Page 34 of Visions in Blood
He tsked.“You think?”
His snark surprised me.He tapped on the armrest then reached for the white crystal but stopped, resisting one of his habits.Instead, he shifted it a few inches to the right.“I have to admit, I assumed you’d storm in here, raising holy hell.”
My lips twitched involuntarily.“That had been the plan.”
“Thank you for your restraint.”He picked up his pen, an old-style fountain type, which seemed appropriate for the fine linen stationary he wrote on.It suited him better than the tablet that sat mere inches from him.“If you don’t mind, I need to finish this.”He continued writing as he spoke.“Would you mind making me a cup of espresso?And feel free to get one for yourself.”
Since he asked nicely, I didn’t see a reason to object, though I hadn’t used an espresso machine before.I tested a few knobs, and it didn’t appear too daunting.God knew I’d seen enough of them made.When I set two cups on his desk, he set the letter and its accompanying envelope aside, and went back to staring at me.It was unfortunate I couldn’t read his handwriting upside down.Where exactly did the line between curiosity and nosiness cross?
I sipped the drink and was pleasantly surprised by my first attempt.“Do you think Lorenzo sent those vamps?”
“Yes.”After several seconds, he dropped his gaze and tasted his drink.“But I have no proof at this time.”
A knock at the door, and with a quick nod from Devon, Sergi sauntered in and dropped into the chair next to me.He glanced at the cups of espresso but didn’t say anything.I knew he wanted one, but he’d have to make his own.
“We have it now.”Sergi took out his tablet, and after swiping and punching out something on his keyboard, he continued, “The headless vamp in the alley was a rogue from a small house in the New Orleans area.However, word on the street said he’d been seen with a group of vamps known to be part of Lorenzo’s family.It’s not a solid connection for retaliation, but enough to know who we’re dealing with.”
“How would he know about the necklace?”Devon had turned to stare out his window, the partially opened blinds providing the only light in the room.I wasn’t sure if he was expecting an answer.
Sergi didn’t hesitate to respond.“Did he know Underwood had it at one time, or did Underwood offer it to him for some reason but then couldn’t get his hands on it?”
“Or was it mentioned in a book that Lorenzo has access to?”I couldn’t help but chime in.
The men swiveled their heads toward me in a synchronous movement.
“Why would you ask that?”Sergi stood and moved to the espresso machine.
I glanced at Devon, and he nodded, remembering our conversation from earlier.A discussion that seemed days away after the way the morning had finished.“I found mention of what might be an ancient text in theHouses of the Vampire.It was mentioned in the section about the House Renaud, and the time period is close to the break between the Trelane and Venizi houses.”
Sergi almost spilled his espresso on his way back to the desk.He shot a look at Devon.“Is this true?”
“I wasn’t sure at first, but now that I’ve had time to study the entry, it seems likely.”
“Where is this book?”
“At one time, it was part of the Renaud collection, but that entry was eight centuries ago.If Cressa is correct, and Lorenzo knows about it, it’s possible he either has the book or recently saw it.”
Sergi shook his head, but his expression turned thoughtful.“If Lorenzo learned about it from a book written hundreds of centuries earlier, and this is nothing but conjecture, how would he connect it to Underwood?”
Devon fiddled with his cup.I’d never seen him perplexed, but I’d never seen him strategize before.He’d always had a plan when he’d asked something from me.“I don’t know.Our first problem is that we don’t know what Underwood is doing with Lorenzo.It could be nothing more than a business venture, or maybe Underwood has access to places Lorenzo doesn’t.”
“It might be as simple as Underwood seeing a picture of the necklace, if there is one, then remembering he’d seen it before.I’ll dig deeper on their connection.”Sergi scowled at his own supposition, clearly not happy at not having all the answers.
Devon spun back to the window, his cup of espresso in his hands.After several moments of contemplation, he turned back to the room.“Excellent espresso, Cressa.Thank you.”
The change of subject threw me for a second before I considered this might be his gentle way of dismissing me.Concerned I was going to be asked to leave, I threw out an idea that had poked at me since they’d mentioned Christopher.It wasn’t anything I was keen on, but it seemed an obvious avenue we couldn’t ignore.
“I want to see my mother.”
Their heads turned as one, and I couldn’t help smiling.I’d never seen such a tight-knit group that could mimic their moves with such elegance.
“No.”Sergi folded his arms across his chest.
I’d expected that answer from a security guy, but I focused on Devon.He was the only one that mattered.
“Why?”Devon gave me an opening.
“Isn’t it obvious?She was the one my father gave the necklace to.If Christopher knows about the necklace, it had to have been from my mother, and he probably assumed she still had it tucked away somewhere.He wasn’t there when she gave it back to me, which was the day before I left, and I’d already packed it away with my other stuff.Besides, she’s the only one that can give us a lead on my father.So, two birds.”
