Page 38

CHAPTER 38

O ur route took us to the south end of Lake Zürich, and then along the east coast back toward the city. It was looking more and more as though we’d been led around by the nose. The only thing that kept me optimistic was that Nicola still felt her sire.

I moved into the front seat next to the window and told the driver to drive slower. Soon, I directed us off the main road, and shortly thereafter, we were in the foothills.

“This is lycan territory,” Nicola said.

Le Pen twisted around in his seat. “I don’t think we have much to worry about. They have been rather quiet since they met with Verner and Adolphus.”

“We haven’t brought a force like this into their territory,” she said.

We soon turned parallel to the river, heading north into the city.

“We need to find our beds for the day,” Nicola said.

I turned to her. “Something that’s been bothering me. Why weren’t you captured or killed when they took Herr Karlsson?”

“I was sleeping elsewhere. I’ve tried to get Verner to be more security-conscious, but he’s rather set in his ways.”

With me directing the driver, we drove past the Altstadt, and turned back down the hill.

“Wait,” I said, reaching out and grabbing the driver’s arm. “Can you drive around that building in front of us?”

“I’ll be damned,” Nicola said from the back seat.

We drove around the building, and when we reached the place I had originally stopped us, I opened my door and slipped out.

“Where are you going?” Le Pen asked, alarm in his voice.

“Just a quick reconnoiter. I’ll be right back. Give me half an hour.”

I could feel the trail heading directly toward the building. It was an elegant villa overlooking the Limmat. There were other large houses with spacious gardens in the area. It was a part of the city I had not explored—not at all like the tall stone buildings of the Altstadt or those lining the river closer to the lake.

I wove a shield and cast an invisibility glamor, then crept closer to the house and circled it. The trail led to a garage door under the house. Nothing indicated there was a prison or a dungeon there. Definitely not like the church building Nicola had been targeting.

There were magical wards cast about the place, and I made very sure not to get too close. I counted thirty Knights around the house and grounds. There were also several local police stationed at the doors. A couple of lights were on in the house, and I saw one Knight pass in front of a window.

Once I was sure I had Verner’s essence located there, I made my way back to the SUV.

“He has been there, and I’m pretty sure he still is,” I said as I crawled back into my seat. “Anyone know what it is?”

“Home,” Nicola said. “Or at least what used to be my home. The Müller mansion where I grew up. Where Roland and Nikolas live.”

“What about your brother?”

She shook her head. “Joseph might be there—he visits sometimes in the summer—but he’s in poor health. He spends most of his time in Spain, on the Costa del Sol. Nikolas runs the businesses, when he’s not busy playing politician.”

Alex spoke up. “Yes, the old family home. I’m a bit surprised they’re keeping him there. I would have stashed him at the country lodge or in one of the company warehouses.”

“What now?” Le Pen asked.

“It’s three-thirty. My people need to find their beds,” Nicola said. She climbed out of our SUV and got into one driven by a strigoi. We watched that portion of our caravan scatter.

Le Pen looked at me. “And for us?”

“Captain, take me home. I need to get a few hours of sleep. Come by to get me around nine.”