But by the same token, I couldn't tell them too much or ask any more than I already had. It was just too dangerous.
"I'll ask Lucian if all half-Aedh inherited the Aedh gifts, or whether it was just a few." Which wouldn't tell us much more than whether Handberry had been disguising his powers or not, but at least it was a start. I hesitated, then added, "I don't suppose Tao asked you to run a search on an investment adviser named Lucian, did he?"
Stane snorted and glanced up at his cousin. "I told you she'd ask. You owe me a fiver."
Tao glanced at me, expression sorrowful but eyes amused. "And here I thought you knew me better than to think I'd do something like that."
"If something happened to me, Ilianna would insist on taking over the accounts, and we both know what a disaster that would be. So, naturally, you're protecting your investment by looking after me."
"Something like that." He half shrugged, and I knew without asking he was thinking about Jak Talbott, the reporter who'd hurt me so badly.
"There's a Lucian Dupont registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission," Stane said, "and his address has recently been changed from Brisbane to Melbourne. Everything I can find about him seems to indicate he is who he says he is."
Which didn't mean that he actually was. After all, he'd been earthbound long enough to be good at deception. Not that I actually thought he was deceiving anyone; every instinct insisted he was one of the good guys. And this was one time I'd be right royally pissed off if instinct proved to be wrong.
I glanced at my watch and stood up. I needed to go if I was to be at the café on time. "Given he told me he was a politician before he was an investment adviser, I'm guessing his registration records don't go back too far."
"No. He only registered five years ago."
"Then keep looking, and let me know if you find anything."
"I certainly will. Oh, Ilianna said to mention that another parcel arrived for you last night."
Trepidation ran through me. I forced a smile and headed back to my bedroom—and wasn't surprised to hear Tao following. He knew the first parcel had resulted in the Dušan. Besides, he would have smelled the rush of my fear.
The box was sitting on my dresser like before, but this time it was far smaller—the size of a folded letter rather than a book. I picked it up gingerly. It was heavier than a letter should be, and there was a slight bump in the middle of the envelope. And, like before, there was little in the way of postmarks on the outside.
"You want me to open it?" Tao said. "Whatever magic is aimed at you isn't likely to affect me."