Page 107 of Tin God

Brigid switched to another slide that brought up a picture of the welcome letter Carwyn had found on the boat.

Welcome to Blå Havn, the beginning of a new world.

“Blå Havn.” Brigid flipped through more of the papers in the welcome packet. “Blue Haven. A new world according to Paulson.”

Jennie and Buck were both leaning forward, reading the letter projected on the television.

Brigid continued. “Henri Paulson might be a tech billionaire and a very successful businessman, but he’s also a conspiracy theorist with aspirations of empire.”

She flipped through more of the welcome information that explained to Paulson’s “guests” that they were part of a new world of vampire domination.

“He outlines his plans,” Carwyn said. “Not in detail, but we can read between the lines. Fostering human dictatorships that will give immortals free rein. Dominating shipping and currency trading. Taking control back from the…” Carwyn read off the screen: “‘Irresponsible human element’ that could endanger the most desirable class of vampires.”

“The desirable ones are the rich ones?” Ben asked. “I’m assuming.”

Brigid checked for Jennie’s reaction, but her expression was a blank.

“Blå Havn is only one of the boats we think Paulson has.” She continued with the briefing she’d hastily put together. “And there are about a dozen vampires on it from what Carwyn could tell. All ridiculously wealthy guests with lots of money, lots of connections, and a hunger for…” She brought up the menu page of the welcome packet and let her audience scan it.

She’d been shocked, horrified, and unsurprised by what she’d seen in the files Carwyn had taken from Paulson’s barge. It matched perfectly with what Gavin had told her about the vampire, and in Brigid’s mind, there was no question what role Henri Paulson was playing in the sudden rash of violence that had marred the peace of Alaska.

“Complete live meals,” Ben murmured. “Paulson’s running hunts?”

“Isolated locations. Human and vampire victims.” Brigid flipped to a blurry picture of Zasha. The only definite feature outstanding in the frame was a shock of red hair sticking up from a dark coat. “Remind ya of anyone?”

“Wait,” Buck said. “You think the vampires on that barge, the ones hiding out on Paulson’s ships, are the ones that are killing people with Zasha? Why would they do that if they’re hiding out? That’s dumb as shit.”

“They’re not hiding.” Tenzin stared at Jennie. “Or at least, they aren’t hiding anymore.”

Carwyn watchedher present the mass of information to Buck and Jennie, marveling at a mind that could pull all these disparate threads together and weave a picture of conspiracy that was as grand and twisted as any he’d seen.

Brigid set one of her tablets to the side and pulled up another picture of Henri Paulson on the screen. “Let’s look at Paulson again. For sure, it was his ship, the Blå Havn, that Carwyn boarded. His guests who have menus of people presented to them on a silver platter,” Brigid said. “How long has he been in this area?”

Jennie was silent for a moment while she thought. “He showed up about twenty years ago. He was already rich; he was in computers even back then.”

Brigid nodded and typed out a note on her tablet.

1990s—Paulson in Alaska

Ben sat back and crossed his arms. “Paulson’s a billionaire. According to Gavin, he invested in technology at the end of the 1990s. Now he has fingers in so many pies he’s had to get new fingers.”

Tenzin blinked. “He has extra fingers?”

“It’s a figure of speech,” Ben muttered.

“And he’s been missing for months now,” Jennie added. “Whatever you all may suspect Paulson of, we don’t know he’s not one of Zasha’s victims.”

“Fair enough,” Brigid said. “You’re completely correct.”

Carwyn made a mental note. Jennie was protective of her people, even those who might be on the grey edge of vampire society. It wasn’t a bad thing as long as she could think with a clear head when she saw all the facts.

And as long as she wasn’t a conspiracy theorist herself.

“But therewerereports that Paulson was hosting strange vampires about a month before he went missing.” Buck piped up, shooting a look at his wife. “Not strange as in unusual—Paulson was hosting vampires from out of the area and no one had reported them to Jennie.”

Tenzin stared at Jennie. “Are you the VIC here?”

Jennie frowned. “My name’s Jennie, not?—”

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