"Ma'am," Loomis interrupted in a weary tone, "I've already told you, the department had nothing to do

with that. However, if you wish to file a complaint—"

"Ma'am," Loomis interrupted in a weary tone, "I've already told you, the department had nothing to do

with that. However, if you wish to file a complaint—"

"Gomez is my familiar, Ronnie," Paul said.

"Your goddamncat ?" she said with disbelief. "You mean to tell meyou're behind this? I can't believe it,

Paul! Howcould you?"

"I didn't know about it, Ronnie, honest. Not until a little while ago. We've had similar complaints from a

number of other adepts we've seen tonight. Apparently, Gomez took it upon himself to recruit some

thaumagenes to patrol the streets tonight in an effort to do something about these murders. He meant

well, he was only trying to help me."

"I'm holding you personally responsible for this, Paul," she said. "If anything happens to Ramses, or to

Bast, you'll hear from my lawyer! And what's more, I resent your coming here with these insinuations!

After all the years we've known each other, I should have thought you'd know better. To come here and

question me in my own home, like some commoncriminal . . ."

"I'm afraid that was my fault, ma'am," said Loomis, trying to take the heat off Paul. "Professor Ramirez is

here merely at my request. We're questioning all the registered adepts in town in an effort to determine

if—"

"If one ofus is the murderer?" she bridled. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of! It's

insulting. It'sbeyond insulting, it's insufferable! Do you have a warrant, Lieutenant, for invading my

home?"

"Ma'am, we did not invade your home. We merely came here to ask you some questions and you

invited us in—"

"Well, now I'm asking you to leave! I'm not about to stand here and be interrogated like some common

criminal in my own home! If you're determined to pursue this harassment, then I advise you to get a

warrant, but rest assured, you'll be hearing from my lawyer! And if anything happens to my Ramses, if

there's so much as ascratch on him . . ."

Loomis shook his head sadly as they left the house, heading back toward the patrol car. "I'm afraid this

isn't going very well," he said with a sigh.

"I could have told you that," said Paul. "By the time we're through, I won't have any friends left in this

town."

"Well, nothing personal, but I can't say I think much of your friends," Loomis replied. "There's a savage

killer on the loose, an adept who's practicing necromancy. You'd think they'd all be anxious to

cooperate."

"Don't judge them too harshly, Joe," said Paul. "They're frightened and upset. Something like this strikes

very close to home. There isn't one of them who doesn't know how this will affect the general public.

And it hasn't been all that many years since adepts were regarded with suspicion and distrust. Try to put

yourself in their position. Imagine what you'd feel like if there was a cop out there who was brutally