T think this is exactly what we’ve been working for/ Kyle said as I 1 walked up to him. We shook hands, an old ritual that reflected on Kyle’s formality. He looked calmer and more in control than he had during the past week.’Let me show you something,’he said.’Come.’ I followed him down along the split-rail fence until we came to a broken-down gate. He showed me a faded image. The body and head of a tiger had been branded into the gate. It was subtle, but this was it, it had to be. We had arrived at the tiger’s lair. ‘The group inside seems to be led by the Sire, the new and improved one, I assume. We haven’t been able to establish an identity for the leader. Alex, the past Sire was the magician, Daniel Erickson. Two members of the group just returned from a trip. They were in New Orleans. Pieces are finally starting to fit.’ I looked at Kyle, shook my head. ‘How did you find all of this out? When did you get here, Kyle?’How much have you been keeping from me? And why?
‘Santa Cruz police contacted us and I came right out. We grabbed one of the “undead” when the little prick left the ranch this afternoon. He’s a local high school dropout, wasn’t as committed as some of the others. He told us what he knew.’
‘Is the Sire in there now?’
‘Supposedly. This kid has never actually seen the Sire. He’s not part of the inner circle. The two males who traveled to New Orleans are in there, though. He heard they were the ones who killed Daniel and Charles. He said the two of them are total psychos.’
