“Outlet,” Gem said.
He muttered something to her in Russian, and the only word I picked up wascoffee.
“You want us to visit the club and have a look around?” Christian asked.
I leaned back on my hands. “Don’t look so excited.”
“Nyet. I need Raven as bait.”
I shook my head. “I thought you said some of the employees disappeared? Why not just send in a Vampire to question everyone?”
“Someone is getting their women from this club. Why would we want to tip them off?”
“Don’t you think the person running this ring will get their women elsewhere? They might have heard about the raid.”
“It was not a raid. The Regulators were discreet,” Viktor assured me. “After they questioned the manager, they scrubbed her memory of the conversation. The owner does not want to jeopardize his business with a formal investigation. His workers would leave, his customers would quit coming in, and he might seek compensation from the higher authority for slandering his business.”
“Some of those girls who took off might have told the ringleader.”
“No one knows why the Regulators were there. They went after hours, but someone must have seen them coming or going from the building. It would be enough to make the employees gossip but nothing more. The owner has pacified his people with a fake story about his lease or some such nonsense. Only guilty people run, and those girls probably left the city. Would you stay here for an illegal job if you knew there was a bounty on your head?”
“I’d be long gone,” Shepherd agreed.
Viktor stood up. “We have no reason to believe the person soliciting these women to fight knows about our investigation. In the meantime, the club needs replacement workers, and Raven is perfect for this job.”
Christian glowered and stepped forward. “Over my rotting corpse.”
“What I decide is my choice.” Viktor met eyes with him. “The position is for bartender.”
“He or she might approach the other girls instead,” I said. “What then?”
Viktor paced the floor. “We have considered different scenarios.” Viktor regarded me for a moment. “None of the victims had similar traits, so this is not about a physical preference. You must stand out. I want you to watch the other women in the bar. I’m told that the three victims were strong-willed and… What is the word I seek? Butch.”
Wyatt snickered. “You picked the right man for the job.”
“What about me?” Gem gave Viktor her best puppy dog eyes. “I’m a Mage.”
Viktor shook his head. “This is why I hired Raven and Christian. You are not what these people desire, and I need you working on books.”
Realizing there was no way out of working in a sex club, I sat forward and muttered, “This wasn’t in the brochure.”
“Claude will also be working undercover. He can provide backup if something goes wrong. It is better to work in teams.”
Christian cleared his throat to draw attention to the obvious fact that he was my partner.
Viktor shrugged at him. “They have ano Vampirespolicy. What can I do? Vampires are known to cause trouble in such clubs by charming the workers to do their bidding.”
“Apparently they’re not banned inallclubs,” I said, smiling at Christian. “Isn’t that right, honeybun?”
Viktor put his hands on his hips. “It is very important that you do not show anyone your Vampire side. They are looking for a Mage, so keep your fangs out of sight.”
“Got it.”
“Do whatever it takes to stand out and show your strength,” he continued. “Wyatt, I want you to put a device on Raven that follows her every move. She’s prohibited from going anywhere but the hotel and club unless she is invited. If she travels through the human district, monitor any security cameras and document vehicles, plates, and faces. Any place she goes, research who owns those properties. This will require twenty-four-hour surveillance on your part.”
“I can just call and let him know if I’m going out for a bite,” I suggested.
“Nyet. Your phone stays here. I cannot risk the wrong person accessing your contact list or overhearing your call. We will do this right. Claude will relay any messages. And do not go wandering. It will make Wyatt’s job difficult if he is researching property records when you are only going out for ice cream.”
