“Classy. Are you going to call in a raid?” asked Leo.
“I don’t know.” Justin leaned against the wall and passed his ego from hand to hand. “I could, but if nothing shows up, I’m going to face a lot of heat for sending military to a grant based on circumstantial evidence—especially if I really do keep Geraki out of it. I had a pissed-off voice mail this morning from Cornelia about what happened last night with the Nordics. Public shootings don’t go over well. If I do something else spectacular that doesn’t pan out, I could be in a lot of trouble.”
Mae met his eyes, knowing what was on the line, despite how angry she was with him. “What if we did a preliminary visit?” she asked. “Unofficial. It can’t be that hard getting into a warehouse. We look, and if you get your proof, then you go in for the kill. If nothing’s there, we quietly leave.”
Leo gave a harsh laugh. “Bold, but how exactly do you plan on breaking in? Do you have some technical expertise we don’t know about, pr?torian? Even a grain warehouse has a security system.”
“One that’d be easy for a technical genius like yourself to crack,” said Justin. It was a crazy plan, no question, but they’d passed the point of sanity a long time ago.
“You and I have different definitions of ‘easy,’” said Leo.
“Leo…” Justin’s voice cracked a little. “I don’t want to sound melodramatic, but getting to the bottom of this might be essen—beneficial to my job. I wouldn’t be suggesting something this drastic otherwise.”
“She suggested it.” But everyone could tell Leo was considering it.
Dominic nearly choked. “You’re all crazy! Do you hear what you’re saying?”
“We’re saying we potentially have the chance to crack open this case and bust a cult that’s killing people and conducting illegal genetic procedures.” Justin shifted into sales mode. “All we need is one hint of that. Hell, if we just find evidence of an unlicensed religion, it’ll be a good day’s work. That video becomes irrelevant. We’ll see what schematics we can get in advance about the place. It should give you an idea of what we need to get in, Leo.”
Dominic still looked dumbfounded. “If you’re going, then I’m going. Not that you should be going.”
He and his husband locked eyes for several tense seconds. “Okay,” said Leo at last. “We’ll take a car. Dom doesn’t like public transportation.”
All of Justin’s dislike for Dominic returned. “A car will take forever!”
“Just twenty-four hours,” said Leo. “We’ll sleep along the way.”
Justin tried to size Dominic up. “What do you have to offer in this zany adventure? Drinks for the road?”
“Dom’s a good person to have your back. Let Mae do the heavy lifting, and keep him around just in case.” Leo smiled, but there was a nervous edge to it. “Besides, I’d like the company.”
Once the fateful decision was made, the four of them huddled together to hash out plans. They spent the rest of the day analyzing what satellite and land records they could get ahold of on short notice, as well as planning the logistics of such a feat. When evening fell, they had as solid a plan as they were going to get. Unfortunately, it was going to take Leo nearly two days to get some necessary equipment—putting them in the grant the day before the full moon.
Cutting it close, said Horatio as Justin and Mae rode the train back to Vancouver.
Nothing to be done but wait and see how it unfolds, Justin told him.
You’re the one who’ll be waiting, said Magnus. She’s going to be doing all the work. She’s risking herself for you.
Justin glanced at Mae out of the corner of his eye. She sat next to him, reading on her ego, her hair hanging around her face in a golden wave.
“Mae…” She glanced up too quickly, making him think she hadn’t been reading. “Thank you for this. I know what a big risk you’re taking for me.”
Her face was carved of marble. “It’s for my country.” She looked back down again, and his stomach sank.
I guess I have to take what I can get, he thought.
You can help her, said Horatio.
How? I’m no pr?torian. I’m not even a tank like Dominic.
You have the potential for power beyond physical strength, said Magnus. If you’d just open yourself to it.
I’m not interested in your mystical training. I’m not serving any god.
What harm is one spell? Horatio paused for impact. One that could keep her safe.
The only way she’d be safe is if she stayed at home. But Justin was intrigued, and he dared another covert look at her. What would I have to do?
He could feel the ravens’ excitement. Close your eyes, said Magnus. And concentrate on the symbol we’re about to show you….
CHAPTER 33
MORTAL WEAPONS