He flicked a hand.“They were at Cat Three.It wasn’t difficult to guess.You also only ever check into that specific hotel room when you have a meeting with an informant.”
Graydon appraised Kira with raised eyebrows.
“It’s not like I knew you were going to be there when I made the arrangements,” Kira said, feeling defensive.
Amusement rumbled from Graydon’s chest.“I see.”
Irritated, Kira glared at Jin.“Do you have an answer for me or not?”
“Maksym and Arly returned a few hours ago.They’re sleeping now.”
“What about Roderick’s group?Any word?”
Jin shook his head.
Kira chewed her lip in disappointment.She found it suspicious that the three Tuann she trusted least were also the three who had yet to return.
“Want me to check on them?”Jin offered, seeing her expression.
Kira was tempted.It would be nice to know what they were up to and if there was a chance of it coming back to bite her on the ass.
“Do it,” she said finally.
This was going to bother her until it was settled.
Jin concentrated on his screen, his gaze focused and determined.
Kira glanced up at Graydon.“I noticed House Kashori and House Asanth’s representatives weren’t with you earlier.”
For that matter, Pallas and Alexander hadn’t been either.
“They had a prior engagement.”
Jin’s fingers stopped moving as he and Kira gave Graydon a sharp glance.
“Shit,” Kira muttered.
There was only one thing she could think of that both Houses would consider important enough to draw focus away from the mission.
The forty-three.
Jin’s face was grim as he bent over his scroll.“On it.”
“You would think they were facing off with an enemy from the way you two are reacting,” Graydon murmured with a faint note of amusement.
“You’d be surprised,” Kira muttered.
The forty-three weren’t to be trifled with.Every one of them was dangerous on some level.It made Kira nervous to think of House Kashori and House Asanth meeting with them.
“You don’t think they’d do anything stupid, do you?”Jin asked nervously, flicking through the camera feeds at lightning speed.
Kira leaned over his shoulder.“Only if they planned to start a war.”
“Pallas and Alexander are Ryan’s people.He wouldn’t throw them away like that.”
Jin sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Kira.
“I agree with you.”
