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“My mistress is. She would have tasted the ability in her blood.” Another of those creepy smiles touched his lips. “In truth, if she had been fortunate enough to have such power, she would have gained the one thing she’d desired—favoritism.”
“Maelle can taste power in someone’s blood?”
“Oh, yes.”
His gaze came to mine, and left me in no doubt that his mistress seriously wanted to uncover the secrets that lay in mine.
“No fucking way on this earth,” I said, without really thinking about it.
He simply smiled. “If there’s one saying that has proven true time and again over the many years she has been alive, it’s that all things come to those who wait.”
“Well, tell her not to hold her breath, because she’s going to be waiting a long damned time.”
“Oh, she is well aware of that.” He pulled something out from underneath the seat and snorted softly. “I told the fool to check under her seat for this, and she swore she did.”
The item he was holding was an iPhone. “So that’s Marlinda’s?”
He nodded and hit the on button. “As dead as a doornail. The charger should be in the middle console.”
I lifted the console lid and retrieved the charger. “Can I borrow the phone and check out what’s on it?”
“Sure. It’s her old phone, so who knows how relevant anything you find will be.”
It still offered possibilities, which was better than what we currently had—nothing. “Was she a photo taker?”
“Aren’t most of them? Selfies are so very important to the young and egotistical.”
I snorted. “Can you give me a description of Molly, so I know who I’m looking for?”
He sniffed. “Dark brown hair, green eyes, pale skin with freckles across her nose. Rather well-developed in the chest area.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You can say big breasts. It won’t offend me.”
“I think perhaps there is little that would offend you.”
“Your mistress taking a bite certainly would.” I shoved the phone and its charger into my purse. “I don’t suppose you happen to know the lock code?”
“As I said, feeders hold no secrets, even when it comes to something so inconsequential.” He gave me the code, and then added, “It’s likely she has photos of not just Molly, but several of the other feeders as well. They did go out together more often than not.”
“Good. I can show Larissa a random selection and see if any of them look familiar.” I hesitated. “Would you be able to send me a full list of her feeders—both their names and addresses?”
“Why?”
“Because it would be handy to check whether any of them have had any interaction with the unknown Janice.”
He studied me for a moment, his gaze slightly distracted. Checking with the boss. “It can be done, but please ensure you do not give the list to the ranger.”
I frowned. “What if it turns out there is some sort of connection between Maelle’s other feeders and these six murders?”
“If there is, I want a guarantee you will not mention where you got the information from, and inform us before you give the ranger their names and address.”
“I can’t do the latter, Maelle. We’re talking about the murder of six people. I can’t be responsible for you going after this woman before we’ve had a chance to talk to her. We need to find out how she summoned the soul eater so that we can deal with it.”
Roger’s expression remained distracted. After a moment, he said, in tones that were more Maelle’s than his own. “A deal, then. I will not in any way react against this Janice until after you and the ranger have spoken to her.”
“I want that same guarantee when it comes to Roger, or any other henchmen or women you might have tucked in your closet somewhere.”
The smile that touched his lips was cool, dangerous, and every bit hers rather than his. “I will also guarantee that. In fact, I vow that neither my people nor I will move against this Janice if indeed she is responsible for Marlinda’s death until after the soul eater has been dealt with. Is that good enough?”
