Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

he do, wiggle his nose and poof, I’ve got a warrant?”
    “That wouldn’t take thirty minutes. He’s having someone deliver it here.”
    “Huh. I’m starting to like working with Unit Twelve.” They’d paused just inside the
     doors. Bergman reached into her purse and took out a leather folder much like the
     one Lily used for her ID. “Even if it’s just two days’ worth ofnames, it’s going to be a long list. These elves could look like anyone, young or
     old, male or female, right?”
    “Right.” Rule slanted her a smile. “We’ll be able to trim the list by eliminating
     those who’ve had accounts here for several years, but it will still require a lot
     of resources to check out whoever is left. Which is why I like working with your Bureau.
     You have resources.”
    That time she did smile—the quick, hard grin of a hunter with a fresh trail to follow.
    “I think I like you, Special Agent.”
    She snorted and strode over to the nearest desk. “I need to talk to the manager.”
     She slapped her ID down. “Now.”
    They’d follow the money, see where it went…maybe to the third floor of a stucco building
     on the east side of the city.

THIRTY-NINE

    “S O this Benessarai is the one who wants the prototype.” Lily had long since finished
     eating, and she’d sipped all the tea she could stand. She pushed the cup and saucer
     away.
    “She said so, didn’t she?” Drummond snapped. “This is no way to question a witness.
     Make her get to the point.”
    Drummond had pulled himself into his talkative shape a few minutes ago and was pacing
     like a man whose patience was used up.
    She’s not ready yet
, Lily told him.
Don’t distract me.
    She and Alycithin were getting along like gangbusters…if gangbusters meant being terribly
     polite and careful with each word. They had cautiously exchanged some information.
     Alycithin had been embarrassed when Lily told her that Cullen had not refused to sell
     the prototype—that he had never even received an offer. Benessarai had lied to her
     about that. For some reason he wanted to obtain it the hard way, using theft and hostages
     and a complicated plot. Lily thought Alycithin knew very well why he’d taken that
     route, but she’d waved Lily’s question away with a vague comment about it making him
     look more skilled. ButAlycithin had not known about the confrontation at the middle school, so she couldn’t
     tell Lily what had happened there.
    Lily still didn’t understand what the halfling woman wanted from her. Or what she
     was offering in return. “Benessarai is responsible for holding Adam King, although
     Friar’s the one actually doing the job. He’s supposed to be on your side, but he’s
     lied to you, kept information from you, and undermined your mission. And yet you don’t
     think he’ll violate your code.”
    Alycithin grimaced. “Lies, however crude, are not dishonorable.”
    “Just bad form.” In sidhe eyes, it seemed, you kept your word even if it killed you
     and all your family, but deception and trickery were fine. Expected, even. Yet to
     lie outright was on a par with farting loudly in church. “He’ll lose a lot of points
     back home for lying.”
    “That does not mean he will kill a hostage.”
    “Friar would. In a snap.”
    “Too damn right,” Drummond said.
    Alycithin shrugged. “Robert Friar wishes for many things from Benessarai. He will
     not anger him. However, if Jasper Machek did violate his agreement with Friar, who
     is Benessarai’s agent in this, he has forfeited Adam King’s freedom. I will make sure
     Benessarai does not leave him in Robert Friar’s custody, but the best I can do is
     see that Adam King returns with us to our realm, where he will spend the rest of his
     life as a hostage.”
    “Even if Friar violated his end of their deal?”
    “Do you believe Robert Friar will admit to Benessarai that he broke oath?”
    Put that way, no. “Will Benessarai believe Friar over you?”
    She spoke very dryly. “He has so far.”
    “Because you two are rivals.” And a hair away from being enemies outright, Lily thought.
     Benessarai did not trust Alycithin, or claimed he didn’t. He’d set up his own hostage-keeping
     spot elsewhere in the city, though this apartment had originally been intended for
     any hostageseither of them acquired. Lily had the idea that he and Alycithin were barely speaking
     to each other.
    “It is not so simple as that word suggests, but perhaps you