Adorable. She couldn’t just say she wanted us there, she had to use her kids as an excuse. That worked for me, because they were pretty adorable, as kids went. And I was in the mood for any meal I didn’t have to put together with my own hands.

  Cain shifted in the back of my head, uncomfortable. We have a case to follow up on.

  Oh, now you have an opinion? Now you want to speak up? I just barely managed to avoid shaking my head. It always looked weird to people not in on our silent chit chats. The auction isn’t until tomorrow, we don’t know where it’s even going to be yet, and I’m hungry.

  So?

  So, that means we’re going to dinner.

  He retreated, off to have a manly sulk in my subconscious.

  I turned to Taliyah, grinning. “We’d love to.”

  Even if the food was terrible, the way Taliyah’s shoulders relaxed and a smile flickered around the edges of her lips, made it all worthwhile.

  That, and it seemed like she’d forgotten to give me that ticket I probably deserved.

  The night was looking up.

  ***

  As it turned out, the grub was pretty good. Not Libby level of good, but at least Taliyah didn’t break out ham and macaroni suspended in gelatin, so I was thinking we were still on the winning side. The kids were sweet, and it was always flattering when people were happy to see you. All in all, it was a pretty nice evening. Except for one little thing.

  Wanda’s cousin, Maverick, was there, too.

  Now, don’t get me wrong, I didn’t have anything against Maverick. He always made me a little nervous, since he’s one o’ them sarcastic types. Further, I didn’t think he liked me much, but he and Taliyah were pretty chummy, so I guessed it made sense that he’d be there.

  He and Taliyah had been spending a lot of time together, actually. Ever since Christmas, I’d been seeing them around together. Heck, Maverick was even acting a bit like a bounty hunter, helping Taliyah on police cases that involved the spooky side of town. But him being here, with her kids, eating dinner, it made me start to wonder if maybe there was something else going on.

  If so, well, way to go, sister. Personality aside, no one from Wanda’s family was exactly dog faced, if you catch my drift. Maverick was lean, and tall, and he might not have been as built as Cain had been in life, but he wasn’t no slouch neither. And if anyone deserved some fun in her life, it was Taliyah.

  Cain, it seemed, didn’t agree.

  He’d bristled up the instant we walked through the door like a cheesed off cat. What’s he doing here?

  That had me stumbling on the threshold, feeling like I’d missed more than a step. I didn’t think Cain and Maverick had even met while Cain was still alive, and since then, we’d only really seen Maverick in passing and exchanged a few words. So, unless Cain knew something I didn’t, which, rude, then I wasn’t sure what the instant dislike of Maverick was all about.

  I kept Cain’s question behind my teeth. If he wanted to be rude, he could be a grown up and use his own words.

  What followed was one heck of an awkward dinner, with Cain growling questions to me, and me ignoring them while I complimented the food, asked the kids how they liked school, and made pleasant conversation until I thought all my smiling muscles were going to cramp up.

  Taliyah was a bit tense, the boys just seemed excited to have so many people there, and Maverick was weirdly comfortable. Like he didn’t even notice Cain’s moodiness, which I would have thought he’d pick up on, with him being a warlock and all, but hey, what did I know?

  Maverick leaned back in his chair, claiming his space and was utterly at ease. His hand brushed Taliyah’s arm a couple times, but she didn’t seem to mind so much, so I didn’t think anything of it.

  At one point, Maverick offered her a bite of his dessert from his fork, and she gave him a look that should have frozen him on the spot, but I could see her lips twitching like she was fighting a smile, so she probably didn’t mean it.

  She still didn’t take the bite though. Which was good for me, because Cain tensed his jaw so tight, I thought my teeth were going to grind down into powder.

  Eventually, the boys headed off to bed, and the rest of us settled in with coffee. My dogs were dragging by that point, so a cup of joe was just what the doctor ordered, and I inhaled the smell gratefully.

  Taliyah spooned a surprising amount of sugar into her mug and tapped the spoon on the side. “So, you’re still not going to tell me about the case you’re working on?”

  I shook my head hard enough to make my newly grown out hair swing back and forth. “Nothing doing. Sorry, Taliyah, but that’s against the rules. A private eye never squeals on their client’s business. That’s the law.”

  “It isn’t, actually,” Maverick said idly, holding his mug with an amused look. “There’s no such law.”

  I deflated, flopping back into my chair. “Well...” How to tell her I wanted to keep this investigation to myself so I could prove myself... hmm. “Well, I ain’t no snitch, and it’s nothing me and Cain can’t handle. We’re keeping our noses clean and staying out of trouble.”

  Taliyah’s eyes narrowed, like she remembered an, as of yet, unticketed car chase, and I reached around for a distraction to throw out there.

  Rescue came in the form of an icy rush of wind and a ghostly uniform as Cain manifested right there at the table, hovering over the seat next to me.

  I jumped, Taliyah jerked in surprise and her coffee sloshed up over the rim. Maverick just raised an eyebrow, looking Cain over. Cain didn’t do this often—just come to visible life, especially around Taliyah. I’d had to coax him into letting her see him like I was trying to lure a little baby deer away from its ma.

  Cain’s face was twisted into his most suspicious scowl. He positively glowered across the table at Maverick.

  “What’s he doing here?” Cain asked.

  Maverick smirked.

  Taliyah’s face twisted into a scowl so much like her brother’s that it was honestly hard for me to remember that they weren’t blood related.

  “Hi, Cain,” she said, more sarcastically than I’d ever heard her. “It’s so good to see you. It’s been a while. So glad you decided to show up.”

  Cain just kept glaring.

  Taliyah put her coffee cup down with exaggerated care. “He’s here because he’s my friend and my partner. Do you have a problem with that?”

  The icy sweetness in her voice made me want to slide under the table. Maybe hide in the closet. The overprotective brother act was all well and good, ignoring that Taliyah was almost fifty and it seemed a bit late in the game, but I sure wished Cain remembered that only one of us was dead and pretty much impervious to all harm. I’d just gotten a body back, and I didn’t want anything to get messed up. Getting caught in the crossfire between a ghost and a Faerie Princess having a squabble just didn’t seem like a healthy place to be.

  “What do you even know about him?” Cain was either ignorant of the danger, or completely ignoring it. “You’re bringing him around the boys. I’m allowed to be concerned.”

  Frost snaked out across the surface of the table from where Taliyah had her fist balled in the tablecloth. “He’s allowed to be around my children, because I trust him. I trust him with them. In fact, I trust him with my life.”

  Maverick smirked, but the expression sat on his face like a mask that didn’t quite fit right. There was surprise there, and something small and pleased. I didn’t think that Maverick was used to being the kind of person that people trusted. And I was happy for him that Taliyah felt that way about him, even if I was as surprised as Cain was that she’d admitted it.

  Cain didn’t exactly look mollified, but he also probably realized that it wasn’t a fight he had any chance of winning, so he just grunted.

  “I’m watching you,” he told Maverick, low and threatening.

  Maverick mock saluted him with his water glass. “Join the club,” he said, mockingly.

  Chapter Eleven

  What in the world did you wear when you were undercover?

  I would have guessed something that you wouldn’t wear normally when you were yourself, which ruled out pretty much anything in my closet. That meant I was in need of a brand-new outfit before the auction later tonight.

  When I’d told Cain we were going to have to go shopping, he’d groaned like a man being sent to the big house.

  For the love of God, Darla. Just wear pants. Anything with pants.

  I guess I could throw him a bone. He’d gotten better about me wearing my skirts and dresses, after all. And we didn’t know what we might be heading into, so something I could run in wasn’t a bad idea.

  I’d wanted to go into Wanda’s Witchery to take a look at what fun things Wanda had on hand. A scarf to help disguise my appearance, or a blouse that gave me good luck. That kind of thing would have come in real handy. Wanda made all her clothes herself, weaving enchantments right into the fabric, and they could do some pretty peachy keen things. Besides, something told me we could use all the help we could get.

  But Cain, the big palooka, had taken one look through the big front window, saw that Maverick was working, and he’d actually taken control enough to march me down the street and away from the door.

  We’d had some choice words about that. You better believe it. But after the painfully awkward dinner the night before, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to be stuck in a room with the big lug and Maverick again anytime soon, anyway. So, in the end, Cain got his way, and I went looking for my duds elsewhere.

  It took me hours, and my dogs were barking by the end of it, but I finally found something I thought could work. It was a champagne silk camisole with gorgeous beadwork around the neckline, and then a kind of sheer throw in the same color. It showed off my curves as much as anything could without a magnifying glass, and made me look like I was sashaying around in a cloud of gold dust. I even managed to pair it with some wide-legged pants, so Cain would stop fussing at me.

  We agreed to disagree on the shoes. I was fine with flats, but no way was I forcing my feet into one of his hideous choices, which were all black boots and some even had steel toes.

  Part of me wondered if I shouldn’t give Wanda a call. She knew clothes better than anyone I’d ever met, but it also seemed a bit hinky, since apparently, I wasn’t allowed to buy anything from her store (Cain’s rules, not mine). After a minute, I decided against it. It was still early afternoon, anyway, so Wanda might not have even been awake yet.

  Wanda had had to give her schedule the old switcheroo after a bunch of vampires got a bug in their bonnets about her being a Blood Witch. They wanted her all the way turned into a vampire, and neither her nor Lorcan were keen on that idea. So, they’d decided to give the vamps the bum’s rush, and bamboozled them all into thinking Wanda was a vampire. It meant she didn’t come out during the day anymore, but if it kept those rat finks off her tail, then it was all applesauce as far as I was concerned.

  And, anyway, I didn’t want to risk it. Wanda, first thing in the morning, was frightening. Especially before that first cup of joe. I didn’t want to get hexed, so I’d just have to go with my gut.

  Are you done yet?

  I got the impression of him crossing his arms, which was kind of funny since he was only in my head. Being here is making me sweat, he continued.

  You can’t sweat. You’re inside my head.

  Point is: I don’t like that you were being followed.

  Okay, that was kind of sweet. Who knew it, big tough police chief was all sweet and gooey on the inside.

  What a gentleman, I thought, only half-teasing.

  I was pretty pleased with my haul, all things considered. The rest was just picking the right accessories, the jewelry that was expensive enough, but not in a gaudy way, that would let me pass for the sort of dame who went around spending huge wads of bucks on ugly old art statues. At least I had an example from Magda Erepto’s wake. All those dames dressed up like a million bucks, all chi-chi at a funeral, even.

  “Darla? Hey, Darla!”

  A familiar voice calling my name had me turning around on the sidewalk, my bags bumping against my gams.

  Henner smiled as he made his way over to me, and it was pure reflex to smile back at him.

  “Hey,” he said, pushing his hair back off his forehead. “I tried calling you earlier, but I think your phone isn’t working.”

  Oh, shoot. I almost slapped my forehead. I’d turned the silly thing off in the Hotel parking lot after talking to Sophia, worried that she’d call back, and then with everything going on I’d forgotten to turn it on again. I still wasn’t quite used to having a phone I could tuck into my pocket. When I was alive the first time, telephones were huge, wall mounted boxes you had to contact an operator through.

  “I’m sorry, Henner. I spaced.” I fumbled through my purse, turning the phone back on. I had… a lot of missed calls. Some from Sophia. One from Blaise Howard. Gulp. Well, I’d just listen to those another time. Preferably when I had the idol in my hand.

  Dabbing the sweat at my temples, I gave Henner a shaky smile. “What, ah, what were you calling me about?”

  Henner frowned slightly and reached out to touch my shoulder. “Is everything okay, Darla?”

  I couldn’t help it, that little touch, the concern, it made something golden and glowing form in the pit of my stomach. He really was just the sweetest. My smile got a whole lot more genuine. “I’m okay. Just, work is stressful.”

  He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go gracefully. Henner really was just the bee’s knees.

  “Well, I was calling earlier because I was wondering if you’d like to go to the movies tonight.”

  My heart leapt, and I wanted to say yes immediately. I loved the movies. Maybe my dreams of being a star on the silver screen hadn’t exactly panned out, thanks to that no account bum, Frank, but I still loved watching them. For the longest time, television and movies were my only real connection to the outside world.

  Now, movies with Henner? That was my idea of a good time—really, the perfect time. All snuggled up in the dark, with his arm around me, watching the stories unfold like we were in our own private little world. I wasn’t a swooner, but it might have been a close call.

  Then, reality slapped me back into place, and my shoulders slumped.

  “I can’t tonight,” I told him, mournfully. “I have to do a work thing.”

  Though, going to a secret illegal auction of artifacts didn’t sound half as exciting as going to the movies with Henner. Partly because I really didn’t have a clue about what I was going to do when I got there. Calliope had promised to text me the address, but I still didn’t have any clue about how I was going to get the idol, assuming it was even there. I mean, how was I going to afford such a thing? I figured I could put it on my credit card and then Sophia could pay me back later.

  Either way, I was in way over my head, and I wouldn’t be able to dodge Sophia or Mr. Howard for much longer. I just wasn’t sure what else to do.

  “Hey, it’s okay.” Henner stepped forward, rubbing my arms. “We can go another time.”

  That did make me feel better, but it was still baloney. The stress of the past couple days was catching up to me all at once, and I wasn’t even done with this case yet. My eyes felt hot and heavy, but I wasn’t going to start boo-hooing like some dizzy dame. I’d get it sorted without making Henner think I was some kind of water pot.

  Henner searched my face and then tugged me forward into a hug. I tried not to just melt into it, but it was a struggle. The fabric of his hoody was soft, and it was a struggle not to run my hands over it, and the chest underneath. Hey, I wasn’t dead anymore, so sue me.

  The moment was ruined by Cain surging up from the back of my head where he’d hidden himself. He always tried to disappear whenever Henner and I were together. I’d started leaving the ring at home for my dates with Henner, just leaving the television on so Cain wouldn’t get too bored.

  But this wasn’t just Cain getting fidgety about a hug, not the way he’d snapped to attention like that.

  Behind you, he growled, surging forward to hover just under the surface of my skin.

  I jerked away out of Henner’s arms and twisted around. Cain waited, ready to take control in case it came to a fight.

  The guy who stepped up onto the sidewalk next to us looked as out of place on the streets of Haven Hollow as a polar bear wandering around in the desert. He was big, like Roy big, but I doubted this mook was a Sasquatch. He was also dressed in a suit, like he was on his way to a business meeting. The kind that ended with someone sleeping with the fishes. The scar just above his lip just added to the impression.

  He wasn’t bad looking, in a thick kind of way. But he had too many muscles for his suit to sit properly, and the look on his face had me grateful Cain was with me.

  “Miss Rowe,” he said in a voice so low and growly, it sounded like someone had tried to teach a bear English. “Mr. Erepto would like to know if you’ve rethought his very generous offer.”

  Mr. Erepto? Did he mean Manos? Holy smokes, was this a shakedown? Even if I might have been the kind inclined to throw over everything: lose my job, betray a client, and chase after the highest bidder, sending some mook to threaten me over it would just make me button my lips shut. Darla Rowe wasn’t no snitch.

  “Nope.” I gave him a tight smile. “And I’m not going to. You can pass that along to your boss.”

  The guy’s eyes were a little too sharp. They raked over me, checking out the bags I had in one hand before flicking up to my face.

  The smile his mouth curled into left me wanting to back up a few steps. And maybe take a shower.

  “But you have found it, haven’t you?” It wasn’t a question. His pupils narrowed, like a snake when it spots something tasty. “Why don’t you just hand it over to me? I’ll make sure it gets to where it needs to be.”

  “If you’re wanting a nice change of clothes,” I started as I glanced down at the bags in my hands, before looking up at him again. “You’ll just be disappointed to know, none of them will fit you, bub.” My voice got a bit thicker as my stomach twisted.