“I certainly helped with that,” Vadim admitted.
“Then how did Brad break
“That’s a good question. I have to assume that whoever we are dealing with has stronger magic than I do.”
“I find that difficult to believe.”
Vadim shrugged. “Why? I’m not invincible.”
“But you are connected to several of the most powerful Fae bloodlines in Otherworld.”
“Then this Adam, or whatever we want to call him, is obviously even more powerful and was able to override my magic and wake Brad up.”
Liz sat back and stared at Vadim while the silver lines of her Fae-Web writhed around like a tornado.
He raised an eyebrow. “What is it, Liz? Do you think I broke the spell I placed on Brad, and caused him to leap to his death?”
“No, but—”
“Why would I do that?”
“This isn’t getting us anywhere.” Ella interrupted the staring contest that seemed to be going on between her mate and her best friend. “Can we focus on what we do know? What about the untouched nature of Brad’s face? Were the other victims’ the same?”
“I don’t know.” Liz turned to look at Ella. “I’m still attempting to download the pictures through that new Fae interface. It doesn’t seem to work, which means I might have to go back to Otherworld to get the photos of the previous victims.”
Ella shuddered. The last time she’d visited the records office at Merton, the Siren had tried to wipe her mind clean of all thought and bring her his version of empath peace, which meant her death and an increase in his powers. “Can’t we just request them?”
“We can, but it will take a while. They’re shorthanded over there.”
“And I bet they blame me for that too,” Ella groused. “Anyone would think they’d be glad not to have a crazed empath in their midst.”
“They
“Killing empaths.”
Feehan cleared his throat. “Speaking of going off topic, Ella, shall we focus on the matter in hand? Liz, you can request the photos by internal mail or send Sam for them, as long as it’s quick. Rich has been working on the security tapes and has isolated the time period we need. Do we all want to take a look?”
Rich opened his laptop and clicked his mouse. They all gathered round.
“Here’s the hallway in front of Brad’s room. The camera is facing that direction, so we should get some good shots of everyone who is going in and out of that door. I’ve gone back a few hours to where his grandfather, the ex-senator, came to visit and set his guard outside the door. This is just before they leave.”
Ella pointed at the screen. “There’s me and Morosov arriving and being told to take a hike.” She inclined her head an inch. “Wow. My ass looks huge in those jeans. Why didn’t anyone tell me? You look good in that suit though, Morosov.”
“Thanks.” Vadim was close behind her. “Delia looks fine here. Let’s watch her when the senator leaves and see if anyone interacts with her.”
There was silence as they all stared at the screen. Vadim’s breath curled around Ella’s throat and she inhaled his fancy aftershave and unique scent. The senator emerged looking suitably anxious, shook Delia by the hand and left. His security guard fell into step behind him, and they headed for the bank of elevators.
Nothing happened for a while. Staff walked by, some of them stopping to chat with Delia but most of them intent on their own tasks. Ella stifled a yawn. Behind her, Vadim shifted his stance and made it remarkably easy for her to lean back against him.
“Look.” Liz pointed at the screen. “There’s someone in a white coat. It’s a shame we can only see the back of his head. Why didn’t he have the decency to approach from the other side and make our lives easier?”
The man paused in front of Delia for a moment and then turned right, into Brad’s room. Just before he opened the door, he lifted his head and smiled.
“Holy shit!” Sam said. “It’s
“Don’t be fucking ridiculous, it can’t be Morosov!” Ella snapped.
“It sure looks like him,” Rich said. Sam nodded eagerly.
“But why the fuck would Morosov do that?”
“Just hold on a minute! Everyone shut up, and less of the profanity, please, Ella!” Feehan stood and they stopped talking. “There’s an obvious place to start with this. Vadim, is that you?”
“No, it isn’t.”
“He could be lying,” Sam suggested.
Ella scowled at him. “It isn’t him, you dumbass. Look at the time on the screen. We’d left the hospital by then!”
“And you say you were with Vadim until you returned to the hospital?”
“Yes, we were catching an early dinner.” She could feel her cheeks going red. “At Morosov’s hotel.”
“Well, that’s easy enough to confirm.” Feehan said. “The hotel will have a record of your check in the dining room.”
“We got room service. It was quicker.” She glanced over at Vadim to help her out, but he was still staring at the screen, a frown between his eyes. Why the hell was she the one who had to defend him? “We didn’t have a lot of time.”
“Yeah, right,” Liz murmured.
“Anyway, can you all please try and remember that we are dealing with a killer who can switch faces? Isn’t it obvious that he did this to cause us to panic?”
“But Vadim still has his face.” Sam objected.
“Well, maybe our perp can replicate someone’s features as well as steal the whole thing! I don’t know. I only know that Morosov was with me the whole time.” She glared at Feehan. “I’ll take a lie-detector test, if you don’t believe me.”
Feehan made soothing gestures with his hand. “That’s hardly necessary. We are dealing with a creature that can manipulate faces, and what you suggest is highly likely.”
“Did anyone else get the sense that he did it deliberately?” Liz asked.
“Did what?”
“Looked right at the security camera.” She gestured at Rich. “Can you show that bit again? It’s as if he wanted us to see him.”
“Well, if he’s wearing Vad’s face, he probably did.” Sam agreed. “That’s, like, weird, dude.”
Rich backed up the tape and slowed it down. Ella frowned as the doctor touched Delia’s cheek.
“That’s when he puts her under.”
“Agreed.” Feehan said. “She doesn’t protest in any way when he goes into Brad’s room, does she?”
In the next frame the doctor turned to look at the camera and Rich paused the image.
“He does look like Vadim, but there are some subtle differences,” Liz conceded. “He’s younger. It’s as if someone took a picture of him ten years ago and used that.” She turned away from the screen. “Do you have any relatives who bear a striking resemblance to you?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Are you sure?”
Vadim shrugged, the epitome of cool unconcern. “I haven’t been back to Otherworld for several years. I suppose there might be someone who has grown up to look like me.”
Ella glanced at her partner. Despite his tranquil reply, he was not happy at all. Even worse, she was pretty
