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Uncertainty flickered in his eyes. “Kara, there are yet perils to summoning a Jontari.”
“There are perils to everything,” I said. “But I have to start somewhere.”
• • •
I left Rhyzkahl’s charming company and headed toward the war room, but Bryce intercepted me in the kitchen.
“A letter came for you,” he said, face in neutral mode.
“Seriously? Who sends snail mail these days?” The U.S. Postal Service managed to forge through snow and rain and heat and gloom of night, but “demon pestilence” cramped their style a bit. Especially in the Beaulac area. “And what warrants hand delivery by the head of security?”
Without comment, he held the envelope out to me. As I took it, the handwriting on the front answered my question. Tessa.
My chest constricted with fury. “Why the fuck is she—” I clamped down on the internal volcano of anger, frustration, confusion, and loss. No good careening down an ugly, dead road while important shit needed to be dealt with. That was probably the whole reason she’d sent it
—to rattle me and screw with my head. If I ever find that woman—
Bryce placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
“Thanks. For this.” I held up the envelope and smiled brightly, well aware that I wasn’t fooling him one bit. Before I could derail again, I shoved the envelope deep into my pocket where I wouldn’t have to think about it for a few minutes. “As of yesterday, there was a SkeeterCheater with power supply snowed in at the Memphis supply facility,” I said in a sharp change of subject. “I’d like it in our arsenal as a just-in-case, but I don’t want to go through any official channels.” Not only would official channels mean lots of questions that I had no desire to answer, but I knew for a fact that, with the shortage, their reply would be Fuck no, are you fucking nuts?
Bryce gave me a mock-puzzled look. “And you’re telling me this because I’m such a good listener?”
“Sure,” I said then quirked a smile. “That and your experience with organized crime.”
He exhaled a tragic sigh. “I really need to edit my résumé.” His brow creased as he considered the problem.
“I know this isn’t your typical under-the-table deal,” I said, grimacing. “We’re talking theft of critical military equipment, which means there are a shitload of risks associated with it.”
“You’re right about that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’ll be pricey, I’m warning you now, but I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Awesome. Once we know more, we can decide if it’s worth it or not.”
That done, we headed to the war room, where Pellini had moved on from cleaning guns to working on DIRT reports.
“I know our AWOL four are in the Beaulac area,” I said, “and for a host of reasons, it’s past time that we drag their asses home and spoil Xharbek’s plans.”
Pellini looked up from the computer. “Have you narrowed their location down to something more precise than ‘all of Beaulac’?”
“No, but earlier today Idris suggested checking places where there’s been arcane activity.”
He hmmfed through his mustache. “Not sure how much that narrows it down. Around here, that’s like searching a swamp for places that are wet.” He did some computer magic and pulled up a satellite map of Beaulac on the wall screen. “You’ve got the usual suspects—the Spires, the police department. Maybe other places with valves?”
Bryce peered at the map. “Kara, what about the warehouse where you and I first met?”
“That definitely counts as having arcane activity, especially with the valve node in it.” I moved around the table and tapped the spot on the screen. “Plus, Ryan and Zack have both been there.” A little red X appeared over the warehouse, and I shot Pellini a grateful look. “I can’t see them hiding out anywhere near the Spires since there’s so much military activity there, and the area around the PD is a mess and under crazy tight guard. I suppose it’s possible that they’re camping out by another valve, but right now the warehouse is high on the list . . .” My stomach did a little flip, and I pointed to an area on the outskirts of town. “As is the community outreach center.”
“Where you died,” Jill said from the doorway. Her face was calm, but worry and hope shadowed her eyes.
I gave her a slow nod. Technically, I’d died in the demon realm, but I’d received my mortal injury at the outreach center. “I don’t intend to repeat the experience,” I said. “As for the other valves, the nature center is the most likely campout spot.”
“Where Angus McDunn stripped your abilities,” Jill added helpfully.
“I’ve left pieces of me all over town.” I smiled wryly. “And yes, you’re absolutely on the away team for this venture.”
She pursed her lips. “As if you could keep me off it.”
“The force of your personality might have factored into the decision,” I said. “Okay, we have three strong location contenders, and Szerain and Zack are familiar with each of them.”
