“They’re in good hands,” Zay said.
Shame nodded. “So we pick this up tomorrow?”
“Works for me,” Zay agreed.
“Victor has shifts out looking for Sedra,” Terric said. “We’re not on until afternoon. You too, Jones.” He picked up the last beer and pointed it at Zay. “See you tomorrow. Sober.” He took the beer with him, out the door.
Zay just shook his head. “I think Terric’s getting too comfortable around here.”
Shame stood. “You’re singing my song, Z. The sooner he ships out, the better.” He absently scratched Stone behind the ears, then walked over to the door. “Night, you two. Keep it easy.”
“Night,” I said.
He shut the door, and I leaned my head against Zay’s shoulder, tucking my legs up on the couch and closing my eyes. I needed to set the locks on the door, needed to call the Hounds and see if they had any leads on Dane, and ask one of them to watch over Nola and Cody. Needed to ask my dad if he knew where Sedra was. Needed to ask him if he could find Leander or Dane.
Instead, I fell asleep.
“Allie?”
I woke. Zayvion stood above me. He was still wearing his T-shirt and jeans, but a groggy glance around the room showed me one pizza box was closed on the table, Stone was curled up in the corner with the other pizza box on his head, and the Jenga blocks now resembled the Colosseum.
I assumed at least a little time had passed.
“I’d let you sleep there, but you’re on your bad arm and hip.” He held his hand down for me, and I took it. Sat. Ouch. My bad arm, my hip, and my head hurt.
Zay didn’t say anything else. He just helped me up onto my feet and walked with me to the bedroom. I didn’t trip or whimper or swear—impressive victories, as far as I was concerned. I even managed to pull the covers back and crawl into bed all on my own.
Zay turned off the lights, checked the window, then crawled into bed next to me. He shifted and, with a groan, worked on finding a position in the bed that made his ribs comfortable—flat on his back with one arm crossed over his chest. I pressed my back up against his side, and he slipped his hand up to rest on my hip.
And then I slept again.
Chapter Ten
I
am not a morning person. Never have been. But I woke sharp and early the next morning. Sunlight filtered through my curtains with the curious blue of predawn.
It wasn’t a dream that woke me. I woke because I knew why Leander wanted Cody.
I pushed the covers back. My arm still hurt, but not as bad as yesterday. My skull felt like it’d been scrubbed out with steel wool. Raw, sore, but clean. There was a reason why I took my Proxy pain fast and hard. It got it out of the way so I could work again.
Fast Band-Aid rip for me, every time, baby.
By the time I stood up out of bed, Zay was awake.
“Tell me you’re making coffee,” he mumbled.
“After I shower. I know why Leander wants Cody.”
That did it. Zay’s eyes opened, and he was very, very alert.
“Why?”
“He’s looking for a body to possess. Right? He’s just a spirit. And he can’t do anything unless he’s solid. He used the solid Veiled to do what he wanted before, but they’re locked up. You said it last night—Cody has a broken spirit. I’m guessing there’s room in his head for Leander. As a matter of fact, I think we should go make sure he didn’t get in there. Get in Cody before Stone got rid of him. Do you think Shame could tell since it’s Death magic stuff?”
Zay levered up, the tightening at the corners of his eyes and jaw the only indication that he was in pain.
“Shame should be able to tell. I’ll call him.”
I padded into the bathroom and took a five-minute shower. By the time I was done, Zay was just hanging up the phone. “Shame will be over soon. I also told Victor what we’re doing.”
“You told him we’re looking into Cody, right?” I tucked the towel tighter around me, then dug in my dresser for my bra and panties.
“Yes.”
He got up, paused halfway to standing and exhaled, then pushed until he was straight.
“I’m going to take a shower,” he said.
He walked stiffly into the bathroom, and I got dressed. Work clothes, which meant jeans, a tank, T-shirt, and sweater. I brushed my hair and tucked it behind my ears.
I finally heard the shower water turn on and went to make coffee. Stone was still sleeping, which I could tell only because he didn’t move. I wandered into the kitchen. Looked like it was going to be cold pizza for breakfast, unless we wanted to catch something on the way out. I started the coffee.
I wondered if I should call Nola and warn her we were coming.
Probably. Otherwise, she might already be out for breakfast.
I pulled out my cell and dialed.
“Nola Robbins speaking,” she said.
“Hi, it’s Allie.”
“I’m glad you called,” she said in a rush. “I’m sorry. For how I acted yesterday. It was stupid. The whole thing was so strange, and I was really out of my depth. I’m not your mother, and you don’t need me to take care of you. Of course there are going to be things you don’t want to tell me.”
I exhaled the breath I didn’t even know I was holding. “No, it was dumb of me not to tell you everything that’s been going on lately. I mean, I was the one who begged you to help me keep my memories recorded, and then I screwed it up. Sorry.”
“Let’s buy each other coffee.”
“And dessert. Done. But not today. I need a favor.”
“Okay.”
“I need to come over and talk to Cody about that shadow you saw. Has he told you anything else about it?”
“No. He stayed up half the night looking for Stone. He’s asleep right now.”
“Is Paul there?”
“No,” she hedged. “Why?”
“Because I don’t really want to explain myself to him.”
“Are you doing something illegal?”
“No, but he’s always asking questions, and that makes me nervous.” I laughed. “Can I come over now? I’ll be with Zay and Shamus.”
“Sure,” she said. “I’ll put on some coffee.”
We hung up, and I heard a sound behind me. Zay stood in the kitchen doorway, rivulets of water tracking down his jaw and shoulder. I loved it when he didn’t wear a shirt. He always wore clothes that hid the width of his shoulders and disguised the thick muscles of his arms, chest, and tight six-pack stomach. But seeing him without his shirt on today just showed me how bruised and swollen he still was.
They had beat the crap out of him. Anger scorched through my mind. I was going to kick Dane’s ass for that.
“Little help?” Zay held up the roll of elastic bandage.
“Do you want to sit?”
“It’d be easier if I stand.”
I took the bandage and started at the top of his rib cage, my hands shaking a little. Not from nerves—from anger. “That too tight?”
“No.”
I got to the bottom, tucked the end of the wrap under the last round, and set the little hook. I rested my hands on his hips, bent, and kissed the exposed skin just above his waistband.
“Mmm.” He opened his arms, and I straightened and folded myself against him, trying not to hold him too tight, wishing he weren’t hurting. Wishing Dane had never gotten in my apartment. Wishing I knew where Dane and his men were so I could show them what I could do with a crowbar.
“Coffee’s done,” he said against my hair.
“Nola’s waiting for us.” I leaned back so I could look at him. “Please take a painkiller.”
“I did.” He reached out, tucked my hair back behind my ear. “I’m fine.”
“Liar.”
“No,” he said, tucking the hair back behind my other ear. “It’s the truth. I’m breathing, there’s a cup of coffee in my near future, and a beautiful woman in my arms. What more could a man ask for?”
“Revenge.”
He smiled, and there was an entirely different look in his eyes. “Oh, I’ll get that too.”
I stepped back. “Promise you’ll let me watch?”
“Front-row seat.” He kissed me, just one hot brush of his mouth against mine. Then he walked past me, shrugging into his T-shirt. He pulled two cups off the shelf.
“Want pizza?” I held out a slice for him.
He poured coffee into the cups, took a drink, and gave me the cup for two pieces of pizza. “Let’s take it to go.”
I grabbed a slice for myself and ate pizza and drank coffee while finding my boots, my jacket, and my blank book.
Everything accounted for, a fresh cup of coffee poured, and one more slice of pepperoni to go, and we were ready.
“Stone?” I said. “You take care, okay, boy?”
He gurgled from the corner of the room. Sleepy. I didn’t need to worry about him. If he wanted out, he’d get out.
We left the apartment and took the stairs down. Zay finished off another piece of pizza—his third, I think—and I finished my coffee.
Dawn was giving way to morning, the hush of night replaced by birds and traffic. The sky was a patchwork of blue and pink, the blush of sunlight hooked into the curve of clouds.
It wasn’t raining. It wasn’t freezing. All in all, a pretty nice start for the day.
We got in the car, and Zayvion headed off toward Stotts’ place.
“Will Detective Stotts be there?” he asked.
“No. She said he’s already gone into work. He probably has cameras on the place, though.”
“He does.”
“That was definite. You case his house?”
“Looking after the city
is
my job.”
“Which means?”
“Of course I’ve cased the house of the head of the secret department of the police force that deals with magical crime. I’ve been at this for a few years.”
“Wow, okay. Take it down a notch, Mr. Truth and Justice,” I teased. “Afraid I’m going to tell Victor you aren’t doing your job right?”
He gave me a look. “Victor wouldn’t believe you.”
“Sure he would. He likes me.”
Zay chuckled. “Good. You be his favorite for a while. I’ll take a vacation.”
“You can’t take a vacation.”
“Why?”
“You’d miss me.”
He took a moment to consider that. Finally, “I’d get over it.”
“Oh, please. You’d think of me day and night. You wouldn’t be able to breathe, sleep, or eat without me.”
“I’d manage,” he said dryly.
“And you’re so sure of that?”
“Yes. I already think about you day and night. It hasn’t killed me. Yet.” He maneuvered the car through traffic, putting the speed limit to shame. “I’d just be doing it on a white-sand beach somewhere. Sounds nice, actually.”
“You and I are no longer on speaking terms.”
His phone rang, and he answered. “Almost there. Five minutes. Good.”
He hung up. “Shame’s there.”
“Already?”
“I thought we weren’t talking,” he said.
“Invite me to your beach, and I’ll reconsider conversation.”
“Bring beer and I might let you on my beach,” he said.
“Might? I think you’ll not only invite me; you’ll have margaritas waiting. And if you ask nice, I’ll wear a bikini. Brazilian.”
“Topless?”
“I said Brazilian.”
He frowned and nodded. “Since you put it that way, this is me asking nice.”
“So Shame?” I said.
“He’s not invited to my beach.”
“No, I mean he’s awake already?”
“Still. I don’t think he slept last night.”
We pulled up alongside Paul’s house. Shame was sitting in his car, parked on one side of the cul-de-sac. We parked behind him and got out.
Black hoodie, black fingerless gloves, smoking. He looked like he not only hadn’t slept, but also hadn’t brushed his hair or changed his clothes.
“Rough night?” Zay asked.
“Oh, no. Glorious, thanks. Mum had me crosschecking data on the solid Veiled all damn night. Fuckin’ A, there better be a shot of whiskey at the end of this damn morning.”
“Nola said she’d have fresh coffee,” I said.
“Whiskey. I’ll say it slow: whiiiskey.”
We all walked up to the house, and Zay knocked. He glanced up at the corner of the porch roof and nodded. Camera, I assumed.
The locks turned, and then Nola opened the door. “Come on in, all of you. Coffee?”
“God, yes,” Shame said. “Strong as you can make it, with milk and sugar, thank you.”
We stepped into Stotts’ house. I have to admit I was more than a little uncomfortable here. I first and foremost thought of Stotts as a person who hired me for Hounding. And I’d always tried to keep my working relationships and personal relationships two very different things. Especially when it came to the police. Standing in the middle of Stotts’ living room made me feel like I was on stage under a spotlight.
The house was decorated with minimal furniture—couch, chair, a side table with a few magazines stacked neatly. The TV was relatively new and mounted on the wall. A fireplace commanded the opposite wall. The room was off-white, had a couple cityscape paintings and a bookshelf filled with books, all neatly stacked by size and held in place by marble bookends.
Functional, clean, nothing fussy. The home of a man who lived alone and probably didn’t stay home much.
Nola shut the door, then walked over toward me. I was struck at how much she seemed to belong here, surrounded by Stotts’ things, his life. Sunlight always followed her, and today was no different. She looked like a sunflower in the shade. As if this house, this room, and the life that filled it had been waiting for her to come along and push the cool shadows away so that things could grow again.
If I didn’t know her so well, I’d probably overlook the smudge of darkness under her eyes. But I did know her. I could tell she had not slept well last night.
She gave me a quick hug, and I knew we were right again. “Did you eat anything? I can whip up some eggs,” she said.
“I don’t think we’ll stay that long. Can we see Cody?”
“Sure. This way.” She led us back to the kitchen.
A small kitchen table was tucked up against a window that looked out onto a well-kept yard. Stotts either hired a service or knew how to keep a lawn green.
Cody sat at the table, his hair brushed but damp from a shower. He wore a navy blue sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, and no shoes. He was eating cereal and reading the back of the cereal box.
“Cody,” Nola said, “Allie’s here to visit.”
Cody looked up at me and smiled. “Hi! My monster. My good monster.”
“Yes,” I said. “Have you seen him lately?”
“He didn’t come home.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “Maybe he had some monster things he needed to do. Cody, do you remember Zay?”
He smiled at Zay. “Hi.”
“And this is my friend Shamus. Shamus, I’d like you to meet Cody.”
“Hey, Cody,” Shamus sat down at the table across from him and turned the cereal box so he could read the back of it. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Cereal. Do you want some cereal?”
“Not right now. Unless there’s whiskey in it?”
Cody frowned; then a small smile curved his lips and he met Shame’s gaze. “Whiskey isn’t for breakfast.”
“It is if you’re Irish,” Shame said.
These two knew each other. They’d probably even gotten into some trouble together from the way Shame grinned at him.
“No. Cereal is for breakfast,” Cody insisted. “And rum.”
“Cody!” Nola sounded shocked; then she laughed.
Shame nodded. “Rum it is. You are a very smart man.”
Cody tipped his head as if trying to remember something else, then shrugged and took another bite of cereal. He seemed to forget any of us were in the room. He ate his cereal, humming to himself and looking out the window.
Shame, I knew, was checking in Cody’s head to see if there was anything other than Cody in there.
“Cody,” I said, “do you remember seeing a shadow man the other day?”
He looked up at the ceiling and chewed. Swallowed. “Yes.”
“Do you know where he is?”
He stopped swinging his feet and brought his gaze down to mine. “He went away. My monster made him go away. He won’t touch me anymore. Older me said so. Older me said it’s okay now and I don’t have to be afraid.”
Shame sat back a little and looked like he took a breath. “I think Older you is pretty smart too,” he said. “But don’t let him have all the rum.”
“Cereal,” Cody said with a smile.
“Cereal,” Shame agreed. “Have a good day, okay, buddy?” Shame stood, exchanged one of those looks that only Zay could interpret, then turned to Nola.
“Thanks for letting us come by,” he said. “I’m pretty sure whatever you saw really is gone and hasn’t left Cody damaged.”