into a lab for safekeeping,” I answered as that piece clicked into place. “And if a bunch of criminals are also on the loose, Cassius would be too busy, and so would the rest of the Executioners and Investigators. They would be able to secret him away.”
Raphael nodded slowly.
“All of this,” he whispered.
“All of this to get back at me and get you back in their control. Well…that’s really fucked up, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is,” he said, kicking a foot at the ground in obvious frustration. “I really wish we could stick them with this.”
“I’m going to assume this is where I’m not allowed to be in the conversation?” Monica asked politely.
“Yeah. Raphael, we’ll finish this conversation later.” He nodded once, then I continued. “We’re going to head out, Monica. Keep Kartane. Feed him. I’ll call one of the Tribunal and explain the situation. Keep Nakul in a secure room with no small openings or under a magically-induced coma, which would be safer for everyone. I’m not taking him back to the prison.”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t either. We’ll keep him out for as long as you need and secure here. We won’t take anything from him. Who do we bill?”
“Adhar,” I answered because I was a petty bitch, and he was also a leader of the nagas. “I’ll send you his information so you can.”
“Thank you. You know how to leave?” She opened the door, and I nodded, walking out.
“Come on, Raph. I’ve got work to do, and I know you’ll want to be there.”
He followed me out as if we had been partners for years, and by the look on his face as we climbed into my BMW, he knew exactly what was going to happen next.
“Terry, put our bags in the back already,” he said, his face stoic.
28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I called Hasan as we hit the road toward the prison. Both Raphael and I were amped up but in a quiet way. He knew I was going to kill the Warden, but I didn’t tell him the plan yet. I needed the drive to really figure it out.
But first, I needed to speak to Hasan.
“Kaliya, these long absences of yours are growing concerning,” he snapped when he answered. “I’m alone, so feel free to speak freely. Tell me what the fuck has been going on in that damn city.”
“Eliphas is the one who orchestrated the breakout at the prison. He was being blackmailed by the ‘healer’ he brought in. I wouldn’t doubt your Investigator could find illegal monetary transactions if he looked for them.” I didn’t waste any time, nor did I give Hasan a chance to speak. “But none of that matters because I saw him commit the crime of using a compulsion spell on Nakul to kill me, and as an Executioner, I have the right to kill anyone who I know makes an attempt on my life.”
“Excuse me? You witnessed him?”
“I rode Nakul’s memories. Hasan, this is ugly, and before you take everything to the other Tribunal members, I have a favor to ask.”
“Ask away. I’m sure you’ve earned a favor during this mess somewhere.”
“Have you told the Tribunal about the third-party healing group Eliphas and Tarak brought in?”
“Yes, but we’re all stuck on that. Eliphas has told Johann the team was heavily vetted and uninvolved, so they believed him. Eliphas, for all his eccentricities, is somewhat of a golden child.”
“I don’t want to press the issue of the team in the investigation,” I explained, licking my lips. “I want Eliphas to take the fall for all of this right now.”
“Why?”
“Raphael recognized the doctor in Nakul’s memories. He might not officially work for Mygi, but he works with them or something. If he goes down for the prison stuff, I might not be able to use him to help Raphael.” I needed this man, whoever the hell he was. And before I killed Eliphas, I planned on getting information about him, if the damn witch gave me the option. If I had to kill him outright, that was okay, too. I had a feeling Eliphas kept information somewhere on him.
“Hmm, well, we can’t hide the involvement of the third party forever. My recommendation is to take down Eliphas tonight. I’ll do a full briefing with the Tribunal tomorrow about this healer and his connections to other situations you and Cassius are heavily invested in. You will continue the hunt for him at a later date when this has settled.”