That explained who he had met at the bunker, and why he kept flushing, a condition Linus could sympathize with given his own pallor and tendency toward romantic embarrassment.
“Yeah.”
Though it wasn’t any of his business, he couldn’t help saying, “You don’t sound happy about it.”
“First time with anyone since…” He mashed the buttons on the door, rolling the window up and down. “I thought we were doing one thing, but she had other ideas. Know what I mean?”
“No,” Linus confessed, unashamed his sexual experience was limited to Grier. “I don’t.”
“She was more curious about my biology than me. We did get intimate, eventually, but it was all so…”
“Clinical?”
“Yes.” He exhaled. “That.”
A romantic attachment might have made a difference, or not. Most High Society necromancers with accomplishments as vast as Leisha’s were cerebral. Linus had no trouble imagining her trading sex for the chance to examine a specimen, but she ought to have made her intentions clear.
Unfortunately, it appeared she had neglected to inform Corbin that was the exchange she had in mind.
“You can wait in the van if you like,” Linus offered. “I can question her alone.”
“I’m here as your backup. You’re not going anywhere by yourself.” Corbin rubbed his nape. “I’ll manage.”
From his miserable tone and his twitchy fingers, Linus doubted Corbin believed what he was saying any more than Linus did, but he would only make the situation more awkward if he didn’t let it drop. “All right.”
They spent the next ten minutes navigating an older neighborhood in search of Leisha’s home. The shotgun-style house was painted purple with yellow trim and green accents that reminded him of Mardi Gras. The lawn was landscaped, the property immaculate, and a wreath hung on the door with a wooden cutout of the first letter of her last name.
“This home blends into the neighborhood well,” Linus remarked. “I’m surprised Leisha chose it.”
“I’m not.” Corbin settled his expression into neutral lines. “It’s got social experiment written all over it.”
Given what he recalled of Leisha’s predilections during their overlapping years as students at Strophalos University, and how she had treated Corbin, Linus was inclined to agree with him.
The front door opened on a curvy woman wrapped in a flannel robe two sizes too large for her. “Yes?”
“Do you have a moment?” Linus took the lead, allowing Corbin the shelter of his back. “I would like to discuss a time-sensitive issue with you.”
“I was about to go to bed but…” Her drowsy eyes brightened as her gaze slid past his shoulder. “Corbin.” She wet her lips. “What a surprise.” She opened the door wider. “Come in, both of you.”
“Thank you.” Linus entered alongside Corbin to shield him from their eager hostess. “We appreciate your hospitality on such short notice.”
“On the topic of cooperation...” She pinned Corbin with a playful stare. “You never called me back about the blood samples.”
“Blood samples?” Linus quirked a brow. “You asked him to donate?”
Corbin shifted closer to Linus, farther from her, but she didn’t appear to notice as she said, “Yes.”
“I see.” Linus awarded her his full attention. “Any particular reason why?”
“I have a theory…” Her voice trailed to nothing. “May I ask why it’s any of your concern?”
“Corbin is a member of my family, my wife’s only progeny. We take an eager interest in his welfare.”
“I did hear that somewhere,” she murmured, but her mind was too sharp to fool him. “Your wife’s blood must be—”
“My wife is not a topic for discussion.” He shut her down quick. “Neither, for that matter, is Corbin.”
Folding her arms over her chest, she studied them. “Then what brings you to my humble abode?”
“You were hired to do some work for my mother.”
Her gaze darted to Corbin, who nodded, which Linus found even curiouser than when Orin deferred to him.
“Yes,” she admitted, her chin tipping up in defiance. “Is there a problem with my work?”
To spare Corbin from interacting with her, Linus took point on questioning. “How long after a ward has been keyed for entry does it remain open?”
“Sixty seconds.” A frown knit her brow. “That was the agreed-upon limit.”
“Long enough for one person to open the ward and two to enter under a single time stamp.”
“Ideally, each person would use his or her own key to gain access.”
“I wasn’t asking a question,” he said conversationally. “I was making a point.”
“I took Linus down there earlier,” Corbin mumbled. “I opened the ward, and he followed me through.”
“I see.” Leisha clutched the halves of her robe together. “Rather, I don’t. Why are you here?”
“Do you have any ties to the wards? Are you alerted when they’ve been breached?”
“No,” she said slowly. “I was hired to do a job, and I did it.” Her fingers tightened. “I cut all ties after.”
“Mother disappeared last night at dusk.” He told her the rest and watched for her reaction. “We believe she’s with Boaz Pritchard, and that they reached the safety of the bunker before they were overcome.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She sank onto her sofa. “You think I had something to do with it?”
“Who else, in your opinion,” he asked, “could have gained access to the tunnel and then the bunker?”
“The construction crew had their memories wiped. Aside from the keyholders, there’s only Orin and me left with full recollection of our participation. I can’t think of anyone else who was directly involved with the project. I was the first contractor brought in, to cloak the site during construction, and the last one to leave, after I brought down the original wards and keyed new ones to the Grande Dame’s handpicked few.”
How his mother acquired blood samples to key himself and Grier to the wards concerned him, but she was nothing if not resourceful. During her pregnancy, Grier had testing done weekly. He had too, when his blood was required to create a baseline for LJ’s paternal gifts.
The odds Dr. Rogers was the leak were high, but he couldn’t fire the man who stood the best chance of bringing his wife and son safely through childbirth. Afterward, however, they would have a talk about the confidential nature of medical records, even when a patient’s mother invoked maternal privilege.
Depending on who else he had informed, the conversation would occur with his scythe at Dr. Roger’s throat.
“This is all ridiculous,” Leisha muttered, a shiver rippling through her. “I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“You wouldn’t swat it, no.” A bitter edge hardened Corbin’s voice. “You would catch it, pin it down, and pull off its wings to see how long it would live afterward.”
Her mouth worked, but nothing coherent came out while she gaped at him in absolute shock.
The unvarnished truth had that effect on some people.
“Leisha, you’re coming with us.” Linus had no choice but to seek her professional opinion. “You need to get dressed.”
“I didn’t mean…” She locked eyes on Corbin, who refused to look at her. “Can I make it up to you?”
“When he didn’t call,” Linus cut in, “he made it clear he wasn’t interested in a second date.”
Fingers twisting in the fabric of her housecoat, she pled with Corbin, “The data I could—”
“That right there is why I didn’t want to see you again.” He exhaled. “Leisha, you acted interested in me. You asked me out. One platter of sushi didn’t entitle me to sex with you any more than it bought you unlimited access to an unwitting lab rat.”
“Dress,” Linus ordered her. “I would like you to inspect the wards and share any observations you may have.” Drawing on his past experiences,
which dictated money motivated uncooperative people rather well, he made her an offer. “I will double your usual rate for your inconvenience, and double that should your information lead to Mother’s whereabouts.”
“Money, I have.” Avarice glittered in her eyes, which she focused on Corbin. “What I want is—”
Linus slashed a hand through the air. “No.”
“She might be able to help.” Corbin wiped his palms on his jeans, as if he couldn’t remove the stain of their interlude from his skin. “I’ll give her the blood samples.”
Smile returning, she held up a finger. “Tissue too, please.”
“No.” Linus overrode Corbin. “There are other ways.” He opened the front door and allowed Corbin to escape. “Leisha, I’ll be certain to inform Mother of your cooperation after she’s been recovered. I’m sure she, and her friends, will keep your loyalty to the Society in mind the next time they need to hire a ward specialist.”
Sudden pallor swept the excited pink from her cheeks. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Precisely,” he said, crossing the threshold, “and I plan to tell her that.”
The door had almost latched when the knob was wrenched from his hand.
“Wait.” She pasted on a fake smile. “Don’t be silly. It was just the late hour talking. Of course I’ll do it.”
“Excellent.” He pivoted on his heel. “We’ll meet you there.”
The expression froze on her face. “Can’t you give me a ride?”
“I intended to, but now I’m not sure Corbin would be comfortable in such close proximity to you.”
“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Leisha blew out a breath. “You are your mother made over.”
A chill shivered down the length of his spine, but Corbin came to his rescue this time, stepping between them and slamming the door in her face.
“Social experiment,” he reminded Linus with a resigned exhale. “She enjoys pushing buttons to see what happens, and she jumps up and down on the ones guaranteed to knock you off your game.”
Slowly, he followed Corbin to the car. “Do you think she’s right?”
“Your mother is one of a kind.” He chuckled darkly. “I think we’re all happier that way.”
The flood of relief ought to have shamed him, given the circumstances, but impending fatherhood made his own childhood scars feel raised and itchy.
The drive back to the grocery store parking lot was made in heavy silence.
Forehead to the glass, Corbin made clear he dreaded another confrontation with his one-night stand.
Linus wasn’t enthused for another bout of psychoanalyzing either.
Neither of them had rallied by the time he parked, and they exited the van near a fading crosswalk.
The chocolatier staff propped open their front door as he and Corbin approached, and Linus entered the shop to place his order while they waited on Leisha to arrive.
“You’re spoiling Grier.” Corbin bought himself an apple dipped in caramel, chocolate, and crushed Snickers bar pieces. “Oh, wait.” He took a healthy bite. “She’s already spoiled rotten.”
“We haven’t been married long.” Linus allowed himself a tiny smile. “It’s good to hear I’ve been making progress.”
“All that’s left is for you to carry her everywhere so her feet never have to touch the ground, or hire someone to do it for you.”
“Grier would never consent to that.”
“I was joking, but I can tell the thought has crossed your mind.”
“There aren’t many thoughts involving Grier that haven’t crossed my mind.”
“That was a joke.” Corbin squinted at him and passed over the apple. “Right?”
Out of politeness, Linus took a small bite then handed the apple back without answering.
“There you are,” Leisha grumbled as they exited the store. “Do you realize what time it is?”
Had she been less avaricious, he might have pitied her the late hour, by necromantic standards, and the bright sun. “Yes.”
Corbin kept eating his treat, but Linus remained bodily between him and Leisha.
As the spouse of another rarity, one who begot this one, Linus was used to the covetousness of others. He required Leisha’s help for this next part. After that, he intended to make it clear she would not contact Corbin again. For any reason. He could reach out, if he decided that was what he wanted, but she would face consequences if she continued her pursuit.
Jarring Linus from his thoughts, Corbin asked, “What did you think of the apple?”
“Very sweet.”
“Aww.” Corbin bumped shoulders with him. “You say the nicest things.”
Recognizing the teasing for what it was, Linus had to smile. “You’ve spent too much time around Grier.”
The Deathless vampire made quick work of his treat and tossed his trash. He was ready to assist, if need be, when they reached the manhole cover.
Miraculously, Leisha blocked out Corbin long enough to focus on the ward and give Linus a reading.
“I can tell it’s been used recently,” she said after a moment’s deliberation. “That’s not saying much, considering you already told me.” She sat back. “There are layers here.” She spread her fingers over the cover, and her eyes drifted shut. “Hmm.” The better part of five minutes lapsed before she opened them again. “It was triggered twice yesterday. I can’t tell by who, now that my connection is severed, but I can confirm three people entered the first time and two the second.”
Honestly, that was more information than he had expected her to extract from that type of working for that same reason. The magical umbilical, for lack of a better term, had been cut, the connection between practitioner and ward severed to limit her access to what she had helped create.
“The one near the bunker is more precise.” She bumped the cover with her shoe then waited for Linus to shift it aside, which he did for expediency’s sake. “I’ll know more once we get down there.”
With a fresh mystery to occupy her, Leisha left Corbin alone. The vampire still kept Linus between them and did his best to dissolve into shadow rather than catch her eye again, and Linus didn’t blame him.
There was more to this situation between Corbin and Leisha than he could read. He would have to leave it up to Grier to decipher for him later. She was better at understanding people’s complexities.
The glamour on the bunker didn’t slow Leisha down, but chances were good she could see through it as the person who cast it.
“Here we go.” She waded into the illusion, disappearing from their sight. “Boaz keyed open the bunker, I can tell his blood was used, but the Grande Dame entered first. There’s no sense of time here, no way to tell how long ago this happened or how long between each entry or exit. This is literally an activity log of comings and goings, minus the time stamps.”
Disappointed the inner wards weren’t more precise, Linus nodded that he grasped her meaning.
“Boaz went in after her, then two vampires. After that, all four left. The next reading shows a…” She scrunched up her face in thought. “The first is Corbin. He reads odd for a vampire, almost like a necromancer. The second skews toward necromancer as well but…”
“That would be Corbin and me,” Linus cut into her musings before she thought too much about him. “What else can you tell us?”
“I can’t ID the vampires based on this, if that’s what you’re asking. However,” she said thoughtfully, “I could compare their energy signatures once you catch them to verify they were the ones responsible.”
“Keep what you’ve learned quiet,” Linus cautioned her. “We can’t risk news of Mother’s disappearance leaking.”
“I can’t talk to anyone about it except for the six authorized users.” She exited the glamour, allowing him to read her distaste. “We all signed restrictive NDAs.”
The easy way she conversed with him, when Corbin had been tongue-tied, made him wary. She and Corbin had two s
eparate levels of access, and yet hers appeared less restrictive than his, when he was one of the six. “We should go.”
“Amen to that.” She yawned into her fist. “Working dayshift kills me.”
They exited the sewers together, Leisha in front. She went her own way without saying goodbye.
All things considered, given her temperament, Linus was relieved when she didn’t linger.
Corbin repositioned the manhole cover and waited for the ward to reactivate. “What are you thinking?”
“Are the terms of your NDA different from the others?”
“I’m not sure.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I didn’t exactly get a copy for comparison.”
Even with the NDA exposed, as well as most of its secrets, Corbin danced around the edge of the truth. But Leisha didn’t have that problem. She had also read the exterior and interior wards with greater ease and accuracy than he anticipated. Because she was gifted? Or because she had never truly severed her ties to them? Leisha was talented, of that he had no doubt—his mother wouldn’t have hired her otherwise—but this? He wasn’t sure Grier could have done a better job, and she was extraordinary.
Gazing down the alley, he wondered, “Why can Leisha talk so freely about all this but not you?”
“Your mother trusts her more?”
Linus shifted his focus onto Corbin. “Mother trusts no one above family.”
The vampire squared his shoulders, and pride at belonging tipped up his chin. “What are you saying?”
“We should escort her, make sure she gets home safely.”
Fangs on display, Corbin smiled.
Nine
Rather than scurrying home to her bed as promised, Leisha pulled her car into a neighbor’s driveway. She exited the vehicle, walked with purpose up the flower-lined path, then let herself in with a key.
Delicate surveillance was easier with Cletus, but the sun overhead made calling on him impossible.
“I got this.” Corbin unfastened his seat belt. “This is what I do.”
“We’ll go together.” Linus spared him a smile. “This is also what I do.”
“Fair point.” He reached for his door handle. “Let’s trade.”
How to Rattle an Undead Couple (The Beginner's Guide to Necromancy Book 9) Page 9
