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“You fucking did it.” Gion snapped, because it was obvious. “You shoved the stool in front of Sax, you rigged the camera, and you locked him in the armory so he’d suffer. Then you tried to blame me for all of it, hoping Saxon and I would take each other out and spare you the trouble.”

“No one could prove that at the inquest.”

“Because you were running the fucking inquest!”

Job ignored all of them. “Why were you trying to pick a fight with Saxon last night?” He asked Isaacs bluntly. “Bad-mouthing him in that bar is sure to lead to trouble, and you know it. Is this lingering animosity from the Air House?”

“Everything I do is interpreted as aggression.” Isaacs adopted an offended tone. “Why can’t I tell amusing anecdotes about an old acquaintance, without it being some huge plot? I’m trying to make new friends, and you’re bitching at me for buying drinks.”

Gion rolled his eyes, because that was yet more bullshit. “You weren’t trying to make friends. You’re only ever friends with naïve women, who use their good reputations to bail your ass out of trouble.”

“For your information, fuck-hole, I talked to plenty of men. I hung out with Alder, while we made fun of you and Sax. Then that Crystal Phase guy joined us, jabbering about the Hunger Games movies and licking dead flies off the windowsill. Oh, and he also explained the mating habits of elephants. In excruciating detail.”

“Akkadian?” Job’s eyes widened in alarm. “Dear God… Don’t talk to Akkadian. Akkadian is insane, Isaacs.”

“Yeah, I noticed that when I spent an hour with him talking about fucking elephants. Literally. Elephants who are fucking. It got graphic.” Isaacs finished his croissant and dusted his hands together. “Yuan was giving that nutty bastard plenty of hints to shut up, but he just kept…”

Job cut him off. “Yuan was there, too?”

The Council’s examination of the Reflection Kingdom had turned up nothing of interest, so far. Whoever the dead Reflection Phases were working for, they were smart enough to cover their tracks.

“Hell yeah, Yuan was there. At least, I’m pretty sure it was him. He apparently looked like Brad Pitt, the fucking try-hard.” Isaacs reached for a coffee mug. “Anyhow, that’s another man I talked to. See? Not just girls.”

“Why was Yuan in a tavern?” Job pressed.

“Probably spying on the Fire House. Aren’t you trying to prove he framed them for something? I don’t think Alder even knew who he was though, which pissed him off.” Isaacs snickered. “Or maybe he wanted to hear all about African wildlife.” He adopted a fake Yuan/Brad Pitt-style voice. “Genuine beauty is the domain of nature and cannot be replicated, even by one as powerful as me.”

Tharsis made a gagging sound. “Did he really say that? What a pompous dick.”

“He has a butterfly prison that he’s real proud of.” Cross snarked. “He keeps them all trapped in a fancy, fake garden.”

Gion suppressed a shudder, his skin crawling at the memory. “Butterflies are deceitful and gross. They’re just bugs trying to trick you into not noticing they’re bugs.”

“Well, they sure can’t compete with the majestic beauty of vultures.” Tharsis drawled.

“How do you feel about penguins?” Isaacs asked Gion apropos of nothing.

“I hate them.”

“Perfect!” Isaacs beamed.

Gion glowered suspiciously.

Tharsis was intrigued. “Why would you hate penguins, Guy? Everyone likes penguins.”

“They think they’re better than vultures, in their ostentatious tuxedos, but they can’t even fly.”

Job massaged his temples, like the entire conversation gave him a headache. “Can we focus, boys?”

“I’m focused.” Isaacs assured him. “And my response to your lecture is that Yuan can blow me. …Actually, he can’t. My standards are way higher than his replicant ass.”

“Focus on Saxon.”

“Why? He’s so dull.” Isaacs waved a dismissive palm, guzzling down the last of the coffee. “So, are we done? I’ve got to go shopping with Ty.”

“Whatever you were up to last night, stop it.” Job summarized sternly. “There’s been enough conflict. Stay away from Saxon. And Akkadian. And Yuan. None of them are good news. Alder’s not either, but at least he’s a Fire Phase, so you know what you’re getting.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t think a repeat of last night is necessary. Our conversations didn’t blossom into a true bond of friendship.” Isaacs headed for the door. “Not like I’ve got with Ty. Hey, Gion, don’t wait up, okay? Me and her might be out ‘til all hours.”