Nick looked doubtfully outside. “It’s dark. I need to… I want to practice it a few times, have the circles ready before I actually do the work.”
Parker blinked, his own eyes straying to the window. “Of course. I didn’t even… I just don’t want anyone else to die when we’re so close to the solution.”
“If they haven’t died yet, then I think we have time,” Nick said. “We have at least until the parasites come up with another plan.”
“Right.” Parker looked down. “Nick, I’m?—”
“Parker, if you say you’resorry, I will set Sugar on you and have her explain in detail all of the local ordinances involved in a succubae orgy.” Nick smiled when Parker’s face twisted in horror. “I had to help her with her proposal, and we spent a good two hours trying to figure out if it was part of chapter 10.32 - Social Host and Responsibility, or if it was covered by 10.34 - Art and Theatre.”
“I mean, that doesn’t seem bad,” Parker said. “And isn’t it clearly an educational event? That would be 10.35, right?”
When Nick looked over at him with narrowed eyes, it was Parker’s turn to laugh.
“Alright, alright.” Parker held up his hands. “But…”
Nick couldn’t help it. He kissed Parker, his lips sliding warm and familiar on Parker’s. “I know.”
The next morning, Nick didn’t go for a run, despite Prometheus jumping at his feet, begging with a helpless whine.
“I’ll walk him,” Bastian said. “School was canceled anyway. Local emergency. They’re making us do it online.”
Nick nodded. “Don’t let him chew on anything we’ll have to pay for.”
“I know, I know. Specialized diet and everything.” Bastian looked secretly pleased at Nick trusting him with the job.
After a quick breakfast of granola (Nick) and too-sugary cereal (Parker), they got in the car and headed to where Nick thought the next point on the spiral was.
“What if the person isn’t there?” Nick asked.
“I don’t think that will be a problem,” Parker said.
“Why not?” Nick asked.
“Because I remember Durkavic going here the day before he died.” Parker slumped down in his seat.
The coffee shop was filled with people, and when Parker and Nick got to the front of the long line, Nick realized it was going to be more trouble than he thought clearing the place.
“Hi,” Parker said before Nick could. “We’re investigating a murder, and we need to see any security cam footage you have from three days ago.”
The two employees gaped. The one behind the espresso machine let her hand drop, hissing when it touched a hot steam wand.
“We don’t have any security footage,” she said, shaking her hand.
Nick pointed up at the black domes positioned around the store. “We need to see it.”
“Those are fake,” the one at the counter said. She leaned in close. “The owner stopped paying to have them record months ago. What are you looking for? We were both here. Maybe we can tell you.”
Nick internally swore but kept his face neutral. He pulled up a pre-death photo of Durkavic that Parker had taken. “We need to know if this man talked to anyone when he was here.”
“Cayo?” The employee grinned. “Yeah, he talked to me and her. You had to remake his drink, right?”
“Yeah.” The barista lifted a lip. “He always orders the exact same thing. Black coffee, no sugar, with steamed oat milk. It’s not even on the menu.”
“But he tips us extra,” the cashier said. “So we do it.”
“And then a couple of days ago, he orders a caramel latte. Like, what? Who does that?” The barista rolled her eyes. “He at least could have warned me when he saw me making his regular drink.”
“But he didn’t,” Parker said. He glanced at Nick, and Nick knew exactly what he meant.
