“There’s a gentleman waiting to see you in the downstairs waiting room. I told him, per your instructions, that you weren’t to be disturbed. But he was very insistent that he meet with you as soon as possible. He…he made me very uncomfortable.”
Zacharias watched her fidget with a corner of her notepad. There were at least a dozen bodyguards patrolling his warehouse. He’d introduced them to Daffeny as custodians, despite the fact they looked more like pro wrestling candidates, or mercenary types in a B-rated movie. She seemed to accept the explanation. At the time, he’d been relieved. Her naiveté meantshe could stay a little longer. It was a time-drain getting rid of assistants, disposing of the bodies, making their deaths appear accidental. Not to mention the inconvenience of interviewing new candidates.
He leaned back in his chair, glancing over at the drawer where he kept his gun. “Did the man give his name?”
“I apologize, sir. He refused. Should I call the police?”
Zacharias choked down an oath. The last thing he needed was the police snooping around. “No, I’ll take care of it.”
“Yes, sir.”
She seemed to relax. But something else was bothering her. Instead of bringing it up, she just nodded and left in a hurry. He made a mental note to ask her about it later today as he descended the stairs to the warehouse floor. There could be any number of people who would demand an audience. He would let Daffeny know she could call on the “custodians” to help her in the future. If all went as planned, she might need them in the next few weeks.
Satisfied he’d covered his base, he headed toward the waiting room. Like the warehouse and his office, it was stark and functional. He didn’t believe in flaunting his wealth. It sent off too many red flags. So far, the IRS bought the explanation that people paid a high premium for imported rocks to decorate their yards and use them in their outdoor water treatments. It also helped that he had legitimate landscape companies on his client list. They wouldn’t be as understanding if they found out the blue powder was used in illegal drugs, and in forbidden potions for the Talons and the Grey Council. He loved his little secrets.
He recognized the man in the waiting room. It was Vlad, the Grand Vizier of the Grey Council, and his specialty was surprise visits. Vlad had made himself at home and was drinking out of Zacharias’s coffee mug. Zacharias made a mental note to throwit out as soon as Vlad left. He didn’t like people touching his stuff.
Zacharias camouflaged his annoyance with a smile. “An unexpected pleasure, Grand Vizier.”
Vlad held out his hand and offered a strong handshake that threatened to crush Zacharias’s fingers. Either the man didn’t know his own strength or he was making a point. A little of both was Zacharias’s guess. “We’re pleased with your progress.”
Zacharias motioned for Vlad to take a seat and then sat down, ignoring the throbbing pain in his hand. One thing he’d learned from dealing with Wizards and the magical community was that it wasn’t wise to show weakness.
He settled back in his chair and faked calm. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, Grand Vizier. It’s easy when the product sells itself. The ingredient you suggested made the difference. We’ve named the product Magic Carpet Ride,orMCR,and it’s an overnight success. I was concerned the side effects would discourage sales, but as you predicted, it only accelerated them. The kids are addicted to the danger in the same way people eat raw puffer fish or play Russian roulette. They believe the drug can provide them with temporary superhuman powers to give them the ability to jump off tall buildings and survive. Even the knowledge that the majority of people die or are crippled from the fall hasn’t discouraged sales. It helped that we spread the rumor that a few people land on their feet and walk away. I’m curious. Is it true that the uncut stones are also an energy source, like the sun or wind? Any chance we might run out?”
“You have a lot of questions for a man in your position.” Vlad set down the mug with such force it shattered. “None of that is your concern. I thought I made that clear. What concerns me, however, is that I suspect the drug is no longer under your control. Wizards are dead ahead of schedule.”
Zacharias tried to regain his composure. He was shaken—not from the broken mug, but by the tone of Vlad’s voice. Zacharias had met dangerous men before. He was surrounded by them. Hell, hewasone. Vlad was at a different level. He swallowed. “Do you trust this Wizard?”
“Of course not, but I was pressured to get to the bottom of the murders, and it would have looked suspicious if I hadn’t brought him in. I chose him because he would be easy to discredit if things got out of hand. One of the Wizards killed wasn’t on the list I gave you. Explain.”
Zacharias laced his fingers together, weighing his words carefully. Pissing off a Grand Vizier was never a good idea. He knew the Wizard in question, the one most recently deceased. The man was an undercover policeman who ventured too close to Zacharias’s operation by cozying up to his last assistant. Naturally, both had to be killed. Vlad wouldn’t like that excuse.
“I may have an explanation,” Zacharias said. “As you know, a few Wizards have exhibited signs of addiction, which is why we set your plan in motion. Their deaths would be easily explained away. Unfortunately, dealing with drugs and the chemically dependent is never a stable cocktail. It’s possible some of them stumbled onto our product by accident.”
Vlad gripped the arm of his chair. The steel frame bent under stress. “Then explain to me, if you would be so kind, why the eyes were removed? The poison is all that is needed to kill them.”
Sweat beaded on Zacharias’s forehead. “I’m guessing whoever gave the Wizards MCR panicked. They wanted to make sure that if the Wizard survived, he would be helpless. Removing the eyes renders a Wizard helpless to use his powers.”
“I know what it does when you remove a Wizard’s eyes, you dolt. I’m the one who told you. I gave you my enemies list. Only the Wizards I designate on the list were to be sold Magic Carpet Ride by your drug dealers. Make sure you have controlover all in your employ and that none have gone into business for themselves. I don’t care how many humans buy it, but overdosing Wizards is another matter. Do I make myself clear?”
Zacharias nodded. It bothered him that on the exact day he’d found out a possible theft had occurred, Vlad appeared in his office. He couldn’t ignore the possibility there was a spy in his organization. He wasn’t about to let anything or anyone jeopardize his gravy train or his rise to power. Although he had a way to check if anyone was selling his product without his knowledge, ferreting out the spy offered a challenge.
“I assure you, I have everything under control.”
“I don’t want assurances.” Vlad’s voice rumbled, like the sound before an earthquake. “I want results. It is dangerous business procuring the stones needed to extract the elements for the new drug. Should I worry that you are not the human for the job?”
Zacharias noted the signs. Vlad was most dangerous when he perceived that someone had crossed him, or was not capable, and thus replaceable. In those incidences the person ended up in a shallow grave.
Zacharias kept his voice respectful as he lowered his head in submission. “I have never failed you. You can count on me to have this matter sorted out to your satisfaction.”
Vlad nodded as he answered a text on his cell.
Zacharias forced himself to lean back in his chair and feign calm. Judging an Earth Wizard’s emotion was an insight he’d learned from his wife. He’d fallen in love with her at first sight: Runway beautiful, with a compliant nature and generational wealth that she wanted to share with him to make his every dream come true.
It was only after the wedding that he learned she was part Fae and had used glamours and spells to entrap him. Her compliant nature hid a dark side. The wrong word, the wronglook, and she turned violent. But she was a woman of her word and had introduced him to the leaders of the Talons and the Grey Council.
He’d learned that Vlad was like many in the magical community he dealt with. Their inflated egos made them think they were experts on everything. Zacharias smothered his frustration. It was too soon to show his hand. All he had to do was wait. He blanketed his expression with a practiced smile and laced his voice with false humility.
