Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong Page B

reason than to reassure his employees that the Cabal is taking action."
    ***
    This time when Troy searched our room, he found someone there. Benicio. Lucas took one look into the room and slumped, as if the strain of the night had just hit him full force.
    "Minibar?" I whispered.
    "Please."
    Benicio and I traded nods, and I skirted past him to the bar fridge. I took out two glasses, then stopped and turned to Benicio.
    "Can I get you something?"
    "Water would be fine," he said. "Thank you, Paige."
    I fixed drinks as the two men talked behind me.
    "I wanted to thank you for joining the search," Benicio said. "It meant a lot to everyone, having someone from the family helping."
    "Yes, well, you're welcome. It's been a long night. Perhaps—"
    "I couldn't get your brothers there on a direct order, let alone voluntarily. They think leadership is showing up at the office every day, issuing orders, and signing papers. They have no concept of what the employees expect, what they need."
    I peeked at Lucas. He stood there with the pained expression of a child forced to sit through the thousandth rendition of his father's favorite lecture.
    "I'm sure Hector would have gone."
    Benicio snorted. "Of course Hector would go. He'd go because he knows I'd want him to. He'd have killed the boy himself, if he thought it'd win my favor."
    Lucas winced. I handed him a straight scotch. He mouthed a thank-you. I gave Benicio his water and he nodded his thanks before continuing.
    "We've had more evidence of a pattern. A St. Cloud VP got wind of our problem, prompting a call from Lionel. One of their necromancer's daughters, who was living with relatives after some family trouble, was attacked last Saturday, the night before Dana."
    "Is she okay?" I asked.
    Benicio shook his head. "Like Jacob, she managed to place a call to their emergency line saying she was being followed but was dead when they found her. I've placed calls to Thomas Nast and Guy Boyd asking whether they know of any attacks on employees' children. Thomas tentatively confirmed that they've had two incidents, but he wouldn't provide details over the phone. The Cabals are meeting in Miami tomorrow to share information."
    "They're launching a joint investigation, I presume," Lucas said.
    "Yes, which is why I'm asking you to reconsider."
    "Reconsider?" I said. "If the Cabals are investigating, you don't need us."
    "No. If the Cabals are jointly investigating, I need your help more than ever. As Lucas can tell you, an intra-Cabal operation—"
    Lucas lifted a hand. "We're tired, Papa," he said softly. "It's been a very long night. I understand this new concern, and I agree that it is a concern. May I ask, though, that you let me explain the situation to Paige tonight, try to get some sleep, then discuss it with you over breakfast?"
    "Yes, of course," Benicio said. "What time do you need to be in court tomorrow?"
    "Noon."
    "Then let's reschedule our breakfast from seven to eight, to give you time to sleep. I'll have the jet fly you to Chicago afterward."
    Lucas hesitated, then nodded. "Thank you."
    He turned toward the door.
    "One last thing," Benicio said.
    Lucas paused, still facing the door, one hand on the knob, lips parting in a silent sigh. "Yes, Papa?"
    "In light of this latest tragedy, I think we must assume that the killer's intent is to hurt the Cabals where they expect it least and will feel it most. Given that, we have to also assume that the ultimate prize for him would be a member of a CEO's family."
    "Yes, of course, but we can discuss this—"
    "I'm not talking generalities, Lucas. I'm bringing this to your attention because it obviously affects you and Paige, and you need to consider that immediately."
    "He's targeting teenagers. I'm not a teen—"
    "I'm 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 CEO's