"Yes, but from what he said, the priests were in decline by the time he began training, and the Razan were only kept by the older ones."
"So these two Razan are either far older than they look, or the priests did not die out as everyone was led to believe, and we have an Aedh temple here in the city that no one knows about."
"According to Quinn, there's no temple here. But I suspect Hunter will be investigating that option regardless."
Yeah, by following me, and hoping I'd lead her to my father, who apparently did know something about the priestly ways of the Aedh. I glanced at my watch and was startled to find that it was nearly one thirty. I needed to get going if I was going to meet Lucian on time.
"If the sudden buzz of excitement radiating from you is any indication," Riley commented wryly, "I'd say you have a hot date planned for this afternoon."
"Very hot, and hopefully very sweaty." I shared a grin with her, then glanced at Mom. "Did you talk to Fay Kingston?"
She nodded. "From what I can gather, a company that has been trying to buy an old building she owns threatened to harm Hanna if they didn't sell. They reported it to the police, but without physical evidence the police had their hands tied."
"Did you get a contact name off her?"
"Not directly." Which meant that—in this instance—the cosmos had been talking to her, not Fay. She reached into her purse, drew out a pink Post-it note, and handed it to me. On it was a name—Joseph Hardy—and a phone number. "That's the man who contacted her with the original offers—the ones before the threats were made."
Riley plucked the note from my fingers and pocketed it without a word. Which didn't matter, because while she might get Rhoan to chase it up, I now had Stane. "Has she heard anything else from the company now that Hanna is dead?"
Her expression was grim. "She didn't say anything else, but I think she knows Hanna's death was not as peaceful as we told her. She also mentioned that she'd decided to sell the property for the lower-than-market price they offered, so I think the threats have moved to encompass Steven. She certainly fears for his life."
Damn. If Handberry didn't have heirs, that meant everything he owned would go to auction and these people—whoever the hell they were—were possibly only two properties away from gaining control over the ley line intersection. Which meant something else Stane would have to check for us.
"And what about you?" I asked, reaching across the table to take her hand in mine. "What do you fear?"
I felt the sudden sharpening of Riley's interest—it was an intensity that seemed to electrify the air. I ignored it as best I could, concentrating on Mom, trying to read her reactions. She could be a great actress when she wanted to, but, over the years, I'd learned a few telltale signs.
I saw them now.