“Not for long. Speak or I’m out of here.” Nausea slid down her throat to coat her stomach. This guy was actually her father. “Who’s manufacturing Apollo?”
“Oh, no.” Her father shook his head. “I don’t give you a name until I’m out of here. If you, a decorated cop, testify at my parole hearing next week, I’ll finally get out, and I’ll tell you everything. The name of the manufacturer, the location of the factories, and even the top distributors. I know everything—especially how they’re bringing the drug into the country.”
Lex sat back and studied her father. His eyes remained clear and his manner truthful, but the guy was a killer and a drug dealer. He’d survived decades of prison, and surely he could tell a convincing lie.
“How do you have that information?”
He folded his hands together around the chains. “I still have friends on the outside, as well as on the inside. I hear things.”
“Right. Where’s Spike?”
Her father shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Bullshit.” She leaned toward him. “I think you do. You’re still a part of the drug trade.” How in the hell had she missed that? He’d been a key distributor years ago, and it made sense he’d stayed in the game. “If you’re working with whoever is manufacturing Apollo, I’ll make sure you never see the outside again.”
“I’m not.” He met her gaze levelly. “I knew that finding out about this drug was my only way out of here, so I called in every marker I still had and found out the truth. Found out everything I could, which is enough to help you solve your case.”
Made sense, but she trusted him as far as she could kick him, and that wasn’t far. He might have slimmed out, but he was still a big guy. “I think you’re full of shit, and you’re wasting my time.”
“Trevan Demidov,” her father said, his eyes beadier than she’d remembered.
“Who?”
“That’s all you’re getting for now. A gesture of proof and goodwill.” He rattled his chains. “Guard? We’re done here. For now.”
Lex stood. “Who is Demidov?”
“Figure it out, Alex.”
The guard entered and released the chains from the ring in the table, lifting her father to his feet. He shuffled toward the door, turning at the last minute, looking thin in his orange jumpsuit. “Say hi to my Jennie for me.” The guard shoved him out the door, and he disappeared.
Lex took several deep breaths, her hands shaking. Okay. She could deal with this. Now she had to get back to the station and run Demidov before going to the hospital to check on Bernie and Masterson.
And then? Then she had to deal with a fire throwing, dangerous, probably deadly witch who had a truly mistaken view of her as a mate. That one would probably require a weapons discharge.
Chapter 25
Kellach paced the office, his temper frayed and his control nearly shattered. Pictures of five faces cascaded across the screen—all witches who’d had the wherewithal to mine the mineral during the time in question. “Which one do you think?”
Daire, the only other occupant of Simone’s home office, shrugged a massive shoulder. “I’m not sure it’s one of them, but all five have expressed dissatisfaction with the Coven Nine, and four have withdrawn from membership.”
Three men and two women. “Martin Zanbus, Stan Newly, Grid Johes, Sylvia Pelut, and Tama Vichin.” None of them looked like much of a danger. “Are we sure these are the most likely enemies?”
Daire nodded, kicking back in Simone’s desk chair. “Aye. They are the ones still alive who had access to the mines years ago. We lost so many in the last war that, unfortunately, it was rather easy to narrow down the results to these five witches.”
Kell nodded and began pacing again. “We seek them out, then.”
“Would you stop fucking pacing?” Daire growled. “Before we seek them out, we need to launch a full investigation into their past centuries. I’ve put our computer guys on it, and we should have results by tomorrow.”
“I’m not pacing.” Kell continued to walk back and forth. “Besides witches, demons have had plenty of time to mine the mineral.”
“I know.”
“So we need a list of demons, too,” Kell growled.
“What the hell is your problem?” Daire straightened up in a clear sign he was about to lunge.
Kell pivoted, more than halfway ready to clash with his older brother and draw blood. “Nothing.”
“Jesus. You’ve been mated less than a week, and she has you this tied up in knots?” Daire relaxed back in the chair and plopped his boots onto the antique desk. “Get your woman in order. I need your mind in this fight.”
“Get my woman in order? How the fuck do you propose I do that?” Kell nearly spit fire at his brother.
Daire shrugged. “I don’t give a shit. You’re an enforcer, she’s a human, get her under control.”