Will watched them leave, then looked back at us, desperation in his face. "Do you know who did this? Are you close to catching whoever murdered those two Rogues?"
I looked at Ethan, who nodded. "This is similar to Oliver's and Eve's deaths. The same method of death, and the same positioning of the bodies. Oliver and Eve were holding hands, too."
"But it's not in a hidden location this time," Jonah said, and I nodded.
"We'd thought McKetrick, the new Ombudsman, might be involved. But he's human, not a vampire. And if only Navarre vampires can get into the House . . ."
"Then you're out of luck," Scott said.
I didn't appreciate his tone or his conclusion, especially since he hadn't exactly participated in the investigation or offered any assistance. Thank God his guard captain was more willing to help.
"We have the information we have," Ethan said. "Nothing more."
Scott looked at him. "You'll look into this?"
Ethan looked at him silently for a moment. "Will, would you excuse us, please?"
Will nodded and walked away, leaving me, Ethan, Scott, and Jonah. Ethan took a step closer into the group, ensuring his words would stay private.
"Why not encourage Morgan to call the CPD?" Ethan asked.
Scott looked surprised. "Because they're part of the same city administration that hired McKetrick. Do you actually think we'd get a fair shake? Or that they wouldn't simply call this inter-House nonsense and attempt to oppress us even more? Or publicize the fact that it was probably a vampire who did this?"
I knew for a fact that there were perfectly honorable members of the CPD, my grandfather among them, but Scott had a point. If Morgan was right, and only Navarre vampires could enter and leave the House, that meant a Navarre vampire was the killer. Which was almost unfortunate, because we had no other evidence suggesting a Navarre vampire was involved.
"We will do what we can to bring the killer to justice," Ethan said. "But we are not here to dirty our hands so that yours and Morgan's can stay clean. We have reaped the punishment of that particular course of action for long enough. You owe favors to our House, and we will collect."
There was no denying the anger in Scott's expression; I doubted he was challenged by other vampires very often. But Ethan wasn't a Novitiate of Scott's House. He'd been a vampire - and a Master - longer than Scott had been alive.
I'd long thought that Ethan's premature death had changed him. Given him new bravado, perhaps. This was pretty good evidence that I was right. And since Ethan was one hundred percent correct, it was an attitude I liked. Cadogan didn't exist to serve Grey or Navarre, and while there was no question we wanted to find the perpetrator, I was glad they were on notice that their free rides were over.
There was something else in Scott's expression - a begrudging respect. Scott had seemed to me to be a forthright, balls-to-the-wall type of guy. Even though he didn't like hearing harsh truths, maybe part of him appreciated Ethan's frankness.
"Agreed," Scott said.
"In that case," Ethan said, "we'll leave the House to make its arrangements. We'll advise Morgan, and you, if we have any information."
Scott nodded, and the deal was done.
Ethan didn't spare him or Jonah another look, but headed back to the door. At least he'd managed to restrain himself from confronting Jonah about my RG membership here and now. Thank God for small miracles.
We left Navarre House through the cloud of grief and anger.
Unfortunately, those emotions followed us back to the House. Ethan wasn't talking, and I was becoming more upset. My RG membership was entirely justifiable, and it was supposed to be secret. Telling Ethan would have defeated the point of my being a member of a clandestine organization.
Not that I couldn't sympathize. I'd agonized about joining the RG for exactly the reasons he was angry now: because it would be perceived as slap against Ethan and the House. It wasn't; I knew that now better than ever. But that didn't ease the stone of guilt that settled heavily in my stomach.
When we got out of the car, Ethan waited for me before reentering through the Cadogan gate, but still didn't offer a single word.
"You'll tell Luc?" he asked, when we stepped into the House foyer.
I nodded. "Sure."
With a nod, he disappeared directly into his office without another word.
So much for our detente. I suppose it applied only to murder investigations, and not to the destruction of our House by contractual shenanigans.
My stomach clenched at the thought, but first problems first. I hadn't had a chance at Grey House to tell Jonah what had happened, and he needed to know, so I stepped outside onto the portico, dialed him up, and got right to the heart of it.
"Hello?"
"Ethan knows about the RG."
There was silence on the other end, and I could feel the disappointment radiating through the phone.
"I had to tell him," I said. "Lacey Sheridan followed me to our meet."
"She followed you? Why would she follow you?"
"Because she's in love with Ethan and is looking for an excuse to knock me out of the picture."
"Did she find one?"
"I don't know," I quietly said. "He's angry. The RG is kind of an insult to Masters, and he's taking it personally."
"That explains why he kept giving me nasty looks at Navarre House."
"Yeah," I said.
"Fuck, Merit. I do not want to add to an already shitty night."
"I know. I didn't plan on it, either. I'm not quitting," I added. "I made a commitment to you and the RG, and I know the RG is on the right side of things."
"What about Ethan?" he asked. It was hardly a question, but I knew exactly what he was asking: Will Ethan rat us out?
"He won't tell anyone," I said. "There's no one for him to tell anyway; it's not like he's going to call Darius up. I've told him I'm not quitting. I think he'll calm down - you know how strategic he is - but I have to wait him out."
My stomach clenched as I considered the worst-case scenario - that Ethan wouldn't get over my commitment, and that would be the end of us.
But I rejected that idea. Ethan loved me, and he wasn't going to leave because he disagreed with something I'd done, especially when that something was principled and intended to help the House.
Unfortunately, Ethan wasn't the only person involved in this drama. Lacey had inserted herself into it, too. God willing, he wasn't angry enough to fall into something with her that he'd regret later.
"What about Lacey?"