Ryrik

The Black Star Casino was being prepared for another night of high rollers and entertainment when I arrived. Typically, I would head backstage or check with tonight's performers to make sure everything in my department was ready to go. But from the way Draven's message had been worded, it was clear that he needed to talk to me immediately.

I nodded at the Vinduthi standing guard outside Draven's office, and the guard stepped aside to let me in. The boss sat at his desk, staring at a display with a half annoyed look on his face. He looked up at me as I entered and gestured to a seat.

"Sit."

Short and to the point. Something was definitely rankling him. "Is there a problem?" I asked as I took a seat.

Draven huffed and took one more look at the display before shutting it off. "There very well may be. Tell me, have you gotten any complaints lately?"

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Sure but nothing unusual. Rich entitled brats wanting backstage passes, drunk patrons angry they were cut off, known rival gang members being denied entrance. But somehow I doubt any of those things have got your attention."

A muscle in Draven's jaw tightened. "No. These complaints are ones I'm inclined to take fairly seriously."

"Such as?"

"Thefts while patrons were here at the Black Star."

A small snort escaped me. "Pickpockets at the Black Star? If that's what's got you so worried, why not talk to Sakkar? I'm sure he and Laux could tighten up security on the floor."

Draven shook his head. "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about people's homes getting robbed while they're out here. Details from their businesses suddenly getting leaked. As if someone is keeping tabs on them when they're here."

That gave me pause. Draven wasn't finished, though. "There's also been several complaints about percomms being hacked while they're here."

"Is there anything in common with the people who've complained?" I asked, already trying to draw any connections I could. Maybe it was certain people or districts being targeted. Or these patrons were hired by one of our rivals to stir up trouble and spread rumors.

"Not from what we've been able to find," Draven said, standing up as he did. "Nothing in affiliation or species or income. No social connections even. Which means this isn't targeted toward specific people."

I grimaced. "It's targeted toward the Black Star."

A curt nod from Draven. "People are starting to talk. They think we may be responsible for this. That the Black Star has started investing into some more shady means of business."

And that was the most damning problem of all. If this problem of theirs didn't get cleared up soon, people would think the Vinduthi stole from them. The Black Star Casino would lose business and its credibility. Their reputation would be shot, and building back a rep was no easy job. People already feared the Vinduthi but at least they had believed the casino was honest and fair. If that fell apart, it would be hard to win them back.

It also aligned all too closely with what I had just learned about Conii and Amber. I had hoped to keep her involvement and the whole conspiracy quiet until I had more information and a solid plan of action. There was no sense in taking down a few moles if the real threat was still there.

Normally, I knew Draven wouldn't mind this approach. He liked it best when he had all the information rather than fragments and stories. Clearly, though, the situation was getting out of hand already.

"You're certain these complaints are legitimate?" I asked.

"Very," Draven said, his tone grave. "Even Banek was involved in one of these thefts."

That made me sit up a bit straighter. "Banek? What happened to him?"

"He claims, and we've verified, that a bottle of Night Wish was stolen from his bar."

Night Wish was an incredibly expensive type of spirits that only the big spenders ever know to ask about. Not just anyone would have known where it was, let alone that he carried it at his bar. Those wealthy enough to be in the know were hardly the type for petty theft. Resold on the market, it could go for a hefty sum of money.

I tapped the edge of the desk restlessly. "How was Banek involved exactly?"

"Banek was in a private room talking about it with some of his friends." Draven raised a hand, already anticipating my next question. "I've already had Thelev look into his guests. They're as clean as they can be for being Banek's friends. We don't believe they were involved."

A small growl escaped me. If Banek had been targeted, too, that meant these claims really were legitimate.

"So tell me," Draven continued, turning to face me. "What do you know about any of this?"

As entertainment director, it was an unspoken part of my job to know the patrons. To analyze them, not just to know what would entertain them but what would endanger them. It was the reason Draven had put me where he had.

Now he was looking expectantly for answers. For a moment, I thought of deflecting the question and coming up with something that wasn't quite a lie. I wasn't ready to expose Amber and my scheme quite yet.

But Draven had a look in his eye that said he meant all business and would accept nothing less than the truth. Not when the Black Star's reputation was teetering on the edge of disaster.

I let out a long sigh. "I know we have a mole problem. And before you jump down my throat about it, I have a plan and I don't want you to freak out when you hear what I have to say."

Draven narrowed his eyes but didn't speak.

Sitting up a bit straighter in the chair, I tried to emulate control. Because anything less and Draven absolutely would sound the alarm on this. "I caught a mole who was working on some of the patrons for information just like you said. When I interrogated her about her employer, she admitted she's working for Conii."

At that name, Draven went very still and his eyes widened a fraction. Then he set his jaw. "You found one of Conii's people working my casino, and you didn't tell me right away?"

I nodded, not letting his scathing look deter me in any way. "Like I told you, I have a plan. The girl isn't one of Conii's committed fanatics. She's being blackmailed into doing this. I've convinced her to report to us on what she's doing and who she's talking to."

Draven stared me down a minute more before finally speaking. "And who is this girl you've put so much trust in?"

Yep, Draven definitely didn't like this plan. As much as I would have liked to have kept Amber out of it, there was no going back now. "Her name is Amber, and she's a hostess."

"And I trust you know this Amber well?" Draven said, his patience clearly coming to an end.

Slowly, I stood and raised my chin. "I know her well enough to know that she'll do as I say. And if she doesn't, then she'd better pray Conii gets to her before I do."

Draven shook his head. "I'm not sure that's good enough for me. Conii managed to get someone into our casino. Even if it's an unwilling spy, she's still a spy. Whatever blackmail is hanging over her head was enough to convince her to spy on us. How do you know it's not enough to betray you?"

That same thought had entered my mind once or twice. Amber cared for her friend a great deal, and she might still side with Conii if given an ultimatum. But I'd talked with her. I'd seen the look in her eyes. The plan could work. It would work. It had to. Otherwise, the Vinduthi of the Black Star Casino could lose everything.

Not allowing any more doubts to creep into my mind, I held Draven's gaze. "I'll watch her closely. If she tries to fool me, she'll realize she's out of her league. Besides, this could be the opportunity we've been looking for."

Draven narrowed his eyes. "Explain."

"How long has Conii been a thorn in our side? How often have we looked for a way to end all of this and yet have found nothing solid to fight back with? But now we do. Amber could be the key to finally getting our way to Conii and bringing an end to this fight once and for all."

I waited to see if Draven would accept my reasoning. There was still every chance he could decide it was too risky and torture Amber for information before killing her. And I would not be able to do anything about it.

For a second, I was taken aback by the sharp surge of anger at the thought of Amber being killed. I had just admitted that I didn't know her very well, so why was it so painful to think of anything happening to her?

I forcefully shoved those thoughts into the back of my mind. This was no time to think like that.

Draven closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Then he looked at me with a half irritated, half weary expression. "Very well. You've always been able to read people better than the rest of us. I'll trust you to handle this. With any luck, it'll be just as you said. An opportunity to get at Conii."

The relief I felt at his trust in my plan was instant. It didn't hurt that it also meant that Amber would be safe. At least for now.

Keeping my expression neutral, I dipped my head in thanks. "I'll do everything in my power to solve this."

Draven dipped his head as well. "Good."

Giving him one more nod, I turned to walk out of the room.

"One more thing, Ryrik," Draven said before I could get to the door.

I paused and turned my head to him. "Yes?"

There was a hard expression on his face. "You had better keep a close eye on her because if this fails, I'm holding you accountable."

Grimly, I inclined my head. "Understood."