"They're a clan to the west," Zhubin said. "Regent Vasiky only had one son who died years before the Veil fell. His mate passed to the other side so he had no chance to ever have others. He saw something in Donovan that reminded him of his son and adopted him in a manner of speaking. I hear he's been dating Mr. Donovan's mother too." When they all turned to look at him he shrugged, "My mother likes to gossip. I so wish I'd had siblings she could torture, instead she focuses everything on me."
"Exactly. And just what do you think would happen if it came to light, even a hint, that a Luhpyne killed him? He's a powerful political figure, was going to run for mayor. Think about it, Zhu," she whispered. "What would cause the humans to be up in arms faster than anything?"
"Have the guy that was going to end corruption and give the people just what they've always wanted killed by the evil assholes on the other side of the Veil," he said. "Yeah, I figured that out as soon as you told me his name. We just need to prove that either it wasn't what it appears to be, or there will be a war that your people won't survive."
"Which is why Briar and I are just flabbergasted. The mates would survive, but how many would die in the process? As I said before, humanity as a whole is a bunch of sheep that are going to be led to slaughter if we don't stop this. We will do what we have to in order to ensure that doesn't happen, right?"
"'Course we will," Ansell said, bumping his shoulder to hers. "And it's not just mates that would be safe. Friends and those that are innocent would be safe too. We protect those that we consider ours," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"I know that. I know that I would always be safe with the two of you." Leaning in, she brushed her cheek to his and shuddered. Licking her lips, she whispered against his ear, "And I know that you would always protect me."
"In a heartbeat, little mate," he said, sliding an arm around her. He turned his head, their noses brushing as their lips connected. "Against any foe or trouble." He then kissed her, gently, lightly, with infinite care.
When they parted Lacey licked her lips and smiled, "Good." She whispered for him and him alone. "Now then." She touched his cheek only very lightly before pulling back from him and looking to Briar and Zhubin. "Now we need to figure out how to keep this quiet so that we can find who did this."
"We keep it off the radar," Zhubin said. "We need to fudge the autopsy a little so that no one sees anything they shouldn't. Because of the high-profile nature of this case us taking a little longer to dot the I's and cross the T's won't be amiss. But in the end we need to have it look like one of his haters took him out. At least until we can prove what we are all thinking, that it's one of those cult freaks who wants all the races dead."
"Exactly. Somehow we will figure this out. We will do this, because we have to find out who did what and why. The why part is what will drive me nuts." That was always one thing that drove Lacey nuts, the whys of things.
"Can you stall the autopsy report at all, Briar?" Ansell looked at the other woman. "And then when you do, release the prelim make it very muddied. Tell the cap that you're still digging but the actual cause of death is unclear. While the markings appear animal in nature you're awaiting lab results for the actual possible animal. Anything at all that can buy us a couple days."
Briar thought about it for a moment and finally nodded. "I can do that. I can stall it and make it muddy enough that no one would really question it. I will ask for more time and equipment so that will give me another week. Just find who did this?"
"You know we will, Briar," Ansell said quietly. "Let us know if anyone, and I do mean anyone, starts sticking their nose into things they shouldn't. Keep all your findings as hard copy for now. Tell the Cap that it's to ensure that no one knows or construes the wrong thing before you've gotten all the answers his body can give. It will pacify him and keep him on our side of covering this up for the time being."
"I know that you will." Briar nodded. "Don't worry, if someone starts to poke their noses where they don't belong I will call you immediately. I do not want to deal with anyone that will cause me trouble so I will send them your way without any hesitation or question."
"Thank you, Briar." He smiled at her. "Keep us in the loop on whatever you really find. We'll need everything we can get to stop this guy. But we need to get moving now. If we hang around here too much longer the others will wonder what's going on."
"He's right, we need to get working on this, looking at the evidence we do have and figuring out our next move," Zhubin said. "I also need to call the Regent. Apparently he needs to chat." He held up his phone for Ansell to see but at the wrong angle for her to get a good look.
That had Lacey frowning and she moved to them as well. "All right, why would he want a phone call?" She wanted to look at the screen and frowned as she was herded out of the room as well with them. "Come on, babe, show me," she demanded.
"Don't know, all it says is, call now damn it." He showed her the message that said just that, including the words damn it. "I won't know why he wants to chat until I actually call him. And I'm not calling him until I can get a full signal, which I can't do from here. So, we go to our office and then I'll call. When he goes old school with the cells it makes me worry. You may be meeting them sooner, depending on what he has to say."
"Why is that?" Oh crap, that's right! The Regent was Zhubin's father. Crap. "Uhm. I think that I have a doctor's appointment." Nerves caused her stomach to start to roll and pit. "Or something. Yes, I don't think I can meet with them right now. Sure. Yeah."
"Wuss," he said, grabbing her one arm. Ansell grabbed her other and they lifted her, carrying her to the elevator, her feet just dangling. "You'd think he had a bad rep for eating those that annoyed him or something."
"He does," Ansell commented, hitting the button. "Though I think the one she might worry about is the rumor about the guy that told the bad joke. Apparently, though it's never been confirmed, Thorin beheaded him and strung his body from the wall. But it's just a rumor."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You big dorks aren't making this any easier. And no, you goobers, it's because he's your freaking dad," she muttered. "I mean it. Really that's what's crazy. It's your dad, Zhu, that's why I'm freaking out."
"He's just like any other male," Zhubin said as he looked down at her. "Treat him with respect and be yourself. That's all that matters to him. Besides, you have to meet him and Mom eventually. You are mating his one and only child, though I think they like Ansell better most days."
"I know but I can't help but to feel nervous," Lacey admitted and chewed her lower lip. "I mean don't get me wrong, I really do want to be with you boys but it's the whole meeting of the parents thing that has me really nervous." She didn't have parents so they didn't have to feel that, thankfully!
"We're not throwing you to the wolves," Ansell said. "Okay, perhaps not the best turn of phrase," he muttered when she shot him a look. "You know what I mean, damn it. We'll be there with you and really, he's a good guy. He put up with me so he can't be all bad, I guess."
"I know but you guys are his family. I'm an outsider. I'm a human whose family is long gone. I'm only someone that I've made myself." She had never been so unsure or sad about not having a family in her life until that moment.
"You are our mate," Zhubin told her. "You are our family and they will be yours as we are yours, Lace. You're no longer alone in the world. You are loved, cherished and have a place to truly call home. With us, wherever we might be."
She couldn't have stopped the tears if she had wanted to. Tears began to roll down her face and she wrapped her arms around Zhubin and pressed her forehead to his chest and hugged him tightly. "I love you. I'm so happy that you are mine."
"And yet you are crying." His arms wrapped around her. "What is it with human females crying over everything anyway? You cry when you are angry, sad, happy, for no reason at all, it's very distressing to the males of all species I should mention. Especially since it's pretty much a kick in the gut for us when you do such things."