Page 35 of Grayson’s Challenge

“Who’s that?”

“This is Monique, Cain’s daughter,” she said.

“Hey, sorry I don’t have any better news.”

“Not your fault. So that new council president, is that Bill Wheeler?”

“Yeah, that’s him. Why?”

“I know his wife. She’s originally from New Orleans. She owes me a favor. I’ll talk to her.”

“Good luck,” Luther said. “Talk later.”

“Later,” Grayson said and disconnected the call. He cast Monique a sideways glance. “You have friends in high places?”

“Occasionally, it’s useful to be a princess.” She unlocked her cell phone and navigated to a number, then put the phone to her ear.

“Clarice? It’s Monique,” Monique said and let out a sob.

Grayson whipped his head in her direction, surprised to see Monique crying.

“I don’t know whether you heard, but my dad was kidnapped this morning, and Mom is badly injured. We’re not sure she’s gonna make it.”

That was a blatant lie, because he’d seen with his own eyes that Faye had looked fine after Maya had given her human blood, but Monique continued undeterred.

“I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do… yes… I know… so terrible.” She let out another sob. “But there were witnesses to the kidnapping, and we know that the attackers were vampires, most likely ex-VCONs, you know, vampire convicts. If only we could get all their mugshots, so we can find them and save my father, but I’m told that civilians like myself can’t access the database. I would never ask, but…” There was a pause, during which Monique listened. “Yes, oh would you really? I don’t know how to thank you. You’re the sweetest person in the world, Clarice.” Another sob, and Monique said, “Thank you.”

She disconnected the call, then looked at him with a smirk. “She’ll send the data via a secured link to my cell.”

Her voice was totally normal again, and there were no tears. She’d been acting. And boy, her sobs had looked and sounded real.

“You… uhm…” He shook his head.

“Oh, the tears?” She made a dismissive hand movement. “I can turn them on whenever I need them.”

“Good to know. And Clarice, is she really gonna get us the data?”

“She’s a total softy, sucker for a sob story. And her mate can’t say no to her.” Monique winked. “She’s very persuasive.”

“She’ll withhold sex and blood until he gives in, won’t she?” Grayson guessed.

“Whatever works.”

“And they say that women are the weaker sex.”

“We are when we need to be.”

“Uh, huh.”

Despite having seen Monique’s manipulation skills in action, he couldn’t help but admire her. She was ruthless when she wanted something and used dirty tricks until she got it. He was glad that they were on the same side, because he didn’t want an adversary like Monique: smart, strong, and cunning.

“We need to go to your parents’ house,” Monique demanded. “When I get the link, we can download the data onto a computer there so your mom and mine can go through the photos.”

“No problem.”

He made an illegal U-turn at the next intersection and headed for Nob Hill.

“We should be there in about twenty minutes.”