Roland leaned back in his chair and looped an arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “Once more, I say it’s someone at the network. If an immortal can dirty his hands in this venture, it isn’t out of the realm that he would seek the aid of a human.”
As expected, Chris’s face mottled with anger. “It isn’t someone at the network. We checked and double-checked and triple-fucking-checked that the last time this came up and have since instituted even stricter protocols for handling both the sedative and the antidote.”
David caught Roland’s eye. “I read the mind of every mortal employee myself. None were guilty of betraying us.”
“It might be worth reading them again,” Roland suggested, “to ensure none have changed their minds. Or to ensure no one has changed their minds for them.”
Hell. Lisette hadn’t thought of that. Could an elder telepathic immortal have manipulated the thoughts of a network employee to get what he wanted, making him or her his unwilling minion?
David looked to Seth.
Seth nodded. “No stone should go unturned.”
David looked to Chris. “We’ll discuss how to go about it after the meeting.”
Chris nodded, more worried now, it seemed, than pissed.
Yuri cleared his throat. “So essentially we’re looking for a telepath.”
“Yes,” Seth agreed.
“Can you not read their minds and discover who the culprit is?” he followed.
“I’ve been doing little else since the vampires nearly killed Lisette,” Seth stated. “I’ve yet to discover the betrayer.”
Lisette frowned. “They must be guarding their thoughts exceedingly well.”
Seth nodded. “I’m inclined to believe it is an older immortal. But those with the strongest mental barriers will know when I’ve invaded their thoughts and forced their barriers down.”
“And word will spread.” Ethan’s glance flickered to Richart and back to Seth. “Have you read the minds of the teleporters?” He sounded apologetic, as though he hated to suggest it in front of Richart. “The telepath would need a teleporter to get him in and out of the area undetected, wouldn’t he?”
“If he can’t teleport himself, yes. Although I still have a number of telepaths to scan, I’ve read the minds of all but a handful of the teleporters,” Seth replied. “None appear guilty, and none have blank spots that would indicate their memories have been erased.”
“Is that possible?” Lisette asked, unsettled. “Can a telepath erase portions of an immortal’s memory?”
“I have never attempted such,” Seth said, “so I’m not sure.”
“I would think the virus would prevent it,” Lisette said.
Melanie shook her head. “Not necessarily. If erasing a memory damages the brain, then the virus could conceivably heal it in an immortal. But the virus can’t restore what isn’t there to recover. Once the memory is gone, it’s likely gone forever.”
Roland swore. “So an immortal may not even realize his brain has been tampered with?”
“Yes,” David concluded, face grave. “And Seth and I would find only an undamaged brain when we scanned him. We would have no way of knowing he’s missing a memory or two or that anyone had tampered with his thoughts.”
“Shit,” Ethan breathed.
“Precisely,” Seth said. “Seconds, I want you to keep your ears to the ground. If an immortal is behaving oddly, his or her Second may mention it online.”
“Unless the immortal blanked his Second’s memory, too,” Roland countered.
Tracy shook her head. “Immortals rarely pay attention to what their Seconds do online. We should chat up the Seconds of telepaths and see if anything leaks.”
Seth looked to Chris. “Can you get them a list of all the Seconds who serve telepaths?”
“The Seconds who serve teleporters, too. I can have it in their hands tonight.”
“Excellent.”
Zach shifted. “You should expand your scrutiny to include shape-shifters and their Seconds.”
“Why?” Lisette asked.
Rising, Zach took a step back from the table and released his wings. “With these and preternatural speed and strength, I can race a commercial jet.”
Sheldon stared up at him in awe. “Really? You’re that fast?”
“Were the Concorde still flying, I could give it a run for its money.”
“Damn,” someone whispered.
Zach’s wings vanished (Lisette hoped he would tell her one day how he did that) as he retook his seat at the table.
David eyed Seth. “He makes a valid point. While no shape-shifter other than you or Zach would be able to carry another across an ocean in a mere three and a half hours, if the distance weren’t that far and they had all night . . .”