“As you should.” Adam was as agitated as Elle had ever seen him. “But I rushed out, drove up here as fast as I could and—”

Rune snapped at him. “That medieval reenactor is up there right now, prancing around in his shiny armor. Honestly, Adam, the weird guy shows up in a complete suit of armor, no surface left exposed, shiny plate mail all over. Except for the codpiece which is polished bronze.”

“Seriously?” Clarice was sitting in the back of the ambulance, being checked by the EMTs, but she sounded interested and more than a little amused.

“Seriously,” Rune assured her. “No handshake, stupid pointy-faced helmet so we can’t see his face, walks around like Stud Knight, waving at the crowd. Gets them roaring.”

Adam paid no attention, and his voice held a note of disbelief. “I don’t have my sword!” Clearly, this time he and his preparations had failed to keep on track.

“It’s okay.” Elle kept her voice soothing. “I’ll get it and bring it up to the festival.”

“How could I forget? I don’t forget. I prepare. I remember.”

“You’re in love,” Rune said.

Adam stared, narrow-eyed, at Rune. “I know that! But—”

“Rune, I know that, too,” Elle said. “Here and now is not the time to discuss it. In fact, it is none of your business!”

Rune put her hand on her chest. “Well! Who could have foreseen this?”

In soothing tones, Elle said to Adam, “You were naturally rushing, and it was on my behalf. I’ll get the sword.”

“It’s not safe. Do we know where Sookie is?” Light dawned on Adam’s face. “Ohhh. Zsóke... Sookie.”

“Right,” Elle agreed. “It’s the telephone game. The more people who tell a story, the more changes are made, and Zsóke is an unusual name. Daniel’s wife heard what she thought made sense. Of course, it’s always possible there are other Penderghast minions nearby. But unlikely, right?”

“Right,” Adam agreed grudgingly.

“Deputy Dave says that Stephen Penderghast’s corporate office has announced his death.” Elle made her pronouncement with a flourish.

Adam looked between her and Deputy Dave.

Deputy Dave nodded.

Gregoire handed Adam his phone. “I found the story online.”

Adam speed-read through it. “Do we believe it?” he asked Elle.

“Unequivocally? No.” Elle had had time to think this through. “Since the announcement came within minutes of Zsóke’s arrest, I’m skeptical, but my suspicions are that he knows she’s going to name him as an accomplice to Clarice’s torture and the attempted murder of me, and he’s being whisked out of the country.”

Adam followed Elle’s argument and nodded. He turned to Clarice. “Do you know, did Zsóke have backup in town?”