Page 91 of Wicked Deeds

“And have you been talking to anyone from the public links in game?”

“I’ve played a few sessions with someone. I met them in the game. Is there a problem?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure how to tell you this but Lord Usuriel has been in San Francisco.”

The color drained from her face and she shrank back into the chair, her skin looking like chalk against the dark leather. “What does he want?”

I had to avoid telling her Usuriel had asked about her. Sticking to Jack was less likely to completely freak her out. “He got interested in Jack after we left the realm. He found out who we were after, somehow. And I think he sees Jack as a threat because of the demon connection. He’s been looking for him, too. But he hadn’t found him. But today, he sent me a photo of Jack. He said it was taken in New Mexico. Earlier this week.”

“Mexico?”

“New Mexico.” I jerked my head roughly in the direction of the state. I couldn’t expect Gwen to have a solid understanding of American geography. I didn’t know all the counties or whatever they were in England. “It’s two states east from here. Along the border.”

“So Jack’s in the States?”

Apparently it was possible to turn paler than chalk. Or greener, maybe. “Hey, take a breath.”

She ignored me. “He’s in the US?”

“Seems that way. If the photo’s real.”

“Is he coming here?” Her voice was high, too breathy.

“I don’t know. But breathe. This person you’re talking to in the game. When did you meet them?”

“Tuesday. I went to the supply market on that weird desert crossing level and we started chatting.”

“So the day after Meredith ran your DNA?”

“Ye-es. What, you think it’s Jack?”

“I don’t know. Have they told you anything about themselves?” No point asking about what avatar they used. Avatars could resemble anyone or anything.

“Not really. They’re into old sci-fi movies, said they liked to cook and hike. They—he—seemed nice.”

Male, then. Dammit. Though, again, there were gamers who didn’t play their biological sex. “He hasn’t asked to meet?”

“He mentioned hanging out at one of the clubs one night, but nothing definite.”

“If he tries to firm something up, put him off. No meeting him. Not until we know what’s going on.” I sent a message to Maia, asking her to pick us up. Jake replied, reminding me it was Maia’s day off. “Jake’s coming to get us.”

“Where are we going?” Gwen asked.

“To see Cassandra. Maybe Cerridwen can work out what Usuriel’s up to.”

“It sounds like he’s being helpful,” she said tentatively. As though she couldn’t quite believe it.

“Fae don’t just help. Or rarely. So let’s—” I stopped as both of our datapads chimed near identical alarms. I checked mine. “Crap, I forgot you have your follow-up with Meredith today.” I chewed my lip. “Do you want to reschedule?”

“You can talk to Cassandra and Damon while I’m doing whatever needs to be done there, can’t you?”. She held out her arm. “The surgical shield is starting to lift. And it itches. I’m dying to take it off. Or get a new one.”

“How itchy?” I asked. Hopefully it wasn’t another allergy. But surely she’d have mentioned it by now.

“Enough to be annoying. But I feel fine otherwise. Still, Jack can’t know I’d be going to the hospital. Let alone with you.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. But if we took Jake, it should be fine. We could head to Cassandra’s after, or meet her at the Riley campus, which was even more heavily guarded than the house. And I could understand Gwen wanting to know if her arm was healing okay.

“Okay. Hospital, then Cassandra. Let’s go.”

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