Page 134 of Love & Heart Braking

“I can watch the Cinereses for the next delivery to the Doquus,” Lerome said.

“Tip me off, and I’ll arrange a raid,” Devereaux told him.

My stomach flipped. “Okay, what about the Rippses?” I immediately answered my own question. “Laundering the drug money.”

“The judge let our prosecutor subpoena their accounts after the first Toppling 12 Pillars story.” Devereaux tapped his pen on the coffee table. “It won’t be above book, but I can try to get a copy.”

Lerome opened his laptop. “Don’t worry, I’m on it.”

I watched the griffin. “I’m both concerned and impressed.”

The older man snickered. “You should be. There’s very little I can’t access through the Magi-Web.”

“Which brings us to the Utatios,” Maligni murmured over Lerome’s typing.

Founders and owners of the Magi-Web.

I frowned. “The Boquits too.” How did the Magi-Web and the communications industry fit into a drug ring? “We know that the Utatios have been spying on the public through their Magi-Web and selling private information.”

Gug entered the room again. “Yep, and both of those families are a big part of how the twelve maintain their image and power. Not only do they sell private information, but they also search for secrets and plans and whispers of those who gather against the twelve. That’s why no one’s ever managed to take them down. On the other side of the coin, you’ll see that the online content about the twelve is either positive or designed for publicity. That’s why Nepos Notice doesn’t operate online at all.”

Huh. I didn’t know that. “Who owns the Nepos Notice?”

“A mysterious benefactor,” Gug said too quickly. “The person, or collective, has always remained anonymous for obvious reasons.”

Her tone struck me as odd, and when I shifted my gaze to Devereaux, I caught her quick look at Maligni in my peripheral. They either knew who the benefactor was or they were the benefactors.

Or just Maligni maybe? Either way, I wouldn’t pry.

“Got it,” Lerome announced. “Cerys, can I send to you for printing? Your systems at Yearning Hearts have excellent security. Blaw is a good friend of mine.”

“Oh, really? We love working with him. Sure, send it through.”

Gug sat next to Maligni. “The Blums and Arbintos are left.”

“Takes a lot of electricity to make Shade,” Devereaux said, writing down power source next to Blum. “I can’t figure how the fashion industry is involved.”

We sat for a while.

“Question mark,” he declared. “Before the next meeting I’ll go through the subpoena and try to find where the Shade profits are going.”

Lerome glanced up from his screen. “Everything is in the file I sent to Cerys, including the property leasing contract from the Ventrams and bills the Opifis paid, electricity included.”

“Can you send those last documents to Gug’s email address?” Maligni asked. “I’ll see what I can put together. I often help Gug with research for her stories. Used to anyway.”

The couple exchanged a soft smile.

“Has Soleil already left for the Hucses’ estate?” I asked. When Devereaux nodded, I said, “I’ll try to get a message to her, see if she can’t dig around for evidence on the Hucses’ part. She may be able to shed light on how the Arbintos are linked too.”

“Or Austin. He was at the last fashion show,” Lerome put in.

Maligni looked at me. “Would it be possible for you to take a record charm to the Cinereses?”

Surely they’d have securities against that. The words weren’t easy, but… “I don’t like my chances of getting out alive if I attempt that.”

“I’ll ask a contact of mine to gather more evidence of the Cinereses involvement,” Devereaux said.

Mantel. Would she do that? “I’ll look for any paperwork I can swipe as well,” I added.

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