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“Sorry, what was that?” I grip the edge of the table tightly with my free hand, unable to comfort Gizmo and Snitch who are scratching at my head in worry.
“I asked if you had anyone that could take a look at these photos for you. I can send them your way if you want them.” Scarlette doesn’t let an ounce of frustration or impatience leak into her tone, staying steady and business-like in every way. It helps me shove down the emotions threatening to break through, so I can stay focused.
“Yes, I do. Please do.”
“Sending now,” she says right before my phone vibrates against my ear. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“Anything on the stalker?”
“Sorry. No. This guy is really good, whoever he is. Normally there would be rumors flooding through this place with something this big going on. Most of it shit, but some holding a thread of truth. With this? Absolutely nothing. Don’t get me wrong, everyone’s talking about it, but no one has a single theory or drop of tea on it. I’ll keep listening though.”
“I appreciate it, Scar. Thank you.” I scratch at the back of my phone with my pointer finger as it presses almost bruisingly against the side of my head. “I’ll wire you your usual fee.”
“Don’t worry about it. This one’s on the house.” She waves away my offer, frustration starting to slip into her tone. “It’s not often that I don’t have any news at all to deliver, but here we are. When I have something real to offer you, then and only then will I accept my dues.”
“You spoil me,” I tease half-heartedly.
“I’m nothing if not prideful in what I do. Speak later.”
I hang up at her obvious dismissal, shoving my phone back in my pocket before letting my head fall into my hands as I prop my elbows on the table in front of me. Concern pulses from the guys and I breathe deeply as I wrestle my thoughts into submission before telling them what Scarlette found.
“A stalker? What stalker?” Walker’s voice makes me jump, having completely forgotten he was even here.
“Jesus!” I place my hand over my heart, willing it back to a semblance of calmness. “Shit. Sorry. I forgot you were here!”
“Ya have a stalker?” He ignores my jumpiness, distress and worry flooding his aura.
“Oh, right. Yeah. About that…” I grimace, shifting back in my seat and letting Gizmo and Snitch jump to my lap before running my hands gently through the fur not covered by their vests. “That’s actually the case we’re working on.”
“Y’all are cops?” Uncle B’s attention flicks to the guys before returning to me.
“Well, they’re detectives. I’m way too awesome to be just a cop!” I force out a laugh, ignoring the grumbling from the guys.
“And ya have a stalker…” This time Uncle B doesn’t ask it, he simply states it dumbly, his aura shocked and confused.
“Yup. Someone who happens to be obsessed with the car accident that took this.” I wave at my face before returning my hands to my trash pandas, who are starting to become unsettled and impatient, probably super hungry at this point.Where’s that bacon I ordered?“He has a piece of Dad’s yellow car–the one that was totaled in the wreck–and he’s using it to exact revenge on anyone who hurts me. Some sort of twisted, creepy guardian angel.”
Uncle B seems unable to speak at this point, and I change the subject, not wanting to tell him anything more about it. “Anyways. Thank you for meeting me and telling me what you know.”
I give him the out his aura was flashing and yearning for and he gladly jumps at it.
“Right…” he trails off as he stands. The sound of rustling greets my ears before something soft lands on the table. “Order whatever you want, it’s on me. Stay safe, kiddo.” He spins to leave, but hesitates and turns towards me once more. “I’ll call ya, if that’s okay? We can…”
“I look forward to it, Uncle B.” I smile at him and his entire aura wavers with sadness and joy all at once, the vibrations softening from edges to curves.
“Right. Call me if you need anything else.”
Then he’s gone.
I let out a long sigh and scoot over in my seat with Gizmo and Snitch on my lap, letting the guys join me at my table. Ezra slides in next to me, immediately wrapping a strong, comforting arm around my shoulders, as Kai and Nic sit across from us.
“What did Scarlette say?” Nic gets right down to business, his accented voice sharp with impatience.
“Nothing good.”
23
“Well, shit…” Kai mumbles as I finish relaying everything I learned from Scarlette.
