Page 90 of Death is Familiar

“She’s called five times in the last ten minutes.”

“She knows I can’t talk on the phone.”

“I can play translator.”

Jack and Todd exchanged a look. Grumpy Todd returned, conceded with a huff, then answered his phone with a grunt.

Whatever the person on the other end of the phone had to say, must not have been good news because it took two seconds for Todd to stop breathing. Two seconds for him to grip his phone so tight, his knuckles turned white.

A deep sinking feeling took root in my bones. Whatever would cause such a reaction from Todd, had the potential to be catastrophic. And I couldn’t get a read from Jack. He was the epitome of calm as per usual. One of us had to be.

A second later, Todd exhaled a slow, jagged, breath. Squeezed his eyes shut. Then jumped into action. From what I could tell, he was saying something to Jack, but I couldn’t see Todd’s hands move. It was like he was trying to hide what he was saying. From me.

Jack nodded, and when Todd held out the phone, Jack said, “On our way.”

There was more movement from Todd. More obstructed communication.

“Of course, text Ben. We’ll get more resources on this.” Jack’s on-the-job demeanor was in full force. “We’re twenty minutes out. Delilah, I’m afraid it will be a rolling stop for you.”

“Do you need my help?”

Jack and Todd exchanged a heated glance before Jack said, “I’m afraid your throwing up would be a distraction. And I’d prefer to know you’re somewhere⁠—”

“Out of the way?”

“—Comfortable.” Jack continued, “I appreciate the offer of support, but it’s a missing persons case. Not our usual fare. And before you ask, yes, Mads is still in custody. This is another matter entirely.”

“Do whatever you need.” Now, I had the opportunity to conduct a leash check, see if the agents were willing to loosen their hold. Earlier in our drive, the agents received an update that Mads’ second getaway car was located about a mile from where we took the unexpected ‘detour’ through the cornfield. His fingerprints were all over the inside of the hotwired vehicle. For all intents and purposes, it appeared he was working alone. But I wanted to see if the agents were willing to take that chance. “You can drop me off here if it’s easier. It’s not too far, I can walk. I need the fresh air anyway.”

“No, we’ll get you home. It’s on the way, and we’re almost there.” Jack pulled us onto the side street that led to Todd’s and my apartment building. “But we’ll drop off your things later.”

The car slowed just outside the parking lot. My cue to leave.

I unfastened my seatbelt and grabbed hold of the handle. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” And I meant it. “My phone will be on.”

Todd flashed me a glare, as I got out. “It better be.”

Then the agents drove off, leaving me with a leash the length of the parking lot.

†

To be fair, I didn’t exactly want to jump into a rescue mission after I’d been throwing up for an unreasonable amount of the drive back from Eureka. I was looking forward to some time alone, to think through the revelations and the vamp case. But nothing prepared me for the sense of peace I felt walking into my building’s foyer, when I realized there would be no Muffin Man mirror messages to worry about, or duct tape on my windows.

The spontaneous trip to Eureka had given me a level of closure I didn’t know I needed. I could close the door to that chapter and move on. This was my home now. These polished floors and painted walls. I had a path forward, and pieces of the puzzle that I could take some time and try to work through. Mads, for all his grievous faults, had given me some insight into what happened with Lawrence, how he ended up in a state where he could be manipulated to the point of…. doing what he did… and I had a lot more answers about my unpleasant past.

Which meant revenge was closer than ever before. So close I could almost taste it.

On my way to the elevator, I was confident the only gut-punch to my mood would have been if I spontaneously vomited, when I passed by a wide-eyed girl, somewhere between single and double digits.

Unease set in. Something about the girl with raven-black hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose, struck me as familiar. Not in the she-lives-in-the-same-apartment-building-as-me familiar. I couldn’t quite place it. Not just yet.

But I tried to quiet my overactive imagination, forcing myself to think little of it as I pushed the button to the fifth floor, and returned my thoughts to my to-do list. My notebook, the knowns, and unknowns. Both for the Seal, and what Mads had described during our altercation, but also my obligation to get to the bottom of what happened to the familiars after the fang ceremonies. And how the vamp hunters were involved.

Because the vamp hunters were most definitely involved.

The elevator dinged as I passed each floor. But the closer I got to the top, the more uncomfortable I became. There was an itch at the back of my mind like I was forgetting something. Or missed something out of place.

To figure out the cause of my discomfort I needed to release the hold I’d placed on my overactive imagination, just for a second. I could seal it up later and return to my more pleasant thoughts.