“Korey didn’t know who it was, but Tarak and Eliphas hired outside help for the research and therapy for Wesley’s problem without authorization. I know initially, the Tribunal put people on the task, but Korey made sure to tell me this was a different team. A healer of some sort and his staff. She’s going to look into it because Tarak and Eliphas were very hush-hush about it. Since Tarak died last night very suddenly, it was never passed down to her. I didn’t want to go after Eliphas yet, so I left her to deal with her fellow Warden. Eliphas will tell her, and I won’t need to use any intimidation or my position. It’ll help them bond. If it’s a problem…well, I can always drive back down.”
“What are they doing down there?” Hasan asked though it seemed rhetorical.
“I don’t know,” I answered anyway. He growled on the other end. “I asked her to contact me with details as she gets them. I can have her send them your way as well if you want.”
“Do that. I want to handle this personally without the witches or werewolves protecting their own,” he said with a snap. “Just so I can slam that prison with a charge of illegally allowing guests, and my peers won’t be able to stop me, and ride my fellow Tribunal members for not keeping a better eye on it.” He was now very grumbly. “Brion leaves while I’m gone, and everything goes to hell. I had to get on to Callahan for not having an up-to-date review. He and I are already swamped with other problems and—”
“Werecat and werewolf shit?” I was curious, and I wanted to stop him from ranting about his peers, my other bosses.
“Is it your business?”
“No, but I’ve heard the werewolves were harassing some werecats over opening lines of communication, thanks to that Jacky Leon thing.”
“It has nothing to do with you, so how did you hear about it?” Hasan demanded.
I was glad to have him off the prison. The less he worried about the immediate problem, the more free rein I had because he wouldn’t want to order me around. I knew how to work my bosses, and Hasan, while new to me, was just another big bad ruler of the supernatural world.
“I hear things. I work part-time as a bounty hunter when things are slow,” I reminded him. “My region is normally much more well behaved, and it helps me keep up with recent news.”
“Ah, that’s right.” He sighed. “Yes, tensions are escalating but not between Callahan and me. The problems have been local and isolated, and we’re trying to keep a handle on it.”
“You know, earlier you mentioned calling in Coyotl to help here. Why him and not Lonan? He lives closer, and he knows everyone here.”
“I texted him. He turned me down immediately, thanks to Wagner. As I said, problems have been local. Coyotl doesn’t care about that as much, but he also said no, mostly because he’s angry with me.”
“Ah.”
“Want to know why? I thought you were one of those nosy enough to ask.”
“I do, but I wasn’t stupid enough to ask,” I said, keeping my eyes on the road, trying not to die of curiosity.
“There are many things to be said of you, Kaliya, but I would never have considered stupid. I have heard brash and reckless, however,” he said, obviously teasing. He was warmer than his son and had more of a sense of humor.
The only son I know, at least. He has like seven or eight kids. Maybe one of the others is a real comedian.
“Brash and reckless are good ways to describe her,” Raphael said quietly from his seat. I looked at my roommate, narrowing my eyes as I drove. We weren’t in the rain yet, so I took some liberties I shouldn’t have, watching him for far longer than I really needed to. He had a gorgeous profile and a jawline that could cut glass, sporting a five o’clock shadow.
Why does he have to be so nice to look at?
“Ah, Raphael, I was wondering if you were in the car. Is there anything Kaliya hasn’t told me yet?”
I glared, trying to somehow convey to him he needed to keep his mouth shut. He met my gaze and frowned.
“That’s for her to say, sir. She’s the expert. I don’t know what she thinks is pertinent or not, or maybe she’s hoping for more information before passing it along.”