Reporters found me in the lobby. I knew there’d be questions. I’d be answering questions for a long time. If I gave them a few sound bites, maybe they’d leave me alone.
“When you say war, do you mean that literally? Or is it some kind of culture war?” Of course that was the word the press would latch onto. The guy was an American with press credentials from one of the big science magazines.
“Um, yes?” I said. “Both? I can handle a culture war. But I’m pretty sure this is bigger than that.”
“But you don’t know?”
“I know there’s something out there, and it’s not pretty.”
The guy sounded frustrated. “If you don’t know what’s going on why make a big stink about it? You trying to start a panic?”
“It wouldn’t do any good to keep it to myself,” I said.
“But you have to admit the possibility that you may be deluded,” said another reporter, this one British.
Yes. I supposed I did.
“I think we’re done here,” Ben said, and shouldered his way between them and me, guiding me to the side hallway. A few of them followed, still calling out questions, until Ben threw a glare over his shoulder. I wished I could have seen it, because it stopped them.
We reached the shelter of the relatively quiet hallway, where Shumacher and Tyler were waiting.
I winced. “I suppose you saw the speech.”
Shumacher’s lips pressed into a thin, anxious line. “I’d say you were scare mongering if not for what happened to Sergeant Tyler yesterday. Flemming’s vanished again.”
“Yes,” I said flatly.
Tyler had recovered admirably. His gaze was steady, determined, and his body was a wall, standing firm. A well-muscled, intimidating wall. “If you need me, for anything at all, call me.”
And he would come running. I could count on him. “Thank you.”
“You’ve rescued me twice now. I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me,” I said, shaking my head. “We help each other, that’s what friends do.”
“I owe you.”
“Don’t argue,” Ben said near my ear. Right.
“You guys off tomorrow?” I asked.
“Yeah. It’ll be really nice to get back home.” His sigh was heartfelt.
I smiled. “Say hi to Susan for me.”
He ducked his gaze, but not before I caught the gleam in his eyes.
* * *
AFTER DARK, we returned to the house in Mayfair, where Cormac was waiting for us. In any other context, we’d all have a lovely farewell dinner with our hosts. In this case, however, we’d made sure to eat before the gathering.
Marid stood at the front gate, and we lingered. The old vampire leaned on his cane, gazing upward, as if he could see stars.
“When are you heading back home?” I asked, drawing his attention from the sky. “Where is home, by the way?”
He shrugged. “I’m like Mercedes, I don’t have a city of my own. I’m a Master by dint of age, nothing more,” he said. “I’m thinking of moving on, anyway. It’s time to wander a bit.”
“Oh?”