SINS OF THE HEART
“Looks like.”
“And the kid? What’s her role?” What purpose could
she have served?
“The sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. Maybe
she had no role. Maybe she was incidental.”
“Your witness says Lokan knew Dana, so I’m doubting she was incidental. Roxy was sent by the Asetian
Guard to find her. Marin was holed up with her in some
rat-shit motel. Xaphan’s genies came here looking for
her. Everyone seems to want a piece of that kid.” Dagan
picked up the spoon and tapped it lightly on the edge
of the empty glass. “She wasn’t incidental. She’s a
game piece. I just need to figure out the board.”
“Maybe she’s a witness. The last living witness to
Lokan’s death.”
Dagan considered that, added the possibility to his
mental list. “Maybe.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“Because I’m not.”
Mal laughed. “Neither am I, brother. Neither am I.”
Dagan’s gaze slid to the closed bathroom door.
How much did Roxy know? How much was she
keeping to herself? He had every intention of finding
out, by fair means or foul. “Get anything else from
Xaphan’s concubines?”
“A great deal.” Mal laughed again, obviously relishing the memory. “They were chock-full of energy. And
information. Lovely creatures. Inclined to be helpful.
But I believe I was entertaining a different group than
those you met with.”
“‘Met with.’ That’s a polite way to put it.” Dagan set
