That was how I was going to channel this rage.
I had a knack for encouraging the unstable to latch on to me. Just as in December, this was personal, and I wasn’t going to let it rest. If I really was the cat curiosity tried to kill, I figured it had only gotten one or two of my lives so far. Plenty left.
There was a mystery afoot.
So much for my cupcakes and whiskey.
CHAPTER SIX
I STEPPEDaway from the crowd and my former home when my phone started ringing. I held it close to see Max’s name on the caller ID. “I didn’t call you,” I said upon answering. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re alive!” he shouted. “Oh my God! I saw on the news this morning! Seb, what happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
“But that was your apartment building, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Holy shit.Holy shit,” Max cried. “Was it a gas explosion?”
I hesitated. I didn’t want to worry him more than necessary. “Maybe. They’re still investigating,” I lied.
Max groaned. “Where are you staying? With Calvin?”
“My dad’s right now.”
“Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m okay. But thank you.”
“What about the Emporium? Do you—I can run it alone if you need.”
“I’m going to stay closed for a day or two,” I answered. “Your pay won’t be affected.”
“I don’t care about that.”
Sweet kid.
I had taken another step and was just about to tell Max once more that I was really okay, because the poor guy sounded more shaken than I did, when something hit my foot hard. “Ouch! Son of a bitch,” I muttered, looking down.
“What? You okay?” Max’s voice echoed.
“Yeah, fine—” I stared down at a brick beside my foot.
I whipped my head up and looked around, but no one seemed to be paying me any notice. Uniformed personnel walked about, and civilians were all still watching the scene behind me.
“Max, I have to go. I’ll call you later. Thank you again. I mean it.”
“Sure, Seb. Be safe, all right? Do you know how hard it’ll be to find another boss with your level of sarcasm and crotchety behavior? One doesn’t just stumble onto that every day.”
“You’re too kind.” I said good-bye and hung up.
I looked down at the brick again before crouching to examine it. Antique, similar to the ones in the Emporium, with a rubber band and slip of paper. I swallowed and pulled it free. Unfolding the note carefully at the corners, I squinted to read the message.
He lost the whales but not the mermaid.
Below that was an address on the Upper West Side.
