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My tone is wry. “Glad I could be of assistance.”
We begin to walk again. The sun is setting, casting golden light over the waves. I decide a complete change of tactics is in order.
“So, let’s talk through details,” I say. “Who last saw your friend, and where?”
Ven looks over at me, a calculating expression on her face. “I’m going to give you one more chance,” she says after a long moment. “Just as a courtesy to Xander.”
I nod.
“But let’s make something very, very clear,” she continues. “Just so we can work together without distractions.”
She hooks me with those purple eyes (they really are spectacular, though yes, it was a line). When she seems satisfied that I’m paying attention, she says, “I am never going to sleep with you. Like, ever. There is less than zero chance.”
I smirk. “What makes you think I was going to try?”
“Please.” She lets out a snort. “I just want to be very clear with you up front.”
“Message heard. Crystal clear.” I make a scout’s honor type of gesture. Game, set, match, little witch. “Now that we’re done talking about how much sex we’re not going to have, please continue. Your friend’s last whereabouts?”
Ven shoots me a final contemplative look from under her long lashes, and then she begins. “It was four days ago. Friday night. She left our house at about 9 PM and said she was going to La Ola to meet some friends.”
“The night club in Jaco?”
She nods. “She asked if I wanted to go, but I was tired.” Her expression falls, and her chest rises and falls as she draws in a deep breath. “Maybe if I’d gone, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Or maybe you would’ve been taken, too,” I say. “And then who would come looking for you?”
“Rowan would look for me,” she says, her eyes flashing.
“I’m sure you actually have lots of people who would search for you,” I amend quickly. “Bad point. What I meant to say is that you wouldn’t have helped anything by sharing the same fate as… what’s your friend’s name?”
“Luciana,” she says, taking in another shaky breath. “She helped me through a really dark time in my life. Second to Rowan, she’s probably the best friend I have. I just… I need her to be okay.”
“I’ll do my best to find Luciana,” I say. And then, because I can’t be entirely serious every moment, I add, “And my best is quite impressive. Now, any other details that might help? Did she have quarrels with anyone, anything odd happen recently?”
Ven shakes her head. “No, none of that. Everything seemed completely—and wonderfully—normal. For once.”
She frowns, and I find myself wondering once again what chapters lie within her book. She’d said before she’d been through a lot lately, but I didn’t need for her to say it aloud—it’s written all over her.
“I reported it to the police, naturally, but they haven’t turned up any leads.” She shrugs. “They usually don’t when it comes to supernatural things.”
“So, no clues,” I say with a shrug. “Yet,” I add when her frown deepens. “So, that leaves us one option.”
“We’re going to the club?” Ven asks.
I nod. “We’re going to La Ola.”
