Lawe sat back in his chair slowly, his gaze narrowing on her.
“And how do you intend to accomplish your objective without disappearing as well?” He flashed his canines dangerously.
“They won’t risk making me disappear.” She shook her head, positive it wouldn’t happen. “There are too many Breeds here, I’m too well known and by now they’re going to be aware I’m your mate. They won’t dare touch me.”
The Navajo wanted to preserve the Breeds, ensure their survival and make certain that women, especially Breed women and mated wives, were well taken care of. Mates such as Megan Fields Arness and the one married to the New Mexico sheriff, Harmony Jacobs. That one, Diane believed, was the mysterious Harmony Lancaster who had disappeared several years before and at one time suspected to be the Breed assassin known as “Death.”
“My original question then.” Lawe’s brow arched mockingly. “How do you intend to succeed?”
“By discussing the situation with three members of the community who I believe may have information or know someone who has information,” she stated. “They may not tell me a damn thing, but I believe they have to know either Fawn or Honor, and they have to know who they are.”
They stared back at her silently, and in her sister’s eyes, Diane saw hope for the child they all cherished.
“Malachi’s mate, Isabelle, her sister Chelsea, and their friend Liza,” she stated. “Isabelle was at home and old enough to remember her father bringing those kids in. I’m betting she saw them and perhaps also saw who picked them up. Chelsea Martinez and Liza are her best friends, but even more than that, they’re a part of the Martinez family and they work with the Navajo Council, specifically with three of the men I suspect are part of the network. Terran, Ray and Orrin Martinez. I’m certain that at least one of the members of the Navajo Council heads the child rescue team. And if that’s true, then at least one of the girls has to know it. Those three work closely with all of them. And I’m betting it’s either Chelsea or Liza. If it were Isabelle, her mate would have asked her, and he would have given you that information if she had it.”
“She says she doesn’t have it.” Callan nodded. “We’ve met with her. But she’s hiding something. We can sense it, scent it. Even Malachi is aware that there’s something Isabelle is not telling in regard to the information we need.”
Surprised, she glanced at Jonas. It wasn’t like him to allow anyone to hold information back from him, especially someone he could use Breed Law against.
“I’d prefer to extinguish all options before using Breed Law against her,” he said with a weary sigh. “I’d hate like hell to make an enemy of Malachi. But he knows the danger of it is there if she continues to refuse to tell us what she knows.”
Diane stared at Jonas thoughtfully for long moments before speaking. “I doubt she knows enough to be of any help,” she stated gently, her heart going out to him as well as to the newly mated Isabelle Martinez who must be feeling the brunt of Breed Law beating at her brain.
Malachi understood too well the consequences if those two girls weren’t found. They had to know what Amber was facing so they could combat it and hopefully ensure her safety.
Callan rubbed at his jaw before breathing out roughly. “That’s my thought as well,” he finally stated. “The scent of her deceit isn’t strong enough to indicate vital knowledge. But it could be enough to lead us to someone who knows more. The fact that she’s hiding it, and refuses to tell even her mate, does concern me though.”
“The Navajo team rescuing and hiding these children are here, in Window Rock.” Diane knew they were, she could feel it, and Thor was just as certain.
“Diane, I’m going to assume you have more than just gut instinct backing your conclusions.” Jonas sighed wearily as he laid his hand on Rachel’s shoulder as she fought back her tears.
“Jonas, Amber is my niece and I love her as much as I love my sister. And I would never place all my faith in just my gut if it were my sister’s life hanging in the balance in such a way.”
She had circumstantial evidence, her belief, her gut instinct and the fact that she knew Terran Martinez had been in the area was enough proof for her.
If Pride Leader Lyons refused to allow her this chance because he didn’t like the lack of information, then it was no less than a certainty that Jonas and Lawe would refuse her as well.
That didn’t mean it would stop her.
“Do you believe you can draw Fawn or Honor out if they’re near?” Jonas finally asked.
This was his child. The child that may not have come from his genetics, but she was definitely a part of his soul, just as her mother was.
“I’m certain if anyone can, then I can,” she stated confidently. “This is where I excel, Jonas, you know that.”
Callan sighed wearily and spoke when Jonas remained silent. “Very well, we’ll go along with it for now,” he agreed. “But by the end of the week I want answers. I want some kind of proof I can take before the Navajo Council to ensure their cooperation. Find it, Ms. Broen, before we all end up regretting it.”
*CHAPTER 16*
Find the link to the group of Navajo charged with collecting and hiding Breeds, created or hybrid, as well as the human children and/or adults involved in any experimentation on the Breeds or their genetic profiling, and do it within a week.
What a tall order. And her week was nearly up.
Lawe had kept his word though. He had allowed her to do whatever she needed to do. He even stood back when necessary and without asking; he’d never once questioned the working relationship she had with Thor.
She wasn’t fooled though. This battle wasn’t over.
And time was running out. She had one day left to produce information. After that, Jonas would threaten the Navajo Nation Council with sanctions if he didn’t get the information he wanted on Honor Roberts and Fawn Corrigan.
And she was just tired of wasted time and effort.
It was a damned good thing Diane had excellent contacts. Contacts who wanted the identities of that group to suggest they take the job of hiding more than Council-threatened Breeds and humans.
No matter how they tried, there was no way of finding them, though. If there had been, then the men her uncle collaborated with would have found it.
Moving through the darkened rooms of the suite the Navajo Council had made available for her and Lawe, Diane slipped silently past the balcony doors she had managed to jimmy earlier and keep from locking.
Lawe would have a fit over this, she knew, but she was tired of the shadows and the constant smothering presence of Breeds surrounding her. She needed to run wild and free to clear her brain. Besides, she knew for a fact that Liza Johnson used the running trail that wrapped around the small park for her morning exercise.
If she hurried, she would get there in time to scout out the area, then lie in wait for the friend whom Coyote Breed Ashley Truing cared so much for.
Taking Lawe with her would only serve to intimidate Liza, who seemed to have a sense of fear where Breed males were concerned. Diane knew what a fear of men looked like in wary eyes.
Just as she knew that Liza and Chelsea Martinez had been the reason Isabelle hadn’t ended up raped by her ex-boyfriend recently.
Climbing effortlessly from the balcony before grabbing hold of the strong, dense vine that grew along the building, she began silently lowering herself to the ground below.