Unfortunately, I still hadn’t gotten used to the fact that Stefan had a direct pipeline to my emotions, distance no object. The second I saw his polite, guarded expression, I realized that he’d gotten a major hit of raw, unbridled lust this morning. And I promptly blushed like a teenaged girl, my blood scalding beneath my skin as I dropped the mental shield I’d automatically raised upon entering the place. My mortification sent a ripple through the Outcast. All around the bar, pupils dilated in a sudden rush.

So much for equanimity.

Stefan hustled us into his office in the back. “I take it you haven’t contained the spirit that was unleashed.”

“Why?” I asked him. “Because the Tall Man’s corpse was stolen?” He gave a brief nod in response. “What do you know about obeah and death magic?”

“Nothing of use, I fear,” Stefan said with regret. “Only that I have heard rumors throughout my life of sorcerers in the West Indies capable of raising the dead.”

Great. That sounded a lot like zombies to me.

“We’re trying to locate the remains,” Cody said. “Sinclair Palmer says that if we do, we might find his grandfather’s, um, duppy. We could use your help questioning suspects. As long as they’re not sociopaths, you can tell if they’re lying, right?”

“Of course,” Stefan said. “Do you require my presence, Officer, or will one of my lieutenants suffice?”

“You trust your lieutenants?” Cody asked. It was a fair question— it was a betrayal by one of Stefan’s lieutenants that had led to the turf war that had nearly gotten all of us killed or worse—but that edge was back in his voice.

Stefan didn’t rise to the bait, but his pupils did a quick, irritated wax-and-wane. “I trust Cooper.”

“I trust Cooper, too,” I added quickly.

Stefan inclined his head. “I will place him at your disposal. Is there any other means by which I may assist?”

“Not at the moment, but stay tuned,” I said. “You’re sure the Palmer ladies are safely out of town?”

“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask him to. I did tell him about my meeting with Hel and her warning. “Call upon me at need,” he said when I finished. “If there is widespread panic, we can assist in alleviating it.”

“Without ravening?” Cody asked bluntly.

Stefan turned his ice-blue gaze on him. “Did the Outcast not serve you well in the matter of the rutting satyr?”

My tail twitched at the memory of that night. “They were great,” I assured him. “I can totally tell that they’re more disciplined. So, um . . . can we borrow Cooper now?”