Page 31 of The Elementalist (Four Elements #1)

Crystal walked out of the bedroom as I set the phone down. She didn’t look too happy, but she also didn’t look angry.

“I’m guessing you didn’t find anything useful,” I said.

“More or less. I couldn’t get into her computer, but her desk drawers and file cabinets had some stuff that makes me think she’s in bed with the Blackwood family.

Couldn’t tell if she’s been influenced with supernatural means or the old fashioned way.

I’d assumed the Farringtons had her, but I think I guessed wrong. ”

“Bribes? I don’t see Justine taking bribes.”

“Might not be money. Could be threats, or merely an appeal that she maintain the appearance that nothing strange goes on here. She definitely knew more about Dana and Luke’s murder than she’s told anyone, including you.

Trust me. But, I didn’t see anything that implied she acted at the direction of the Farringtons.

” She sighed and fell seated on the couch.

“My best guess is that she probably just wanted to keep my sister’s murder quiet because vampires had been involved. ”

I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. “Damn. That doesn’t help us with the Nigel problem—that is, if he’s our main problem—but at least it’s a good sign that we won’t have to worry about Justine or the cops being a threat.

I’ve got a reasonably clear video of Nigel shooting at us.

Maybe we could take that to Justine and the police?

Sure, the Farringtons have loads of money and influence, but even they shouldn’t be able to get away with trying to murder us in the middle of the road. ”

“The video doesn’t prove why he was shooting or even who he fired at. He could’ve been defending himself from someone who attacked him, or shooting at one of those supposed large cats prowling around.”

“Why would someone in a car stop, get out, and pull a handgun on a mountain lion? They’d just keep driving.”

She raised her hands. “Hey, don’t bite my head off. I’m only saying what they will say. It’s a weak story but more plausible than vampires and they’d never admit to attempting to kidnap me, succubus or not.”

“Oh, I got some bad news.”

“How bad?”

“Bad.”

“Lemme guess... that phone call you were on when I came in.”

“Good guess.” I filled her in on what Michael told me regarding the reasons Nigel would want to abduct her. “He inferred that I’d met a succubus and he wanted more information. I figured you wouldn’t be too interested, so I gave him some generic stuff—good PR basically.”

She nodded. “I trust you to use good judgment.”

We sat there in silence for a moment, looking at each other. I tapped my fingers on my makeshift desk. “I’d rather not kill Nigel… or anyone else who isn’t already dead.”

“Yeah.” She played with her hair, twisting it around her finger, dropping it, and doing it again.

“It wouldn’t really bother me that much if something happened to him, but I don’t think we should go kill him.

What if we found dirt on him, then did one of those ‘if anything happens to me, it gets automatically mailed to all the news outlets’ things? ”

“That’s technically extortion, isn’t it?”

Crystal shrugged. “Not quite. We’re not threatening to reveal sensitive information unless he pays us money. As long as he doesn’t kidnap and murder me, he’s safe. Besides, for him to go to the police about any extortion claim, he’d have to admit he intended to kidnap and murder me.”

“Hmm. That might work. Any idea what he might be involved with where I could start looking?”

“You’re not going to like it.” She flashed a cheesy smile.

“The best sources of dirt on such people are the other Founding Families. They keep track of each other like the CIA. I bet most of them even know what I am. I suppose we could try talking to my family to start out with, but they haven’t been on speaking terms with me in a while…

except my mother and Dana, and…” She bowed her head, close to tears.

I hurried over to sit beside her on the couch and put an arm around her.

“They might have their issues with you,” I said, “but they would be more upset over your sister, right? It’s most likely true that the Farringtons sent those vampires after her specifically to lure you here.

Wouldn’t the Bradburys want to retaliate? ”

She sniffled, wiped her eyes, then lifted her head to give me this heart-melting stare.

How a girl like her—who is pretty damn dangerous—could look so timid and helpless, I had no damn idea.

If she’d asked me in that moment to light myself on fire and jump out the window, I probably would’ve done it.

“Yeah. It’s worth a try at least.” She fanned herself, taking deep breaths. “I’ll need to go back to my place for a more lady-like outfit. Do you have anything nice to wear?”

“Ehh, only the suit I usually wear to court, weddings, or funerals.”

She blinked. “You have one suit?”

“Yeah, but it’s at least in good shape.”

“All right. I suppose we can try.”

I stood. “Great. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“We end up dead in a shallow grave.”

“Please tell me you’re exaggerating?”

She smiled and rose to her feet. “You said the worst thing. It’s not likely, but it’s possible.”

I nearly called her a smartass, but she was right. How close to death had we been in the past few days? Too damn close.

“I’ll drive,” she said.

“Seeing as how my truck barely has windows? Good call.”

Crystal rubbed my arm. “Sorry. I feel bad about that. At least let me cover the repairs?”

Half of my brain tried to refuse, feeling guilty for taking money from an innocent girl presently being hunted for her soul. The other half called me a moron. I wound up staring at her, unable to formulate a reply.

“It’s fine. My family might have sent me packing, but Mother made sure I didn’t have to worry too much about money. It’s one reason I live in such a small apartment. Saving. I don’t plan to spend the rest of my life in Ironside. I only need to outlive my bitchy grandmother.”

“She the problem?”

“With Sterling dead, yes.”

“You call your father by his first name?”

She poked me in the side and started for the door. “He wasn’t my father.”