“Do you think she was lucid?” Or had it been the drugs, the sensory deprivation talking? “Do you think we can trust anything she said?”

“I don’t know.”

A snapping sound lifted my head as Mai clasped a wide leather bracelet around her wrist, covering the cut. I leaned over to take a better look. “Are you okay?”

“The best way to cover tracks is not to leave any in the first place.” She examined her wrist then clothes before pulling out a compact to check her face. All the blood from the attack was gone. “Vamp saliva coagulates to clot blood so their prey doesn’t bleed out. Dhampirs don’t have it, and whatever they pumped her full of is causing me to heal slower than usual.”

I got on my feet and posed Ayer into comfortable lines. “I wish we’d found her sooner.”

The door opened on a breath of fresh air, and the orderly greeted us with a smile. “It’s time for Ms. Ayer’s bath. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” She waited as we filed out in the hall. “I hope you got what you needed.”

What we got was more questions than answers. There was no doubt he had touched her, violated her, but how? What was at the root of the infection? Until I figured that part out, Ayer had no clues left to offer us.

“We did.” Mai beamed as she signed out. “Thanks for your help.”

At the receptionist’s desk, Mai greeted a slight brunette with buns pinned to either side of her head. Pen in hand, Mai scribbled her name and turned to go.

“Ms. Hayashi.” The receptionist stood. “You’re good to go, but I don’t see where your friend signed in.” She eyeballed the sheet. “Or out.” She extended the clipboard. “I have to ask you to sign in, ma’am. I’ll also need to see some ID.”

“I left my wallet in the car.” Not a lie. I hadn’t planned on needing ID since the whole idea was to get in and out without leaving a trace. “I can go get it if you like.”

“Wait there.” She sat and reached for the phone. “I’ll have security escort you.”

“Isn’t that a little extreme?” Mai chuckled. “You know my car, and I parked right outside.”

The woman paled, proof she was indeed familiar with Mai’s vehicular prowess. “You know the rules, Ms. Hayashi.”

“Of course.” She caught my eye. “I have to use the little fox’s room.” She winked at me. “I’ll meet you—” wink wink, “—at the car, okay?”

“Sure thing,” I said, masking my irritation for the receptionist’s benefit.