“No. He’s keeping an eye on the kid. Blue and Hunter are crashing.”
“I need to speak to Christian alone.”
That was my cue to take off.
Christian fished a thin wallet from his pocket and handed it to me. “There’s a grocer on the corner if you take a right. It’s just after the sex store. You can fill the icebox with food and drink. Just remember there’s only so much room.”
“I’m a ghost, and we’re in the human district,” I reminded him.
“Aye, but the grocer’s Breed. I’m not sure what exactly, but I noticed a symbol on his door when I passed by it earlier.”
I snorted. “You want the groceries floating down the street?”
“Everyone who lives here is either high or committing a crime. I don’t think anyone will call the coppers. And so what if they do? If they can’t see you, they can’t arrest you.”
I tapped the wallet against my thigh. “This should be interesting.”
* * *
The small conveniencestore had posters covering the windows with special prices and popular items. When I walked into the empty store, I greeted the cashier.
“How’s it going?”
The one-armed man sized me up as he probably did with all his customers. He quickly lost interest when he noticed my fancy gown. I guess I didn’t look like the type who would pilfer cigarettes and beer. After hooking a red shopping basket over my arm, I perused the short aisles.
“Bread, peanut butter… Where’s the jelly?” I scanned the shelves. “Do you have any jelly?”
“Next aisle,” he called back.
I went to the other side and grabbed a big jar of grape jelly. Next to it were all the breakfast foods like pastries and cereal. With Kira and Hunter joining us, we now had four mouths to feed. They were probably buying takeout for one meal and making it stretch. At least this would get them through breakfast and lunch. I shoved a box of peanut butter crackers in the basket along with three cans of mixed nuts. They could drink water from the bathroom faucets, so I grabbed a package of plastic cups. But since Hunter was a growing boy, I picked up a bottle of apple juice and fruit snacks. I had to go back for a second basket and started setting my items on the counter so he could ring them up.
Crush wouldn’t be thrilled about the cheese and premade sandwiches, so I tossed a few candy bars into the basket. He liked having something sweet after dinner. I also got plastic forks and some ramen noodles in a cup.
When the bell on the door jangled, I set my third basket on the floor and kicked it down the aisle. A man briskly walked past, so I waited until he was out of sight before hurrying back to the register.
“Is this all?” the cashier asked.
“Do you have any fresh fruit in the back?”
“In the back?” He stuffed another paper sack. “Oh sure. Right along with the prime rib and lobster.”
People mostly came in stores like these for cigarettes, snacks, and lottery tickets. Maybe I should have checked the expiration dates on the food.
I looked over my shoulder. “I’m in a hurry.”
“Aren’t we all,” he replied flatly.
After paying him, I gathered both paper sacks, having to hold one of them a little tighter since it had the juice bottle in the bottom. He’d double-bagged them, but they were still heavy as hell. “Can I switch out the juice bottle for juice boxes?”
Not waiting for an answer, I left everything on the counter and darted to the drink aisle. The juice packs were much lighter and wouldn’t rip a hole in the bag. The customer in the black trench coat indecisively stared at the beer selection.
After switching out the juice, I left the guy a fifty so he wouldn’t have to eat up more time adjusting the price.
“Thanks!” I scooped up the bags and struggled to open the door.
A few hookers were moving to keep warm, but the homeless had hunkered down somewhere warmer. The only two men near me were preoccupied dealing drugs, so I took my chance and flashed down the sidewalk. Humans couldn’t see me, but at least if I was flashing, the floating bags would be nothing but a blur. It didn’t take long to reach the hotel. Once inside, I hid behind a pillar in the lobby, listening to the clerk argue with a man about the hourly rates. After a minute or two, they were distracted enough that I made a break for the stairs, which were closer than the elevators.
“Excuse me! Miss?”
