1303 The Dragonslayer (The 13th Floor) (3 page)

“They can’t be the real police.” Lois shook her head as he brought her the second wallet. He held out the iPhone to her, and she snatched it from him. “That’s my name. They had my name. I didn’t do anything. I don’t even have a parking ticket.”

“Do you recognize the other names on the list?” Xan folded his arms.

“Yes, all of them. They were all there tonight. Suzie Susman left early, claiming she didn’t want to stand around all night in her six-inch heels. With the way her cameraman ran after her, they were really going to screw in the van. She always has some boy toy she’s stringing along.” Lois’ finger flicked the screen to scroll down the list. “Buster Collins met early with the Governor. Old fart had to get home. He was already up past his bedtime.”

“So, could you say everyone on that list left the charity event early?”

“Yeah, sure. It’s not unlikely. I don’t keep track of everyone.” She glanced up at him and sighed. “Okay. Yes, they all left early and so did I. But why do these freaks have a list of people who left the party early? It doesn’t make sense.”

Of course it did. The Governor was covering all his bases. It was logical to suspect that a dragonslayer had been at the charity before the assassination attempt. Or that he would have someone on the inside.

The list could also be those in the media not there covering the chaos after his attempt. No journalist should be able to resist such a story, but those people weren’t there. Lois King wasn’t there. But she was on the story.

“What are you thinking? I can literally hear your brain chugging along there.”

Xan blinked and stared at her. He didn’t understand her. She should be screaming and crying, hysterical with just the fact of knowing there were things that weren’t human with badges. No tears. Her hands were barely shaking.

The list didn’t matter. The dragon would know he was with her once the dragonkins’ bodies were discovered. No one would be able to protect her except for him.

“Gather your things. We need to go.”

“All right.” Lois still held the iPhone and badges. She walked a circle around him to the kitchen door.

He breathed out a silent sigh of relief. Maybe she would listen to him now.

“Just so you know, I still don’t trust you. But something’s going on. Something big, and I’m going to find out what it is.” She turned to walk into the living room and cringed at the sight of the dragonkin’s body so close. She grabbed the door frame, back sliding against it.

“If you’re going to faint, I’ll catch you.” Xan was fast by her side. His arms tensed ready to catch her.

She glared at him. “I’m not going to faint. Who faints these days? Jesus Christ.”

Lois marched past the bodies and down the hall to the single bedroom. Xan peered out the nearest window and then checked the front door. No police or even any sirens yet. He took his free moment to wash himself in the kitchen sink.

Three minutes later, she whistled at him from down the hall. Xan hurried to her bedroom door, and she threw a full duffel bag at him. “Carry that. I need to get Huff.”

Xan caught the bag and frowned “What? We don’t have time for you to call—”

“I’m not calling anyone. I’m not stupid. Huff’s my best friend.” Lois slipped by him, avoiding all contact. She entered her office and opened the cage.

“The rat?”

“She’s not a rat. She’s a ferret.” Lois shook her head and stuck her hand inside. Immediately the critter was there, hopping up and grasping her. Lois cooed at her and lifted the ferret out.

“No. We’re not bringing it with us. Absolutely not.” Xan’s nose crinkled. He could smell that thing from the hall. A musk that couldn’t be hidden beneath the scent of cedar woodchips.

“Then I’ll go someplace on my own. Probably better that way. Drop the bag. Leave.”

He considered it as he stared at the ferret. Unsanitary. And Lois kissed the thing on top of its head!

No. She’d seen his face. And Lois was still in danger. Even if he wasn’t worried about her telling the world about him, he couldn’t leave her to the mercy of the dragon. Xan sometimes had to be a hard man, but he wasn’t a cruel one.

“No. If you must bring it, then do so. Does it have a … traveling cage?”

“Huff is a she, not an it. And yes, she has a carrier.” Lois retrieved it from under a stack of newspapers. The ferret was none too pleased seeing it and tried to make a break for it. Obviously anticipating the escape attempt, Lois nabbed her and deposited the critter into the carrier. “Sorry, sweet. It’s just for a little bit. I bet Mr. Clean here has a big backseat for you to play in.”

Xan’s jaw twitched. If Lady Luck granted him anything this night, they’d sleep through the drive out of the city.

CHAPTER 4

Nothing chased them out of Indianapolis except a growing dread. Xan drove the three hours to Carmine without stopping. It was what he’d originally intended when he’d made his plan to assassinate the Governor.

Lois tried to question him and made snide comments about his hit man-issue black sedan. A car that still held the soft leather scent of one newly bought. An aroma that was being drowned out by the ferret. When Xan didn’t reply to her jabs, Lois eventually grew silent. Though he wasn’t certain he liked her silence any more than her nattering.

Silence meant she was thinking. His hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“So you live in Carmine. Not surprising.” Lois’ fingers tapped relentlessly on the seat’s arm.

“Why isn’t it surprising?” Damn. He’d jumped at that one.

“Oh, you know, gangsters and serial killers. Everyone always seems to end up in Carmine. I think the city has more crime per capita than Indy now.”

“Not as much as some other cities.” Xan couldn’t deny it. Carmine wasn’t one of the cities people were eager to move to, but he’d always felt a kinship to the place. He’d never called any other place home.

Speaking of which, what was he going to do with Lois? He didn’t like the thought of bringing her to his apartment even though it would be the safest place for her. Yet he needed to go home. He couldn’t leave her in a hotel room by herself. She’d never stay put. Perhaps if he tied her up …

“Hello! Oh, Mr. Clean. Have you suddenly gone deaf?” Lois snapped her fingers near his face.

Xan shot her a glare. “No, I have not. Stop calling me that.”

“Well, give me a name then. I’m not idiotic enough to think you’ll give me your real one. So think of something good. What sort of names do hit men have these days? Johnny Two-Fingers. No, that’s not you. Razor. Hm, nope. The body screams Fabio, but the hair is more Jude Law. Fade. Oh, now there’s a name.”

“Xan. Just call me Xan.” He snapped and immediately chided himself. Lois was pushing his buttons and he was letting her get under his skin. The whole night was wearing him down.

“So, Xan, is that short for Alexander? Alexandros? Or were your parents minimalists?”

“No.” Okay, he couldn’t justify tying her up and leaving her. He’d have to take her to his apartment. And then what? Have Marc or Stephanie watch Lois when he needed to go out? Xan was the type who liked to plan ahead. He didn’t relish having to wait and see what might happen. The only other alternative of ridding himself of her permanently was something he liked less.

He turned and drove south of downtown.

“Where are we going? If we’re staying at a hotel, it better be nice. I won’t step foot in anything less than a four star.” Her fingers finally stopped their tapping, but the ferret had climbed up onto her lap to demand attention.

“I don’t think it should matter where we’re going as long as it’s safe.”

“Safe places can be cockroach free and have a fully stocked mini fridge.” Lois scratched Huff’s belly as the ferret tried to steal one of her rings. “Besides, hit men make mucho dollars, right? Maybe you have a swanky hideout. Please tell me you have a penthouse with a jacuzzi.”

“No one pays me to do what I do.” Proper investing had made his family wealthy, and now he was the only one left.

Xan pulled into the parking lot behind his building. A glorious apartment complex that deserved a historical marker, but the owner was too cheap to properly maintain it if it gained that status.

“Well that’s not good business. I think you need a manager.” Lois eyed the building. “We going in there? Might be interesting. What do you think, Huff?” She held the critter up, and Huff sniffed as if making a statement.

Xan parked the car, ignoring the conversation Lois was having with the ferret. A woman and a rodent inside his apartment. His heart beat faster. This wasn’t how his night was supposed to end.

Xan fetched Lois’ bag and his briefcase. Closing the trunk and setting the alarm once she was out of the car, he swallowed hard. He didn’t blink when he pulled the trigger to kill the Governor. Now he was sweating. What would his father make of the situation? The only time his father ever missed was the time he turned up dead.

“Lead the way, big man. I need to get my beauty sleep.” Lois didn’t wait for him to reply or even to lead. She walked ahead of him to the building.

He marched after her and opened the rear door, holding it open for her. He then automatically went for the stairs and held that door open too.

“You live on the second floor? Keeping healthy and walking up?” Her face scrunched up at the sight of the ill lit stairway, but didn’t hesitate as she followed.

“I live on the thirteenth floor.” Xan started up without looking back.

“What?” She stopped her ascent. “I’m not walking up thirteen floors. Not even on a good day, and I’m not having a good day.” Lois turned and went back down to the ground floor. “We’re taking the elevator.”

Sighing, Xan turned around. “The elevator doesn’t go to my floor.”

“Why? Is it broken? Please don’t tell me the elevator is broken.” Lois groaned.

“No, it’s not. It just doesn’t go to my floor.” He wasn’t going to explain it further. “Do you always ask so many questions?”

“Yes.” Her eyes flashed with her answer. “So it doesn’t go to your floor. Malfunction in the unit, I suppose. We’ll go to twelve. Better yet, we’ll go to fourteen and walk down a floor.”

He wasn’t going to stand in the stairwell and argue with her all night. He came down and led the way to the elevator. Pressing the call button, he didn’t say a word. The Fates cursed him with this woman because he missed the shot. Fighting the dragon would be easier than dealing with her.

The elevator arrived and the doors slid open. They stepped in, and he pressed fourteen. The doors shut.

“There’s not even a thirteen on here. How can there not even be a thirteen on here? You do know which floor you live on, right?” Lois gestured to the panel. Her bangs fell in front of her eyes, and she blew them back with the same force with which she spoke.

“I live on the thirteenth floor.” Xan set her bag down and rubbed his eyes.

“Headache? Do you hear voices in your head? Are you hearing them now?”

“No.” His reply was said with a little growl. She was going to drive him insane. Why wouldn’t she be quiet? Maybe if he took on more of a threatening stance. “Aren’t you afraid? I could be bringing you into a place where I’ll lock you up in a cage and torture you. You should be worried about your life.”

“I
am
worried about my life. That’s why I’m here. Some creatures came into my home and tried to kill me.” Lois’ lips thinned. “I’m going to find out who they are and whom they work for. And you’re my only connection to the answer.” She twisted her head to gaze at him. “Besides, if you were going to kill me, you’d have already done it by now. You might be a hit man, but you’re one of those ones who think they’re doing something good. Out to save the world or whatever. Is it religious? Please tell me it isn’t a religious thing.”

“No.” The elevator dinged and the door slid open before he could say anything more. She wasn’t ready to believe him yet.

“Good. I’ve never liked the whole religion thing. All garble and superstition to me.” Lois continued talking as they walked to the stairs and down a floor. “Miracles don’t happen. God wants you to make your own way. Magic isn’t real. Prayers don’t get answered. People just don’t want to take responsibility for their own lives.”

There was no light bulb in the fixture by the door marked with a thirteen. Xan pushed it open and held it for her. Lois walked into the hall still going on about how magic was for fools. A little smirk quirked his lips up.

“Well, this is antique drab. Might be nicer if someone brightened the colors. Everything’s so dark. And it’s cold. Why is it suddenly so cold here?” Lois wrapped one arm around herself and glanced at the carrier. Huff made a few excited noises. “Yes, sweet. We’re almost there and then I’ll let you out. Which apartment is yours?”

“Thirteen-oh-three.” Xan opened his door just as the door across the hall opened. He tensed, wondering what Meira’s business could be at this time of night. Hopefully it wasn’t with him or Lois.

Meira stepped out, pausing as she saw Lois. She was impeccably dressed, not a hair on her dark hair out of place. Beautiful as she was, she was always too perfect for Xan’s tastes.

“Good evening, Xan, and Xan’s guest.” Meira smiled, red lips glistening with a fresh coating of lipstick. She closed her door behind her.