“When was the last time you saw him?”
“Um,” the line between her brows deepened. “A few days ago. We were supposed to hang out last night but he never got back to me. I ended up picking up an extra shift.”
“You weren’t worried when he didn’t answer?”
She shrugged. “We’re not serious. We only just started dating. I figured he was busy and he’d text me later.”
“Did he?”
“No.” She bit her lower lip. “You think he hurt somebody?”
“I do. Did he ever mention anywhere that he liked to go during the weekends? Any place he’d use to clear his head, or visit friends?”
Lori adjusted her earring, and the pixie lifted into the air on incandescent wings, making itself at home in her braid instead. “He has friends who have a place in Myrtle Beach. But they usually rent it out unless they’re all going down there.”
“Do you have the address?”
“No, but if you get in touch with his friend Jordan, he’ll be able to give it to you. I doubt he’d go there, but I guess it’s worth a try.”
I pulled a pen and notepad out of my utility belt and wrote down my number. “If he gets in touch, I need you to call me.”
Instant denial flashed across her face. I frowned. “If the witches find him before I do, he won’t get a chance to explain himself.”
The color had drained from Lori’s face. “You really think he hurt someone?”
“I know he did.”
“The Peter I know would never want to hurt anyone. I hope it’s a big misunderstanding, but I’ll let you know if he contacts me.”
I ran through it in my head as I made my way back to the tower. By now, Peter had to know that every witch in the triangle would be looking for him. He’d be panicking, and he likely didn’t have much money for an extended period of time on the run. His biggest threat was the witch who’d convinced him to do her dirty work. And if he wasn’t careful, he’d be one of the loose ends she tied up.
I parked my car in the underground garage when I got to the tower, and took the elevator to the 49thfloor. The floor was currently untenanted, so the demons had arranged for all of the evidence from the lab to be brought up and organized for processing.
The elevator doors slid open and my gaze immediately found Nelson, who was watching Azazyel bring in boxes of papers.
He gave me a hard stare. Okay, he was pissed.
He made his way toward me, and I glanced behind him as the balcony doors opened. Samael stepped into the room, his eyes warm as they met mine. They chilled significantly as the detective approached.
“The good detective is unhappy,” Evie mused. I glanced at her. She was standing next to a table filled with boxes of chains, ready to be sent to the lab.
Nelson narrowed his eyes at us.
“Next time, we’d very much appreciate if you gave us a chance to enter the building with you.” His tone was icy, and I sent Samael a warning look. He turned away, speaking to Azazyel, but I had no doubt that he was still listening.
“Look, Samael’s people have their own labs, which aren’t as backed up as yours. They took prints, we wore gloves, and every step inside that place was documented.”
“You don’t know what you might have missed. The demons aren’t cops.”
“No, but we had to move quickly. If we’d been even quicker, we might’ve gotten to that lab before they killed most of the people who’d been in it.”
“And human cops would have slowed you down.” The tone was bitter and I winced.
“Honestly, it didn’t occur to me to contact you. All I can say is that next time it will.”
His gaze was steady on my face. Finally, he hooked his thumbs in his belt loop and rocked back on his heels as he nodded.
“That’s all I ask. I apologize for my tone.”
