Closing was definitely a two-person job, except when Orin was around since he used his power to multitask. But it had been a long few days, and I enjoyed the silence, allowing my mind to wander as I did the same tasks I’d done hundreds of times before.
Evie and Kyla were currently searching Patrick’s house, but they weren’t hopeful they’d find anything useful. It felt like this case was just one dead end after another. I’d wanted to go help, wanted to dosomething, but Evie had insisted I open as usual.
“We need you for the tech stuff, Mere. And there’s no tech stuff yet. You have a business to run.”
She was right, and yet I was tired of constantly feeling like we were so many steps behind.
The door opened, and I frowned. Orin would have locked up behind him.
“We’re closed,” I called out, slowly backing toward the shelf below the till where I’d stashed the Colt. Okay, I was a little jumpy. Sue me.
A woman appeared in the doorway. Human, unless I was wrong, although she could be a low-powered witch. She was carrying an unlock charm which was both illegal and stupid. The fact that she’d used it onmybar pissed me right off.
“I said we’re closed.”
She smiled and ignored me, strolling toward the bar. If there was one thing I hated, it was being ignored in my own territory.
I reached for the gun and held it out of sight. She didn’tlookdangerous in her designer twin set and heels. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to be careful.
“You’re Meredith.”
“Yes.”
“I want to hire you to track my husband,” she said.
I stared at her. “Excuse me?”
She waved one manicured hand. “He’s paying for a charm so he can’t be tracked. And he removed the tracking app I snuck on to his phone. But he won’t expect someone of your…talents.”
I gaped at her. Somehow, out of all the things I’d expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them.
“Look, ma’am, I’m not going to track your husband. It’s not only unethical, but it’s not what I do.”
She stared at me. “I’ll pay you. Probably more than this little bar is worth. I just need to know who he’s fucking.” She placed her purse on a table I’d just wiped. It was small of me, but I hoped the antiseptic spray I’d used damaged the leather.
That was when Vas walked in.
And his wings were visible.
The woman swept her gaze over him, drinking him in.
“My, my, my,” she purred. She opened her mouth once more, and Vas stared at her. There was nothing friendly about that stare. It was a stare that told her to shut the fuck up.
“Out,” he said.
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She grabbed her purse and fled with a squeak. I was small enough to enjoy her terror.
Vas glowered at me. I put my hands on my hips. “Why are you so pissy?”
“Have you taken a look at your face?”
I winced. I didn’t need to take a look, because I knew what to expect. The entire left side of my face felt like it had swollen to twice its usual size. I’d iced it before my shift started.
“The harpy had one hell of a right hook.”
“You promised, Mere.”
“I wasn’t even involved. I wasliterallycheering them on. I didn’t even step onto her property.”
