Wehaveto find them…
“I’ll coordinate with state and local law enforcement as best I can,” Emilio said, “but we have to tread lightly.”
“No shit,” Ronan said. “Human cops will make this even more of a mess than it already is.”
Emilio nodded. “The good news is there are quite a few shifters working as cops in this state, especially on the outskirts. The bad news is the coastal communities in particular are territorial as hell. Working with them is a nightmare on the best of days.”
“Even with your… connections?” Ronan asked.
“Especiallywith them,” he said. He and Ronan exchanged an odd glance, but before I could ask about it, Ronan was speaking again.
“The other issue is we don’t know who else this jackoff is working with. He had Hollis and the other vamps in his pocket. He may be infiltrating police departments, too.”
“And we still don’t know their connection to the vamps who attacked Darius and Gray at the morgue,” Emilio said. “That’s another loose end, and Ireallydon’t like loose ends.”
I took another sip of coffee, swallowing down the shame that rose in my throat at the mention of the morgue vamps. Darius kept on telling me that what I’d done—that the murder of the female vampire who’d attacked me— was self-defense, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
Eager to move on from that particular topic, I said, “So what did you guys turn up at Norah’s? Anything?”
“Not much,” Ronan said. “A few basic witchcraft supplies, some notes, but nothing that raised any red flags. If Norah had any computers or phones, she either took them with her, or the vamps cleaned her out before we got there.”
He got up from the table and headed into the kitchen, returning a minute later with the coffee. “Anyone need a warmup?”
“You really think she’d take everything with her?” I asked, holding up my mug. “How long was she planning to stay away? I got the impression it was a temporary thing.”
“No idea.” Ronan topped me off, then poured the rest into his mug, setting the empty carafe on the table. “Norah either cleaned up her tracks like a pro, or she’s innocent, and she really did leave town with every intention of keeping Reva safe, no matter how long that might’ve taken.”
“Doesn’t look like that plan worked out,” I said, remembering the fear I’d seen in Reva’s eyes last night. Poor kid. I really hoped Norah was innocent, if for no other reason than sparing Reva the crushing pain of learning the woman who’d given her a home was a traitor.
“Neighbors were starting to ask questions about the broken windows,” Emilio said, “so we cordoned off the house and told them there was a robbery. I’ve been trying to reach Norah to let her know about the property damage, but she hasn’t returned my calls.”
“What about the dead vampires?” I asked, recalling the pile of bodies they’d left, including the charred mess of one Clayton Hollis.
“Taken care of,” Ronan said, and I didn’t press for details.
“Alright, let’s assume Gray’s vision was accurate.” Asher, who’d been happily shoveling food into his maw, finally jumped into the conversation. “Our best lead is still the rogue vampire. Things may have gone south between him and the hunter, but he’s gotta know something about the dude’s plans or hideouts.”
“Yeah, but where is he?” I asked. “If Hollis was telling the truth, the hunter’s blood bank bailed on him. That vamp is probably in hiding now—the hunter likely wants him dead.”
“Not to mention the Grinaldi family,” Emilio said. “This rogue attempted to break their code. They won’t let a slight like that go unpunished.”
“Darius’s people are making progress with Grinaldi,” Ronan said. “He thinks he’ll be able to secure a face-to-face meeting soon. We’ll know more about that in the next day or so.”
“In the meantime,” Emilio said, reaching for Ronan’s coffee mug and stealing a sip, “I’m still working the case. We’re combing through security footage from all the street cams in the area between Haley’s place, where she and Asher were jumped, and Norah’s, where Asher was left to rot like a piece of bad meat.”
“Dude.” Asher, who’d returned to his fourth helping of eggs as if it’d been days since his last meal rather than minutes, dropped his fork. “I’m right here.”
“Thanks to Gray,” Ronan said, winking at me across the table. “She saved your ass.”
“Maybe not one of my better decisions,” I teased.
“Aww, you two areadorable.” Asher grinned, but the mischievous glint in his eye told me exactly where his comments were heading. “You know, Ronan, I just realized something about that night. Technically, I’ve been inside your girlfriend. Is that weird for you?”
Ronan plucked a grape from the fruit salad bowl and chucked it at Asher’s head. “Keep dreaming, cocksucker.”
“Every night and all day long, brother,” Asher said.
The demons looked at me, both laughing, waiting as if they were expecting me to hit Asher with a zinger of my own.
