Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

which happens to be at the apartment. I can't tell you how much I crave a shower. I'm sticky. Are you dodging my question about your father?"
    "I spoke with him about the Chimei, of course. Also, Sam made a suggestion about my mantles that may be valuable, but he doesn't... It's like talking to a meteorologist who understands weather theoretically, but has never experienced snow. His insights are sound but limited. I wanted to talk to my father about Sam's suggestion."
    "Which so far you haven't repeated to me."
    "I lack words. If I understood Sam correctly, it has to do with... a way of listening. Or experiencing. I also spoke with the Rhej. The memories go back a long ways. I'd hoped there might be something in them about the Chimei, but apparently their race fought in a different corner of the Great War than we did. She couldn't locate anything relevant."
    "Pity. She wouldn't have been bound by the restrictions Grandmother and Sam have. And me," she added, though it pissed her off to have to do that. "Ruben's coming in tonight. Are you going to fill him in on the Chimei?"
    "I haven't decided yet. I considered asking your grandmother or Sam for advice, but on reflection decided that was likely to increase the weight on the treaty, if you see what I mean."
    "Not really."
    "Sam said that indirect actions have a cumulative effect on the treaty which can, potentially, break it. It seems likely that the more closely those bound by the treaty participate in an action - the more their words or acts affect or precipitate someone else's action - the greater the chance that the treaty will be broken. Asking Sam's advice would tie my decision to involve Ruben - and therefore, the government - more closely to Sam."
    She drummed the steering wheel with her fingers. "I almost understood that. You know what I want."
    "And that will factor in my decision."
    "Um... I just realized that I'm one of the ones affected by the treaty, so I must affect the treaty, too, so my urging you to do it my way might add to that weight you mentioned."
    "That had occurred to me."
    "Shutting up now."
    "You don't have to go that far."
    She smiled as she turned into the parking garage beneath the apartment building. "I might as well. I'm home, or as good as. You going to head back soon? I was hoping you'd get here in time for a kiss-and-run."
    "I'll head up the mountain first and talk to Toby. It won't take too long if I go four-footed. Who's running?"
    "Me." Automatically she checked for anything out of place near her parking spot. Everything looked normal - no unfamiliar vehicles or odd shadows, nothing that didn't belong. "I've got a meet at seven-thirty. With luck I can shower and change and eat before I go, assuming Harry hasn't eaten all the ham."
    "There was plenty left this morning. Is this the possible lead you mentioned earlier?"
    "No, that hasn't panned out yet. The meet's with Cody. Deputy Beck," she added as she pulled into her spot and shut off the car.
    "I remember the name. He has a lead?"
    "He's got an informant who claims to know something about an Asian dude who's been doing some 'really scary shit.' I'm not optimistic. Seems like our lovebirds wouldn't leave anyone wandering loose who knew about their scary shit. But Cody says this snitch is usually on the money, so it's worth following up."
    "Hmm. I'd feel better if you waited so I could go with you."
    She removed the phone from its holder. "If you get here in time, fine, you can tag along. Otherwise, I'll see you when I get back. 'Bye, now."
    Lily barely caught his "take care" before disconnecting. She slid the phone in her pocket, took off the headset and left it on the seat, grabbed her laptop, purse, and jacket, and got out of the car. A click locked the door. She turned -
    "Miss Yu?"
    The voice came from her left. She spun, grabbing her weapon.
     
    Rule frowned at the phone in his hand.
    "Problems?" his father said, strolling into the sprawling great room that comprised most of the lower level of his house.
    "Horns of a dilemma," Rule murmured, putting the phone in his pocket. "I need to talk to Toby. I should have leveled with him before he left for the campout. I was wrong to put off letting him know about Cullen and the fire."
    Isen nodded thoughtfully. "Did you notice that I didn't tell you that earlier, though it was painfully obvious? I cleverly waited for you to figure it out yourself."
    Rule's grin was fleeting. "I did, yes."
    "What's the 'but' that makes this a