“I know, and you’re right. But it bugs me to leave things unsettled like this.”
“It’s not unsettled. We’re here.”
His words bring comfort, and I go upstairs, strip out of my clothes, and brush my teeth. I lazily remove the makeup I put on, reminded of why I don’t usually wear it, and then fall into bed. Jac comes in, and he’s wearing the amulet again. He gets in bed with me, wrapping me in his embrace. It’s easier to cuddle without the wings, and I’m sure it’s way more comfortable without them.
“I moved the runes to the basement.” Jacques brushes my hair over my shoulder. “Just in case someone comes around again.”
“Thanks. It’s safer down there.”
“It is. Get some sleep now, Ace.”
“Night, Jac. I love you.”
He kisses my cheek. “I love you, too.”
22
It’s my weekend off, and technically, I don’t have to be at the office. But between Anna getting attacked last night and Gemma’s friend creeping around the house, I can’t help myself.
I get to work and spend a few hours working on my case. I order takeout, and as I’m eating, my mind drifts to the bloody basement and the cryptic warning of the dark ones looking for me that amounted to nothing. It was all said and done purely to get a reaction out of me, and something about that still doesn’t sit right with me.
The house was a rental property, and had been vacant for quite some time. It was in poor condition before someone threw animal blood all over the walls. Why was Mrs. Green there so late at night?
I bring my container of fried rice with me as I search through the files of that case, finding Mrs. Green’s info. I quickly finish my food and take off, driving across town to Mrs. Green’s house.
* * *
The door opens justa second after I knock. An older lady with light pink hair peers out at me through a screen door, looking like she’s ready to lay into me for going door-to-door selling things and interruptingJudge Judy.
“Hi, Mrs. Green. My name is Ace Bisset and I’m a detective with the Philadelphia Police Department.” I hold up my badge for her to see. She looks at the badge and then at my face. She’s seen me before, but doesn’t seem to recognize me at all.
“Oh, hello.” A cat winds around her ankles. I was right about her being a crazy cat lady at least.
“I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about your property on Fifth Street.”
“Did you find the hooligans responsible for the prank?”
“Not yet, but if I can ask you a few questions, it could help.”
“Then of course.” She shoots back the lock on the screen door and pushes it open. The hinges creak and another cat jumps off a side table, running out of sight.
“On your original statement, you said the house has been empty for several months.”
“Yes,” she says with a sigh. “The previous renters left it in bad shape.”
“Why did you go to it that night?”
“Someone was interested in seeing it. They called and requested a showing in the morning. I went to open up the windows and air it out.”
“Do you have the name of the person who wanted to see it?”
“I should, somewhere. But I can’t remember. That whole night…it’s just a blur.”
“Do you remember talking with me?”
She looks a little startled. “We spoke before?”
“Yes, that night.”
