Why would anyone want to drink something so disgusting? It felt like my insides were trying to purge what I’d just put in my system. My stomach roiled, triggering my gag reflex. I kept the tea down by sheer dent of will, but it was a close thing.
Sarah held her cup in front of her, arching an imperious eyebrow at my empty cup. I mentally shrugged. I drank the damn thing. She’d just have to deal with the how.
She breathed in the steam before taking a sip.
My taste buds quivered in sympathy.
I noticed Miriam hadn’t picked up her cup yet. She watched me with an assessing gaze. In fact, both of them watched me intently as if they were expecting something any moment now. I shifted uneasily. It occurred to me that they might have slipped something in the tea and stupid me just gulped the entire thing like it was the first liquid I’d tasted in days. If it was poisoned, I got a full dose.
When I continued to feel fine, I relaxed slightly. If they meant harm to me, I’d have felt something by now. Right?
“Interesting,” Sarah said, her mouth half hidden by her uplifted cup of tea.
“Very,” Miriam said, her eyes intense on me. Her tone said she wasn’t entirely pleased with this assessment, whatever it was.
They were beginning to freak me out. It was time to go. “Thank you for the tea, but I’m going to be late if I stay any longer.”
When I reached the door, Sarah said, “If you change your mind about that favor, you know where to find us.”
I gave the two of them an uneasy look, noting how Sarah seemed like she was a cat who had cornered the canary. Miriam was stoic, as if she was just marking time until she could make her move.
I gave them a nod and walked out. Once again I was the center of attention as I made my way to the exit.
I wasted no time heading for Peter’s car, walking the short block to where I’d parked.
The car was gone. The space it had been in featured a small, beat up bike. I stepped closer. My bike.
A note was attached to the handlebars.
Next time you take my car, I will run over your bike before returning it. – P
I crumbled up the note and frowned. The car had been nice while it lasted, but it looked like I was pedaling from here on out.
I had no set destination in mind so I just followed the road, taking turns when needed as I went over the conversation.
I got the feeling Sarah was extremely powerful. The scary part about that was I couldn’t feel much power wafting off her. Nothing more than a mildly psychic human might present. She seemed like any other sweet grandmother. My gut told me she was anything but.
For now I was saved from having to deal with her again. Miriam had looked like she had something to say. I just needed to get her on her own to get it out of her.
I had no intention of ever owing Sarah a favor, but maybe I didn’t have to. This wasn’t my problem. It was a job. Any favor owed shouldn’t come from me, but from the client. It was an interesting idea. One I would have to ask Liam to put before Thomas. If he wanted this problem solved bad enough, he would deal. Then I would just have to figure out if it was possible.
I’d save that option if Miriam didn’t pan out and if Caroline came up with nothing. It would be my backup plan to the backup plan.
That settled, I allowed myself to enjoy the night as I pedaled just to feel the breeze in my hair.
Chapter Nine
It was rare for me to get time to just relax. Usually I spent my time working and surviving.
The road tilted and I leaned forward, picking up speed as I started down the hill. Faster, faster, repeated like a mantra in my head. When I was a kid, I believed if I could just pedal fast enough I could actually leave the ground and fly for a time.
The bike bounced under me as the wheel hit a series of potholes, bringing me out of that fantasy fairly quickly.
A blur darted in front of me. I braked hard and jerked the handlebars to the side, not quite dodging as I clipped the creature. A yelp followed as I slid, nearly going over the handle bars.
I climbed off the bike, hoping I hadn’t killed the animal.
I turned back and froze. My heart climbed into my throat and took up residence there, beating out a tattoo of panic.
