“She’s not a person to them. She’s a means to an end,” Alex said. Then he drew in a breath. “Shit, that sounded terrible. But you know what I mean. If they’re firmly set on this path, then a few cuts and some spilled blood aren’t much to them. And also…although I don’t know much about the mechanics of the whole thing, from what I’ve heard, it sounded like you don’t need huge amounts of blood for those rituals. They might be able to keep at it for some time.” Pausing, he seemed to study Caitlin’s face. “There’s more, though, isn’t there?”
“Yes.” Oh, Goddess, would she really have to tell him everything she’d seen? Even as she asked herself that question, she knew the answer. He had to have all the facts so he could pass them on to people who were more knowledgeable about these sorts of things. Trying to cover it up wouldn’t do anyone any good, least of all Roslyn and Danica. Once again, Caitlin prayed that her friends would have no memory of what had happened to them, that once they were rescued, their time with Matías and Jorge and Tomas would only be a bad dream.
But that was the future. She had to focus on now.
“She was…with Jorge and Tomas. The way Danica was with Matías,” she added, just in case Alex didn’t make the connection. “One was holding her, and the other was — ”
Looking shaken, he held up a hand. “I get it. Jesus.” For a few seconds, he was silent as he attempted to absorb what she’d just told him. “I’ve never — I’ve never heard of anything like this. I mean, the blood rituals are one thing, but….”
The words trailed off, and the horror in his expression told her everything she needed to know about his opinion on the subject. There were a few guys she’d known who probably would have tried to laugh off the matter with a flippant remark about consenting adults, but there was certainly no consent in either Danica’s or Roslyn’s situation.
“We have to get them out of there,” Caitlin said, anger at her herself, at her limited abilities, rising up again. What was the point in seeing these terrible things if they couldn’t give her any concrete details, any information she could actually use?
“I know that, but since we don’t know where they are — ”
“Then we have to go to someone who might.” An idea began to form in her mind, one so audacious, so completely out of left field, that she knew Alex would be sure to protest. “These guys are obviously good at covering their tracks, but if they really did come from Simón Santiago’s territory, then the logical thing is to go directly to him and make him tell us where his warlocks are holed up.”
“You’re not serious.” But the way Alex was looking at her told Caitlin that he did realize she was serious, even if he didn’t want to admit it to himself.
“I’m totally serious.”
“But — even if we did do such a crazy thing, how do you know he’d have any information? I sort of doubt Matías and his buddies filed a flight plan with their prima’s consort.”
Well, that was possible, but even if he didn’t have the exact information, Simón might be able to give them a better idea of where to look. People they knew in the Tucson area…something. Anything. Surely their clan leader would have access to knowledge she and Alex wouldn’t even know to look for. It had to be better than stumbling around in the dark while her friends were tortured.
“Isn’t it worth a try?” she asked at last. “Do you have any better ideas?”
His troubled silence told her that he didn’t. Since he didn’t seem to be offering any protests, she went on,
“Do you know where he lives?’
“In Pasadena, I think. I’d have to get the address from my mother.” Then he gave Caitlin a penetrating look, those dark eyes suddenly far too piercing. “And what am I supposed to say to her? She’s got her hands full with Maya, and now I have to tell her that we’re going to be running off to California to interrogate Simón Santiago, and could I please have his address?”
Put that way, her suggestion did sound pretty terrible. But there was that feeling in her gut again, the one telling her this was the right thing to be doing. On the surface, it seemed like a crazy plan. That didn’t mean it wouldn’t work.
“And that’s exactly why we should be doing this. I suppose technically she should be the one to contact Simón, since your grandmother isn’t well and she’s the prima-in-waiting. But she doesn’t have the time or the energy…and I think it would be best if Simón didn’t know we were coming. Just a feeling. He’d wonder why Maya wasn’t contacting him, and start asking questions….”