“They might use a woman because females look less suspicious,” Rufsur said.
“The question is, who are they?” Syssi asked. “Is it possible that Roberts overcame your compulsion? You told him to destroy all the documents regarding your house and the other locations the trackers transmitted from, right?”
Kalugal nodded. “Of course. But perhaps he had it written somewhere and forgot about it when he followed my instructions, only to find it later when the compulsion started to weaken. Perhaps reinforcing it over the phone is not enough. I probably need to pay him a visit.”
Amanda crossed her arms over her chest. “Maybe it’s not Roberts. What if Simmons didn’t keep what he found a secret and told someone higher up about his suspicions? Or, maybe he planned to sell us to someone outside the government? A potential cache of paranormals would be attractive to a lot of people.”
Kian shook his head. “He would have told Roberts. Kalugal and I interrogated him extensively. He couldn’t have kept any secrets from us.”
“I don’t think Simmons told Roberts everything,” Jacki said. “They were good friends, but they were very different people. Simmons was a risk-taker, while Roberts was more conservative.”
“We should go home,” Kalugal said. “If any of Amanda’s suspicions are right, I need to be there.”
“No.” Syssi lifted her hand. “I have a bad feeling about this. Stay a few days longer.”
“I can’t. Phinas is a capable man, but I can’t leave everything on his shoulders. Besides, I’m not going to run and hide just because of some woman taking pictures of my house.”
Kian sighed. “I sympathize, but my advice is to listen to Syssi. When she has a feeling about something, all of us pay attention. I suggest that you heed her warning as well.”
Syssi put a hand on his arm. “It’s not a foretelling. It’s just a bad feeling, and it could be the result of what happened to us.”
“Did your men check the car plates?” Kian asked.
“It’s a rental. I called the company and compelled the receptionist to tell me where and when it was rented and by whom. It was rented at the San Francisco airport an hour prior to its arrival, and the name of the renter was Alice Mann. Perhaps your hacker can look into it. Mine doesn’t work on Sundays.”
“There are probably thousands of Alice Manns between the ages of twenty and forty.” Syssi looked at Kalugal. “And it’s probably a fake name anyway. Stay at least one more day. It will give Roni and William time to track down the rental and find the address of that woman. You can then send your men to investigate her.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I don’t like the idea of hiding somewhere while my men are exposed.”
“Then leave Jacki here,” Kian suggested. “There is no reason to expose her to danger.”
Jacki shook her head. “If you are going home, I’m going with you. You are not leaving me behind.”
Letting out an exasperated breath, Kalugal nodded. “We can stay one more night.”
“I’m so happy that you changed your mind.” Syssi pushed to her feet. “Who wants cappuccinos?”
63
Edna
“Are you worried?” Edna leaned her head on Rufsur’s arm.
The news might have been troubling to everyone involved, but Edna was selfishly happy to walk home with Rufsur and spend another night with him.
The evening air was warm, but the slight ocean breeze blowing through the village was enough to cool it down, and having Rufsur’s arm around her felt very pleasant.
“About the snoop?”
“About a potential raid on your home.”
“Frankly, I’m not. But I didn’t say anything because I was happy to stay another night. If we are lucky, that woman will do more snooping around the mansion and not get caught. The longer this goes on, the longer I can stay.”
Edna chuckled. “I have an idea. Let’s hire a different snooper every week, someone good who will be careful not to get caught. Perhaps that will convince Kalugal that he is safer here.”
“He’s not worried for himself. He’s staying only because of Jacki.”
“I guess that the attack was a wake-up call for Kalugal.” They climbed up the stairs to her front porch. “He discovered that his ability doesn’t protect him and those he loves from everything.” She pushed the door open. “And the thing is, unless all of you wear earplugs twenty-four-seven, you are still vulnerable to the same kind of attack.”
“I know. We figured that with Simmons dead and Roberts under Kalugal’s control, we have nothing to worry about, but we should employ safety measures that address that particular threat.”
Edna walked up to the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of chilled water. “Perhaps you should ask William to make earpieces for all of your men.” She poured the water into two tall glasses and handed one to Rufsur. “While on duty, your men should wear them.”
Rufsur sat on the couch and crossed his legs. “I doubt Kian will agree to that.”
“Why not?” She sat next to him on the couch. “You can pay for the parts.”
“It’s not about the money. Besides, I’m sure we can find someone other than William to make them for us.”
“I know that William is busy now with the cuffs he’s making for the rest of your men. But after he’s done with that, he’ll have time to assemble several pairs for you.”
“Kian will not want us to have that kind of protection from Annani.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “Did you know that she could compel an entire crowd before she tested it during Richard’s ceremony?”
Edna shook her head. “I knew that Annani could compel humans and immortals alike, but she never liked doing it and downplayed the ability. I never knew she was that powerful.”
“Do you think it’s a coincidence that she tested her powers when Kalugal was here?”
“No, and I was shocked to see that it affected him as well.”
“Annani is very powerful.”
“Yes, she is.” Edna took a sip of water. “Supposedly, the godly powers increase with age. And the same is true for immortals.”
“It didn’t happen to Kalugal’s mother.”
“Maybe it did, and she just doesn’t realize it? I don’t think Annani herself knew that she could compel so many people at once. Richard’s ceremony was the perfect occasion to test it. In fact, that was the reason for it being so grand. Usually, the induction ceremonies attract a much smaller crowd and are done with much less pomp.”
As she put the empty glass on the table, Rufsur took her hand and shifted so he was facing her. “Annani can override Kalugal’s compulsion.”
“It would seem so.”
“But he cannot override hers.”
“If she’s more powerful than him, which appears to be the case, then he probably cannot. Where are you going with this?”
“If you are willing to quit your job and come live with me, Annani could compel you not to reveal any of the clan’s secrets. Kian will have nothing to worry about and therefore no reason to forbid it.”