Page 76 of Bishop's Flight
Bernard was at the casino,and Mika Arakas was in the chair across from the desk when Carwyn arrived.
“Miguel is out of surgery and still being observed.” Bernard didn’t wait for introductions. “Clarence Johnson has been turned over to local authorities after blubbering about a monster who tried to crush his chest in a hole in the ground.”
Mika turned to Carwyn with an amused look. “What a baffling story.”
“Probably drugs induced.” Carwyn touched his temple. “Maybe sun damage. What did Brigid want to know?”
“She wanted to look at Oleg’s boats.” Mika shrugged. “She seemed to be very interested in the carpet on the houseboat, and then she left.”
Carwyn sat down next to Mika. “And one of your men put a Taser to her head.”
“That was not on my orders.” Mika lifted a single finger. “Do you think I would be so stupid? I know what that kind of electrical jolt would do to a fire vampire. Whoever bought Pyotr off probably wanted him dead and Brigid incapacitated but alive.”
“I agree.” Bernard kept his eyes on Carwyn. “Are we going to have a problem?”
“No,” Carwyn said. “They’re trying to point fingers at Oleg when we already know that Zasha’s people have made inroads into Oleg’s organization.”
Mika narrowed his eyes. “I’d hardly sayinroads.”
“You killed Alina Oorzhak because she compromised multiple guards, and now one of your drivers has been incinerated because he tried to incapacitate my wife. I’d sayinroadsis exactly the right word.”
“I will deal with these… inroads.” Mika had lost his smile. “While you try to find your lost mate.”
Carwyn wore a minute smile. “Do you think I’m worried about Brigid? I’m angry, Mika Arakas, not worried. The stupidest move Oleg’s kin made was when they took my wife.”
“If what I hear about Brigid Connor is correct,” Bernard said, “that woman will destroy the Ankers and Zasha Sokholov from the inside.”
Mika muttered, “Like trying to confine a badger in a barn.”
Carwyn said, “When we have more time for the badger story, I want to hear it, but for now we have an appointment with Gary Preston’s secretary, don’t we?” Carwyn nodded at Mika. “Tell your boss that I want everyone in his organization with ties to the Ankers or Zasha. I want to know what they know, and so does he.” He stood and started toward the door.
“Do not worry, Carwyn ap Bryn.” Mika rose and turned to Carwyn. “They will be dealt with.”
“No.” Carwyn held up a finger. “I want themalive. I’ll question anyone you find, Mika Arakas, but I want them alive.”
Mika smiled, and two daggerlike blades gleamed in his mouth. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Bernard satin the back of the sedan with Carwyn. “Despite your bravado, I am keenly aware you must be worried about your wife and I am very sorry for that.”
“The Ankers play dirty,” Carwyn said. “I can play dirtier. As long as I can feel her” —he rubbed his chest— “I’ll be steady. And I worry less about Lucas knowing she’s with him.”
“How is it?” Bernard glanced at him. “You can feel her, but you don’t know where she is.”
“She’s not touching ground.” He looked at Bernard. “Boats, my friend. Oleg’s boat? Brigid suspected Lucas was being kept on a boat. It’s the easiest way to make sure no earth vampire would be able to sense him.”
“Which is why we couldn’t get his scent,” Bernard said. “You think Preston had a boat? We checked his financials. There was no evidence of a boat.”
“Maybe the secretary knows things that aren’t in the official record,” Carwyn said. “He did have an awfully big garage.”
“And the cars were showing up in Henderson, which is on the way to Lake Las Vegas.”
Their driver pulled up to a generous suburban home off Far Hills Drive in Summerlin. The master-planned community was neatly landscaped with modern desert xeriscaping and brightly lit homes. Moderately luxurious cars lined the driveways, and more than one house had a boat in the driveway.
“Looks like Preston paid his secretary well.” Carwyn peered out of the window. “She knows we’re coming?”
“Yes. She’s expecting Miguel, and I don’t know if anything has been on the news.”
Carwyn looked down at his chino pants and almost subdued Hawaiian shirt. Bernard was wearing a three-piece suit even though the temperature was still in the high eighties. “Think she’ll believe we’re police detectives?”
