"No, unfortunately. I didn't even get that. Just a first name, Kira. She's about five-four, five-five, early

twenties, Hispanic. Short black hair, renaissance punk type, dark eyes, about a hundred and five pounds

or so."

"No, unfortunately. I didn't even get that. Just a first name, Kira. She's about five-four, five-five, early

twenties, Hispanic. Short black hair, renaissance punk type, dark eyes, about a hundred and five pounds

or so."

"I'll get more, don't worry. But I'd say she's a real prime suspect."

"Yeah, but if she's with Ramirez . . . I don't know," said Rosowitz. "Ramirez is the one who made the

report. Besides, he's a twelfth-level adept. That's right below mage. And you're telling me she got to

him?"

"There's more than one way to manipulate a man," said Megan wryly. "She didn't have to use magic. A

lot of middle-aged men go in for the cute, young, trashy type. It wouldn't be the first time someone like

Ramirez was made a fool of."

"You may have a point," said Rosowitz. "Okay, we'll get right on it."

"I'll check back with you this afternoon, before I go to see Ramirez. Loomis said they've been on this

thing around the clock and Ramirez is exhausted, so he went home to get some rest. He actually said he

would resent it if I disturbed him before he had a chance to get some sleep."

"A local cop said this?" Rosowitz asked with disbelief. "To a Bureau field agent?"

"Yeah, can you believe it?" Megan said. "The funny thing is, he says things like that and you listen to him.

He was all over me right from the beginning and I couldn't even get out of the starting gate. He looks like

that cowboy actor from those pre-Collapse films, what's-his-name, the one with the funny walk, and he

sort of dresses the part, too. He barely even raises his voice. If any other man spoke to me the way he

did, I'd have taken his head off. I don't know what it is about the guy, but he just . . . I just don't know

what it is."

"I know the type," said Rosowitz with a smile. "He's what you call 'a man's man.' Not too many of those

around anymore."

"Oh, please. Not that macho bullshit."

"Macho has nothing to do with it," said Rosowitz. "It isn't just a male thing. Women can have it, too.

Only I don't know what you'd call it in a woman. They used to say 'a woman with balls,' but that's

inaccurate and sexist. It's more like a compelling, quiet authority. It's the quality that makes for good

leadership."

"Well, whatever it is, he's got it in spades, the bastard. He's the most infuriating man I've ever met."

"Got to you, huh?"

"You can take that grin off your face anytime now. The point is, it makes for a convenient excuse not to

see Ramirez right away. I can use the time to ask around, see what I can find out about his girlfriend,

Kira."

"If she's what you suspect she is, she's dangerous," said Stanley. "Watch yourself. Don't try to take her

on without a backup."