The temperature drops. “Not anymore,” Simon says sharply. “Eyes on the road, wolf. We’re almost there.”
Finding parking in the city forces Cody’s focus away from the chill in Simon’s voice. Four hundred and fifty years is a long time to lose people. But that’s none of Cody’s business. He carefully angles the car into a free bit of curb.
“Remember to let me enter rooms first,” Cody says, killing the engine. “There are two elevators and two staircases. If there’s a problem, we head for the nearest staircase. I’ll signal Atwood, but you should plan to press your panic button too just in case I can’t.”
“Do I still let you enter the staircase first if I’m running for my undead life?” Simon asks. The return to his unhelpful attitude is unexpectedly reassuring.
“I’ll be between you and any known danger,” Cody answers, because one of them has to take this seriously. “Let’s do this quickly.”
Lawrence Baird’s neighborhood is still busy this early in the evening. Apartment buildings stack around little local retailers. Twenty-somethings new to the area mingle with old folks who’ve been there for decades.
Cody and Simon’s destination is an aged five-story building, and their first obstacle is the call box in the lobby. Cody stands back, eyeing the exits, as Simon presses the room number. A tinny voice replies a moment later.
“Hey, who’s there?”
“Hi, Erica? This is Simon, Lawrence’s cousin,” Simon replies, his voice shockingly cheerful and sweet. “Um, I brought a friend with me, is that all right?”
“It works.” The second lobby door clicks unlocked. “Come on up.”
As he leads the way to the elevator, Cody asks, “Does that count as an invitation?”
“Yes, it does,” Simon says. “It’s about the intention, not the words. I can enter the building and her apartment, but not anybody else’s dwelling.”
The elevator is grubby and smells like weed. There’s something off, and Cody takes a moment to figure it out. The metallic walls only show one blurred reflection.
Normally, Cody wouldn’t let a principal investigate their own attempted assassination. Nobody else has been reckless enough to try. But Cody needs to pick his battles with Simon. He’s lucky nobody had warned Simon about the gate system change—last night could have gone verydifferently.
At least Simon is armed tonight, and Cody knows he can aim.
Lawrence and Erica’s apartment is on the third floor. A woman opens at Simon’s knock, then frowns. “Who is this?”
Erica is a tall woman, with short red hair and blinding floral overalls. Her suspicion cuts towards Cody, understandably. Cody does his best to seem unassuming, but he can’t change his height and build. Next to him, Simon looks like an adorable kitten.
“Um, this is Cody,” Simon says. That ‘um’ is a nice touch.
Erica’s glare turns thoughtful. “Your boyfriend?”
“No,” Cody says immediately—just as Simon answers, “Yes.”
Chapter 9
Simon
For fuck’s sake, doesn’t Cody know how to lie properly?
Simon is forced to pivot, smiling awkwardly instead of glaring. “Don’t tell Lawrence, please?” Steeling his nerves, he reaches for Cody’s hand. “I’m not out to my family.”
Cody tenses but doesn’t flinch away. His grasp settles huge and warm around Simon’s hand, and Simon’s skin crawls. Like the threat of dawn at the end of the night.
Erica’s confusion melts into compassion. What a nice young woman. “My lips are sealed. Make it quick—myboyfriend is coming over in an hour.” She steps back from the doorway, clearly hesitating before adding, “I’m glad Lawrence is getting help. He’s been weird for the past few months.”
Help. Yes, a bullet in the head, very helpful.
“What do you mean, weird?” Simon asks.
“Just quiet.” Erica shrugs, her blue and orange overalls jumping with the movement. “And… I don’t know. You’ll see in his room.”
Erica lets them into the small, clean apartment. The furniture is secondhand. Judging by the vivid landscapes and animal portraits, Erica is responsible for the wall decorations. She shouldn’t have much trouble finding a new roommate once she and the landlord realize Lawrence isn’t catching up on rent.
