Page 43 of Henri's Little One
The Council Alpha’s Households
Brooklyn and Manhattan
The Alpha saw that Martin had finished his conversation with Regis. “Alpha, we have to begin with Henri’s household.” Martin took out a notebook.
“We have to make a show of questioning all of the households but there were no leaks until Alexei arrived. It’s either one of his or one of mine, but we’ll start with Henri and play their game. No one says a word about the questioning of the households until we’re done with everyone. Until then our households are under lock down.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Armand turned to Sean. “First, we’ll go to Henri’s. Baby, be prepared to use The Voice.” It took about twenty minutes in traffic to get back uptown. Armand used that time to discuss with Sean, Rene and Martin how this would go.
The Alpha was the first to arrive at Henri’s, as if he were going to the party. He instructed Aline to bring up the entire household, including half-day maids and temporary help, and to set up four chairs. Everyone in the house was loup garou or mated to one and belonged to one of Henri’s packs. Initially, he called each of the Alphas and told them to make sure their entire household stayed home for the rest of the day.
Rémy arrived after Armand, then Marc, Gabriel, Alexei, Etienne, Julien, and finally Henri. The Alpha bade them leave their Betas and drivers outside, then asked them to sit. “This isn’t going to be a celebration. We have a mole. Chernof and his Betas were at the courthouse and followed our caravan, turning off at Fiftieth Street. I assume he’s at the Waldorf. That’s where he usually stays when he hits New York. He knew we were at the courthouse and when we would be there. As I said, we have a traitor in our midst. Today we will put our households, including you, to the question and continue until we have found the traitor. We may have more than one. For our sake, I hope not. Sean will use The Voice, if necessary, to compel the individuals to speak. Vitas will use his gift to see if they are truthful. We will start with the Alphas that are present, their Mates, and then Henri’s Betas.”
The Alpha sat in the first of the ring of chairs, followed by Sean, then Henri and Vitas. Vitas heard Armand say the he and Sean must question every Alpha and Alpha Mate. They were all determined all to be loyal.
Next, Armand put Henri’s four Betas to the question. The first two were unquestionably loyal, and then Armand had Sean question the new ones with his Voice. “Have you had any dealings with the Russian First? You must answer this question, and Vitas will determine the truth of your answer.”
“I’ve never met the man. I’m not one of the Russian émigrés.” Valery answered easily. Mikhail was next.
“I was Russian. My Alpha perished in one of Alpha Chernof’s slaughters. He was part human. I am full loup garou, but I was sickened by what I saw. I intended to inform Alpha Giraud as soon as he had a free moment. I waited because this is something you can only bring to a council Alpha. I planned to tell Alpha Giraud what Chernof was doing as soon as he arrived in Alaska. I couldn’t trust information like this to the telephone. The delay in telling him my story came because of the mating.” Mikhail’s voice rose with conviction. “Alpha, he’s killing anyone with human blood, but I remember what others do not. Chernof is part human himself. Yes, I have met the man, even spoken to him. But I would never betray my new Alpha or my new country. That man is no Alpha, he is scum.” Mikhail swore. Vitas nodded. After Henri’s Betas were cleared, he questioned Bertrand and Aline. They also knew nothing.
Armand had Sean question Henri’s household. He started with Kristina. She answered truthfully, “I conspired with Alpha Chernof until I arrived in America and was told the truth of what he was. I am a young loup garou of only twenty-five years and was easily fooled by the honor of a position in the household of that man who calls himself an Alpha. I’m ambitious and hoped to rise to the position of cook and housekeeper for which I trained in Chernof’s household. However, like him, the housekeeper and factotum run a sloppy operation. Now, that position and my hopes for promotion are lost to me. I have not spoken to him or his people, nor has anyone contacted me from Russia since the night you caught me in Alaska. I expect that if Alpha Chernof is in New York, he will attempt to call me for a report. What do I do?”
“You answer no calls nor do you leave the house. Stay with Aline by your side at all times, so you will come under no suspicion. Aline, since like all of Alpha Giraud’s people, she has both a television and a bath in her suite, lock her in at night,” The Alpha ordered. “I know that Henri has already ordered this, but now know that he is backed up by me. We must take no chances. Who is the traitor?”
She shook her head. “I know he has an informant, but I’m sorry, Alpha. I don’t know who it is or from which household he came. I only know he gave very detailed reports, so he had to come from a council Alpha’s circle. I heard the reports while I cleaned Alpha Chernof’s study. He spoke with his Betas as if I wasn’t there. They tried to talk him out of his excesses and mitigate the damage he ordered without outright defiance, but they had to go along or die. I thought they were disloyal to a great man. I now see how very wrong I was.”
Vitas lifted his head. “Everything she said is true. She is now fanatically loyal to Alpha Giraud for not ordering her death.”
The Alpha and Henri both nodded. “Next…”
It took well over an hour, but Henri’s entire household was questioned and dismissed. The mole wasn’t here. The Alpha rose and addressed Henri, “We move to Julien’s. Julien and Richard will follow us over with their Betas and driver in their own limousine. Sean and I will drive with you and your full complement of Betas in a Navigator to our rear since they are cleared of any wrongdoing. Martin, Rene, and Pierre will travel with us.”
Henri and Vitas climbed into The Alpha’s limousine with Armand, Sean, Martin, Rene, and Pierre.
“Sean and Vitas, you must clear Pierre, Martin, and Rene while we are here in the limo.”
Sean put all three of them to the question, Vitas nodded, and all three were cleared. And so it went, for the rest of the day. Alexei’s household received extra scrutiny, but Alexei understood. Once he, Etienne, and Julien’s staff were cleared they were instructed to gather at Henri’s and act like the party had begun.
None of Gabriel, Marc, or Rémy’s people was guilty. They returned to Henri’s. The Alpha spoke. “It is as I feared. The leak had to be either in my household or Alexei’s, and Alexei’s has been cleared.” He clenched his fist, a growl rumbling in his chest. “The others have gone back to Henri’s. We must return home. Henri and Vitas you are still with us. We have all but one Beta from each household in the Navigators behind us. Martin, call the Navigators. Tell the Betas to surround the house. I will not have the traitor get away.”
I will rip the traitor’s throat out.
§ § §
Armand’s Townhouse
Washington Square
Hughes Barnaby Caron had just finished his conversation with Alpha Chernof as The Alpha returned to the house. Pierre came downstairs. “The Alpha has asked that we all gather in the library to toast Alpha Giraud and Alpha Mate Vitas.”
“I don’t know them. I have some work to finish, surely The Alpha won’t mind if I don’t say hello.” Hughes stiffened, and a bead of sweat rolled down his armpit.
“From The Alpha, a request is an order. I’ll expect you in the library momentarily.” Pierre walked up the kitchen stairs.
He knows. I need to get out of here now.Hughes opened the basement door and ran into an unfamiliar Beta.
