“It’s complicated. I think… I think there are some people who drive you crazy, even when you can’t help but want them in your life. I don’t think Samael and I will ever have a nice, normal, placid relationship. I guess neither of us would know what to do with one.”
The thought made me frown. Then I glanced at Kyla. It wasn’t like me to spill it all to someone I didn’t know well. I needed a change of subject.
“What did Riona’s friends say?” I asked, and Kyla scanned her notes.
“She worked at Blast for a few months herself last summer, but the shifts kept changing and she felt like she wasn’t getting enough writing time in. None of them had seen her for a few weeks. They said their schedules never really meshed and they kept missing each other, but all three of them seemed really cut up when I told them she was missing.
I nodded. “Alibis?”
“Two of them were at work until late, and then they got a drink at Meredith’s. The other was at her boyfriend’s. I checked all of their alibis and they’re clear.”
“Okay.” I blew out a breath. “Here’s the plan. Riona lives close to Trinity Park, so we’ll go check out her apartment. We could split up, but you have a superior nose. If you scent anyone in there, maybe you’ll recognize them when we’re interviewing people she knew.”
“Good plan. Since we’ll be in Trinity Park, I’m assuming you want to switch to the other case.”
“Yeah. We’ll split up there and talk to any witnesses who might’ve seen the fire. Then, we’ll take Brooke’s ex. Uhh, Charles Walker. He only lives a few blocks from my apartment.”
Kyla let out a low whistle. “Your workload is insane. Good thing you hired me,” she preened, and I chuckled. She wasn’t wrong.
* * *
Danica
Riona lived in a three-story apartment building on North Duke St. Her apartment was on the third floor, and thanks to the outside staircase which led directly to her floor, there was no need to go through the main entrance.
“Not exactly secure,” Kyla muttered.
“Yeah. She’s a strong warder, I can feel it from here. But if she came home late at night…” I frowned. “Stand next to her door, will you? Pretend like you’re unlocking the door.”
Kyla raised one eyebrow but took her place while I examined the open-aired corridor. A few feet from Riona’s door, there was a dented metal door which led to the inside staircase. I opened it and nodded.
“They get up here, all they have to do is wait behind this door. She’s busy unlocking her own door, her wards haven’t been tripped so she’s not worried. Maybe she’s been walking the dogs all day so her feet are sore. She’s not thinking she could be targeted. All she wants to do is take her shoes off and stretch out on her sofa for a while.”
Kyla nodded and pointed to the camera at the end of the corridor. “You think that works?”
I shrugged. “I doubt it, but we’ll try and get access to any video from the neighborhood.” I pulled the keys Siobhan had given me out of my pocket and handed them to Kyla. The door swung open and Riona’s ward pricked at my skin warningly.
Samael could slip beneath my wards as if they weren’t even there. Unfortunately, he hadn’t taught me that little trick.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to decide if I should break her ward. It could give her the mental boost she needs to hold on. And she’ll know someone’s looking for her."
"What about the police? They’ve probably been through here, right?”
“Wards can’t be calibrated for humans— not without earning a fine or prison sentence from the Mage Council. Some witches risk it, but it sounds like Riona played by the rules.”
“If I were her, I’d want to know,” Kyla said. Her eyes were intent. “If she’s still alive, she’s been missing for at least three days by now. She needs to know people are looking for her.”
“Okay.”
I pulled one of my throwing knives and sliced a shallow cut along my forearm. Then I raised my hand and focused. Riona’s ward was a pretty lilac color, shimmering darker in spots. I raised my eyebrows.
Kyla watched, her eyes narrowed in interest. “What is it?”
“She’s powerful. This ward was created to look mundane. So if someone tried to break it, they wouldn’t put enough power into it, and they’d get slapped back.” I grinned. “I like her already.”
“You can break it?”
