estate. The place across the road was some sort of auction building, and the parking lot to one side of it was filled with cars of all makes and models. I spun around, spotted the cab company, and headed for the office. Azriel fell in step beside me, then opened the door and ushered me inside. The receptionist gave us a warm smile, but I couldn’t help noticing it was mostly aimed at the man who stood beside me. Which niggled, but also made me wonder what the hell she was seeing. If the intensity of her gaze was any indication, there might well have been nakedness.>“Then you already know why I’m ringing now.”
“Yes.” She paused. “You were wise not to mention your knowledge of the clubs. Rhoan is an asset the Directorate would not like to lose.”
I bet she was an asset the Directorate wouldn’t like to lose, either, but I sure as hell hoped that one day, it would. In fact, the sooner the better.
“Is there a club called the Crimson Dive?”
“It’s Dove, not Dive.” She paused. “I’ve rung the manager, and both Vonda and Dani Belmore are members. As were the other victims.”
