Page 5 of Caretaker

“Are you kidding me?” I said. “You have the code to get inside these gates.”

He didn’t look at me as he drove us through. “Of course. So does the fire department, his attorneys, a couple of his friends, and some of his family.” Finally, he glanced at me and raised an eyebrow at my glare. “You can’t really be upset.”

“I am upset. Not because you didn’t give me the code, but because you didn’t help me convince the judge—who you obviously know well—to go easier on Angus.”

“Angus Stark committed a serious crime and was given only five years, Trinity. Those people have too much power. We wouldn’t have a chance if they didn’t fear ours. And you can thank me and some very influential people for convincing Bennett to give him such a lenient sentence.” He shot a glare my way. “You should offer the judge a heartfelt thanks for that. He could have left Stark in there until he died.”

“What influential people?” I asked, not mollified in the least. I knew Angus had gotten off a lot easier than most supernats would have, but they’d beaten him so badly they’d nearly killed him. He’d paid with his blood. They hadn’t needed to stick him in prison as well.

“The supernaturals aren’t totally without human allies.” He didn’t stop in front of the house but pulled on around to the side before parking in a large lot. “We’re here.”

I got out and slammed my door shut, staring up at the judge’s enormous house. “Wow,” I murmured. “I wasn’t aware judges made so much money.”

The captain only shrugged and walked with me to a somewhat small, recessed door, which was opened by a man in a black suit before either of us could ring the bell.

“Captain,” the man said, inviting us into a rather small room that held the strong scent of coffee which covered, barely, the more muted scent of onions. There were half a dozen lockers against one wall, a few scattered tables, and a desk atop which sat three computer monitors. There were two other doors in the room, but no windows.

“Andy. How’s the family?”

“Doing well,” Andy said. “Thanks for asking.”

Andy ran his cold, practiced stare over me from head to toe. “I’ll have to check you for weapons,” he told me, politely.

I glanced at the captain, frowning. “I have my blade, and he’s not getting it.”

Frank sighed. “Trinity, why did you bring a weapon into the judge’s home?”

Heat climbed my face. “I’m a hunter. She goes everywhere with me.”

“I’ll take good care of it,” Andy promised. “You’ll get it back when you leave.”

And he waited, perfectly aware, as was the captain, that I’d have done anything to see the judge. I shouldn’t have brought the sword, but my mind had been only on the sweet hope that maybe, just maybe, I’d be getting Angus out of prison.

At the very least, I’d finally get to visit him. None of us had been permitted into Byrd Penitentiary, or the Byrdcage, as the Red Valley Supernatural Detention Center was not so affectionately known.

I’d ferried across to the island many, many times since Angus had been taken. I just hadn’t been allowed inside the gates of the actual prison.

So finally, I reluctantly handed Silverlight over to the butler slash bodyguard, who stared down at the beautiful hilt a little too eagerly for my liking. She was shrunken and sleeping and rather innocuous looking, and if people hadn’t seen her in action they would never have believed she could turn into sharp silver lightning at the merest hint of vampire.

Sometimes she didn’t even need a vampire to expand—only danger. When she and I had been getting to know each other, she’d expanded when there’d been a sudden spike in my fear. That didn’t happen anymore.

“She won’t respond to you,” I told him, angry at him for touching her.

I hadn’t been able to keep the secret of Silverlight for long. Too many people saw me fight. Too many cameras watched the city.

“I’ll put it in the safe, Ms. Sinclair. And we still need to search you.”

“Fine,” I muttered and stood still as another man appeared and patted me down while Frank and Andy watched.

“She’s clean,” the new guy said, then turned on his heel and left without another word.

“Michele will take you to see Mr. Bennett,” Andy said, and as he carried Silverlight through a tiny doorway I hadn’t even noticed, a tall woman appeared, and smilingly urged us to follow her.

Michele led us down a long hallway, then hit a button on the wall, which opened a set of double doors at the end.

We walked down yet another hallway, then finally she ushered us into a large sitting room.

It was spacious, airy, and beautifully decorated, but somehow cold and uncomfortable, without the slightest lived-in feeling.