Page 51 of Mortal Heart

“Call me Anna,” Arkady chirped. If she had to keep smiling much longer, her face might crack. That made her think of Farrell, whose cheeks had split open when he disgorged the demon horde. She banished the mental image and resisted the urge to look impatiently at Ronan. “I’m sure you have questions about the Chamber. Anything I can’t answer, I’ll find out and get back to you.”

“I appreciate that.” McMahon skimmed the brochure. “As a medical clinic, our needs are a bit different from most of your members.”

“We have quite a few clinics on our roster,” Arkady countered. “And yes your needs are different than a retail store or restaurant, but there’s still a lot of overlap—not to mention all the ways the Chamber can help your clinic take its success to the next level.” She had to fight not to make a face at that last part. It was verbatim what the Chamber rep had said to Alice and herself about their PI business. It was such a corny, clichéd line that she’d have rolled her eyes at herself if it wouldn’t have given away their ruse.

The doctor closed the brochure, tapped it on the edge of her desk, and leaned back in her chair. “You know, I’m good friends with Bob Thornton. He’s been after me for years to join. I’m surprised he’d send you to see me. We’re having lunch on Saturday.”

Arkady didn’t recall seeing the name Thornton on the Chamber’s website.Could this be a test?If so, what could have possibly tipped McMahon off that she and Ronan weren’t who they claimed to be?Whatever you’re doing, hurry the hell up, she willed Ronan, and tried not to grit her teeth.

“We didn’t intend to step on anyone’s toes,” she said, and feigned a sheepish smile. “We recently noticed how many local clinics aren’t members and decided to prioritize visiting them this month.”

“But youdoknow Bob?” McMahon persisted. “VP of Economic Development?”

Yep, it’s absolutely a test. Something had tipped McMahon off. Nothing to do but bluff. “I don’t know a Bob Thornton,” Arkady said firmly. “Are you sure you’re thinking of the Regional Chamber? He might be with a different organization.”

“We’re journalists,” Ronan said.

She turned to stare at him. He’d affected the same semi-slouched posture she’d seen in Carly’s backyard, with his legs stretched out in front of the expensive leather chair across from Dr. McMahon. And he was smirking.

She’d thought her smirk was good—and itwas, as it had started numerous fights and been known to push even the most even-keeled people over the edge. But Ronan’s was freakingoutstanding. McMahon’s face had already reddened. What the hell was he doing?

“What do you want?” McMahon demanded, rising from her chair. “How dare you misrepresent yourselves to get into my office?”

The more relaxed Ronan seemed, the angrier McMahon got. He’d gone completely off-script at this point. Arkady figured he must be trying to get a rise out of the doctor, but why? To get her to lash out in some way that proved she was a demon? She stared pointedly at him, but he ignored her.

“Don’t act like you don’t know why we’re here, Dr. McMahon,” Ronan countered. “We got a tip. Averydetailed tip.”

McMahon blanched. “I—I have no idea what you’re talking about. Get out.”

Whatever he was up to, he’d apparently hit pay dirt. She figured she might as well go along with it. “We’d like to get your side of the story, Dr. McMahon.” She made a show of settling back into her chair, but she was ready in case McMahon decided to go full-on demon. “Better to get out in front of it, you know? Whoever’s story comes out first usually wins the day when it’s all said and done.”

“I have nothing to say to you.” McMahon had gone from flushed to pale and back to flushed. “You got in here under false pretenses. Who do you work for? I’ll sue.”

“Then we’ll have to turn over everything we know to the police,” Ronan said easily. “Once we finish digging, that is.”

“Digging?What do you—” McMahon cut herself off. “Get out of my officeright now.”

“Happy to.” Ronan rose.

Arkady did the same and picked up her briefcase. She also took back the brochure, since it would have their fingerprints on it and she had no idea what kind of friends McMahon might have.

“Best of luck keeping this under wraps,” Ronan added, backing up toward the door.

“I have nothing to hide,” McMahon insisted. Her emphatic statement was somewhat undermined by the way her hands trembled at her sides.

Ronan did…something…just then. Power flared, the scent of salty sea air swirled, and for a moment Arkady saw a flash of the same aura she’d seen at Nyx. Then it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only the smell of the sea.

“We’ll see ourselves out,” Ronan said, his tone curt. He gestured at the corridor. “After you, Anna.”

McMahon came around her desk as they stepped into the hall. As upset as she was, she shut the door quietly after them rather than slam it.Probably doesn’t want to attract anyone’s attention, Arkady reasoned.

And neither did she, so she didn’t get in Ronan’s face until they’d exited the clinic, walked a block, and gotten into her SUV, which she’d parked on a side street away from the clinic’s exterior cameras.

“We had a plan,” she snapped as he closed his door. She tossed her briefcase into the back seat and glared at him. “What the hell was all that?”

“We followed the plan,” he countered with infuriating calm. “Right up to the point she sniffed you out, and then we needed a new plan.”

“She could have just as easily sniffedyouout, you conceited ape,” she shot back. “I did a perfect Chamber rep act. I was so freaking good at it, I talkedmyselfinto joining. You probably looked shady as shit, Mr. Silent and Broody. Whoever heard of abroodyChamber rep?”

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