“I’m meeting with Sal in a little while. I’m going to mention it to him.”
“Don’t trust him,” Jonas said between bites.
“Oh, I don’t. The one thing we have in common is we hate Galluzzi. I think he would be interested if I worked for her, and support me in my endeavor to get rid of her. He might be able to direct me where to find information.”
Sal was a true demon, selfish, greedy and power hungry. I didn’t trust him, yet he had kept his word to me. As long as I helped him further his goals, he would probably help me with mine since I was, in his eyes, a half-breed demon.
“I don’t think Boss will approve of your idea,” Jonas said after he swallowed.
“Probably not.” I suspected he would try to talk me out of it. I considered keeping it quiet until after my meeting with Sal.
I picked up a slice of nut bread and nibbled on it.
“How did your conversation with Jackson turn out?” Jonas asked.
“Pretty well. I managed to convince him Galluzzi was responsible for his Alpha’s death. He said after the funeral they would go through his personal belongings. Maybe something will turn up about the meeting.”
“We should keep in touch with him.”
Oh, I already planned on it. The hunky werewolf was an ally I would not ignore.
“I will.” I sipped some water and set the cup down. “He senses I’m different. Would you know how he could?”
“No, but some werewolves are more sensitive to emotions, scents, and energy vibes.”
“I think I managed to convince him I was a half-breed demon. After he dropped me off, I misted.”
He chuckled. “You misted in front of him?”
“Yeah. He kept asking me what I was. I felt the need to prove it.”
“That’s funny. And clever.” He grinned.
Yeah, I thought so too. The change had been worth it to see Jackson’s reaction.
Jonas finished clearing his plates. He dabbed his mouth with the napkin, then reached across the table and placed his hand on my arm. “How are things going between you and Boss?”
I shrugged. “Fine.”
His gray eyes stared deep into mine. “He hasn’t tried to–”
“No. He hasn't since the one time.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “We talked about what happened and we’re fine. We're not in love or anything.”
“I owe Boss my life. I would do anything for him. But I won’t let him turn you.”
His nobility gave me a chill.
“I think we'll be fine now,” I said. “You don't have to worry.”
We chatted for a few minutes longer, then dropped off our trays on a conveyor belt and headed back to Tabby’s room. I carried her milk and cookies. The few windows we passed showed darkness outside. I expected Boss would arrive soon.
“Do you know Boss’s real name?” I asked as we stepped on the elevator.
Jonas hit the button and waited for the doors to close. “No. I asked once a long, long time ago. He told me to call him Boss.”
Odd. I wondered why Boss never shared his real name. “I know I already asked when we first met, but I'm going to ask him again. I think he's hiding it from us.”
“If he tells you, let me know. Tabby bugged me about it the first year she stayed with us. She’d love to know his name.”
The doors opened and we walked out. “Why would he keep it hidden?”
“I don’t know. Everyone I have met through him calls him Boss. And I have met some pretty old creatures.”
If ancient beings knew Boss as Boss, then he wanted his name kept secret for a reason and he had managed to keep it hidden for a long time. Interesting.
We stayed with Tabby and entertained her for another hour or so. I told her about my idea to get a job working with Galluzzi. She hated it, and said it was too dangerous. I told her not to mention it around Boss.
When Boss showed up, he was wearing his usual black pants and dark blazer over a T-shirt. His tangled wavy hair covered one side and hung in front of his eyes. Given his high cheekbones, the man could've easily posed for a model.
He kissed Tabby on the forehead. “How are you feeling?”
She smiled. “Much better. They’re going to let me leave tomorrow.”
He held her hand. “Good, because I need you at home.”
“Oh? Is the laundry piled up?”
He chuckled. “No. The house doesn’t feel the same without you.”
She smiled and my heart warmed.
Boss stayed for a while, chatting. Tabby appeared cheerful with grins and chuckles. I wanted to stay, but I still had a matter to resolve. When the time came to leave, I nudged Boss's arm. We said our farewells, and left Jonas and Tabby for my meeting with Sal.
Tonight, Boss drove at a leisurely speed. Fresh night air flowed in through our open windows, creating a whirlwind. Our hair blew every which way.
“Do you know what you are going to ask Sal?” Boss asked, peering at me from behind his wavy locks.
I had left my list of questions out on the kitchen table, hoping he would review them. Maybe he had since he asked.
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I have a good idea.”
There was a soft buzz, and Boss reached in the pocket of his blazer and withdrew his cell phone.
“Who is it?” I asked.
He pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello?” He paused. “Yes. Hold on.” He raised his window, and I followed suit. The car became silent. Boss touched the screen then placed the phone on the dashboard. “Go ahead.”
“This is Arnie from Arnie’s books. You were in a couple nights ago,” said Arnie through the speakerphone.
“Yes, a young man and woman were with me. Did you remember something?” Boss asked.
“No, but I have something of interest. A package came in the mail the day after your visit. My wife opened the envelope and found a journal inside. It doesn’t have a name on it, but I thought of you since your friend looked at one similar.”
“Is there anything in the journal?” I asked.
“Well, yes, but I can't make it out. The writing looks like some kind of symbols to me, nothing I can decipher. I thought you might be interested in it.”
My God. My journal. I had mailed my journal to Arnie.
“Yes, we can stop by around nine. Please hold on to it for us,” Boss said.
“Will do. See you then,” Arnie replied.
Boss picked up the phone and then slid it back into his pocket. “We may have a new clue to your past.”
“Do you think you can read it?”
“Doubtful, but I can find someone who can.”
“What ancient language did I know?”
“Considering your father was one of the old ones, it could be an outdated demon language. Each race once had their own language, similar to the Egyptians and Mayas.”
I shook my head in disgust. “And I suppose if I had memories I could read it myself.” Damn, it made me mad.
Boss reached over and touched my arm. “We will find the answers. The memories will come back.”
Sure, they would, but not soon enough, I thought.
We reached the mall early and cars swamped the parking lot. I convinced Boss to drop me off, park, and then wait near the food court. He didn’t need to be with me, though I knew he wanted to.
I strode into the crowded mall and the mixture of scents and voices overwhelmed my nose and ears. Finding the food court, I scanned for an empty table. There were few available, but I found a vacant one in the middle, next to a group of young teens. As I planted my rear on the chair, I heard them complimenting my hair. Why was it such an attraction to them?
I fidgeted in my seat, waiting for Sal. I was glad to know my last name. Now, I couldn't wait to know my first name.
At a table nearby, a young girl in a group of teens smiled and laughed with her friends. They looked happy and content, as if nothing else mattered in the world. I wondered if I had experienced anything like that when I was their age.
I searched the crowd for Sal or Boss. The time had to be close to eight. They had to be nearby.
I spotted Boss leaning against the wall near Sears. His arms were crossed and he watched me. I gave him a nod.
“My-my, you do have a way of handling things,” Sal said as he appeared from behind me, dressed in dark jeans and a black shirt. He had his long hair pulled back into a ponytail. He dragged the chair from under the table and sat across from me. “The email was a clever idea.”
“She can’t go back on her word now, can she?”
“No, she can’t.” He threaded his fingers together on the table. “My card?”
“Oh.” I reached into my pocket, withdrew it, and slid it over to him.
“Thank you.” He swiped it from the table.
My heart raced. “My name?”
He grinned. “Do you remember anything?”
Heat rushed to my head. “What does it matter to you? Give me my name. That was our deal.”
He stared at me with wicked eyes. Frustration boiled under my skin. If he didn’t hold up to his end of the bargain, I would kick his ass to Hell.
“Your name is Shelley Baxter,” he said. “I believe your mother was Alison Baxter, one of Galluzzi’s employees many, many years ago.”
My heart soared. Shelley. The S on my dagger stood for Shelley. I finally knew my name.
I took a deep breath of joy. “You’re right. Alison was my mother. I questioned Galluzzi about her.”
“And she told you Alison was your mother?” he asked with a brow curved.
“Close to it. She told me I had Alison’s eyes.”
His lips twitched in the corner. “The Senator has a way with words.”
I nodded in agreement.
“So, you managed to handle the other part of our arrangement?” he asked, lowering his arms.
“Yes, I’m leading the investigation.”
“What?” Ire flavored his tone.
“You wanted Boss to back off the investigation. He has. I told you I would handle it. I am leading the investigation, not Boss.”
The red around his eyes brightened. His face tensed as it turned a soft shade of red. “You tricky little–”
“Calm down,” I said.
He gritted his teeth. “Our agreement–”
“If you recall, our agreement did not specify Boss or I had to end the investigation, or that I could take control of it.”
He glowered at me.
“Look, I have a plan, and I think you will like it.”
He straightened in his seat and crossed his arms.
“I’m going to try and get a job working for the Senator.”
He laughed. “You must be out of your mind.”
“She doesn’t know my memories are gone. Whatever knowledge I had about the meeting at the dump, she still thinks I have it.”
The smile changed into a serious, yet crafty one. I had his attention.
“If Galluzzi hires you, what do you intend to find out?”
“As much as I can. I want her brought to justice. She murdered all those people at the dump. She might have had my mother killed. There’s no telling what she can do if she gains anymore power.”
He grinned. “I like you.”
“But you don’t trust me.”
“No.”
“I don’t trust you either.”
“But we share a common goal. Perhaps we can work together. However, there may come a time when I have to work with the Senator. My loyalty will always be to my race.”
I took a deep breath, understanding his warning well. I had time to investigate, but I needed to find answers fast in case she called upon him.
“Mind if I ask a few questions?” I asked, thinking he might be willing to help me now.
The corner of his mouth curled as if he were pleased. “You may ask a few.”
“Why do you want power over the Senator?”
“She’s a half-demon bitch who steals to get ahead. She has no clue how to work for anything. I have worked hard to get where I am, and I will not let some half-breed gain higher status over me, ever.”
There was no waver in his voice, or his gaze. Though he deeply despised Galluzzi, I noticed a big difference between him and her. He wasn't a killer. But I still didn't trust him.
“How is it she has remained unregistered all these years?” I asked.
He leaned over the table. “Many, many years ago when she was an attorney, she helped one of the councilmen with a legal and public problem. I don’t know the specifics. All I know is the council agreed to waive her registration with
any
clan.”
An agreement with the council. How interesting. And Boss knew nothing about it.
“Did your leader tell you about this?” I asked.
“No. I found the agreement stored in a secured cabinet. Because of my loyalty to my leader, I didn’t question him about it.”
“Which councilman did she help?”
A furtive grin spread across his face. “I can’t tell you.”
Frustration stirred in me. He knew which councilman, he just refused to tell me.
“Are they currently alive or dead?” I asked, hoping to narrow down the list of candidates.
“I’m not sure.”
“Would you tell me if you knew?”
“Maybe.” He twisted the watch around his wrist and glanced at the time. “For the right price.”
Another deal with him? No fucking way. I'd share my information with Boss and let him investigate Sal’s claim.
“Did your leader and Galluzzi work close together?” I asked.
“No, they had a few deals, nothing more.”
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the table. “So how did Galluzzi know I would be at the meeting?”
“I will not give you my evidence,” he said firmly, his face tense.
“Calm down, I’m not asking for it. I simply asked a question.”
“She asked my leader to pick you up at the airport with a vampire. My leader knew nothing about you except your name. Since you arrived with a vampire, he assumed you were one, or a half-breed. His instructions were to show you two around town, take you to a hotel, and make sure both of you arrived on the night of the meeting.”
I began to wonder if the vampire who arrived with me had implanted the Senator’s face in the pawnshop owner's mind. Could the same vampire have taken my memories? If so, had the Senator known my condition when I met with her? She didn’t act like it. Had she known, I doubted she would’ve withdrawn from the race. So, did the vampire in question clean my mind without informing Galluzzi? Why? I needed to find this vampire. I hoped he wasn’t one of the dead at the dump.
“How did you get my picture from the pawnshop?”