Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

"Not related by birth, but certainly connected."

"Connected how, then?"

"I think it very likely the shooter, at least, is a clone."

I stared at him. "They can't make clones - not ones that survive to adulthood, anyway."

"It's possible someone has, because your shooter is not the only dead person in recent weeks to resemble Gautier. And Gautier himself resembles a man who died some years ago. Plus, we discovered a lot of growth accelerant in the shooter's remains."

"What about DNA?"

"We haven't tested any against Gautier's yet."

"Why not?"

"Because we don't want him suspicious. We plan on taking some samples for testing during his regular physical."

Which was due in the next day or so, if I remembered correctly. "I guess you haven't talked to him, then?"

"No. At this stage, we're merely watching him. We're hoping he'll lead us to whoever is behind all this."

"That's a big risk, isn't it? What if he gets suspicious and runs?" The last thing we needed was Gautier off the leash. Just the thought sent a shiver down my spine

"If he runs, he'll be killed."

Somehow, I didn't think it would be that simple. "So why does accelerant imply cloning?"

"Accelerant - at least in the tests currently being done on animals - is used to fast-track growth so the scientists can see what problems the clone might have when it reaches middle years."

"Where are the animal rights activists on that one?" I muttered. "Is there any evidence of accelerant in Gautier's blood?"

"None at all - it would have been picked up in the six-month physicals."

So, he was either who he said he was, and the clones a mere coincidence, or he was somehow the source of the clones. Because if the dead man Gautier resembled was truly dead rather than vampire dead, then surely he couldn't be the source of Gautier and the others. "Do you think Moneisha is behind the clones?"

"We doubt it. It hasn't the facilities as far as we know."

"But Rhoan was investigating it?"

"No, he was checking a report that prostitutes were regularly disappearing from the St. Kilda district, and reappearing a week or so later, totally disoriented and having no idea where they had been."

"Human or nonhuman pros?"

"Nonhuman."

"If someone is trying to clone, maybe they need DNA samples to play with."

"Very likely."

His expression was that of a teacher pleased with the progress of a difficult student, and that irritated. Yet until I'd actually gotten Rhoan out, I'd have to put up with such expressions. And after all, time would tell which of us was going to win this particular battle

Still, I felt an insane urge to irritate him back. "There's something about the attack I should tell you - I didn't actually kill the shooter. Quinn O'Conor did."

"I was wondering when you'd get around to telling me that."

I raised my eyebrows. "You knew about Quinn?"

He nodded. "I saw the security tapes."