“Are you—”
“I’m fine!” he explodes suddenly, head jerking, eyes burning red.
Veda backs away until she hits the wall.
“Sorry, sorry,” Everett rasps. “I ... You need to know. The trickster flies.”
Dr. Simpson is gone by the time Gabriel and Francisco arrive.
“One second he was there, and the next, I was alone.” Veda paces from one side of the barn to the other while Gabriel writes down everything she remembers from her conversation with Everett. Peter andKhadijah, having just finished searching the grounds with Francisco, approach, shaking their heads.
“Gone,” they say as one.
“I doubt he’ll come in tomorrow,” Peter adds, looking around once more. “I have his personnel stone in my office. The information is up to date.”
The walk inside is quiet until Peter hands over the stone.
“Thank you,” Francisco says. “If he turns up, call us, but don’t approach him yourself.”
Gabriel leans against the wall. “We need to talk about the Oracle Council. They’re ignoring my inquiries.”
“My uncle thinks they’re hiding something,” Khadijah says.
Gabriel scoffs. “Obviously.”
“We’ve tried to speak with them plenty of times during other investigations—the attacks on Seers, the false arrests, even when we told them about the Botanist. But it’s been crickets. I’m surprised Clinton wants to help.”
“Can you blame them?” Khadijah asks. “Seers haven’t had a reason to trust the FCD since its inception. The wounds run deep. Despite my uncle’s efforts to bridge the gap, the Council prefers to handle things internally.”
“You need to change their minds, especially now that we have clear signs of the Botanist being here. There wasn’t a body with those spider lilies, but after what Dr. Simpson said, I’m convinced they were a warning. The Council needs to get on board, preferably before another member is killed.”
This perks Veda up. “Every victim was on the Council?”
“The last few tried to scrub themselves from existence, but yes. All of them, except the one in London. She had no ties to Washington state.”
“Then you should assume she had a tie to the Botanist.”
Francisco sighs. “We’re still combing through her friends. There are a lot, and I’m not finished. So far, they’ve agreed to help. Based onwhat Everett told you, I know you’re going to decline, but I think you should consider protection.”
“I’d sooner invite the Botanist to my house for dinner.” Veda folds her arms. “I trust Gabriel mostly, you partly, and the FCD not at all.”
“Partly?” Francisco sulks. “I thought we were better than that.”
“You don’t curse, and you’re too calm,” she replies. “Not cursing is inauthentic, and calm men are suspicious. Well, except Peter, who internalizes everything. I don’t make the rules.”
Peter doesn’t dignify Veda with a response, while Khadijah snickers.
“I have dozens of young nieces, nephews, and cousins who repeat everything,” Francisco argues. “Also,someonehas to balance out Gabriel. He’s either too patient with suspects or too friendly with witnesses.”
A fair point.
Gabriel stands straighter. “How didIget dragged into this?”
They ignore him.
Francisco checks his watch. “We’ll examine the personnel stone, get what we need, and go to Dr. Simpson’s house tonight. If he doesn’t answer, we’ll talk to his neighbors and family. How long has he been working here?”
“A year,” Peter replies.
