Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [5]
“From where?” Connor interrupted.
Before the bald-headed man could answer, he was shoved farther into the room by Angus MacKay and three other Vamps who had attended Mass at Romatech. All four of them had their swords drawn.
“Where is Casimir?” Angus demanded.
“I don’t know.” The bald-headed man nodded toward Phineas, Ian, and Jack. “I remember you guys from the Janow incident. You’re from MacKay Security and Investigation.”
“I’m Angus MacKay. And ye are?”
“Sylvester Bacchus, station manager.”
“Tell me.” Angus stepped closer. “Are ye aiding and abetting a known terrorist?”
“No!” Sylvester ran a hand over his bald head, which was gleaming under the bright lights. “I told Corky I didn’t want any part of it. I sent her on vacation, but then she sent me the DVD—”
“From where?” Connor asked again.
Sylvester shrugged. “She didn’t say. The package was postmarked California, a few days ago. Hollywood, I believe.”
“I say, what a fortuitous coincidence.” Stone patted his hair as he regarded himself in the monitor. “There was a report that someone spotted that unsavory character in Los Angeles.”
“Several nights ago,” Connor muttered. “That’s when the interview must have been recorded. Casimir could be anywhere by now.”
“The devil take it.” Angus sheathed his sword.
“Merda,” Jack grumbled. “I was hoping to kill him tonight.”
“Yeah,” Phineas agreed. “And the really shitty part is that bastard’s back in America.”
Stone shuddered. “Such coarse language. Thank God this isn’t being broadcast to my listeners.”
“Sod off,” Connor told him.
“Humph.” Stone lifted his chin and marched toward the door. “You’re just jealous because your hair is unruly and barbaric.”
“You mean your hair is real?” Phineas asked as Stone passed by. “I thought it was a rug.”
Stone gasped and ran from the studio, clutching his hairbrush to his chest. Phineas grinned and did a high five with Ian.
“Sylvester, do ye still have the envelope Corky sent?” Connor asked. “We need that, and the DVD she made.”
“Sure.” The station manager rushed out.
Angus retrieved his cell phone from his sporran. “I’ll call J.L. Once we get a location in California, he can check it out.”
Connor nodded as he sheathed his sword. J. L. Wang was a fairly new Vamp, but as a former FBI special agent, he knew how to get the job done. “We should check every place in America that Casimir has teleported to in the past.” Those locations would be embedded in his psychic memory, so he was more likely to use them than risk an unknown destination.
“Aye,” Angus agreed. “Jack, go with Lara to the compound in Maine. If Casimir’s there, call for backup.”
“Will do.” Jack teleported away.
“Ian, go to New Orleans to warn the coven there,” Angus continued. “Then go to Jean-Luc’s place in Texas to let him know. Is the school well guarded?”
“Aye, Phil is there with his werewolf lads.” Ian teleported away.
“Phineas, I want you and Robby to check out St. Louis, Leavenworth, and those farms in Nebraska,” Angus ordered. “As soon as I get Corky’s DVD, I’ll be returning to Romatech, so call me there to report.”
“Got it.” Phineas teleported away.
“That leaves the campground near Mount Rushmore,” Connor said quietly. The accursed place where Casimir and his minions had slaughtered innocent people twice before. The same place where Robby MacKay had been held captive and tortured. If Connor had to lay a bet, he would wager this was Casimir’s favorite location in America.
Angus sighed. “I dinna want to send Robby back there.”
“I understand.” Connor knew what it was like to be burdened with bad memories. “I’ll leave right away.”
Angus reached out to stop him. “Ye shouldna go alone. Drop by Romatech and take one of the shifters with you. Carlos or Howard.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“That wasna a suggestion, Connor. It was an or—”
He teleported away before Angus could finish.
Chapter Two
A strong wind whistled through the forest,