“Cool, we can kill two birds with one stone.”
I put the G-Wagon in gear and headed down Main, past the buildings in Southside that had seen better days and over the line into the north side of town, where the shops all had awnings, fresh paint, and fancy signs.
“Jesus fuck,” I said, looking around. “This place isuptight.”
“How long has it been since you’ve been on this side of town?” Cassie asked.
“I mean, we go through it all the time. I just never pay much attention.”
I didn’t know why I was paying attention now except for the fact that Cassie lived here.
“Just pull up front,” Cassie said when the sign for Cassie’s Cuppa came into view.
“Why Cassie’s Cuppa?” Jagger asked as I put the car in park.
She reached for the door. “It’s what my mom called a cup of tea.”
I didn’t like that she sounded sad, and even more than that, I didn’t like that I didn’t like it.
She looked surprised when we joined her on the sidewalk. “You’re not coming in?”
“Why wouldn’t we?” I asked. “You got a secret boyfriend or something?”
“No, it’s just… Ilivethere.”
“Are you saying you don’t want us in your apartment when I had my face buried in your pussy less than two hours ago?” Hawk asked.
Her eyes went wide and she looked around, like someone might have overheard even though most of Blackwell Falls was still sleeping or just stumbling out of bed for the shower. The coffee shop didn’t even open until seven.
“Will you keep it down?”
“He has a point,” I said, heading for the unobtrusive wood door to the right of the glass door that led to the coffee shop. “Bit late to be mysterious.”
She sighed and walked to the door, then punched a code into the keypad.
“What’s 1228?”
She glared at me over her shoulder. “Do you mind?”
I shrugged. “I’m a naturally curious person.”
“It’s Bram’s birthday,” she grumbled, opening the door. “Although I guess now I have to change it.”
“Your secrets are safe with us,” Jagger said, stepping through the doorway behind her.
He’d been quiet since we left the Orpheum, but that wasn’t unusual. Jagger liked to process stuff before he talked about it.
We were different that way. Processing stuff wasn’t really my style.
Cassie started up a long narrow staircase. “Close the door behind you.”
We made our way up the stairs, Hawk at the back, and ended up on the second-floor landing in front of a door with no name or number. There were no other apartments, just a second door with a sign that readRoof Access.
Cassie bent to the keypad and punched in the same code.
I peered over her shoulder. “You use the same code for both doors?”
“Oh my fucking god,” she muttered, opening the door. “You might as well come in.”
