The Awakening (24 page)

“Please.” Boss held his hand up. “Don’t patronize me.”

“You and I both know you won’t find all the answers through a tedious investigation.” Sal lowered his hands to his lap and shifted his gaze to me. “Perhaps we can come to an alternate agreement.”

Staring into his heartless eyes, I wondered what the demon wanted from me. What could I possibly offer when I had zero memories? Maybe I’d made a mistake and he didn’t know as much about me as I thought he had.

“What do you want?” I asked.

He laced his fingers together. “I want what every demon aspires to.” He looked at Boss.

“You have wealth,” Boss said, gesturing with his palms up. “You have rank since your leader has mysteriously disappeared. What else are you interested in?”

“My goal is to succeed to a higher status.”

“Councilman?” I asked.

Sal looked at me. “You catch on fast.”

“Councilman positions are out of our control,” Boss said.

Sal’s gaze shifted. “Perhaps not. I have nominated myself to fill the vacancy in the council. With your assistance, I may be able to gain the position.”

I met Boss’s eyes.

I cannot help him,
he said through his thoughts.

Can we at least listen?

Boss turned away from me. “How could I possibly help?”

Sal picked off a piece of lint from his pants. “I understand you have been investigating Senator Galluzzi.”

Boss stiffened in his chair. “She is not registered in your logs.”

“The good Senator has plans to run for president in the next election,” Sal said, ignoring Boss’s comment. “I’m sure you are aware of this.”

“I had heard of her plans.”

“I need you to convince her not to run. She can remain Senator for another four years or do whatever she pleases. I don’t care. I simply need you to make sure she doesn’t throw in her name for the next presidential election.”

I stared at Sal, dumbfounded. How could persuading the Senator to remain out of the race have any impact on him getting a councilman position?

Confused, I looked to Boss. He leaned on his elbow on the armrest, his fingers pressed to his lips.

I slipped into his head.
I don’t understand.

Boss lowered his hand. “If Galluzzi gets presidential status, she will have power over the councilman spot.”

“That is correct,” Sal said. “She must be stopped from running in the election.”

“But there’s no guarantee she would even win,” I said.

Sal half chuckled. “I have every reason to believe she would win. She is a woman.” He held up a finger. “She is a demon. Well, half-demon.” Another finger. “And she knows many powerful people, influential people.” A third finger.

“What makes you think I can convince her?” Boss asked.

“I don’t think you can,” Sal replied. “I believe she can.” He pointed at me.

“Because I’m half-demon?”

“Yes, and Galluzzi is under the impression you are dead.”

“Me?” My spine straightened. “How does she know about me?”

“She knew you were going to be at the meeting at the dump.”

Boss fidgeted in his chair. Anger sparked in his eyes. “Hold up. Galluzzi, an unregistered member of your clan, knew about the meeting? How do you know this?”

Sal’s lips twisted into a look of pure mischief. “I have in my possession evidence indicating she was supposed to be there.”

“If you have evidence, you need to provide it to the council. It should be part of the investigation. If she was involved with the deaths, they will reprimand her. You don’t need us to persuade her against running for president.”

“I can’t do that,” Sal said. “As I said, she knows powerful people.”

“In the council?” Boss asked.

“Inside, and out.”

Boss shifted in his chair again. “I find it difficult to believe.”

Sal looked at me. “Do this task for me and I will give you your name.”

I leaned back, crossing my arms, frustrated. The Senator knew about me, but Sal didn’t explain how. Was it possible he didn't know how the Senator knew about me? Was he hiding something more? Regardless, the woman believed I was dead, and he wanted me to sway her from entering the next presidential election even though he had proof that could stop her. Was he that intimidated by the woman? Did he believe one hundred percent I could shake her up enough to convince her? His logic didn’t make sense to me. Why would he choose me over his evidence?

“So you knew what happened at the dump all along?” I asked.

He shook his head. “No. When I first met you, I did not know.”

“Then how did you find out?” I asked.

Sal took a deep breath. “My leader was a cautious man. He often recorded his conversations with others. After he failed to report to a scheduled meeting, I searched his recordings and checked his logs.”

“And this is your evidence of the Senator knowing about the meeting, knowing I would be there?” I asked.

“Yes.”

Well, it gave me one answer. I'd made progress.

“Do you recall why you were invited to the meeting?” Sal asked.

I shook my head. “No.”

“Did your leader mention what the meeting was for?” Boss asked.

“No, neither the logs nor the recordings indicated what the meeting was about. Only names were mentioned.”

If Sal's leader didn't mention anything about the meeting, it must have been top secret. Yet, he left Sal with names. Interesting.

For a moment, I wondered if Sal was telling us the truth or feeding us a load of crap. Trust a demon's words? No way. But if he wanted me to stop the Senator, maybe he would be forthcoming.

“The photograph on your website shows me at the pawnshop,” I said. “Was your leader with me when I sold the watch?”

“No, but he knew about it.”

“Who bought the watch?” Boss asked.

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“It wasn’t your leader?” I asked.

“No, it was not.”

Crap. If his leader didn't purchase the watch, who did? We knew a demon bought the watch because someone had tampered with Ronnie’s memories and implanted the Senator’s picture in his head. What demon would do such a thing?

“But you know who has it,” Boss said.

Sal hesitated. “Not anymore.”

I shook my head. Sal’s answers disturbed me.

“If I can convince Galluzzi, you believe this will help you get the councilman spot?”

“Yes, it will for the most part. If Boss backs off on the investigation, I see no reason for them to refuse me.”

Boss shook his head. Damn it, all he had to do was disregard the investigation of the dump. Maybe I could persuade him.

I turned to face Sal. “I want my name and freedom. I want you to take my picture off your site. I also need to know who created me, and took my memories.”

Sal uncrossed his legs and stood. “I will give you your name and freedom. And I will have your photograph removed. However, you will be registered with the clan.”

My name in a demon registry. Could I handle it? One name in a list of thousands didn't sound bad.

“What about who created me and stole my memories?”

“I cannot give you what I do not have. I found no record of your existence in any of the databases I searched. As for your memories, I have no idea who could have stolen them.”

On a positive note, this confirmed he didn't know I was part vampire and angel. I needed to keep the rest of my heritage a secret. The bad news was I now had no idea where to find out who took my memories, assuming Sal was telling me the truth.

Sal headed for the bar in the corner. “Are you sure I cannot get you a drink?”

“I’m fine,” I replied.

Sal took a bottle of brandy and placed it on the counter. “Boss?”

“No thanks.”

While Sal fixed himself a drink, I turned my attention to Boss.
Do you believe his reason for acquiring the position?

Boss clenched his jaw.
No.

I didn’t believe Sal either. The whole politics factor boggled my mind. Sal had to have a bigger reason for wanting Galluzzi to drop from the race.

Can you force him to deliver the evidence to the council?
I asked.

If I have a witness to support the allegation.

Since I was the only other person who had heard Sal’s claim, I would have to be the witness. Not good.

If he doesn’t take my picture off the site, I may not be around much longer as a witness.

Something is wrong with this deal. He can handle the situation himself. He doesn’t need you.

Can you find my identity if we don’t agree to his terms?

I will keep searching
.

Despair grew in me like a weed. I needed my name and Boss's answer left me lacking confidence. I didn't want to go on for weeks, months, or years without a real name. So far, the only ones who had an inkling about me were Sal and apparently Galluzzi. I couldn’t just get up and walk away from the deal on the table.

I chewed on my lip, considering the options. If Boss refused Sal's deal, I would be back to square one, not knowing my name, having to hide from the world, and praying demons wouldn’t pick on my friends. That option was unacceptable. If I agreed to help Sal, I would get my identity, freedom, and have my picture removed from the website. All I had to do was convince Boss to lay off the investigation. The challenge would be difficult, but accomplishable.

Sal returned with a small glass in his hand. He had a businesslike manner, composed, stiff, yet relaxed. I made my decision as he sat.

“I agree to your terms.”

“No!” Boss jumped to his feet. “She can’t. I don’t agree to pull back from the investigation.”

I met Boss’s gaze. “You need a witness to force him to hand over the recordings. If you don’t have a witness, there is no investigation.”

What are you doing?
he asked.

Saving lives.

I returned my attention to Sal. “The investigation will stall because there is no witness. Now, where can I find the Senator?”

“I will not give up the investigation.” Boss growled.

“I can handle this,” I said firmly, staring into Sal's red-ringed eyes. “Tell me where to find the Senator.”

Sal grinned. “She spends most nights at the Statehouse, working in her office in the basement. If you wait here, I can have a pass card made to get you through security.”

“Why can’t I change into mist and stop by for a visit?”

“Because the cameras in the Statehouse, tunnels, and basement are specially designed to pick up the slightest movement, human or other. She will instantly suspect trouble. If Boss accompanies you as a witness, she will not be able to kill you.”

“Better to be seen than not be seen,” I said.

“In this case, yes.”

Boss came to my side and grabbed my arm. “We need to discuss this.”

“There’s nothing left to discuss,” I said, and faced Sal. “I want my picture taken down before we leave.”

His smile widened. “Done. I’ll get the pass and be right back.” He set his glass down on the table, stepped around the sofa, and headed for the door.

Boss glowered at me with dark eyes full of rage. Intense ire wafted from him, and it frightened me. I waited until Sal left the room before I spoke.

“You can’t guarantee you can give me my name,” I said.

“Is that all you care about? People died. More people could die,” he said in a harsh tone while his fingers dug into my skin. “You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do.”

I lifted his thumb from my arm. “I think we both can agree there is more here to uncover. Right now, this is our best option. You asked me to trust you, and I have. Now, I’m asking you to trust me. Please.”

“I cannot–”

“Do this for Tabby and Jonas if you won’t do it for me. Because if my picture isn’t removed, he’s going to send more out to find me, which puts Tabby and Jonas in greater danger.”

Boss’s jaw flexed. He let go of my arm as the door clicked open.

Sal strolled in with a laptop in hand. He sat on the other end of the sofa and opened the monitor. “Here is your pass. It will get you in the garage, the tunnels, the government centers, and the Statehouse.” He handed me a plastic card with a barcode.

I sat beside Sal, though still at a distance, and watched him type on the keypad. Screens flashed, and then he turned the monitor to face me.

“This is the site now. As you can see, your picture is gone.” He scrolled through the whole screen, even clicked on several links to prove he’d removed the photograph.

I was relieved. I was no longer public enemy number one. My friends would be safe.

Sal set the laptop on the table next to his drink. “You will have to meet with her before she leaves at four.”

“Wait just a minute,” Boss said. “You never mentioned this had to be done this morning.”

Sal grinned. “The meeting with the Senator has to be done now. The council will meet soon to discuss a replacement. I would have thought you knew about the meeting if you were in contact with your councilman.”

Boss exploded, and rushed toward Sal. I jumped to my feet and blocked him. He ran into my hands and I had to use my vampire strength to hold him back.

“We can do this. We have plenty of time,” I said.

Boss glowered at me, then Sal. “I am well aware of the meeting in a few hours.”

“Good,” Sal said. “Then you are aware how urgent this is.”

Keeping my hands on Boss's chest, I turned to Sal. “I want my name.”

“You can stop by tomorrow night. I will need my pass back, and I will provide you with your name.”

“No,” Boss said. “You will meet us in a public place.”

Sal rose. “I will meet
her
in a public place.”

What kind of pissing match was this? Did it matter who met who and where?

“Meet me in the food court of the Greenwood Mall at eight,” I said.

Sal grinned. “I will be there.”

“Make sure your goons leave us alone as soon as we walk out the door,” I said.

“I will have the cops informed right away, along with the rest of the clan.”

Boss glowered at me before heading toward the door. He balled his fists tightly, holding them at his sides. I had a feeling he would give me an earful once we got back on the interstate.