Passionate Investigations (10 page)

“I know I should talk to Dad about this, but he’s so
stubborn. I want proof so he will have to believe me and can’t dismiss this
whole situation. I’m starting to get nervous. My instincts say this reaches far
deeper than I’ve uncovered, and what I already know scares me silly, to be
honest.”

Another pause. Zahra’s heart pounded. She willed Tanya to
have left more, Zahra still felt as if they were grasping at shadows.

“Rob will have every right to be pissed as hell at me, after
the way I fell for their setup and blamed him but he deserves to know I’ve
started to uncover the truth. He was used as a sacrificial goat in order to
close this corruption case. I’m hoping he can look past my lack of faith in him
and our friendship and help me, because I’m starting to feel like I’m in over
my head.”

Tanya sighed and the tape played in silence for a few
heartbeats. Zahra had the feeling her sister was gathering her courage and the
words that followed supported that thought.

“This goes way deeper than I expected. At first I thought
that rat bastard had just used us but he’s just the tip of the iceberg. I could
have cheerfully killed him when I discovered what he came so close to doing to
our family. I’d never be able to tell her, but I thank Circe every morning for
Zahra’s stubbornness and determination. She might not know how strong and
intelligent she is, but I can’t imagine the mess we’d really be in right now if
not for her.”

Zahra blinked, utterly lost. What the hell was Tanya talking
about? She looked up. Both Rob and Ben stared at her, clearly as puzzled as
she. Zahra made a face and shrugged, completely in the dark herself.

“I need to get this all summarized out,” Tanya’s voice
continued. “I’m hoping that talking it over with Rob will help the big picture
gel. It will be good to have a partner I know I can trust unconditionally once
again. I hate how paranoid I’ve become from necessity around here. Between the
two of us we can make an action plan for what I should do next. Rob’s always
been full of plans and ideas. I wish I’d turned to him earlier when I first
started to understand the depth of corruption within the Council.”

Zahra’s jaw dropped. She’d known there’d been a mole, but
Tanya’s voice sounded weary, defeated. Zahra’s imagination ran wild, wondering
just how big this all really was.

“I might ask Rob if I should get someone to watch out for
me. I can’t help but feel as if I’m always being watched, followed. I know it’s
ridiculous, but I just can’t shake that crawling sensation on the back of my
neck. I’m going to take that vacation Zahra keeps on telling me I need. I’ll do
it once this is over. Zahra and I can run off to some remote, warm beach
somewhere for a week or two. Nothing but the sun and cabana boys to lavish
attention on me. Now there’s a fantasy.”

Tanya sighed and Zahra’s eyes flooded as the ache spread
through her chest. She missed her sister, wished they could go on a beach
vacation together. But that time had been taken from her. Silently she urged
Tanya to tell her who this “rat bastard” was. A glance told her the tape was
nearing its end. Zahra leaned over the table, pleading mentally for her sister
to be more descriptive.

“Anyway, the least I can do is clear Rob’s name, after the
furor I created. With luck and the depth of his contacts we can try to find who’s
behind all this and pulling the strings. It will shatter Dad when he finds out
we were being used, but as soon as I have more evidence I plan to confront him
with what I’ve found. He won’t be able to dismiss my suspicions about certain
factions in the Council, though it might kill him to realize how deep the
corruption really goes. Oh, and I need to tell Layla tomorrow that I’ve left
copies of my report so far in her drop box. She’s always so swamped with
Intelligence reports, one more shoved down the bottom of the pile should remain
safely undiscovered for a few weeks. Maybe it’s the paranoia getting to me, but
it felt like a prudent move. I learned long ago to listen to that little voice
of reason in the back of my head. I think it’s that same word of warning that
has me leaving my thoughts here instead of in my journal. Hell, maybe I really
do need that break. Anyway, I better go meet Rob and face the music. I hope he
listens to me.”

The tape ran for a few seconds in silence, then shut off.

Zahra stared at the Dictaphone, astonished such a small item
could change her life so completely.

“I would have listened to her,” Rob spoke after a minute had
passed silently. “I was pissed as hell with her in the beginning. When that
faded I didn’t hold a grudge. Tanya was merely doing what she genuinely felt
was right at the time.”

“I’ve seen Layla around the office,” Ben added. “She always
has a smile for everyone. But if Tanya gave her a report then why didn’t she
come forward with it?”

“Wait a minute,” Rob picked up the recorder and rewound it
for a second then replayed Tanya’s final comments.

“I have to tell Layla tomorrow that I’ve left copies of my
report so far in her drop box…”

“She didn’t give the report to Layla, she hid it in her drop
box,” Rob pointed out. “Most of the Investigators have a pigeonhole along the
wall in the front reception. They have two slots, one from outside in the
corridor, one inside the foyer of the entrance. The point is so anyone can hand
over information, either by discreetly delivering it themselves or through the
mail system. Even envelopes just left lying around on a desk or table with an
Investigator’s name on it have found their way to the drop boxes.”

“No one would look twice at Tanya by the boxes,” Zahra
followed, understanding what Rob was getting at. “And if Layla’s box is often
overflowing, one more envelope with her name on it down at the bottom would not
raise a flag of caution with anyone.”

“Hide in plain sight,” Ben added.

Zahra looked up at the clock on the wall. It was close to
four a.m.

“We don’t have time to go back there right now,” she
grumbled.

“I only know Layla in passing,” Rob said. “She was always
better friends with Tanya. We know each other but after my name being dragged
through the mud I don’t feel I’m the best person to get into contact with her.”

“I can call her,” Zahra offered. “Then Ben and I can go back
and pick up the files.”

“No way,” Rob cut in. “Whoever killed Tanya, the people she’s
uncovered involved in this conspiracy mean business. They’ve already tried to
take us out once. Next time they will be a lot more prepared and won’t
underestimate us. If this really connects directly to the Council like Tanya
suggested…we’re in deep shit and need to make our move carefully.”

“Why don’t you call Layla and organize for her to meet us
all somewhere neutral,” Ben suggested. “Investigators are in and out of their
offices all the time, no one will think twice of her leaving for an early
meeting.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Rob replied.

“I need to call my Dad, too,” Zahra sighed as she rubbed her
eyes tiredly.

“Do you think he heard about the attack outside the office?”
Rob said. Zahra felt her heart constrict. Truthfully, she hadn’t even thought
of that.

“Oh, no. I hope not,” she replied with feeling. Guilt
niggled at the edge of her conscience. While she hated the thought of her
father worrying about her safety, she didn’t believe he’d appreciate a call at
such an awful hour of the morning.

Exhaustion sapped her, made it difficult for her to think
coherently. She’d been up for almost twenty-four hours now with barely a few
hours’ sleep. The funeral, the week of grieving and shock at discovering her
sister had been murdered took its toll on her. Both wizards watched her. She wondered
if she were so tired they could follow the train of her thought.

“There’s nothing we can do for a few more hours,” she
decided. “Let’s go back to the cabin and I can leave a message on my father’s
answering machine. We can grab a few hours’ sleep and I’ll call Layla first
thing when we get up.”

“You have my number,” Ben pulled his wallet out and left a
few bills on the table. “Call me in a few hours when you’ve made the
arrangements. I’m heading home and will carry my cell phone if I go out. If I
don’t pick up on the landline try my cell and you can give me the details. For
now, I gotta get some rest.”

Zahra smiled tiredly at Ben. The two wizards shook hands and
Ben left. Rob put more bills on the table, leaving a tip for the waitress. A
part of her longed for her bed, longed for the comfort and security of her own
apartment. She didn’t bother to ask Rob if they could go there. Zahra
understood that until they had resolved this situation it was far more
important they keep one step ahead of their enemies rather than burrow their
heads into the sand.

When Rob took her hands in his she threaded their fingers
together. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and the tiny spark of attraction
that zinged through her body made her smile. She felt cherished, protected in
his presence.

Exhausted, she followed him to where they had parked the
bike.

* * * * *

Zahra tried to compose her thoughts as she automatically
pressed the numbers to ring her father. Rob sat on the edge of the bed as he
pulled off his boots. His jacket was draped over the chair as he prepared for
bed. The phone rang once and then was picked up before it could ring a second
time.

“Hello?” Grant’s voice came over the line, heavy with worry.
Zahra pressed a hand to her forehead, cursing the fact she hadn’t thought to
assuage his worry before now.

“Dad, it’s me, I was going to leave a message. I’m so sorry
I didn’t think to call before now.”

“Zahra, I’ve been so worried. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, Dad, I promise. I’m not certain where to start
though.”

Zahra heard the clink of crystal and could easily picture
her father pouring himself a drink from the decanter on the side board in his
study. It was an action she knew helped calm and soothe her father. Long ago
she noticed despite the perpetually full bottles and half-dozen cut-crystal
glasses he never drank much. She’d asked him why he bothered with the masculine
ritual. He’d told her it gave him space to think and compose himself when he
needed it.

“I heard you were down by the office. With Robert Padden, no
less.” The reprimand was clear in her father’s tone.

“Nice to know the gossip network is still going strong,” she
replied with a bit of an edge. “Who was the one to tell tales?”

“Actually I heard it from a few sources,” her father
admitted. “You might be surprised how many people noticed the fight that
occurred in the street. I’m just glad you’re safe. I don’t think I could bear
to lose another child. If you’re home now I can send someone over there to pick
you up. I think you’ll be far safer here with me. Let me go wake up Walter and—”

“I’m not at home, Dad,” Zahra cut him off before he could
steamroll his thoughts any further and begin to chart out the rest of her life.
“I’m with Rob, and until we work out how far this reaches I don’t think I’ll be
at the apartment for more than a few moments here or there.”

Zahra met Rob’s eyes.

“Be careful,” he mouthed to her. She nodded.

“Zahra,” Grant sighed, exasperated. Zahra decided there was
no easy way to say anything she needed to, so she just said it.

“Dad, Tanya was murdered. She called Rob before she died,
she was on her way to meet him and ask for his help. She found evidence he had
been framed, she seemed to be looking into a conspiracy that has infiltrated
the Council. That’s what Rob and I are looking into. It’s why we wanted to
search her office at work.”

There was a heavy silence at the other end. Zahra held her
breath, waiting for him to assimilate what she’d dumped on him.

“Is this some trick Rob is playing on us? If I find he’s
leading you down the garden path, I swear I’ll—”

“No, Dad, he isn’t. Look, I found her recorder. Listen.”
Zahra reached a hand out and grabbed the Dictaphone off the desk next to where
the phone sat. She rewound the tape for a few seconds and pressed play.

“The least I can do is clear Rob’s name, after the furor I
created. With luck and the depth of his contacts we can try and find who’s
behind all this and pulling the strings. It will shatter Dad when he finds out
we were being used, but as soon as I have more evidence I plan to confront him
with what I’ve found. He won’t be able to dismiss my suspicions about certain
factions in the Council, though it might kill him to realize how deep the
corruption really goes. Oh, and I need to—”

Rob gesticulated madly. Understanding he didn’t want to tip
their hand about Layla, Zahra clicked the stop button. Silence filled the air
once again. Zahra wished she could see her father’s face. A part of her
wondered if maybe she should have insisted to Rob they go see him instead of
deliver this news over the phone. In all honesty she had expected to leave a brief
message for him. She hadn’t thought he would still be awake at such an early
hour.

“Rob was framed as a scapegoat, Dad,” she reiterated in a
soft tone. “Tanya was sure enough of that she contacted him. She spoke on the
tape that she trusted him and wanted to work with him to uncover how far this
conspiracy reaches. We’ve been looking for what Tanya had found so we can bring
justice to her murderers.”

“I can’t believe Tanya didn’t come to me with this,” Grant
said heavily. “Maybe I do hold some responsibility here. If she’d shared her
theories with me and I’d been able to act on them, then maybe—”

“You didn’t know, Dad,” Zahra comforted him. “And Tanya was
going to come to you, she planned to. But maybe they would have killed you as
well as her if that had happened. It’s impossible to second-guess what might or
might not have happened.”

“I still want you to come here,” Grant insisted doggedly. “You’ll
be safe in the house. I don’t want you out there in danger. In a few hours I
can make an official statement and get the best team of Enforcers onto this.
Rob can work with them if he insists, but I want you out of it.”