“Don’t get your hopes up. It’s a carry-over from when I was a teenager and thought I was going to be the next great Steven Tyler.”
“Aerosmith? I love Aerosmith.”
I admired the way she could compartmentalize her life, including the concept the man she’d submitted to only hours before was a vigilante. Up until this point, I hadn’t really thought of what Raven Intel was doing as anything but claiming justice. Maybe being around Reese was forcing me to question everything.
As I started playing, an Aerosmith song even, she wrapped her arms around her knees, rocking in time to the beat. I also couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed working my fingers, or when I’d last had rough calluses.
I was completely absorbed in providing Reese with a concert when my phone rang. It was four-thirty in the morning.
She lifted her eyebrows, biting her lower lip while I reached for it. “Chase. Please tell me you have some good news.”
“Given I didn’t want to get too close to his vehicle, he got away. There was an accident on the interstate. However, he was careless. It’s a good thing you told me the dude smoked.”
“Why?”
“Because we found a lighter that dropped from his pocket into the sand.”
Chuckling, I pumped my fisted hand. “Finally, a break. Get me those fingerprints.” Although my instinct was working overtime. I knew one person who smoked, a nasty habit and I’d even commented on it. “I have a feeling about this one.”
“You gonna tell me or keep in suspense?” he chortled.
“I don’t want to taint it.”
“Hopefully, I’ll get them back later this morning. Speaking of which. Why are you up so early? Or did you simply not go to bed last night? Too busy?”
“Shut the fuck up and get to work.”
As soon as I hung up the phone, I breathed out, puffing my cheeks as I did.
“What?”
“A break.”
Now we just needed one more.
The fingerprints couldn’t come back fast enough.
The early morning light had yet to give way to the heat of the Miami sun when my phone rang again. Expecting one of my buddies, I almost answered without looking.
Luckily I didn’t make that mistake.
“Drake Cavanaugh.”
“Mr. Cavanaugh. Lucifer.”
Hearing his voice made my skin crawl. “What can I do for you, Lucifer?”
“It’s what I can do for you. I have an event this evening that I think you’ll find particularly enjoyable.”
“Short notice. I have other engagements most of this week.” I purposely sounded bored.
Reese had her arms folded, walking toward me with a pensive look on her face.
“Yes, I apologize, but one of our members arranged for a lovely party at my favorite club and I thought you might be interested in joining us.”
“What kind of party?”
“Just a little pet party. There’s a club some members frequent that is hosting it. Many of the core members are going to be there.”
