Damned and Cursed (Book 2): Witch's Kurse (47 page)

Marie opened the bedroom door, and Jack let out a relaxed sigh.
 
A wonderfully tight pair of jeans, a loose blouse, and simple sneakers.
 
Her hair was still damp, giving it a stringy look.
 
She was certainly one-night worthy.
 
But he still couldn't wrap his mind around what she could have possibly been doing for fifteen minutes.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"Is that a joke?
 
Am I ready?"

She rolled her eyes as she grabbed the donuts and coffee from the dining room table.
 
Jack smiled as she didn't offer gratitude.
 
He was starting to like her more and more.

"How do you want to do this?" she asked as they left the building.

"Oh, no.
 
This is your show.
 
You lead the way.
 
You're my bloodhound."

"I'm not your anything."

He unlocked the car.
 
"Try not to shed on the seat."

They both sat in the car at the same time.

"It's a miracle Erica was able to put up with you as long as she did."

Jack's shoulders tensed.
 
Marie's words hurt, and the pain caught him by surprise.
 
She reached out and grabbed his arm immediately, her eyes apologetic.
 
He didn't recoil at her touch.

"Oh God, I'm sorry, Jack.
 
That was terrible."

"It's okay," he said, gently pulling his arm away.
 
"Payback for all the dog jokes."

"No, it wasn't.
 
That was mean, and cruel."

"It's a mean and cruel world.
 
I can take it.
 
You're right, she was a small miracle.
 
And someone took her from everyone."

They were quiet a moment, the awkwardness thick in the air.
 
Marie finally spoke, her voice low.

"I'd like to start at her apartment.
 
That way I can really get her scent in my head."

It was a quiet ride.
 
Marie ate donuts and drank coffee in silence.
 
She didn't feel the need to fill the emptiness with inane chatter, another positive in Jack's mind.
 
She was focused, driven, yet full of a positive energy.
 
He had no trouble at all seeing Marie revive a dead bar.

Jack parked in front of Erica's building.
 
He left the car without a word, Marie a step behind.

"We're just going to walk in?" she asked.

"I have a key."

"I have a feeling she didn't give you a spare key."

"And your feeling would be right."

They rounded the stairwell.
 
Jack smiled when he saw spots of blood on the second floor landing, from when he beat the mortal who spoke of Erica.

"Holy crap," Marie said.
 
"Someone got the shit kicked out of them."

"Yes.
 
Yes they did."

Jack unlocked Erica's door, but didn't step inside.
 
The apartment was exactly as he'd left it.
 
Marie took a step to move past him, but stopped as she neared the threshold.
 
She let out a deep breath.

"It's been a while since I've been here."

"Erica and you were friends?"

"We were getting there, for sure.
 
I'm the one who paid for her tombstone."

Marie stepped inside, Jack a step behind her.
 
She lifted her nose to the air and sniffed quick, short breaths.

"Raspberry, with just a bit of lemon."

"Erica smelled like raspberries?"

"Yeah.
 
A pretty nice smell, actually."

"I don't even think I could tell you what a raspberry smells like."

"The nose is a werewolf's best friend.
 
I can tell if anyone's sneaking up on me just by smelling and listening.
 
We recognize scents like faces.
 
It's saved my ass plenty before."

"So if someone farts from fifty feet away, you can pick that up?"

She turned to glare at him.

"I'm just asking," he said.

Jack watched her work.
 
Marie sniffed everything.
 
She put her nose right up to the couch cushions, the furniture, the walls.
 
She literally looked like a dog, and it was all he could do not to unleash a joke.
 
He was desperate for humor, as the mood from standing in his ex-girlfriend's apartment for the second time was wearing on him.

"Tell me something, Jack," Marie said.
 
She entered the bedroom and stuck her nose in Erica's old clothes.
 
He tried not to wince.
 
"Do you miss her?"

"Do you want the truth?
 
Most women want to be lied to."

"I'm not most women.
 
Tell the truth."

"No.
 
I moved on, and so did she.
 
We only dated for a few months, not twenty years."

She shook her head, moving about the bedroom.
 
"So, you're willing to spend one-hundred grand on a woman you don't miss.
 
That's weird."

"I'm a weird guy."

Marie stopped and faced him, crossing her arms.
 
It was obvious she wasn't moving until he offered something more.

"I…cared about her, and I didn't know I was still able to do that.
 
I love my daughter, obviously, but I didn't know I could care about an adult mortal woman.
 
Moving on or not, Erica was a wonderful, good person.
 
She didn't deserve to have her life taken in some backwater, nothing town.
 
Someone took her from the world.
 
That someone is going to pay."

Marie nodded, and Jack recognized understanding in her eyes.
 
She didn't judge him, didn't think him vengeful.
 
He needed to learn more about her.

"Be careful what you say," she said.
 
"I grew up here."

"I feel sorry for you."

She laughed quietly, and they made their way back through the apartment.
 
He noticed how thorough she was.
 
She sniffed everything a second time, examined the kitchen and fridge, spent extra time in the bathroom.

Jack pointed at the collection of classroom photos on the dining room wall.
 
He found the most recent photo and pointed out Tiffany.

"That's my daughter, right there."

Marie leaned closer.
 
"Really?"

She stood next to Jack as she examined the picture, a little closer than he expected.
 
He could smell her hair.

"That's not your daughter."

"Excuse me?"

"There's not a resemblance at all.
 
Not a single feature."

"Now who's playing detective?"

"Is she adopted?"

He hesitated, impressed and apprehensive at the same time.

"Yes."

"She's cute."

"You should have seen her for Halloween."

Marie laughed and stopped at the front door, taking one last look at the apartment.

"Well, I've really got her scent now.
 
And it's just
her
scent.
 
Besides you and me, no one's even been in the apartment.
 
Let's go check out where she was murdered.
 
I'll see what else I can pick up."

"You're the boss."

They rounded the stairwell and stepped onto the second floor landing.
 
Marie suddenly stopped, right where the blood was.
 
She frowned as she lifted her nose to the air and sniffed.

"What's the problem?" Jack asked.

Marie held up a finger.
 
As silly as it sounded, she was pretty when she was in dog mode.
 
Her frown and twitching nose were adorable.

"Just…hold on a sec."

He stifled a laugh when Marie dropped to her hands and knees and stuck her nose to the ground.
 
She crawled about, moving her nose from door to door, sniffing along the thresholds.
 
The view was provocative, similar to the first night they met, with her ass in the air.

"Enjoying the scenery up there?" she asked.

"Hey, if you want to reenact an 80's music video, I won't stop you.
 
It's not my fault…."
 
He trailed off when a detail caught his eye.
 
Her shirt rode up as she moved, and her jeans pulled down slightly.
 
Her lower back was exposed, along with her choice of underwear for the day.
 
"You picked the thong I suggested."

"Yeah, well, you have good taste.
 
Enjoy the show while it lasts."

He fumbled for the phone in his coat.
 
Marie cocked an ear, almost like a canine, and tilted her head.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking a picture."

"Goddamnit, Jack!"

She jumped to her feet as fast as she could.
 
Despite her harsh, angry glare, he could see deep down she was enjoying herself.
 
They found each other attractive for the same reasons.
 
They were both private people with so much to hide, but could actually share the occasional nugget of information with each other.

Acting on that attraction would have to wait.
 
Jack knew that, as well as Marie.
 
She gestured to the door closest to the drops of blood on the landing.

"We need to get in there."

"Why?"

"I…don't want to say just yet.
 
Maybe my nose is off."

Jack stared at the door.
 
"I know the guy who lives here."

"You do?"

"Well, not really
know
."
 
He struggled to remember the man's name.
 
"Charlie, I think.
 
That's his blood."

"Let me guess.
 
You put it there."

"He pissed me off the first time I was here.
 
Are you saying he's got something to do with Erica's murder?"

"I'm not saying anything yet, just that we need to get inside."

"Is he in there?"

"No."

"Then stand back."

Marie jumped in front of him before he could kick the door down.

"Whoa!" she said.
 
"What are you doing?"

"What's it look like?"

"You can't go destroying people's doors, making as much noise as you can."

"Why not?"

"Well, because people will hear."

"So?"

She sighed in defeat as she gestured to the stairs.
 
"Just follow me."

Marie led the way back to Erica's apartment.
 
She went to the patio door and slid it open.

"Just help me climb down," she said.
 
"I'll get in through the patio and let you in."

He smiled.
 
"Breaking and entering."

"Oh, be quiet," she said, a quiet laugh escaping.

Jack held her hand as she climbed over the railing.
 
He glanced at the scenery as she moved into position.
 
It was still early, and the patio pointed to the rear of the building.
 
No one was watching.

"You'd better hurry it up," he said.
 
"Before people start walking their dogs.
 
But if they do, I can put a leash on you.
 
We'll blend right in."

"Shut up."

Marie dangled her feet until they touched the railing below.
 
Jack held her arm until she found her footing, and climbed to the patio below.
 
It wasn't exactly Victoria leaping and flinging herself a level below with one hand, but just as effective.

She was already waiting for him when he reached the front door.
 
She held the door open to let him in.

"That was fast," he said.

Marie just winked.

The layout of Charlie's apartment was exactly the same as the rest.
 
Where Erica was a slob, Charlie was the complete opposite.
 
No clutter, nothing even on the coffee table.
 
But there were clues lying about.

"Let's see," Jack said, studying the apartment.
 
"Single, no family.
 
Works as a mechanic of some kind, works with his hands.
 
Keeps to himself, not much of a social life.
 
Doesn't go out much at all."

"Now how the hell can you tell all that?"

He sighed, not feeling like reviewing all the clues.

"A pair of work gloves in the corner.
 
No jeans in the hamper.
 
Uses the microwave primarily for cooking.
 
Do I need to go on?"

She walked down the hall to the bedroom.

"I'm not sure if that's sexy or creepy."

"One could say the same thing about you."

Marie pulled out the first dresser drawer and ran her nose along it, a cursory sniff.
 
Jack saw nothing but sweatpants and overalls.

"What are you looking for?"

She held up a finger, going through the rest of the dresser.

Opening the third drawer, Jack saw it the same time Marie smelled it.
 
It was full of socks and white underwear, messily tossed together.
 
He could see the occasional pink and purple peeking through.
 
They both reached out at the same time, their hands touching, and Jack backed away to let Marie do her thing.

She pulled out a pair of pink hi-cut panties.
 
She brought them as close to her nose as she dared.