Kel-Tec rifle, said Adam, visibly dragging himself into a businesslike manner. Built to fire pistol cartridges out of pistol magazines.
Ben handed it over, and Adam pulled the magazine. Jerking his hand back with a hiss, he dropped it on my counter. Nine millimeter, he said. Silver ammunition. He looked at me. Im pretty sure that was a nine millimeter or a thirty-eight you were holding on Heart.
The topic of my transgression was not dropped, just set aside for business. I wished we could just get it over with.
Nine millimeter, I agreed. She could have shot someone, and theyd have blamed it on the bounty hunter. How likely is it that someone would have done a ballistics test and noticed one of the bullets didnt come from the same gun?
Someone was supposed to die, said Ben. Thats what I think.
Agreed, said Zee from the garage doorway. Samuel moveda little stiff-legged, but he movedso Zee could come into the office.
Ballistics wouldnt have mattered, said Zee. Making one bullet match another is cake if the fae is dealing with silver. Even a few with little magic could handle it. Iron is impossible for most fae to work, lead isnt much better, but silver . . . Silver accepts magic easily and keeps it.
My walking stick had silver on it.
Zee continued speaking. The bullet would take on the appearance of the others. A little more glamour, and the extra bullet disappears. And whoever that was, they werent minor faethey had a fair touch of The HuntThe Wild Hunt.
I dont know what that means. But our fae assassin had been out to kill werewolves. To kill Adam. I needed to find out as much as I could.
In this case, mindless violence, Zee told me. The kind that leaves a man looking at the bodies and wondering why he decided to pull the trigger when he only intended to make a point. If I hadnt been here to counter it . . . He shrugged and looked at Adam. Someone wanted you dead with the blame easily placed, so no one would look too closely.
Adam put the gun down on the counter next to the magazine, grabbed Bens coat, and tossed it on top of them. I havent ticked off the fae recently. Have I?
Zee shook his head. If anything, it goes the other way. It must be an individual. He frowned, and said reluctantly, Someone could have hired her, I suppose.
Ben said, Ive never seen a fae who used modern weaponry. He turned to Adam. I know she was fae and allbut could she be one of the trophy hunters?
Trophy hunters? Zee asked before I could.
David has captured two people and killed a third hunting him this year, Adam said. One was a big-game hunter; one turned out to be a serial killer whod been preying upon marines from the local base and decided to take on bigger prey. And one was a bounty hunterthough theres no bounty on Davids head any more than there is on mine. It looked like he just wanted to try his hand at hunting a werewolf.
David Christiansen? I asked. Christiansen was a mercenary whose small troop specialized in rescuing hostagesId met him once before hed become famous. When he retrieved some kids from a terrorist camp in South America, a photographer got a series of really terrific shots that made Christiansen look heroic and sweet. The photos made national newsand the Marrok chose David to be the first werewolf to admit what he was to the publicand thus the most famous werewolf around.
Yes, Adam said.
The Most Dangerous Game,I murmured. See? An education wasnt wasted on me, no matter what my mother says.
This doesnt feel like that, though, said Adam. This wasnt personal. Heart wasnt hunting me for thrills, or at least not only for thrills. Someone set him up.
And not very well either, I added. He didnt know who you wereand all his producer would have had to do was a simple Internet search for a photo. Youd think someone sending him out after you would make sure he knew who to shoot if you were the target.
Adam tapped his foot. This feels like a professional job. A lot of planning, a lot of work to kill someone in the most public way possible. And, most telling, when it didnt work according to planshe withdrew.
Not someone,I said. You. It makes sense. She didnt want Heart killing you; she wanted to do it herself.
No. It was Ben. I was wrong to suggest a trophy hunter. This didnt have that feel. It wasnt personal. A woman out for bloodassuming fae females are like the rest of the cu
Theres a lady present, growled Adam. Watch your language.
Ben grinned at me. Fine. Assuming fae ladies are like other ladies, this one would have been excited, triumphant over the kill. And enraged when I came along and ruined her fun. She didnt even hesitate when she spotted me. Dropped the gun and ranno fuss, no bother.
Well trained, said Adam. Or just a cool thinker. He looked at me. And while I admit it looks as though I was the target, it could as easily have been Zee or you. Heart had silver bulletsso the assassin used them, too. It doesnt mean she was hunting werewolves, not when we know Heart was.
Tony opened the front door. You okay, Mercy?
Fine, I lied, but I didnt expect anyone here to believe me anyway.
Tony frowned at me, then turned his attention to Adam. You have any enemies we should know about? Sounds like Hearts producer wanted some more publicitybut we wont know for certain until we run her down. He had the right paperwork, other than the small fact that it isnt legitimate. There was a series of victim photos, too. Well look into how she got them when we talk to her.
Internet, said Ben. Theres a website devoted to pictures of dead bodies.
We all looked at him, and he smirked. Hey. Dont look at meits the job. He saw Tonys blank face and continued. Information technologies, ITyou know, computers. At work, when we get bored, we issue challengeslike the person who can come up with the worst website gets taken out to lunch. I got the free lunchthe dead-bodies guy was the runner-up. When I chatted up the bounty hunters people, they showed me the photos of the bodies in the file. The dead-bodies website has a section devoted to animal kills. I recognized one of the photos from that.
You are a sick, sick man, I told him.
Thank you, Ben replied, looking modest.
Someones after you, Tony told Adam.
See, I said. Tony thinks youre the target, too.
Adam shrugged. Ill be careful.
Werewolves are tough, and Adam tougher than mostbut Id seen a lot of them die.
Yeah, well, you keep me on speed dial and dont kill anyone if you can help it. Tony looked at me again. Hey, Mercy. Did you talk to Sylvia? She looked pretty upset when she left. Are they all right? His heart was in his eyes. He was interested in her and had approached her once. Shed told him she didnt date people she worked withand that had been that, as far as she was concerned.
She wasnt happy about Heart pointing a gun at Maia, I told him. But I think she was madder at me than Heart. He didnt bring in a werewolf for her kids to play with.
His face went police-officer blank. What?
Yeah, I said. I dont think shell be coming here to get her car fixed anymore. Gabriels not coming back either.
You did what?
Cut it out, growled Adam. He gestured at Sam. This wolf would never harm a hair on a childs head, and Mercy knew it.
Special circumstances today, I reminded Adam harshlyhow could he have forgotten that we werent dealing with Samuel but with his wolf? She was right to be angry. If Id remembered Sylvia and the girls were going to be here, I wouldnt have brought him.
Were they in any danger? asked Tony.
No, said Adam, and he meant it.
Did Mercy know that?
Yes, Adam said right over the top of my no. Shes just feeling guilty because she thinks she should have told Sylvia anyway.
Tony looked at me. Sylvias not unreasonable. He paused and gave me a little smile. Not really. If you explained
Theyre gone, I told him. Its for the best. Since Ive started running around with the wolvesand fae and vampiresthis is not a safe place anymore.
Is it safe for you? he asked.
Before I had to answer, the door opened one more time and Kelly Heart came in. My office isnt too bigand it was already holding me, Zee, Sam, Adam, Ben, and Tony. Kelly was one and a half persons too many. Sam growled at the bounty hunter, but hed have to go over Zee, Adam, and me to get to himor hop over the counter.
Mr. Heart? I asked.
My camera people tell me that someone borked the cameras in the van. He looked at Ben. Who smirked. Sams growls were getting a little louder.
After a moment, Heart shrugged. Pretty tough to do. It left us with just the data from Joes camera, which ends with Ms. Thompson disarming me. The cameras arent coming out of my salary, anyway. He looked at me. You moved pretty damned fast.
Not a werewolf, I told him in bored tones as I shoved my way past Ben so I had my back to the counter. Not much better, because Sam could just jump on top of it, then over me, but maybe Id slow him down.
I just came to get the gun. He smiled at me. My crew is extremely concerned that we might lose the silver bullets.
Mercy, said Tony. If you are okay, I dont need to know about any gun I might have to include in my report.
Were fine, I told him. Adams here.
Yeah, said Tony wryly after a quick glance at Adam. I think youre safe enough, Mercy. Ill get back to work. He opened the door. You sure you dont want me to talk to Sylvia?
Im sure, I said. This is easier. Better.
All right. He left, and there were still too many people in the room.
So now that the cops are gone, are you going to tell me what this morning was all about? Heart asked. Why someone would get us all the way out here from California to play an elaborate practical joke that could have gotten people killed?
No, said Adam.
Heart took two steps forward and stood over Adam. What did your errand boy go chasing after across the street?
Before I could mention that threatening a werewolf was a little rash, Adam had the bounty hunter pinned against the door, with a forearm across his throat. Heart was taller, bigger, and more obviously muscledbut he wasnt a werewolf.
Not your business, said Adam in a low, hungry voice.
Hes not the enemy, I told Adam. Dont kill him. And, Mr. Heart, if you are going to hunt werewolves, you ought to do your homework. Dont try threatening an Alpha. They dont like it.
Adam increased the pressure against the bounty hunters throat, but Heart, after an abortive effort to break free, quit struggling.
Adam took a step back, opening and closing his hands several timesmaybe to shake off the desire to hit the bounty hunter. When he turned his back on Heart, I think everyone took a relieved breath.
Im as upset as you are, Heart told Adam. Daphne . . . My producer is missing. Shes a good person. Someone gave her that file and had her send me after you. Shes not in her office, shes not answering her phone, and her housekeeper hasnt seen her for three days. And I dont even know where to look.
Adam sighed and stretched his shoulders to relieve the tension. I dont know where she is. I dont know who planned this or whyor even if I was the real target. Give me your card. If I find out something that might help, Ill get in touch.
Is your producer fae? I asked him. Adam put his hand on my shouldera clear signal I should shut up. He didnt want me making Heart curious. I was more worried that he might know something that we neededsomething that might tell us if the intended victim was Adam.
No, Heart said. Why? Do the fae have something to do with it?
Not that we know of, said Adam.
Then why ask about fae?
You sound a little too certain that your producer isnt a fae, observed Ben.
Shes a member of several fae hate groupswhich takes guts in Hollywood todayand likes to rant about how the country is succumbing to the wiles of the Wee Folk.
When did you find out they were sending you here? I asked.
Heart turned to me, his face thoughtful. Yesterday morning. Yes, that means that Daphne hadnt been home for two days before that. He smiled at me. You were supposed to be the Alphas eye candy.
Adam laughed.
What? I asked him. You dont think Id be good eye candy? I looked down at my overalls and grease-stained hands. Id torn another nail to the quick.
Honey is eye candy, said Ben apologetically. Youre . . . just you.
Mine, said Adam, edging between Heart and me. Mine is what she is.
Heart took out another card and gave it to me. Call me if you have any more questions. Or if someone knows something that might help me find Daphne. Shes good people. I dont see her pulling this as a prank or publicity stunt.
Heart gave Adam a nod and left. Ben followed him out the doorand Sam wiggled through before the door closed.
Zee looked at Adam and me. Ill just go keep an eye on Samuel, shall I? That way, if he hunts someone down, I can share in the spoils.
And you can give Heart back his gun, I told him.
Zee grinned cheerfully and produced a hunk of metal that was sort of prettysteel shot with silver. Ill be sure he leaves with it. He shut the door to the garage behind him, leaving me alone with Adam.
Mercy, Adam said. And his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of its case on his belt with an impatient jerk. He glanced at the number, took a deep breath, and answered it.
Hauptman, he grunted.
Adam, said the Marroks easy voice. I need you to locate Mercy and my son.
I know where they are, Adam said, meeting my eyes. No such thing as a private phone conversation with me or any of the wolves around. Adam could have chosen to take the phone call outside, where he could have talked to Bran in private.
There was a little pause.
Ah. Would you be so good as to put one or the other on the phone?
I think, Adam said carefully, that it might be a little precipitous to do that.
Another long pause, and Brans voice was cooler when he spoke. I see. Be very careful here, Adam.