“Both, yes,” he said. He had traded his white shirt and cross necklace for plain, dark pants, boots, and a black shirt. He didn’t appear to be carrying any weapons, but appearances could be deceiving.
“You’re working with the witches?” Lula asked.
He nodded.
“Why?”
“Dominick has something of mine. A token. I want it back.”
“Get it yourself,” I said.
He shook his head. “It doesn’t work like that. There are…limits to my capabilities.”
“What capabilities?” I blurted. “You shot my dog because you missed shooting my wife. Given the chance, you sure as hell would have done more than that. You stole the damn book and sold it to the damn god who wants us dead.”
“I was jumped. I lost the book before I could take it to my client.”
“Who is your client?” Lula asked.
“We don’t have time for this,” Variance said. “We’ll find your token, if you keep your promise to the witches.”
“Like hell we will,” I said.
“Headwaters,” Hatcher said. “Headwaters hired me to look for the book. You found it before me in Illinois.”
I blew out a breath. Great. Lula had been working for the mysterious magic and antiques collector for years. Now we find out Headwaters had sent a monster hunter to get the book, even if that meant killing Lula. Did that mean Headwaters was working for Atë?
“We don’t need your help,” I said.
“Fuck that,” Variance growled. “I don’t give a damn if you hate him, if he knows where my daughter is, we follow him and give him anything he wants.”
“What can he do?” Abbi asked.
Yes, her voice was small, but she was a deity. It carried and silenced us all.
“I know our powers,” she went on, her demeanor that of a mentor, an ancient. “What are yours, Hatcher?”
He shook his head. “First, I want the agreement sealed. I will help you save the child,andI will tell you where I’ve hidden the book. For that you will return the token to me.”
“You just said you lost the book,” I said.
“I stole it back when Cupid and Atë were fighting in Oklahoma. Bring me my token. Then you’ll know where the book is hidden.”
“Fuck the book,” Variance said. “I’ll make sure you get your token.”
“No.” Hatcher didn’t even look at him. “I want the promise from them.”
Them, meaning us.
“Hunter,” Abbi said. “What can you do? You will show me what you are.”
Hatcher glared at her, but then his expression went slack. His eyes unfocused and his stance relaxed.
“Oh,” Abbi said, “I see you now. Yes. We will retrieve your token in exchange for you telling us where you hid the book, and your help in rescuing Rhianna.”
“Abbi,” I warned.
“No. He can do this,” she said. “He’s important. Show them.”
