Blood Lines

the Solicitor General's library before Cantree went in said she'd meet him at the ceremony."
    'Yes."
    'And Tawfik himself told you it was essential for the gathered acolytes to be sworn to his god as soon as possible."
    'Yes."
    'Well, since we know that his first group of acolytes have been pulled-at the very least-from the upper ranks of both the metro and the provincial police forces, we'd better stop him before this ceremony happens."
    'How do we know it hasn't?"
    Vicki snorted. "You tell me. I've been a little out of touch the last couple of days."
    'The party was Saturday. Tawfik spoke with me Sunday." Had it only been two days ago? "Monday…" Was that why he hadn't come, Henry wondered. Were they already too late?
    'For what it's worth," Celluci offered, "Cantree was home last night."
    'How do you know?"
    'I watched his house for a while."
    'Why?"

    'I thought I might ask him what the fuck was going on."
    'Did you?"
    'No."
    'Why not?"
    'Because I remembered what happened to Trembley and it occurred to me that lying low might be a healthier plan. All right?" Celluci threw the question at Henry, then followed it with, "Might have been more useful if you'd done as thorough an interrogation on Tawfik during your little stroll. Or were you too busy being creatures of the night together that you forgot the's.o.b.''sa killer?"
    "I am as immortal as you are, Richmond. I will never grow old. I will never die. I will never leave you."
    Celluci read the thought off Henry's face. He flung himself up out of the chair and across the living room. "You bastard, that's exactly what happened, isn't it?"
    Henry met the rush with an outstretched hand and Celluci rocked to a halt as though he'd hit a wall. Just for a moment, Henry wanted to make him understand. And then the moment passed. "Never presume," he said, catching the other man's gaze and holding it, forcing him to stand and listen, "that you know what I do or why I do it. I am not as you are. The laws I follow are not the laws that master you. We are very, very different you and I; in two things only we are the same. Whatever Tawfik and I spoke of, whatever my reaction to him, all that has changed. He has hurt one of mine and I will not have that."
    As Henry dropped his hand, Celluci staggered forward. He had the strange feeling he would have fallen had Henry not continued to hold his gaze until he steadied. "And the second thing," he demanded, stepping back and shoving the curl of hair back off his face.
    'Please, Detective," Henry purposefully lowered his lids, allowing Celluci to look away if he chose, "do not attempt to convince me you have no knowledge of the other… interest we share."
    Brown eyes stared into hazel for a moment. Finally, Celluci sighed.
    'If you two have finished," Vicki snapped, leaning back against the windows and crossing her arms, "can we get on with it?"
    'Finished?" Celluci snorted quietly, turning and walking back to the couch. "Something tells me we're just getting started." He pushed the pizza box out of the way and dropped down, the couch springs protesting the sudden weight.
    "Look, ceremonies don't usually happen on a whim. Most religions have schedules to keep."
    Vicki nodded. "Good point. Henry?"
    'He said, soon . Nothing more definite."
    'Damnit, there's got to be somewhere we can find out about ancient Egyptian religious rituals." Her eyes narrowed.
    "Mike…"
    'Uh-uh. The closest I ever got to ancient Egypt was doing a little overtime at the Tut exhibit. And that was years ago."
    'Oh, you've been a lot closer to ancient Egypt than that." Vicki smiled. She never thought she'd be grateful he'd cultivated the woman. "What about your friend, Dr. Shane?"
    'Rachel?"
    'If there's anyone left in the city who'll know," Vicki pointed out, handing him the phone. "It's her."

    Celluci shook his head. "I don't want to bring more civilians into this. The danger…"
    'Tawfik is at his weakest now," Henry said quietly. "If Dr. Shane can't help us stop him before he completes his power base, then you won't be able to keep her safe, not from what's likely to come."
    'Rachel? It's Mike. Mike Celluci. I need to ask you a couple of questions."
    She laughed and doodled a sarcophagus in the margin of the acquisition report she'd been spending the evening with.
    "What? Don't I even get dinner this time?"
    'Sorry, but no."
    Something in his voice drew her up straight in the chair. "It's important?"
    'Very. Did the ancient Egyptians have specific dates