We foundZeus lording over his garden, a magnificent landscaped area with topiary and fountains and sparkly lights. Zeus had a trim build, copper-bronze skin, and dark hair. Even in this nice weather, he wore a three-piece suit that was tailored to enhance the width of his shoulders and narrow waist. Sitting there with a martini sweating in one hand, he fit the Hollywood, rich playboy stereotype to a tee.
The luxurious garden around him only added to that image.
Jean was perched on the edge of one of the thick, pillowy outdoor couches scattered around a centerpiece that was both a fire pit and a water feature. As soon as she saw us, she stood.
“You got here fast. Hey, Crow.”
Crow gave her a little wave.
“Zeus,” I said. “Where’s the weapon?”
“Exactly where I left it. What is Crow doing here?
“He’s acting as a consultant.”
He puffed up his chest.
“On a trial basis.”
His chest deflated.
Zeus’s eyes cut to him, weighing Crow’s worth. From the look on his face, Crow came up short. But he nodded. “Of course you would be a part of this, Trickster. How much a part is what interests me.”
Crow bit off a smile. It was hard and bright. “Something you want to say? Something you want to accuse me of?”
The air crackled with tension and the ear-popping pressure of gods not using their power, but using their godly presence to push at reality a little.
“No fighting,” I said. “Save it for outside Ordinary, boys. Crow’s with us on this part of the investigation. End of story.”
“I see,” Zeus said. “Well, then. Would anyone care for refreshments? I have tea, coffee, drinks?”
“Nothing for me,” I said.
Myra shook her head, and Jean held up an ice-cold bottle of imported CC Lemonade.
“What kind of beers ya got?” Crow asked.”
“All of them.” Zeus waved long fingers toward the outdoor kitchen.
Crow strolled that way, stopping only long enough to pluck a flower from a bush and tuck it behind his ear.
The corner of Zeus’s eye twitched, but he otherwise acted as if Crow wasn’t even there.
“The weapon?” I asked.
“I left it where I found it,” he said.
“I thought you both might want to see where it was delivered,” Jean said. “So I didn’t move it either.”
“Good,” I said. “Did you take care of the car from this morning?”
“Yep. Frigg put it up in the garage beside her shop. Whenever we want to go look at it, it’s ready for us.”
“Good, thanks.”
“Car?” Zeus asked.
“It fell from the sky,” I said. “Down the beach a way toward 50th. Did you see it?”
