“He was only half-vamp, remember.”

“So he was too dumb to put airholes in the coffin?”

Jack grinned. “Actually, he had too much air.”

That raised my eyebrows. “How can anyone have too much air?”

“He was half merman, that’s how.”

“A vampire merman?” I couldn’t help the note of incredulity in my voice. “Why in hell would anyone want a cross like that?”

“I think hell had a lot to do with it. A hell run by fanatics determined to breed the perfect killing machine.”

“I can’t imagine a merman willingly being a part of research like that.” They don’t even like going to the doctors, for heaven’s sake

“I don’t think willingness has anything to do with what is going on here.”

“So why were you investigating Quinn?”

“It was just routine. He owns several pharmaceutical companies in Australia and the U.S. Of the ones here, the biggest is in Sydney. Sydney is where that vamp was headed.”

“That doesn’t mean he was headed to O’Conor’s labs.” I took a sip of coffee and screwed my nose up at the bitter taste. Still, with my head continuing to pound and my stomach beginning to growl over lack of food, bitter coffee was better than nothing

“As it turns out, he wasn’t, but we still had to check. Especially since Director Hunter wanted Quinn in on the investigation.”

I swung around to look at him. “What?”

Jack smiled. “The older vampire community is not a huge one. There are, perhaps, fifty vampires worldwide who have survived to reach their millennium years—and to do so means they are either extremely powerful or extremely canny. Quinn is both.”

And for a vamp over one thousand years old, he was also very well preserved. “Why would she want him on the investigation, though?”

“Because he was already seeking the origins of the lab-made dhampire and the Gautier clones, and it is infinitely better if we pool resources and work together.”

“Just how many clones are there?” That there might be more than two was a scary thought—and I could only hope they didn’t all have a desire to shoot me with silver. “And why would he be investigating them? He’s a businessman, not a cop or guardian.”

Jack grinned again. “O’Conor’s been many things over the years. A businessman is only the latest incarnation.”

“That doesn’t answer the question, Jack.”

He nodded. “The truth is I can’t actually stop him from investigating this, so it’s better to have him working alongside us.”

I frowned. “Throwing his ass into one of the cells upstairs would certainly stop him.”

“The cells wouldn’t hold me, let alone Quinn. Not with the sort of mind-power he’s got.”

A chill ran down my spine. “The Directorate is shielded. No one is supposed to be able to use mind-abilities within these walls.”

“Most can’t, and the cells will hold all but a very few.”

But not him, and not Quinn, obviously. It was an almost scary thought that the two vamps I’d felt so comfortable with were far more dangerous than Gautier ever could be. “Why is Quinn investigating the clones?”

“He saw—and stopped—one in Sydney sometime ago. Apparently the clone was the image of a friend he’d thought dead.”

Meaning the friend was the image of Gautier, if this “friend” was the dead man Jack had mentioned earlier. Part of me couldn’t help wondering if the poor guy had been so depressed about his looks he’d killed himself. “A vampire friend, I take it?”

Jack nodded. “Quinn’s also an old friend of Director Hunter. He recently contacted her about the matter—a professional courtesy, as he’d heard Moneisha mentioned while investigating and intended to come down to Melbourne and look into the matter further. Which is why she told me to bring him in on our investigations.”

“Her okay doesn’t make it legal to have a civilian involved in a Directorate case.”

“In matters of civil safety, the Directorate can enlist whatever help it deems necessary. And it does give us the chance to intercede before he does anything illegal.”

Somehow, I didn’t think Quinn would be too bothered about legalities if push came to shove. “He left a message on my phone. He wants a meet tonight.”

Jack nodded. “He contacted me once he’d regained his full memory. For the time being, I want you to work with him.”

“Do you think that wise? I mean, if he’s as powerful as you say, might he not be using his abilities to bend you to his will?”

“Director Hunter trusts him implicitly, so I must also.”

“Director Hunter isn’t infallible, as evidenced by the fact she had no idea her vice president rubber-stamped Gautier’s entry into the Directorate.”

Jack grinned. He seemed to being doing a lot of that lately, and it was somewhat disturbing—if only because I suspected it meant he was extremely happy about how things were going when it came to his plans for me

“Suspicion is an excellent habit for a guardian to have, you know.”

So was knowing when to retreat—which was exactly what I intended doing just then. Besides, it was nearing eleven, which meant I’d have to get moving if I wanted to meet Quinn. “Tell me about Moneisha.”

He glanced at the computer screen, said “Moneisha, information portable,” and a second later, a tiny chip sealed in plastic appeared. He picked it up and handed it to me. “All current information we have. Once you and Quinn have read it, destroy the chip.”

I shoved it in my pocket. “Will do.”

“Keep me updated.”

I nodded and left. When I climbed into the car, I saw the file Talon had given me. A quick flick-through revealed nothing more than what I’d already seen. He hadn’t even tried to do a thorough search on Quinn, and that was annoying. I didn’t ask much of either of my mates, but when I did, I expected a little effort expended

I shook my head, threw the folder down on the seat, and headed down to the Casino parking lot. It was close to eleven-thirty by the time I loped toward the Casino itself. Once I’d reached the main entrance of the big building, I swept my gaze across the people milling there. Humans, wolves, shapeshifters, and vampires, but none of them the man I was looking for. I turned, checking the surrounding area

And found him not far away, sitting on the steps that led down to the quay. I walked over and sat down beside him, close enough that I could feel the warmth of him, but not quite close enough that we were touching

“I didn’t think you were coming,” he said, voice conversational

He’d actually showered and donned some clothes since I’d last seen him. His hair was indeed black, and so thick and silky my fingers itched to run through it. The coat I’d given him had disappeared, and he was wearing a burgundy sweater that hugged his lean form and framed his angelic features, and black jeans that seemed to emphasize the athletic strength of his thighs. He was sexy covered in mud, but the clothed version… wow

“What happened to the coat?” An inane thing to say, but my brain was too busy battering down my hormones to think of anything more intelligent

He glanced at me, eyes darker than the night itself, and totally unreadable. “I left it at my house to be washed. Blood from your wound had soaked into it.”

I raised my eyebrows. “So you do have a house here?”

He nodded. “In Brighton.”

It figured. Toorak was only for the would-be billionaires, like Talon. “I talked to Jack before I came here.”

“Then you know I mean you no harm.”

“Well, no. I know you’re currently helping the Directorate’s investigations, but I very much suspect you’ll do your own thing if it happens to suit you better.”

He smiled his seductive smile, and my hormones did an excited little shuffle. “You do read people well.”

“Meaning, of course, that I’m right not to trust you fully.”

“I didn’t say that.”

Didn’t deny it, either. “Jack wants me to work with you tonight.”