River Road by Johnson Suzanne

Author:Johnson, Suzanne [Johnson, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2012-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

I expected to spend all Wednesday researching the Styx, trying to find a connection between the water rifts and the professors, and angsting over my date with Jake. What to wear. How much he’d changed since turning loup-garou. Whether we’d have anything to say to each other.

Alex got the rest of his debriefing on the riverbed rifts during our morning run. Last night, he’d been too busy laughing and I’d been too tired to hear more than a cursory report. Jake had been assigned to work with his former Marine buddy Ken as the NOPD/FBI go-between, and Alex’s boss, the head of the secret Elder/FBI enforcer division, had smoothed over the paperwork and jurisdictional issues. Alex finally had his search warrant for both Doug Hebert’s and Jeff Klein’s homes and offices.

Instead, while Alex rifled through the dead men’s desks and Jake went to see if Melinda Hebert knew of a next of kin for Jeff Klein, I filed an emergency slew of reports. Use of unauthorized magic. Using an unauthorized incendiary device, although I thought calling Charlie an incendiary device was a stretch. Arson on federally protected property. Explanations to counter accidental injury claims being made by both Denis Villere and Rene Delachaise.

Jean hadn’t filed a complaint, and Rene shouldn’t have since I used a healing potion on him as soon as the fire was out. I’d have healed Denis, too, if he hadn’t fled the scene. A scene that was his fault, I added to my report.

I won’t say Elder Willem Zrakovi was the last person I expected to see walking in my office at eleven a.m. I’d have been more shocked to see Brad Pitt, for example, or Hugh Jackman, though I’d have welcomed either with open arms.

Elder Zrakovi had to make do with a startled blink and a handshake.

He looked around the office before settling into the chair facing my desk. “You need some decoration.” He cast a disapproving eye at the bare walls and drab institutional carpet.

Surely the biggest cheese in my corner of the wizarding world hadn’t come all the way to Louisiana to discuss office décor. “Yes, I thought I’d put up some JazzFest posters. But things have been a little busy lately.”

Zrakovi smiled. “Perhaps we can find you an assistant. We’ve recruited a few young sixth-sensers who have good computer skills. With all the new species coming in, you and Mr. Warin will need help.”

He could skip the assistant and give me a raise, but I didn’t say so—yet. I’d started a report on that. Instead, I fixed a pleasant expression on my face and waited for Zrakovi to get to the point. He seemed to be stalling and fidgety, which made me nervous.

Zrakovi was on the short side, about five-seven or eight, with close-cropped gray hair, a prominent nose, and a penchant for expensive tailored suits. His restless hands fiddled with his emerald signet ring, which reminded me that he was originally a wizard of the Green Congress himself. Like most wizards, age was impossible to tell.

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