“What’s that?” Ella turned to face the administrator, who’d taken up her original position behind her desk.
“Brad Dailey’s grandfather is a retired senator for the state of Michigan.”
“So?”
“His father has political aspirations too. The family has requested that the information about Brad is kept between the hospital, the Dailey family and the SBLE.”
Ella cast a sidelong look at Vadim. “Like we’d gossip to the media about a case.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t, Ms. Walsh, but we’d just like to make certain we’re all on the same page. Brad’s parents are flying in later today to see him.”
“Do you think that’s advisable?” Feehan followed Vadim to the door. “If he’s obviously unstable, that might complicate things.”
“We’ll make sure he’s sedated.” Ms. Phelps stood too. “I hope to hear from you as soon as possible.”
“We’ll do our best.” Feehan held open the door for Ella and Vadim and closed it behind him. “She seems like a nice woman.”
“For someone who’s desperately trying to protect her ass. She’s got an influential political family breathing down her neck, which might affect future hospital funding,
She walked right into Vadim, who had stopped in the middle of the hallway. Feehan kept moving. “What’s up?”
“I think I’ll go back and see Brad and make absolutely certain he won’t wake up and scare his parents.”
“You can do that?”
He smiled. “Haven’t you ever heard of Fae who can make humans sleep a thousand years?” He turned toward Brad’s room. “Don’t worry, I can bring him out of it too. I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”
Ella watched him walk away and followed Feehan down the stairs to the staff parking garage. Could Vadim really put people to sleep? What else could the man do? Sometimes it seemed better not to ask.
Vadim knocked softly on Brad’s door and waited until the nurse answered him. He gave her his best smile and she preened.
“I’m sorry to bother you—” he glanced down at her name tag, “—Delia, but I need to return Brad’s phone to him. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Do you want me to give it to him?”
“I’d rather give it to him myself. I don’t want him to think I can’t be trusted.”
“That’s fine. Go right on in.”
When he approached the gurney, Brad’s eyes were half-closed, but they opened when Vadim took his hand.
“Hey. Did you find out something already?”
“Not yet. I’m just returning your phone and wallet. I’ll put them on the side here, okay?”
Even as he replaced the items, Vadim concentrated on tracking that small and ever-eroding stream of Otherworld magic that clung to Brad like cologne. One taste was enough for him to identify a creature’s magical genes, his family, his connections and his power. After a moment, Vadim pushed more magic through Brad and waited until he fell asleep.
The nurse hovered at the end of the bed and Vadim nodded to her.
“Thanks for letting me see him.”
“You’re welcome.” She walked him to the door. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“No, I’m originally from Russia.”
“How cool is that?” She widened her eyes and leaned against the doorframe, arching her back. “I’d love to go there one day.”
“You should. It’s a wonderful country.”
She glanced around and closed the door behind them. “I don’t normally do this, but can I give you my number? Just in case you ever need someone to show you around town.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but—”
“But you’re already taken.” She sighed. “All the nice ones are.”
“It was still a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same here.”
Vadim nodded and headed back down the hallway toward the bank of elevators, his thoughts focused on deciphering the myriad of messages from the Otherworld magic he’d sensed. When he first identified the power through Ella, it had felt vaguely familiar, and now he was sure of it.
He pressed the button and watched the lights of the elevator flicker downward to his level. He sensed Ella in the parking lot below him and concentrated on screening his thoughts from her. Of course, if he was right and the creature returned to seek his prey, he’d blown his cover completely, because like knew like.
The elevator arrived and he stepped in, his stomach sinking along with the descent. The magic stemmed from his bloodline.
From someone who was supposed to be dead.
“There you are, Liz. How are you?”
The last time Ella saw her friend, she’d been stuck between two Fae portals and ended up hospitalized in Otherworld. It hadn’t been pretty.
“I’m fine. Luckily, the Fae heal super fast. How are you?”
“Good.”
And that was the most Ella was prepared to say about the matter. She’d found Liz in the old conference room that used to serve as Vadim and Alexei’s temporary office. Her new partner had been extremely quiet on the ride back to the office, letting her and Feehan discuss the case to their hearts’ content. She didn’t like it. He’d shut his mind to her completely. The moment she got him alone, she was going to find out what the hell was going on...
She refocused and noticed Liz was sitting in the middle of the floor.
“What exactly are you doing?”
“Nothing!” Liz jumped up so quickly that she almost fell off her impressively high heels.
“You’re not mooning over Alexei leaving, are you?”
Liz made a face. “As if. Actually, I was looking for something.” Her normally pale complexion was now as pink as her shoes.
“In here?” Ella turned a slow circle. “There’s nothing except two tables and a ratty chair.”
“Exactly.” Liz tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “Last night, Doug came to the office to pick me up, and because I had to work so late, the place was deserted and we, um, took advantage of the facilities.”
“
“Shut
“Anyway, so what did you lose?”
Liz sighed. “One of my antique diamond earrings.”
“Damn. I’ll help you look.” She got down on the coffee-stained beige carpet and methodically searched the space. “Are you sure Doug didn’t bite your ear in a surge of manly passion and eat the thing?”
“He would’ve choked. It’s a big diamond.” Liz continued to pat the carpet. “What did you want, anyway? I thought you’d be avoiding this place like the plague for a few days.”
“Feehan called us in to deal with a new case.”
