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Before Liz could start asking awkward questions, Vadim spoke up.

“I’m meeting with a member from my family today to ask for additional information about Adam.”

“Whom exactly are you meeting?” Mr. Feehan asked.

“A cousin of mine called Rossa.”

“Rossa?” Liz grimaced. “I know him. He’s a devious little shit.”

He smiled at her. “You’re right, but he’s also afraid of me, and terribly indiscreet.”

“Then you should learn a lot.” Liz’s smile disappeared. “But you also need to be careful, Vadim. I’m seeing you as central to this case, even more central than the poor victims.”

“That’s certainly worrying.” He hesitated. “Would it be better if I removed myself from the investigation entirely?”

Everyone else in the room except Ella looked at each other. Mr. Feehan cleared his throat.

“Wedidthink about that, Vadim, but Liz doesn’t believe it will help.”

So that was why everyone had already been in place when he and Ella arrived. What time had the nine o’clock meeting really started?

Ella snorted. “That’s a nice way to treat a team member, boss. Aren’t you the one who’s always going on about us working together as a unit?”

“It’s okay,” Vadim reassured everyone. “I understand why you considered it.”

Feehan shot him a grateful glance. “Thanks.”

“Do we need to speak to Ms. Phelps’s family?”

“She doesn’t have anyone in the area. They’ve asked us to return her to Kentucky for burial in the family plot.”

“What about her face?”

“We’re going to seal the coffin and make it impossible for them to open it at their end by sending an SBLE team home with her.” Feehan grimaced. “It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do for all of them.”

“So all we have to worry about is victim number three,” Sam said.

“IfAdam returns. After that clash with Vadim and Ella, maybe he won’t have the balls to come back.”

“It might delay him for a day or so, but he’ll be back,” Vadim replied. “He’s obviously a creature of habit, and he has a goal to accomplish.” He put away his pen. “If that’s all, I’ll go and speak to Rossa right now and get back to you as soon as possible.”

Feehan nodded. “Sure, go ahead. We’ll finish up here.”

Vadim deliberately didn’t catch Ella’s eye as he rose and left the room. She didn’t need to be with him for this encounter. He had a few things he wanted to say to Rossa without an audience. Not that he’d shut her out entirely—that would make her too suspicious—but he could still shield some of his emotions if she wasn’t breathing down his neck.

He went into their office and then immediately magicked himself to his hotel room. Rossa was already ensconced on the bed, watching porn on the TV.

“Hey.”

Vadim turned off the TV and Rossa pouted.

“I was watching that.”

“You can do it in real life. Why watch it?”

“True.” Rossa turned toward him. “What can I do for you, cygnet?”

“I need you to take a message to my mother and grandmother.”