Someone else was controlling Ike, and Jo-Jo knew who it was? I couldn’t wait to wring every last detail from him. I scurried back to the hall and stood at the bottom of the staircase just as Jo-Jo descended. He looked as serious as he had brandishing my fake sword a few nights ago.
“I’m ready to split when you are.”
We found Donita and Saber coming from the parking lot as we went out. Donita thanked Jo-Jo again and wished him the best. Saber reminded me he’d pick me up Sunday to see Neil’s house and gave me a chaste kiss good night. Darn it on the chaste part. Then again, Pandora was waiting to hop into the back floorboard, and I was itching to pump Jo-Jo for information. Saber would just distract me.
I let Jo-Jo chatter about the act, how pleased Vince was, and how Vince had arranged for them to fly to L.A. by charter jet tomorrow night.
“Just think. Me, in the jet set. Of course, I could fly out there myself, but it would take a couple of nights. And it’s too far to take luggage or my laptop.”
I did a double take. “Wait. You could fly all the way to California? Like the kind of flying you’re teaching me?”
“Yeah, but, boy, would my arms be tired.”
“That joke sucks,” I said, but felt my lips twitch.
“Hey, you walked right into it.” The highway lights illuminated his grin. “By the way, I’m not that tired. You want one last flying lesson? We could practice in your cottage so nobody can take potshots at us.”
I agreed because, if nothing else, I hadn’t given up the fantasy of levitating with Saber during sex. However, that thought didn’t deter me from quizzing him.
“So, did you recognize Laurel tonight?”
“Laurel?”
“The cornrow queen. Have you seen her before?”
“No, Highness.”
“Then you’ve heard her voice, and you recognized it, right? You might as well tell me. I heard you in Ike’s office.”
“Heard what, Your Royal Beauteousness?”
“Can the crap. Who’s the power behind Ike, and where have you seen—or heard—Laurel before tonight?”
Jo-Jo squirmed in the passenger seat. “Princess, I don’t think it’s safe for you to know.”
“If you tell me, you’ll have to kill me?”
“Never, but someone else may.”
“Jo-Jo, don’t make me stop this car. Spill.”
He heaved a sigh and bit his lip. “All right, but please don’t let Ike know you know.”
“Duh, like I would.”
“All right. Laurel has been in Vlad’s court. I didn’t see her clearly, so, truly, I did not recognize her.”
I believed him, if for no other reason than that he’d lapsed into his odd mixture of formal and casual speech. “Go on.”
“I did not overhear the entire exchange, but Vlad seemed to be giving Laurel messages or instructions.”
“About what? How to run the club? The nest?”
“There was something about tributes. Payments like we who live with Vlad make. Perhaps Ike gives some of the club earnings to Vlad.”
“Geez, if Vlad demands tributes, he really does run his nest like a fiefdom.”
“Yes, and Ike’s nest would be an extension of Vlad’s.”
I thought a moment. “Jo-Jo, was it just Laurel and Vlad you overheard? Were they the only two in the meeting?”
“Well, no. Marco was there.”
“Did he do any of the talking?”
“Other than agreeing with Vlad, I don’t think so. But the guy is a complete sycophant, so that wasn’t unusual.”
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. “Okay, let me get this straight. You think Vlad is the power behind Ike, and that Laurel is the go-between?”
“Yes. Ike didn’t deny that there is a power behind him.”
“Did he look shocked that you knew?”
Jo-Jo nodded slowly. “Yes, he was shocked. And angry.”
“And probably embarrassed. What about that threat you made? That Ike could be permanently replaced, and he should watch his back?”
“It is only the truth. If Vlad is indeed backing Ike, Vlad could just as easily withdraw his backing.”
“And give it to someone else? Like Laurel or Marco?”
Jo-Jo shrugged. “He might support a female as a nest leader, but he is old-fashioned.”
“You mean he’s a chauvinist.”
“That would be Vlad.”
“Okay, so let’s think. Some vamps live in nests, but others live independently. Is that right?”
“Right.”
“And maybe all vamps who live in nests contribute to the household, as it were. Ike’s vamps probably do the same thing, come to think of it.”
“I’m with you.”
“Then what difference does it make if Vlad is the power behind Ike?”
Jo-Jo shrugged. “I don’t suppose it makes any real difference. If Ike is paying fair tribute, and stays submissive to Vlad, there’s no special reason to get rid of him.”
“Hmmm. Then I wonder why Ike is frightened.”
Jo-Jo stiffened. “I did not tell you he was fearful, my lady.”
“You didn’t have to.”