After that, she turned on her heels and walked to her car without another glance at me.
I’d feel hurt by her dismissive attitude if I hadn’t smelled how turned on I’d made her earlier.
Once Danzig was back, and we could work together, she wouldn’t be able to resist us.
Bec
I wasn’t surprised that Marduk followed me all the way home. He kept his distance but now that I knew what I was looking for, he was easy to spot.
How long had he been following me before today’s incident? He and Danzig had probably been taking turns since I’d met Danzig that first time.
When I found an empty spot close by my condo, I parked and looked around. I didn’t see Marduk, but I knew he was out there somewhere. Grabbing my purse, I stomped into the condo I shared with Mila’s sister.
I didn’t expect to find Emily wearing a cloak and sweeping her arms out as if addressing people.
“How could you do this to me?” she spoke in a loud dramatic voice. “Let me go or I'll tell everyone the secrets I know!”
“Hey, Em, what secrets are you going to tell everyone?” I asked, shutting the door behind me. When she’d been about six, she called herself EEEEmmmmm and insisted everyone else usethe elongated sounds. Even after she’d stopped doing that, the shortened version of her name stuck.
Em jumped a little and swung around with a laugh. “I was practicing my lines,” she explained. “I’d never tell anyone that you dip your fries in ranch dressing.”
I snorted. “That’s not much of a secret. I’d forgotten you were going to be in that play.”
She’d gotten a part in a little indie play about a woman who reveals everyone in her community are liars, thieves, and abusers, only to be accused of witchcraft. I didn’t know the whole play, but it sounded depressing as hell. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing it, but Em was family, and I had to show her my support.
At least her sister Mila would be there too. If Mila was going then her partners Carter and Gio would be coming too. They would all make it tolerable, maybe even fun.
“You’re home late,” she said, pulling the cloak off and tossing it over a chair.
“Not that late,” I said, pulling out my phone to look at the time, only to realize it wouldn't turn on. I fiddled with it as Em pulled off her cloak and folded it.
“That's bad,” I said, dropping my purse on the small table next to the front door and heading for the kitchen.
“What's wrong?” she asked, following me.
“My phone isn't working,” I grumbled, pulling my old phone out the kitchen junk drawer. The old one still worked, it just tended to overheat if I used it for too long. I switched the sim card over, relieved to see that it wasn't damaged and a few text messages populated.
Em picked up the bricked phone. “What happened?”
“No idea,” I said with a shrug and tossed the dead phone into the junk drawer. “Anyway, I was out on a case today.”
Em’s eyes went wide with interest. “Oh yeah? What was the case? No, wait, let me guess. Stolen diamonds? A ninety-five-year-old billionaire has died, and his kids think the sixth playboy bunny wife did it. Oh, I’ve got it! An heiress has run off with her lover and now you need to rescue her from a cult.”
I laughed. “Nothing that exciting, but it’s still a case.”
The condo was a good size with a full kitchen that had plenty of counter space. It was too bad neither of us cooked. Opening the fridge, I found a box of Mila’s pastries and grabbed it out with a happy exclamation. “Yes!”
Shutting the fridge with my hip, I set the box on the counter and ripped the top in my eagerness to get to the contents. I was disappointed to find that my favorite wasn’t inside, but still, you couldn’t be too upset when faced with a box full of cookies!
Em moved to stand next to me as I shoved a snickerdoodle in my mouth and moaned.
“Yeah, Mila makes the best,” Em said and grabbed one herself. “Tell me about this case.”
I ate two more cookies as I told Em about Gale, Hugo, Leif, and Mr. Stoner-guy roommate. I mentioned trying to watch the apartment complex, but I left out what happened after I’d driven to the gas station.
“That’s not really exciting at all,” Em pointed out.
“Not yet,” I said. “But I bet if I go back and watch the place a little longer, I’ll find Leif and the dog.”
