Industrial Magic
Page 24
Im not talking generalities, Lucas. Im bringing this to your attention because it obviously affects you and Paige, and you need to consider that immediately.
Hes targeting teenagers. Im not a teen
Im not referring to you. This killer is obviously smart enough to attack the edges, pluck from the herd the most vulnerable, those children farthest removed from Cabal protection. If he wanted a teenager from a Cabal CEOs immediate family, there is only one who doesnt live with a Cabal and who isnt under twenty-four-hour guard.
Oh, God, I said. Savannah.
The Most Endangered Kid on the Planet
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN KRISTOF NAST SUED FOR CUSTODY of Savannah, hed done so by claiming to be her father. At first, I hadnt believed him. Savannah, as the daughter of a notoriously powerful woman who was both a witch and a half-demon, showed every sign of matching or surpassing her mothers powers, and as such shed be a prize acquisition for any Cabal.
As for Kristof being her father, it was preposterous. No witch would ever get involved with a sorcerer, much less a high-ranking Cabal sorcerer. Then Id met Kristof, seen Savannahs eyes staring back at me, and knew there was no question of paternity.
Even if Id still doubted it, his actions proved he wasnt trying to recruit a potential employee. Kristof hadnt just made a halfhearted attempt to kidnap Savannah. Hed put his all into getting custody, and hed died trying to stop Savannah from hurting herself. A sorcerer like Kristof Nast would never do that for a witch who wasnt his daughter.
This story had been churning in the Cabal gossip mill for months now. Anyone looking for Cabal children would know about Savannah. Theyd also know that, unlike every other child and grandchild of a Cabal CEO, she wasnt ferried to and from a private school in an armored car filled with half-demon bodyguards. She had only Lucas and me, and right now, she didnt even have us.
I will say, with some modicum of pride, that I did not panic. Okay, I did have a few moments of heart palpitations and rapid breathing, but I managed to pull myself together before hitting the clinical anxiety stage.
It took only a few minutes for Lucas and his father to come up with a plan that kept me from barreling out the door and grabbing the next plane home. Benicio had already dispatched the corporate jet to Portland. By the time he mentioned the possible danger to Savannah, Cabal guards were en route to pick her up. I will admit to a brief moment of What if this is all a setup and hes going to snatch Savannah anxiety, but I managed to stifle it before I blurted out any wild accusations. Lucas trusted his father to bring Savannah here, so I trusted him.
Lucas made the call to Michelles parents, apologized for waking them,and tossed together a plausible story to explain why several huge men would be arriving at their door to collect Savannah. Or I assume he came up with a plausible story. I heard none of it. I knew enough about Lucas, though, to know he was capable of manufacturing the most convincing lies at a moments noticeyet another birthright from his father.
At my request, Lucas also talked to Savannah. What did he tell her? The truth. Im sure of that. If it was me on that phone, Id have sugarcoated it for her. I couldnt help it. The urge to make her life easier was too great. So Id have given her a watered-down version, and shed have listened, then asked to speak to Lucas to get the truth.
Once Benicio was gone, Lucas walked to the sofa, sat down beside me, and took my hand.
You okay? he murmured.
I squeezed his hand and managed a wan smile. Ill be better when shes here, but Im okay.
About this case, he said. Am I correct in assuming you want it?
I want it, but
After what happened tonight, weve moved beyond the luxury of worrying about conflict of interest. Someone needs to investigate this.
You dont think the Cabals can handle it?
Individually, Id say the Cabals are quite capable of handling the situation. But together? Together they work at a fraction of their capacity.
Infighting?
He nodded. Precisely. Its like two warring countries teaming up against a common enemy. Each will want to lead the attack. Each wont share their information for fear of divulging contacts and techniques. Each will want the other to put their men at risk. A plan of action wont be decided so much as negotiated.
And in the meantime, more kids will be hurt.
Collateral damage. I wont say the Cabals dont care; they arent monsters. But they are structured around profit-making and self-preservation. Those priorities will always come first, intentionally or not.
But obviously your father foresees this or he wouldnt still be asking you to take the case. Why doesnt he tell the other Cabals, Thanks for the offer, but well go it alone?
Lucas leaned back into the sofa. Politics. At this level, even my fathers hands are tied. If he refuses to cooperate, itll not only affect his standing with the other Cabals but also cause internal dissent. Understandably, his employees will question why hed refuse extra help.
So its down to us. In that case, then, I definitely want to I stopped. Wait. What about Savannah? I certainly cant let her tag along and
Hes targeting teenagers. Im not a teen
Im not referring to you. This killer is obviously smart enough to attack the edges, pluck from the herd the most vulnerable, those children farthest removed from Cabal protection. If he wanted a teenager from a Cabal CEOs immediate family, there is only one who doesnt live with a Cabal and who isnt under twenty-four-hour guard.
Oh, God, I said. Savannah.
The Most Endangered Kid on the Planet
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN KRISTOF NAST SUED FOR CUSTODY of Savannah, hed done so by claiming to be her father. At first, I hadnt believed him. Savannah, as the daughter of a notoriously powerful woman who was both a witch and a half-demon, showed every sign of matching or surpassing her mothers powers, and as such shed be a prize acquisition for any Cabal.
As for Kristof being her father, it was preposterous. No witch would ever get involved with a sorcerer, much less a high-ranking Cabal sorcerer. Then Id met Kristof, seen Savannahs eyes staring back at me, and knew there was no question of paternity.
Even if Id still doubted it, his actions proved he wasnt trying to recruit a potential employee. Kristof hadnt just made a halfhearted attempt to kidnap Savannah. Hed put his all into getting custody, and hed died trying to stop Savannah from hurting herself. A sorcerer like Kristof Nast would never do that for a witch who wasnt his daughter.
This story had been churning in the Cabal gossip mill for months now. Anyone looking for Cabal children would know about Savannah. Theyd also know that, unlike every other child and grandchild of a Cabal CEO, she wasnt ferried to and from a private school in an armored car filled with half-demon bodyguards. She had only Lucas and me, and right now, she didnt even have us.
I will say, with some modicum of pride, that I did not panic. Okay, I did have a few moments of heart palpitations and rapid breathing, but I managed to pull myself together before hitting the clinical anxiety stage.
It took only a few minutes for Lucas and his father to come up with a plan that kept me from barreling out the door and grabbing the next plane home. Benicio had already dispatched the corporate jet to Portland. By the time he mentioned the possible danger to Savannah, Cabal guards were en route to pick her up. I will admit to a brief moment of What if this is all a setup and hes going to snatch Savannah anxiety, but I managed to stifle it before I blurted out any wild accusations. Lucas trusted his father to bring Savannah here, so I trusted him.
Lucas made the call to Michelles parents, apologized for waking them,and tossed together a plausible story to explain why several huge men would be arriving at their door to collect Savannah. Or I assume he came up with a plausible story. I heard none of it. I knew enough about Lucas, though, to know he was capable of manufacturing the most convincing lies at a moments noticeyet another birthright from his father.
At my request, Lucas also talked to Savannah. What did he tell her? The truth. Im sure of that. If it was me on that phone, Id have sugarcoated it for her. I couldnt help it. The urge to make her life easier was too great. So Id have given her a watered-down version, and shed have listened, then asked to speak to Lucas to get the truth.
Once Benicio was gone, Lucas walked to the sofa, sat down beside me, and took my hand.
You okay? he murmured.
I squeezed his hand and managed a wan smile. Ill be better when shes here, but Im okay.
About this case, he said. Am I correct in assuming you want it?
I want it, but
After what happened tonight, weve moved beyond the luxury of worrying about conflict of interest. Someone needs to investigate this.
You dont think the Cabals can handle it?
Individually, Id say the Cabals are quite capable of handling the situation. But together? Together they work at a fraction of their capacity.
Infighting?
He nodded. Precisely. Its like two warring countries teaming up against a common enemy. Each will want to lead the attack. Each wont share their information for fear of divulging contacts and techniques. Each will want the other to put their men at risk. A plan of action wont be decided so much as negotiated.
And in the meantime, more kids will be hurt.
Collateral damage. I wont say the Cabals dont care; they arent monsters. But they are structured around profit-making and self-preservation. Those priorities will always come first, intentionally or not.
But obviously your father foresees this or he wouldnt still be asking you to take the case. Why doesnt he tell the other Cabals, Thanks for the offer, but well go it alone?
Lucas leaned back into the sofa. Politics. At this level, even my fathers hands are tied. If he refuses to cooperate, itll not only affect his standing with the other Cabals but also cause internal dissent. Understandably, his employees will question why hed refuse extra help.
So its down to us. In that case, then, I definitely want to I stopped. Wait. What about Savannah? I certainly cant let her tag along and
