I nodded, ready to go, but Kerry had another question for the ghost.
“Would you be able to tell me if someone is dead or not?”
Uh-oh. I thought I knew where this was heading and it wasn’t any place good.
“If the person left a regret, unfinished business, or, as you’ve seen, a death cry, then, yes, I would.”
“Check for Gemma Shepherd.”
“I’ll need a memory.” Without a word, Crane held out his hand, and Kerry recoiled as if the see-through fingers were reaching for his heart.
And in a way, I guessed they were. Kerry would never sacrifice a single memory of his girl, and I was about to offer one of mine instead when Gigi stepped forward.
“Here. I have one I don’t mind giving away.” She laid her hand in Crane’s, winced when he claimed the memory, and slumped back against Jax’s chest as Crane once more returned to his mirror door.
As we waited, I glanced at Kerry and saw sharp tremors rip through the kid’s body. I looked over at Mira, who was also watching him, and her face reflected my own thoughts.
I gestured to Jax and saw he was already preparing to contain Kerry if Crane came back with evidence that Gemma was dead.
Well, I hoped he’d be able to contain him. A Harker tornado in the middle of the city would bebad.
When the ghost returned, I let out a rush of air to see his translucent hands were empty. Kerry looked ready to pass out. I felt kind of sick myself. The stress he was living under was worse than any physical torture I could imagine.
Thanking Crane for his time, I herded everyone out of the office and back to the elevator and down.
“Well, I guess we’re off to St. Pat’s.” I patted the package as we exited the building.
“And I’m off to see Zick at Mammoth’s.” Kerry stretched his arms over his head.
“What’s Mammoth’s?” I thought I’d better keep tabs on him.
“It’s a bar where the Diabolical hang out. Most of you wouldn’t be able to go with me, so it works out.”
Hank had told me not to let him go off on his own. I didn’t like it, but there was only one solution.
“I’d like Mira to go with you,” I said.
“Sure.” She smiled at me.
“Give us the address.” I tucked the small box under one arm. “And, Mira, you keep your eyes open.”
“I can take care of myself,” she growled.
“Except for when a devil sneaks up on you or a raider kidnaps you,” I retorted.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I started to apologize, but she cut me off.
“Even you can be surprised in an ambush, meathead, or taken down by a behemoth.” She thumped my chest with theheel of her hand. “Besides, this time I know to be on guard from the get-go.”
“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I admitted.
In the background, I could hear Jax asking Kerry why we all couldn’t go with him and listened with only half an ear. What I was seeing in Mira’s golden eyes was much more fascinating.
“As soon as they smelled you, they’d want to eat you,” Kerry explained. “For me, the possession taint drowns out the scent of my Divine blood. And Mira’s coercion taint is strong enough to hide hers, so she makes the best sense.”
Pain flashed across her face.
“It’ll fade on its own over time,” I murmured. “It already is.”
