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“Absolutely.”
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2:45 A.M.
Kaj pressed his elbows into the dining room table and dropped his head into his hands. What a night. What an awful night.
Val had moved to sit on his left, Elijah on her other side, Czar at Elijah’s feet. André was on Kaj’s right, looking grim. Burke was back outside keeping watch and Lucien had taken a still-cuffed Jace into the garage, where they’d remain while Kaj and André decided what to do.
“Kaj, what do you want to do about Jace?” André asked. “I could take him into custody tonight, but that might be showing our hand to Corey. I’ve put extra personnel on his house, in case he comes back, but I don’t want to scare him underground. I want to find out what that man is up to. The interview he gave is a one-eighty from what Jace described tonight.”
Elijah was watching Kaj warily, and that was a lot of pressure. If Kaj acted callously, what was he teaching his son? But if he’d misread Jace’s sincerity and Elijah was hurt as a consequence? He could never live with himself.
“I don’t know,” Kaj confessed. “I want to believe him, but I’m worried that he’s here to get under our defenses. And then they’ll hurt Elijah.” He turned to Val. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s telling the truth, but I understand your fear. My job is to protect Elijah, not Jace. Let’s look at it a different way. If we tell André to take him into custody, we’ll be tipping our hand, like André said. But what are the other ramifications? Corey forced Jace to dump Rick on your front lawn. Corey wasn’t afraid of security because he likely knew that you’d refused police protection. If André takes Jace into custody, what does that give away?”
“They’ll hurt him,” Elijah said spiritedly. “Whoever blabbed about Dad refusing protection will hurt Jace if André takes him away.”
“André can put Jace in a safe house,” Kaj said. “My concern is keeping you safe.”
“We need to verify Jace’s story.” Val squeezed Kaj’s arm. “Because that brings up yet another question. Rick knew exactly where to find you and Genie on Monday night, Elijah. How did Rick know that you’d be at math club?”
“Good question,” André said with approval. “Elijah, we asked you on Monday night who knew that you’d be there, and you said your math teacher and the other kids in the club. Can you try again to remember if there was anyone else who knew?”
Elijah shrugged. “Anyone, I guess. Math club is on the schedule on the school’s website.”
Val stroked a lock of hair from Elijah’s forehead. “I googled you, Elijah. There’s no mention of you in your dad’s profile with the DA’s office or on the school’s website, so neither Dewey nor Rick could have found you or your math club schedule online.”
“I didn’t give permission for Elijah’s name or photo to be included on any of the school’s promotional materials,” Kaj said. “For exactly that reason. I rarely mention Elijah at work, either. I’ve never mentioned the math—” He froze as a snippet of conversation flashed in his mind. “One day Elijah called me. He had a math meet and wanted me to come. I talked to him for a few minutes and noted the date in my calendar. I was in the lobby of the NOPD precinct in the Quarter at the time.”
“So lots of cops could have overheard you,” André said grimly.
Kaj dropped his head back to his hands. My fault. Dammit. Then a hand touched his back, gently. Val.
“Not your fault,” she murmured. “You’re a proud father. You should be able to talk about your brilliant son and not worry that there are vipers listening.”
“Dad,” Elijah added. “Please look at me.”
He did, seeing only concern on Elijah’s face. What had he done to deserve this kid? “Yeah?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
“Val’s right. It’s not your fault.” He grinned. “And I am brilliant.”
Eyes burning, Kaj laughed unsteadily. “You really are. Come here.”
Elijah obeyed and Kaj wrapped him in his arms in a hard hug. “Brilliant,” he whispered in Elijah’s ear. “And kind. I’m proud of you, son.”
Elijah let himself be held for a few seconds longer before wriggling free. “This just underscores the reason why you shouldn’t let Jace be taken into custody.”
Kaj wiped at his eyes with a sigh. “Underscores? Really?”
Elijah shrugged. “I am brilliant.”
Val chuckled. “He’s right.” Then she sighed. “Someone in NOPD is leaking information. Corey knows that Dewey was believed to be the driver on Monday night. Corey knows that you’d refused police protection. Someone told Rick where to find Elijah. Until you know who that someone is, Jace isn’t safe in NOPD custody, at least not officially. Once he shows up in the official record, Corey’s coming after him. Sorry, André, but that’s the way I see it.”
André rubbed a hand over his shaved head. “Me too, unfortunately. We just need to figure out where to put him.”
Elijah opened his mouth, but Kaj shook his head. “No. He cannot stay here.”
