Free Fang Shway in LA by Casey Knight Page A

wall, we had a good view of the people coming and going. There were men covering every side of the guest of honor. The group mowed their way through the crowded restaurant like a plow through snow. There was no doubt these men were professional killers. No one said a word and the entire room held its collective breath. The entourage entered the side room and the room again erupted into a cacophony of sound.
    I jumped to my feet and raced toward the bar, Traygen was right behind me. We reached the bar in time to hear a waiter talking to the bartender. “I’ve got that group in the backroom. I’ll get their orders, as soon as I deliver these drinks.”
    “Traygen, can you handle being a waiter?”
    “Of course, what do you have in mind?”
    “We’ll detain the real one and you take their orders. Maybe you’ll overhear something useful and at the very least you’ll get a good look at them.”
    “Right. Here comes our guy. I’ll grab him and you cover the men’s room entrance.”
    Traygen and I headed down the hall and the waiter was right behind us. Traygen stopped abruptly to tie his shoe and they collided. Before the waiter could apologize, Traygen wrestled him into the bathroom. I waited across the hall and watched to make sure no one entered. A few minutes later Traygen emerged wearing the man’s shirt and apron.
    “I gagged him, tied him up and put an out-of-order sign on the stall. It won’t hold him long. I hope I still remember how to do this. It has been at least a century.”
    “Alcohol is alcohol. Go get their orders and I’ll make sure our waiter doesn’t leave.”
    Traygen picked up the tray and headed toward the side room. He spent the next thirty minutes taking and filling orders. When he finished filling the group’s orders we left the restaurant and headed for our car.
    “Well don’t keep me waiting? What did you find out?”
    Merging into traffic, Traygen didn’t answer immediately. “The Russians have the spear and a buyer. They tipped me and sent me on my way before I could find out who the buyer is, but they’re worried about something. What I’m not certain.”
    “If I were them, I’d worry about any number of things. The police, a double cross and if they have any brains, the spears power. Did you find out where they’re keeping it?”
    “No, but I left a little bug behind?”
    I arched my eyebrows and shook my head admiringly at Traygen.
    “Hey, even a dragon has to admire the efficiency of microscopic tracking devices. The monitor will track their progress. We may as well head home and watch their movements. It didn’t look like they were in a hurry.”
    “Good, I’m going to need time to work on a strong shield to protect us from the spear. The energy the spear pulses with is ancient and deadly. I have to believe whoever wants it believes they know how to use it. Meaning, they are either very powerful or extremely stupid and stupid works better for me.”
    We rode the rest of the way home in silence. I was running out of time to stop the cartel’s wizard and the vamps Daywalker from coming to blows. Normally, I wouldn’t care if those two lowlifes took each other out. In fact, I would welcome it, if not for the fact it would start a major war between the wizards and vampires. One I’m assigned to prevent.
    The World Council doesn’t tolerate any illegal use of magic. There are strict rules and violating them was not tolerated. There would be only one possible outcome if those rules were violated and it would be a death sentence. Unfortunately, there were elements from both communities that would enjoy any excuse to start something, welcome it even.
    “You’re being quiet, care to share?” Traygen asked as he pulled into the driveway and parked.
    “I’m obsessing about what is at stake if we don’t keep Azif and the Daywalker from starting something. Time is running out. I sure hope your tracking device tells us something, in the meantime I’m going to my