“Good luck.”
“Exactly!”
I turned, scanning the lot and restaurant. “Do you know where she is?”
Abbi had gone back to reading the brochure, her lips moving silently.
“Abbi. Can you hear Lula?”
She tipped her head and pointed toward the back side of the restaurant. “That way.”
“Stay here. No leaving to kiss the stone.”
“Lick.”
“Especially no licking. I’ll be right back.” I crossed the lot, glancing in and between cars then considered the layout of the restaurant. I took the closest corner to the back side of the building.
Lu was there.
She leaned against the building, one foot up, her arms crossed over her chest.
The man in front of her was wiry, but taller than her. He wore a white T-shirt, black vest, black jeans, and motorcycle boots.
I knew him.
I’d last seen him in Illinois, when he’d pulled a gun on us, shot Lorde, and stolen the book.
Hatcher, the monster hunter.
CHAPTER FIVE
The monster hunter’s necklaces swung, a flash of gold, silver cross, turquoise beads, as he leaned in toward Lu.
I couldn’t hear what he was saying. Not over the pounding in my ears. I couldn’t see, exactly, what he held in his hand, not through my fury.
What I could see was that he was too close to her—killing close—and drawing nearer.
And Lula was not moving.
I willed myself to be there, in front of her, a wall between them, but I was no longer a spirit. If I wanted to protect her, I had to do it on my own two feet.
I broke into a run. “Hey!” I yelled. “Back off.”
Hatcher jerked away from Lula. She pushed off the building, smooth, fast, stopping to stand in front of him, closer to him than me.
As if she were protecting him.
As if she were putting herself between me and him.
What. The. Hell.
I was blowing air hard, the heat bogging me down, the heavy lunch in my gut working against me.
Lu pressed her hand into my chest, stopping me in my tracks.
“He’s going.” She said it loud enough for him to hear. “Go.”
Hatcher lingered, trying to figure out where he’d seen me before. He wouldn’t figure it out because I’d been a spirit when the jackass had tried to kill my wife.
