Bono blinked. He sensed the magic influx and sucked the air into his lungs in a sharp breath. “You’re crazy.”

“Very.”

His face went slack, and I knew we had stepped away from a cliff. The fight would not happen today.

Bono leaned forward. “What if I told you that we have no involvement with the diviner’s death? And even if we did, we don’t have to speak to you.”

That proverbial “we.” I chewed on it for a little while and said, “In that case, I’ll get up and walk over to the bar, where I’ll make two phone calls. First, I’ll call the knight-protector, for whom I now work, and tell him that a vampire belonging to Ghastek was involved in his diviner’s murder. I’ll tell him that an effort was made to conceal its brand—which is illegal—and that Ghastek’s journeyman declined to discuss the matter with me and threatened my life. Then I’ll call Ghastek and inform him that I know the reason why the world just started crashing down around his ears. And I’ll explain to him that the reason is you.”

He stared at me. “I thought we were on good terms. We nod to each other across the room. We don’t bother each other. I shared my research with you.”

I shrugged.

“You won’t do this to me,” he said with great surety. “You know what Ghastek would do to me. You’re a nice person.”

“Just what exactly in my track record gives you the idea that I’m a nice person?”

He had no answer and shook his head. “Why me?”

“Why not? Give me what I want and I’ll go away. Or I’ll hurt you one way or another.”

Bono was in the corner. No way to go but outside the ring. “They’re called shadows,” he said, his handsome face marked with resignation. “Vampires with concealed brands. Ghastek isn’t the only one using them but he uses his a lot, if you catch my drift.”

“What was that particular one doing?”

“Tailing the diviner. I don’t know why.”

“Who was piloting it?”

Bono hesitated. “Merkowitz.”

“What did he see?”

Bono spread his hands. “Your guess’s as good as mine. Do you know what happens to a navigator when the vamp he’s piloting dies?”

I had a general idea but more info never hurt. “Enlighten me.”

“Unless you guard yourself, you’ll suffer death-shock. Meaning you think it’s your head being torn off, which leaves your brain very confused. Add to it the explosion of shit the diviner threw around and whatever magic the attacker emitted, and you’ll get Merkowitz. I never liked the asshole. I have to admit, he makes a fine vegetable.”

My heart sank. “Nonresponsive?”

“About as responsive as a brick wall.”

“How long will he be like this?”