"How are Knox and Clay?" Miranda asked.
It was evening, and Mariah and Demarco had just returned from the hospital.
"The doctors are keeping them overnight for observation," Mariah said. "Knox definitely has a concussion and broken ribs. Clay's really beat up too. The doctors are worried he might have internal injuries. He might be... what did they say? He could be bleeding inside his head."
"Subdural hematoma," Etta supplied.
"That bastard Cletus could have killed him," Demarco growled. "I said I didn't want him doing anything dangerous!"
"You think this is because Clay was asking around at Evergreen Development?" Genie asked gently.
"I don't think Cletus and Jeb just decided to go beat him up for shits and giggles!" Demarco snarled.
"Hey, she's just asking," Mariah said.
"Sorry. I'm sorry," Demarco said, taking a breath. "I'm on still edge from the fight... and it's almost the full moon."
"It's OK. Sometimes I need to say the dumb, obvious thing just to make everything make sense," Genie said. "So, more dumb, obvious things. We're really thinking that the Dark Court isn't behind this, right?"
"You're sure about that?" Mariah asked.
"Caleb was pretty clear and so was Baron Bludvin, in his way," Etta said. "The Dark Court is in chaos. They can't afford to get into an open war with the Council."
"I thought you guys said the vampires and witches were already at war," Jenny said, puzzled. "That they'd been at war for, like centuries?"
"They are, but... it's complicated," Etta sighed. "Most of the time, it's like a Cold War. They fight but using mortal agents, or through proxies like the crime families. Usually it's a matter of undermining each other, the occasional assassination..."
"Or, you know, trying to slaughter your entire family," Miranda put in softly.
"Which could have spun things out of control," Etta said. "It didn't precisely because both sides are concerned about the war escalating. Among other things, there's a risk of it spilling over into the mortal world. The last time that happened, it ended with the Witch Hunts. The mortal world turned on both sides, killing witches and vampires and a lot of innocent mortals too."
"The problem is, even if the Dark Court doesn't want open war, Baron Charm does," Miranda said grimly. "He's convinced that they're behind Shannon's death, because they've attacked House Charm before. Apparently, his father was killed by a Dark Court agent about twenty years ago."
"A Dark Court agent named Villareal," Genie muttered sourly. "Which, I guess, explains why he doesn't like me very much..."
"You're not your uncle Max, Genie," Jenny said encouragingly.
"No, you're not," Miranda said firmly. "Unfortunately, given the way Baron Charm feels about things, when it comes to Shannon's murder, he's not going to believe anything based on the words of a couple of Dark Court nobles."
"Or the word of an exiled, self-confessed Dark Court agent, even if you supported me," Etta sighed. "Do you think he can convince the Council?"
"I think he doesn't care," Miranda said. "For him, it's a blood feud. He wants vengeance and he's willing to break with the Council to get it. Worse, he believes there are enough people unhappy with the Council's rule who would follow him, and he might be right."
"He's really persuasive. You didn't hear him," Jenny put in. "I mean, I was ready to follow him. Like almost 'leaping to my feet and heading off to battle' ready to follow him. It was scary."
"Could that be the goal?" Etta mused. "The Dark Court in chaos. The Council broken. The shadow war escalating out of control..."
"Maybe," Mariah said. "But it doesn't explain the beatdown Cletus gave Clay and Knox."
"Maybe it really is just a coincidence? What if this whole business with the Dark Court and Witches' Council and their secret war is just an unintended consequence?" Genie wondered. "Could this really all be tied back to Evergreen Development?"
"So, what, we've all been distracted by a red herring and this really is about crooked land developers?" Jenny asked.
"Which would mean Knox was right all along? God, we'd never hear the end of that," Demarco groaned.
"That just doesn't feel right either," Miranda mused.
"Well, again stating the obvious, clearly something is going on that ties back to Evergreen Development," Genie said. "Do we have any idea what Clay was onto that might have led to... what happened to him?"
"Not specifically," Mariah said. "He and Knox were out of it, and Missy was pretty upset. From what I could get out of her, Clay was talking about Evergreen's big project. I guess it's called Crossing. Missy said something about a whole planned community up on the mountain. Houses, shopping, a school, the works. She also said Clay was saying something about investors and a facility but she didn't really understand it."
"We need to know more," Miranda said. "We need something we can use to convince Baron Charm, to stop him from breaking the Council and escalating the war."
"Yeah, but whatever this Crossing is and whoever is behind it - whether it's crooked developers or vampires or the Windenburg Bay monster - they're clearly willing to go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets," Genie said. "Sorry, stating the obvious again."
"Keep going," Jenny said with a smile.
"I intend to," Genie said firmly. "I'm going into Evergreen Development to find some answers."
"Um, Genie, remember the part where Clay almost got beaten to death just for asking questions there?" Mariah said.
"I didn't say I was going alone!" Genie said hastily.
--------------------
They had spent most of the evening discussing ideas of how to get into Evergreen Development and, more importantly, back out again safely.
Jenny had presented a plan that, somewhat predictably, had involved disguises, nudity, precision timing and... a fire extinguisher. Through unspoken agreement, they had listened to every detail and then proceeded to come up with a plan that deliberately avoided all of Jenny's suggestions.
The actress hadn't been the least bit offended, saying brightly that years of auditions had taught her how to deal with rejection.
Looking up at the converted warehouse that was the Evergreen Development offices, Genie hoped the plan they had come up with would work. At the very least, it didn't involve anyone taking their clothes off. Well, almost anyone, she thought with a glance at Demarco, but that was a worst-case-scenario thing...
"Hi, it's Mary right?" the man at the reception desk said as they entered the lobby. "Clay's friend? If you're looking for him, he's not in yet."
"I know," Mariah... no, Mary... said. Genie was a little surprised by the subtle shifts in her friend's manner, as if Mary had Mariah's strength but lacked her rough edges. "He's in the hospital actually."
"Crap, is he sick? He was just in yesterday and he looked fine," the receptionist said.
"He was mugged," Mary said. They had decided that staying as close to the truth as possible was the best approach.
"That's terrible." The receptionist looked genuinely concerned. "And he's in the hospital? Is he going to be OK?"
"I hope so," Mary said earnestly. "They're keeping him for observation... but he asked me to get some things from his desk. I think he wanted try to do some work."
It wasn't a complicated plan, really, and in the end that's what they'd all liked about it. Why risk getting caught sneaking in when they might be able to just walk in. If Mary couldn't get past reception, they'd reasoned they shouldn't be any worse off and could try something more sneaky.
"That guy works too hard." The receptionist shook his head. "Go ahead and get what he needs, I guess. I'm sure Bess would approve."
"Thanks," Mary said with a smile.
"Bella li, I can't believe that actually worked," Mariah said quietly, slipping into the chair of Clay's cubicle.
The Evergreen Development offices were a little grim, Genie thought as she looked around. Cubicles. Motivational posters and bland art on basically every wall. An open floor plan conference room. People with fake smiles wearing office casual clothes. She been here less than five minutes and had already overheard a guy in suit use the word synergy.
"I can't believe you know Clay's password," she replied softly as Mariah effortlessly logged onto his computer.
"I've watched him type it in at his place a few times," Mariah grinned. "People tend to reuse the same passwords. It's just careless, really."
"Yeah, it sure is," Genie said, resolving to change her passwords at the earliest opportunity. "Just copy anything that looks interesting, OK. We'll sort through it later."
"Si, certo, I'm doing that," Mariah muttered.
We might actually pull this off, Genie thought to herself. Later she would wonder if she'd thought it too loudly. In the moment, her only thought was a wordless flash of terrified recognition at the sound of a coldly dispassionate voice. The last time she'd heard that voice, it had been neatly explaining how she and Jenny Poole were going to die unless they returned the Altos' ledger of dirty deeds.
"Thank you, Ms. Sterling," Mr. Grey said, plainly in response to a greeting Genie hadn't really registered.
Genie started, glancing cautiously at the group by the entrance. She hadn't imagined her blood could run colder until she actually saw Mr. Grey's face. She barely registered the chubby, slouched man or the woman in the black hoodie standing with him. She simply couldn't believe this could get any worse, until her horrified eyes fixed on the thin, bald man in black standing next to Mr. Grey.
"Cazzo!" Mariah cursed in a whisper, all traces of Mary vanishing as her eyes fixed on Mr. Grey. "We need to leave. Now."
Genie nodded, trying to remember how to make her limbs work. Beside her, Mariah stood casually, tucking a memory stick into her pocket and laying a firm hand on Genie's arm.
"I believe you already know Mr. Harris and Mr. Hand," Genie heard Grey say over the chatter of the office.
"I do. It is a pleasure to see you both," the woman who Genie thought must be Bess Sterling said. "If you'd like to come with me. We're in the upstairs conference room."
"How do we get out?" Genie hissed. "They're between us and the exit."
"Side door," Mariah said.
The part of Genie's mind that wasn't screaming managed to wonder if Mariah had learned to locate every exit from a room during her brief stint with the Agency, her time as a gangster, or her days as a teen runaway. It suddenly seemed like a much more useful skill than knowing which fork to use with which course at a fancy dinner.
Trying to look tough, she let herself be guided toward the exit with what felt like glacial slowness rather than the casual walking pace she was sure Mariah was using.
"We thought you'd come out this way," Etta said, meeting them by the side door. "We saw them go in. Cletus, with the grey-haired man and the woman in black he was meeting with the other day. I don't know who the man in the black suit was."
"Your 'grey-haired man' is Arvin Grey," Mariah said curtly. "Consigliere of the Alto crime family and the main reason Miranda and I are still in hiding. I don't know the woman or the other man."
"I do," Genie said, taking a deep, shaky breath. "At least, I've seen the man before. His name is Mr. Hand. I saw him three days ago. In my house! Meeting with my mother! About investments! Kassidy said he'd been there before..."
"Madonna," Mariah breathed.
"He's not human," Demarco said flatly. When Genie blinked at her, she added, "Hand. His scent isn't human."
"Vampire?" Etta asked.
"No," Demarco shook her head. "Not a vampire. Not a witch. Not a Wolf. I've never smelled anything like him before."
"Mr. Hand. Hand? Why does that sound familiar? Could it be...!? Madonna santa!" Mariah gasped. "I think I know who he is. What he is. If I'm right... We need to get to Miranda. Right now."
"What?" Genie said.
"I think... I think he's a svartalf," Mariah said. "I think he's an alien."
