I briefly closed my eyes and swiped at the tears with my nonbloody hand. While I wanted to do nothing more than bawl like a baby, now was not the time. I took a deep, shuddery breath, and said, "Who was the reaper?"
"My sister." Azriel's voice was without emotion, but his surprise echoed through me. Surprise, and something else. Something that was close to regret. "I did not think anyone would answer – especially not someone from my family."
"Why not?" My gaze met his. "It is you who caused the estrangement, not them."
"It was mutual, Risa. My decision to seek revenge for my friend's death brought shame on them." He shrugged, as if it didn't matter, even though – from the little he'd told me – families were a big part of a reaper's life. And yet I knew he didn't regret either his decision or his subsequent actions. But it was those actions that had made him Mijai – it was his punishment for breaking reaper rules and taking a life before its time.
And now, because he'd shared his life force with me, he would remain a Mijai for all eternity, until death overtook him.
"My relationship with my family is not something we should be discussing now," he continued softly. "The police are near. We should go."
Even as he said that, the distant wail of sirens began to cut across the steady murmur of traffic moving past the building. I sighed and pushed to my feet. "No. I want to question the vampire first."
He frowned. "I can pull whatever information you need from his mind."
"But that won't give us a record of confession, and I want to start protecting my ass against Hunter."
That's if he could incriminate her. She was a powerful telepath, and could easily have placed a block around the vampire's thoughts, preventing him from ever mentioning her part in Jak's death.
I glanced one more time at Jak's motionless body, whispered a final good-bye, then dug out my phone and hit the Record button as I walked back to the foyer.
She has not placed a block on his thoughts, Azriel said, appearing by my side again. I can feel none of her taint in his mind.
I glanced at him. Which is odd. I know Hunter is head of the Directorate and therefore able to squash any investigation, but surely even she wouldn't want the questions her involvement in Jak's death would raise.
You accord her human thought processes, and that is something she long ago abandoned. Azriel's mind voice was thick with contempt. Besides, she would not think us capable of catching her killer. He is not a Cazador, but he is very skilled in killing. Do not step too close or give him the opportunity to attack.
I wasn't planning to. I took several photos of the vampire – noticing in the process that Amaya didn't show up in any of them – then tucked my phone into the purse's front pocket, out of sight, but still close enough to record everything said.