Dark Side of the Moon (Dark-Hunter 9)

Her heart heavy, she looked over at Otto. "Looks like I'm going to ruin your day, Big Boy. I choose to live my crappy life a little longer."

"Damn." Otto let out a long-suffering sigh.

Leo appeared relieved. "Welcome aboard."

Funny, she didn't feel welcomed. She felt ill. A condition that wasn't improved when Leo paused and said, "Oh, and one more thing."

This she couldn't wait for.

"As Squires, we're all answerable to the Dark-Hunters. To the men and women like Ravyn and in particular to their leader, Acheron. In essence, we're their servants who help them and who guard them from the public."

She widened her eyes in feigned happiness. "Oh gee, golly, goodie, Mr. Leo! Can I have my eyes gouged out, too?"

Otto actually laughed. "You know, I think I'm really going to like you."

Well, at least the pit viper thought she was amusing. Leo, on the other hand, looked less than amused as he shook his head at Kyl and Jessica.

Sobering, Susan picked up her folder and addressed her biggest concern now that certain death at Otto's hands had been avoided. "So what happens to me now? How are you going to hide me while I'm wanted by the cops?"

"We'll worry about that," Jessica said. "The police are the least of our problems. It's who's pulling their chains that concerns us."

"The commissioner?" Susan suggested.

Kyl rolled his eyes. "Think outside human parameters."

She gave him a droll stare. "Yeah, but if there's a cover-up, someone in the police department is helping out, right?"

"Yes," Leo said in a strained tone, "but right now that's not a big deal. What we need to know is who's targeting us. If they're able to take out a Dark-Hunter, then we're nothing but fodder to them."

"Speak for yourself," Jessica said smugly. "I assure you, I'm not at the bottom of this food chain."

Otto snorted at her bravado. "Knock it off, Jess. When Kyl and I were in New Orleans a year ago, there was a major Daimon uprising led by a Spathi named Stryker."

Susan frowned at the unfamiliar term. "Spathi?"

"A special warrior class of Daimons who are old," Kyl said. "Really, really old. They're a lot stronger than the typical Daimon who roams around looking for an easy target to suck dry. "

"Yeah," Otto agreed. "These usually have a serious ax to grind against the good guys and humans. Last year, we lost a lot of Dark-Hunters in Northern Mississippi and New Orleans to them. The last thing I want to do is lose any more."

Kyl turned toward Otto. "You think we should call Kyros or Rafael and see if they can help us. They got a lot closer to the Spathis than anyone else... and unlike Danger, Euphemia, Marco, and the others, they actually survived the encounter. Maybe they can remember something that could help expose a weakness we could exploit. "

Otto nodded. "Good idea."

"I'll ring them," Jessica volunteered.

"And I'll call Kyrian," Kyl said. "Any of you know where he is at present?"

Otto answered, "He never left New Orleans. None of the Dark-Hunters, current or former, evacuated for Katrina. They got their families out, but they stayed behind to help. Last I heard, even Amanda and the kids were back. "

"Cool. I'll buzz him then and see if he knows anything more concrete about Stryker or the others."

"What about Ash?" Leo asked.

Jessica shook her head. "He's been MIA for the last few days now. Last I heard, he was in Australia anyway. "

You know, Susan thought wryly, it would really help if I bad a clue as to who and what they were talking about. But they were so absorbed and earnest, she didn't want to interrupt them. Besides, what they were discussing seemed to be far more important than her ignorance and no doubt, if she lived, she'd begin to understand all of it soon enough.

Leo let out a frustrated breath as if he was way too tired. He turned toward Susan. "By the way, were you able to find anything out about Dark Angel before all this went down?"

"Yes. She's a snotty little booger."

Leo looked ill at her description. "Oh gawd, it is Erika."

Otto frowned. "What are you talking about now?"

Leo let out another weary sigh. "Someone local has been Hogging that she works for an immortal shapeshifting warrior who hunts vampires. I had Sue check her out."

Otto looked even more perplexed. "Erika's not a Squire."

"Not technically," Leo said, "but while her father's off on his honeymoon, she's subbing for him and running errands for Ravyn."

"Well, if you really think it's Erika then why didn't you have Tad run a trace on the blog?"

Leo cocked his head in an offended manner. "Because that would involve me actually talking to Tad now, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, and?"

Clearing his throat, Leo became sullen. In a low, almost embarrassed tone, he said, "I owe him money."

Otto gave him a droll stare. "What has that got to do with anything?"

Leo narrowed his eyes. "I owe him a lot of money."

"Good God, Leo," Kyl said angrily, "given how much you have, how much could you be into him for?"

"Everything, and I mean everything. Hell, I even owe him my Porsche."

Otto's jaw went slack. "You jeopardized us because of debt? You've got to be kidding me."

"Do I look like I'm joking?" No, he looked completely pissed. "Besides, it's not my fault. He cheats at cards."

Kyl made a disgusted noise. "You've been playing poker with him? Are you insane? That man's brain functions like a computer."

"Now you tell me."

Otto disregarded his outburst. "And because of that you put a civilian on a case that should have been turned over to one of us? Jeez, man, what were you thinking?"