He reached the staircase to the lower level and solidified, ready to check the next level. He remembered from previous encounters that Charlie-boy preferred his office on the main level of any house he owned, and that was where Jaden was going. He didn’t have enough time to case the entire house. That would have to wait for another night.

“Jaden?”

Jaden sighed. Duncan hadn’t bothered him this much in years. “Yes, dear?”

“How is it going?”

He slid a foot onto the railing, testing to see how slick it was. “I don’t recommend the mushrooms.”

“Redcaps?”

Jaden blinked. How the hell did Duncan know that? He’d never described their taste to Duncan before. “Yes.”

“You aren’t hurt?”

“Pfft. Please.” He misted down the banister. The damn thing seemed a little shaky to him, so crawling down it was definitely out. When he reached the bottom he rematerialized, panting a bit. Misting was damn tiring. “There were only two.”

“Only two? Jaden!”

Jaden winced. Damn, the man could yell. Who knew? “Shh. Daddy’s still working.”

He heard the low growl in his mind. Duncan was going to have words for him when he got back. He grinned. He couldn’t wait. This side of Duncan was one he’d never have suspected before. It gave him all kinds of tingles to know he was the one who had Duncan in full protection mode, misplaced though it was.

He made his way silently through the lower floor, misting in stops and starts. It was a power that only worked for brief periods of time and the energy drain was horrendous. He might have to feed again before leaving the house if he kept this up.

Jaden came to a stop at the last room to the right before the servants’ wing. Ah-hah. He’d finally found what he was looking for—Charles’s office.

He stepped into the room and quietly began to rifle through Charles’s desk, careful to disturb as little as possible. He didn’t need Charles knowing that he’d been in here.

Jaden had learned long ago how to perform a B&E. He’d been working for Robin almost from the start of his service in the Gray Court. Once he’d proven adept at this aspect of his job Robin himself had taken him under his wing, teaching him the finer points of how to search a home and leave no traces behind. He’d gone for nighttime forays into neighborhoods that would have turned Duncan’s hair white if he’d known about it, but Jaden had learned. Oh, he’d learned. Robin was a hard taskmaster, but he had to admit the man was fair. When Jaden had done particularly well the Hob had managed to make the once unwanted boy feel like he’d found a true mentor. Strangely enough, Duncan had never once asked where he went at night. He hadn’t cared so long as Jaden came home in one piece. It was why he’d thought Duncan wouldn’t mind him taking the job offer Robin had held out like a lifeline all those years ago.

“I cared. I was afraid if I tried to rein you in you’d leave me.”

Jaden paused, setting down the papers he’d been reading. “You never told me that.”

“Of course not. I didn’t understand it myself.” Duncan sighed. “We have a lot to talk about.”

Jaden couldn’t stop the smile that crossed his face. “This is the part where we break out the foam curlers, paint our nails and talk about our feelings, isn’t it?”

“Asshole.” The amused affection in Duncan’s voice took the sting out of the insult. “Do what you have to do and come home to me, amoureaux.”

Jaden’s cheeks heated. He put the papers back in their proper place. Damn it, he had to focus on the job, not on his lovers. The risk of getting caught got higher with every minute he spent in Charles’s house.

He closed his eyes and let his senses lead the way. Sniffing, he noticed that Charles’s scent tended to linger over by a particular chair, near the globe and at the fireplace. Hmm. He checked out the chair but found nothing of interest, no secret caches or buttons hidden as knotwork. The globe was a standard minibar. He lifted out the booze but found no hidden compartments. Finally he checked out the fireplace.

No hidden passageways, no safe behind the painting. At least Charlie boy is smarter than the Deranged Darling was. Last but not least was the computer.

Jaden took out his cell phone. He dialed a number Robin had made him memorize for just such a situation.

“Big Red here.”

Jaden grinned. If anyone could break into Charles’s files it would be Robin’s pet gremlin. “Hey, Red. This is Blackthorn. I have a job for you.”

“Bring it on.”

He made sure the computer was running before giving Big Red the information he needed to begin rifling through the hard drive. Files began to open and close faster than should be possible, the gremlin’s magic touch working on the electronics.

Jaden kept one eye on the dancing files and another on the door, a sense of satisfaction purring through him.

“Hey, Blackthorn? You’re not going to believe this.”

Jaden checked the file that opened in front of him. He smiled when he saw what Big Red had highlighted. God, I love my job. “Download it all and send it to Robin. Hey, Red? Thanks.”

“My pleasure. Good luck, and happy hunting.”

Jaden hung up the phone and began to make his way out of Charles’s house. There was no way the would-be Lord Malmayne would be able to get out of this one.

Akane pulled up outside the quaint farmhouse. It was an old Victorian, with white gingerbread accents and a wide front porch. It was difficult to tell the color in the dark, but she bet it was a soothing blue color, the trim a blinding white. It would suit the landscape around it. A huge wrap-around porch with a real porch swing gave the old Victorian a homey feel. A place like this in San Francisco would go for millions.

Out here in the sticks? Probably worth less than a hundred grand.

“Personally, I think it’s worth a bit more than that.”

Akane didn’t blink. How the fuck had the stranger come up on her that quietly? She smiled, pulling out all the charm at her disposal. “Hi. I’m lost.”

The man smiled down at her, his expression knowing. “I don’t think so, darlin’. I think you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

That slow, deep drawl did some strange things to her insides. Blue eyes gleamed down at her, the most dazzling she’d ever seen, like the finest of sapphires. His light hair looked like spun gold in the moonlight. He had to be the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on, but she couldn’t let that distract her. She had a job to do, a family to save. “Can you tell me how to get to Highway Nine?” There was always a Highway Nine somewhere around these types of places.

The son of a bitch had the gall to lean his hip against the door of her car. “Now you and I both know you’re not looking for Highway Nine.”

She blinked up at him, trying to look small and unthreatening. She’d always succeeded in the past. Big lugs like these would fall into the palm of her hand, ready to be crushed into pulp. “Of course I am. I need to get to Omaha.”

His lips twitched. “Of course you do.” His hand reached out, his fingers tipping up her chin. He studied her face. Something about his close scrutiny had her squirming in her seat like a nine-year-old in front of the principal. “You don’t need to lie to me. In fact, I’d prefer it if you didn’t.”

She laughed, hoping it sounded as confused as she actually was. “Okay. I need to go now.”

“Why? You’re only going to pull over about a mile away and fly back here. Why not come in for a cup of tea?”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me?” Who the hell was this guy?

“Shane? Are you out there?”

His eyes twinkled down at her. The lilting tongue of the Sidhe dripped from his firm lips. “I’m busy, Da. Give me a few minutes, please. And can you put on a pot of tea? It seems we have a guest.” He stood tall and held out his hand, switching back to English. “Come along, Akane Russo. We have a few things to discuss. Wouldn’t it be more comfortable inside, where it’s warm?”