I speared her with my gaze. “What do you want us to do, Mac? Ignore this? Overlook what happened to Brooks and Elvira? Both attacks were ordered by the same person— Lavinia Kane. How long do you think it’ll be before she sends someone after Georgia? Or you, for that matter?”
“What?” Brooks shouted. “What happened to Elvira?”
Mac shot me a glare that promised a slow, painful death. “She was attacked, too, honey. She”— Mac swallowed hard— “she didn’t make it.”
Brooks’s head fell into his hands as the dam broke. Mac’s chin raised and her eyes hardened as she looked at me. “I take care of my own.”
My conscience prickled for upsetting Brooks, but now wasn’t the time to go soft. I crossed my arms and nodded toward Brooks. “You can’t be everywhere, Mac. They were attacked at the same time.”
She tensed to lunge at me. “Maybe I should save your grandbitch the trouble—”
Her body froze midspring. “Oh, hell no!” Giguhl’s voice cracked like a whip. Mac dangled from one of his claws like a puppy from his mother’s teeth. “Someone needs to teach you some manners, werebitch.”
“Giguhl,” I snapped. “Put her down. Now.”
The demon sighed and released her. Back on her feet, the were stared me down for a moment. “Fuck all of you.”
She jumped into motion, grabbing Georgia by the arm before storming toward the door. Brooks called after them, but Mac stomped out with Georgia in her wake without another word.
“I’ll just show them out and do another perimeter check,” Giguhl said. I nodded and dismissed Mac from my mind.
“Look,” I said to Zen. “I’m not looking to hurt the guy if he’s innocent. But human or not, we can’t take the chance he’s working against us.”
Zen sighed heavily, looking torn. Rhea placed a hand on her arm. “There’s an easy way to find out if he was involved without beating it out of him.”
I perked up, hoping Rhea’s solution might offer a compromise to end the stalemate. Rhea nodded toward Brooks. “Take Brooks with you. If Alodius was involved, he’ll be surprised to see the fae healthy.”
“Absolutely not,” Zen all but shouted.
The drag queen perked up in the bed. “Actually, I’d love to see the expression on his face when he sees me looking fabulous again. If he’s guilty, that is,” he amended.
“Are you sure? I know you’re feeling physically better, but I don’t want to upset you any more than necessary.”
In response, Brooks threw back the covers. “Just give me five to fix my face and throw on something a little less comfortable.”
“No,” Zen said, moving toward the determined fae. “It’s too risky.”
Brooks stood and took Zen’s hand. “I appreciate your concern, darling, but I’m not going to spend the rest of my life hiding because some assholes decided to send a message. If my presence will help Sabina and Adam get answers, then I’m all in.”
I added, “We’ll be safe.”
Zen’s eyes jumped from Brooks to me as she weighed whether to keep arguing. I think we all suspected this wouldn’t end well for the Cajun, but I couldn’t blame her for trying to protect Brooks from further distress. Finally, Zen nodded and forced a smile for her friend. “What are you going to wear?”
Brooks laughed and took the woman by the arm, leading her out of the room to discuss wardrobe choices.
I blew out a breath and turned toward Rhea. “Giguhl’s on watch. If you need anything or if anything odd happens while we’re gone, make sure he knows.”
Rhea nodded but clearly had something else on her mind. “While you’re gone I’m going to call Orpheus and fill him in. I think it might be a good idea to have a couple Pythian Guards here to back you up.”
“Not yet,” Adam said. When she opened her mouth to argue, he held up a hand. “Until we have a chance to sort out this human angle, we don’t need the complication. Plus if the building is being watched, someone’s bound to notice them arriving.”
“I agree,” I said. “Right now the situation is too volatile to involve any other lives.”
Rhea sighed and thought about it for a moment. “All right, but I’m still going to check in and tell him I’m staying for the time being.”
Adam paused. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, either.”
“Why not?”
I jumped in to add my two cents. “Because everyone has a target on their head now. Adam and Brooks have already been injured.”
Adam stepped forward. “If something happened to you—” His voice cracked. I shifted and swallowed against the unexpected emotion that tightened my throat.
Rhea grabbed Adam’s hand and shot me an affectionate but determined smile. “I’m well aware of the risks. And I might be old, but I’m stubborn. No one’s taking me down without a fight.”
Next to me, Adam smiled proudly at his aunt. “It’s true. She’s kicked my ass more than once.”
If Adam could put aside his concerns for Rhea’s safety, then so could I. Besides, I liked having the old bat around.
“Okay,” I said. “But from now on no one is alone— not here and definitely not on the streets.”
Adam and Rhea nodded, but before either could say anything a femme fatale appeared at the door. Obviously getting into the spirit of the impending interrogation, Brooks had opted for black leather pants, six-inch-high platform boots, and a hot pink bustier under a leather bolero. “It’s time to show that butcher this kitty’s got claws.”
Adam whistled low. I smiled approvingly at her choice of attire. “Lookin’ fierce, Brooks. You ready?”
“Brooks is dead, honey. From now on I’m Pussy Willow.”
22
Instead of taking Zen’s voodoomobile again, Adam opted for just flashing us to the neighborhood near Alodius’s shop. Pussy Willow— who insisted we use that name as well as feminine pronouns for her from now on— seemed so eager for our mission that she didn’t balk at the unconventional mode of travel. As for me, the magical transportation limited my exposure to the bright morning sun, so I was all for it.
Therefore, a couple of minutes after walking out of Zen’s shop, we stood on the front stoop of Cajun Sausage Fest. Luckily, the hour was so early that no tourists or locals saw our arrival. Unluckily, it also meant Alodius’s shop was closed.
In deference to Halloween’s arrival— shit, how had it already gotten to be Saturday?— he’d pasted cardboard decorations of cackling witches with striped socks and vampires with big, fangy smiles in the darkened windows. “Cute,” I said, leaning to the window for a peek inside. “I can’t tell if he’s in there. What are the chances he’s in the back?”
Adam peered up to the second floor of the building. “I say we give him a call and find out.” He pulled his knapsack around and dug in it, finally coming up with the magnet Alodius had given me the other night. I’d totally forgotten about passing it to the mancy then. Luckily, Adam never seemed to throw anything away from his trusty portable magic kit.
“Thanks.” I smiled at him and took the phone he offered. Alodius answered on the third ring.
“Yell-oh?”
“Hey Alodius, it’s Sabina. I hate to call so early, but—” I cut off dramatically, hoping he’d take the bait.
After a pause, he bit. “Is everything okay, cher?”
I put a little wobble in my voice. “No. I need some blood really bad. Is there any way you could meet me at the store? I’m already here. Normally I wouldn’t ask, but it’s an emergency.”
“Now, now, darlin’, don’t you worry your pretty self. Alodius lives right upstairs. Be down in jiff.”
“Really? Thank you so much.”
“However—”
“Yes?”
“Seeing how it’s after business hours, we’re going to have to charge a tad extry.”
I pursed my lips. I’d like to show him a “tad extry” myself, the opportunistic ass. “That’s fine. Please hurry.”
I clicked off the phone and turned to Adam and Pussy Willow. “You guys stand around the corner. Follow me in two minutes later.”
Adam nodded. “Got it. Be careful.” Then he took Pussy’s arm and the two jogged past the next store to wait out of sight.
I reached back to touch my gun, more to reassure myself than out of any real fear I’d forgotten it. The light came on then in the store, signaling Alodius’s arrival. He must have used a back staircase from his living quarters. I attempted to look defeated as he waved and came to unlock the door.
“Sabina? Darlin’, you look like death warmed over. Come on in and tell Old Alodius what’s wrong.”
I hesitated. Despite his welcoming smile and concerned demeanor, it’d be a mistake to underestimate Alodius. Gods only knew what nasty surprises he could have waiting in the shop. Casting a quick glance to my right, I didn’t see Adam or Pussy Willow, but I felt their presence and knew they’d have my back if the crazy Cajun tried anything. Besides, he might be a traitor, but he was still a human, and the day I couldn’t hold my own against a mortal was the day I took up sunbathing as a hobby.
I swallowed and lowered my head meekly— at least I assumed that was the vibe I was giving off. I didn’t have a lot of experience with meekness. “Oh, Alodius, it was horrible.”
I brushed past him. Inside, I moved the counter and leaned against it forlornly. This position was chosen strategically so he had his back to the front door. It also meant my back wasn’t exposed in case any of his robed buddies were hiding in the storeroom. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“Start at the beginning, cher.” Impatience crept into his tone now.
“My friend Brooks was ….. he was murdered last night.”