She curled her lip in disgust. “How very…American.”
“Hey,” I said. “You’re the one who enchanted that thing for me. It cost me a shitload of money, too.”
“Of course it did, my dear,” Ariella said. “If you want the best, you have to pay for the best. Give me ten minutes. I’ll be right back.”
She vanished into the back.
“She’s pleasant,” Veronica said, and I couldn’t tell whether she was being sarcastic.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “She’s got a good heart, but she can be a bit stuck up about some stuff.”
Veronica glanced at the door, then back at me. “Uh, did… did you two ever… you know?”
I snorted a laugh. “No way. Remember? Business and pleasure don’t mix.”
“Okay,” she said, and I couldn’t help but smile at the relief I heard in her voice.
A few minutes later, Ariella returned and held the gun out to me butt first.
“All done,” she said. “When you want to activate the spell, touch this,” she added, gesturing to a glowing rune near the sight of the gun. “Don’t touch it until you’re ready. The spell will be good for up to three hours, possibly four. Magic isn’t science, after all.”
“Thanks, Ari,” I said, sliding the gun back into my holster. “You never saw us.”
“Saw who?” She winked at me. “Business has been slow. No one’s come in here all week.”
“You’re the best,” I said, taking Veronica’s hand.
“Be careful, Dec,” Ariella called as we opened the door. “Rumor is, bad people are looking for the two of you.”
It was my turn to wink at her. “I know how to take care of myself.”
“I hope so. Bye.”
Nodding, I escorted Veronica outside as she stuffed her hair back under the cap and hood.
“She likes you,” Veronica whispered as we stepped back into the street.
“Ariella’s a good contact to have. A good friend.”
“No, I mean shelikesyoulikes you.”
I snorted. “Come on. Let’s get home and make a plan. We’ve only got a couple days until this party.”
Traversing the streets back to the entrance to Manny’s basement, Veronica did a bit more sightseeing, glancing at storefronts, houses, and restaurants as we went along. Many of her kind lived and worked in these hidden neighborhoods. They still ventured out to the human world often, but out there they couldn’t be themselves. It was different here. There were even schools for magical kids here.
Almost on cue with that thought, a group of preteen kids came running around the corner. One of them was a shifter, fully in their panther form, another a pale-skinned vampire, and the rest witches. I grinned as they rushed past. Veronica, however, gasped and reached out to grab one of them, digging her fingers deep into the fabric of the girl’s shirt.
“Wendy?” Veronica shouted, spinning the girl around.
We’d found pictures of the missing girl over the last ten days. This child did look remarkably like Veronica’s friend, but upon closer inspection, the resemblance was only passing.
The girl flinched away in terror. “Letgoof me!”
Veronica let go of the girl as if she’d been burned, and the kid ran along to join her friends. People had noticed the interaction, though, because eyes were turning in our direction. Not good.
“Let’s go,” I said, taking her arm and moving along, walking as fast as I could.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I really thought it was her.”
