Silas shrugged. “Yeah.”
“Hmm.”
“What do you want to say, Logan?”
Logan scratched behind his ear. “I saw her with someone.”
Silas crossed his arms over his chest, a weighty silence making his kitchen feel small and stuffy. He forced himself to shrug. “We’re not a couple anymore. It’s none of my business.”
“It is if the guy she was with might influence the accuracy of the information she’s giving you.”
“Who was it?”
“I don’t know who. I didn’t get a good look at his face. But I do know what. He was a demon, Silas. I could smell him across the restaurant. Soleil came into Valentine’s for lunch with a demon, and they were mighty cozy.”
“Just because she’s dating a demon, doesn’t mean she’s misleading me about Alex. This latest lead seems to be panning out.”
“You’re right. It doesn’t. But, I thought you should know.”
Silas turned toward the window, letting his eyes drift with his thoughts. “She was never fully monogamous, not even when we were together.”
“No. She wasn’t.”
“I need to let it go. I need to let her go.”
“But you don’t want to.” Logan frowned. “You told me you wanted to marry her.”
“I did, once. I think I’m over it.”
“I’m sorry, man. That’s some tough stuff.”
If he only knew the half of it. How much he’d thought about her when they’d first split. The extent of his sleeplessness. How the very idea that she was with another guy had made his skin crawl. Only, he was over it now. He wasn’t sure what had changed exactly, or when, but life was too short. It was time to move on. “I’ll finish investigating her list. If I come up empty, I’ll entertain the idea that she’s not a reliable source.”
“And then you’ll work with Polina?”
“I still won’t have anything of Alex’s to use to find him, but yeah, I’ll pursue other options. Plus, after what happened today to Laina, maybe it’s time she put a refresher on the enchantment around this place.”
Logan pulled him into a one-armed hug, smearing his blood across Silas’s shirt. “Oh, sorry.”
“I guess I deserved that, considering I was the one who stabbed you.”
“I should be going.” Logan glanced at the darkening window. “Almost time for Polina and me to get to work slaying the bad guys. Stay safe my friend.”
As he watched Logan dematerialize from his kitchen, he desperately hoped that he wouldnotbe safe tonight. He hoped he’d come face-to-face with Alex. And there was nothing safe about that.
Every stakeout wasa game of hide-and-seek. The goal was to be close enough to see without being seen, to hear without being heard. Tonight, Silas had picked out a Ford Transit in prisoner-of-suburbia blue from the department’s fleet of unmarked cars. He parked on the street outside of Starbucks and moved into the windowless back, relying on surveillance equipment connected to his laptop for a visual. The tiny, but high-powered microphone and camera were expertly hidden in the grill of the van. Donning his headphones, he leaned back and adjusted the camera to zoom in on Copper Herald Health & Wellness.
A sudden knock on the passenger’s side door made him jump. He whipped his headphones off and drew his gun, training it on the door.
“Silas!” came a loud, female whisper. “Let me in.”
Rolling his eyes toward the roof of the van, Silas cursed. “By the goddess.” He leaned across the seat and unlocked the door for Meredith.
“I brought coffee and blueberry scones.” She ducked inside, pulling the door shut behind her and locking it. “I prefer maple walnut, but the blueberry is healthier because of the fruit.” She climbed into the back and plunked down on the seat beside him. “I’m trying to eat healthier, you know, because I drink like six cups of coffee a day. And it’s not only the caffeine but the cream and sugar. Plus, oh my goddess, I do noteverwant to see a healer again, I’ll tell you that.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Waiting for Alex.” She looked at him in confusion. “The stakeout. Staking. Out. Copper Herald. The muddy boots? Alex?”
