Cullen rolled his eyes. “Let me take you by the hand and lead you step by step. We’ll call the guy who did the actual killing Perp Number One. He’s null. Perp Number Two, who probably was part of the death magic ritual, is Gifted. Perp Number Two meets Perp Number One at that bench. Number Two activates the spell on the dagger and hands it to Number One. It doesn’t start leaking until it’s activated.”
It fit. It fit really well, and yet it bothered Lily. She couldn’t put her finger on why. Maybe it was the sheer complication. “Why have a null do the killing? What’s the advantage? You’re talking about a pretty elaborate conspiracy.”
Rule spoke. “We’ve been talking about a conspiracy all along.”
She looked at him. His mouth was grim. His eyes were dark and clear. “Yeah, I guess we have been. But I—shit.” She’d caught a glimpse of the clock on the stove. She shoved her chair back. “I have to go.”
Cullen shoved his chair back, too. “Okay.”
Suspicion dawned. “Why are you agreeing with me?”
“I’m going with you.”
“Drummond isn’t going to let you—”
“Lily.” Rule stood. “You can’t drive, so Cullen will. You passed out last night. It could happen again at any time.”
Her lips thinned.
“You could take one of the guards instead, but there are advantages to having someone with you who can see and work magic. And answer questions about it.”
“I hate it when you’re right.” She looked at Cullen. “You’ll have to wait in the car, maybe for hours. You’re going to be bored.” Cullen hated being bored.
He snagged his phone from the table. “Got a new app. I’ll play while I wait.”
THIRTEEN
LILY did ask her driver a few questions on the way to Headquarters. No pain gods sent lightning bolts through her skull as he parked in the underground garage. She thought about Aunt Mequi as she rode up in the elevator.
Her aunt had migraines. Serious migraines. A couple times she’d ended up at the ER with one, though no one was supposed to mention that. Aunt Mequi’s dignity was much affronted that she’d been unable to endure the pain without help. Of course, Mequi’s migraines lasted for hours, not the few moments Lily’s bolts-from-the-blue had occupied so far. But there were bound to be different types of migraines, right?
Rule feared that Lily’s malady was rooted in some terrible malfunction, either physical or magical, but Rule was lupus. He’d never had a headache without a concussion. Lily could see plenty of other possibilities.
There was a small crowd in the hall near the designated conference room. Lily recognized two of them: Doug Mullins and Sherry O’Shaunessy. Everyone glanced her way. Mullins frowned. Sherry smiled.
Sherry O’Shaunessy looked like a young, upscale grandmother, except for her hair. That was gray and reached past her hips when down; today she wore it in a braid coiled on top of her head. Her cheeks were chubby, her smile contagious, and her Gift was Water. She was one of the most powerful witches in the country, and the High Priestess of the Wiccan coven the Unit kept under contract.
This morning, she looked tired. Lily went to her. “Good to see you. You didn’t pull an all-nighter, did you?”
“I’m afraid so. That’s not as easy as it once was. Did you—”
Mullins interrupted. “He wants you inside, Yu.”
In Mullins’s world, “he” had to mean Drummond. Lily nodded at him and said to Sherry, “I’ll see you inside, I guess.”
Sherry took Lily’s hand and gave a little squeeze. Water magic felt like the element it drew upon, but there were variations. Sherry’s magic evoked the ocean for Lily rather than rain or brooks or deep pools. She could almost smell the salty spray. “I’m glad you’re working on this one, dear.”
“Inside,” Mullins repeated, scowling.
Sherry smiled at him. “Your name is Doug, I think?”
Mullins blinked and looked conflicted, no doubt trying to resist the urge to smile back. Satan himself would find it hard to resist Sherry’s smile. “Doug Mullins, yes, ma’ am.”
She patted his arm. “Not everyone is able to offer the proverbial spoonful of sugar, but we can at least avoid pouring vinegar over everything.” She looked at Lily. “Doug is guarding the door. I’m afraid he’s been a bit abrasive, but he does have orders.”
“I guess I do, too.” Lily gave her a nod and headed for the closed door.
The conference room was large enough for a table that could seat up to thirty people. At