The Hex Files: Wicked State of Mind

by Gina LaManna

  “He’ll be at home at this hour.”

  “I’ll drag him out of bed.”

  “He won’t be happy about it.”

  “I’m not fond of seeing him in his pajamas, but this can’t wait. I don’t need a babysitter, either, King.”

  “This is not me babysitting you,” Matthew said, following Dani as she turned for the trolley station. “This is me debriefing with my employee.”

  “Consider us debriefed.”

  As Dani strode forward and onto the platform without a backward glance, Matthew had to give the wolf credit—he had excellent taste in fashion. The dress hugged her in all the right places, highlighting her natural beauty.

  “Captain.” Dani leapt onto the trolley, then turned and eyed Matthew. “You’re still following me.”

  Matthew leapt on behind her. “Is this about the casino?”

  “Partly,” she admitted as they traveled south across the borough. “I have a bracelet in my possession from the dealer, and I want to get it tested for illegal magic. If there’s nothing there, then I’m not sure we have a case. If there is, I’ll let you know.”

  “I expect as much.”

  “I’m also going to submit a HoloHex on Lisa,” Dani said. “We need a last name on her. If we don’t find her, he will. She could be the key to unlock the rest of this.”

  Matthew nodded. “You didn’t catch a glimpse of the driver’s face?”

  “Unfortunately, no. You?”

  “Not nearly enough for a HoloHex.”

  “Well,” Dani said, trailing off.

  The two stood in silence for the rest of the trip. When they reached the stop for Felix’s place, Dani climbed down alone.

  “Goodnight then, Captain.”

  Matthew glanced over Dani’s shoulder to where Felix’s house sat tucked into a neat little corner of the borough. He stepped off the trolley as well, though he wouldn’t be accompanying her further. The tech wizard was a hard-working mess of a man, but as brilliant as they came. And Dani could handle herself.

  “Very well,” Matthew said. “I’ve a report to prepare for the chief, anyway. I’ll see you in the morning, Detective.”

  Matthew leaned in close as the trolley whisked away and left them alone, his hand longing to brush over Dani’s face. He hesitated there as Dani’s eyes flicked closed, knowing this was his chance. His opportunity to show her what he’d been meaning to all night long. But something stopped him, and Matthew pulled back.

  Dani’s eyes opened at once and her breath expelled in a thin hiss—as if she’d been waiting for something more. Their eyes met and locked, and Matthew felt the full weight of his missed opportunity. Confusion swirled in Dani’s eyes, and that hurt worse than anything else.

  But the moment had passed, and Matthew had missed it. Furious with himself, angry he’d let his mind dictate his heart, Matthew spun away from the woman he loved and stormed away without a backward glance.

  It was hardly a wonder she’d continued to push him away. If Matthew didn’t set the record straight soon, he just might lose her forever.

  Chapter 17

  My heart raced as I climbed the steps to Felix’s place.

  We had come so close. For a moment, I’d thought Matthew had been ready to toss the rulebook out the window and pull me to his chest—consequences at work be damned.

  But when push came to shove, he’d turned away.

  Raising a hand, I pounded harder than I probably needed to against the door. Poor Felix, I thought. Bearing the brunt of a night’s worth of frustration when his only crime was having a genius brain. It hadn’t been an easy night, and the fact that I’d had to navigate it in a dress and high heels made everything that much worse.

  I was just preparing to knock a second time when the door swung open, and I tumbled forward into thin air, landing against Felix’s chest. It was soft and squishy, and as he fumbled to right me, his gaze was drawn toward the V in the neck of my dress.

  “Dani? Is that you?”

  “Felix,” I scolded. “Watch yourself.”

  “A beautiful woman threw herself at me,” he said, dragging his eyes back to my face. “What was I supposed to do?”

  “I’m not any old woman. I’m an on-duty detective carrying a gun.”

  “You don’t look like any detective I’ve ever seen.” Felix waggled his eyebrows. “Hell, you don’t even look like Dani DeMarco. And how did you find a place to put your gun?”

  “You know, special training tactics,” I said, adjusting myself discreetly. “I need a favor.”

  “Anything for this beauty queen.”

  “Shut up, Felix, and I won’t put my heel down your throat.”

  Felix cleared said throat and touched it very daintily. He might be the most brilliant mind in the NYPD, but he wasn’t exactly known for his street smarts or his fighting skills. “What can I help you with?”

  “I need one of your people on a HoloHex.”

  “Sure. Who’s the witness?”

  “Me,” I said.

  “Well, come on in,” Felix said. “It’s not like I have personal time anyway—I’ll get things set up and send it to the tech on duty. You’ll have it in your hands by lunch tomorrow.”

  “Breakfast tomorrow.”

  “Let’s call it brunch, and that’s as good as you’re getting.” Felix pulled open his fridge, grabbed a jug of milk, and then pulled down a bucket of donuts from the counter. “Can I get you something to eat?”

  I watched as he drank straight from the gallon of milk and tried not to shudder. But I hadn’t eaten much except fancy pants finger food with Grey, so I reached for a donut and bit into it before continuing.

  “The HoloHex isn’t the only reason I’m here.”

  “Of course not.” Felix brushed crumbs from his shirt. “Besides eating my donuts, what brings you around?”

  “It’s a bit of a sensitive subject.” I retrieved the bangle and held it out. “I think this was touched by unique magic. Can you get me a read on it?”

  “Aren’t you the Reserve?”

  “I couldn’t read these Residuals.”

  Felix paused mid-swig of milk, his curiosity piqued. “Tell me more.”

  “I borrowed this from a dealer at the casino. We’ve got a report there’s some funny business going down there.”

  “Off the record?” Felix asked. When I nodded, he shook his head glumly. “So nobody will know what a genius I am when I crack this code?”

  “You’ll have my lifetime love and admiration,” I said. “How’s that?”

  “Lukewarm at best, but I’ll take it,” Felix said. Then he clapped his hands together and strings of lights appeared before him. “Let’s get cracking on this HoloHex, shall we? I’ve got jelly to spill and elusive magic to uncover.”

  BY THE TIME I MADE it home, the pizza parlor had been closed for hours, and even Jack had abandoned the place for the night. Every now and then, he’d fall asleep with a half-eaten pizza on the table and kick his legs up in a booth.

  I had to wonder if his disappearing act was because he’d made it home to my parents’ house, or if things were more serious with his new squeeze than he’d let on. Poor Willa, I thought. I really had to corner my brother and get some answers.

  Unfortunately, I didn’t have long to dwell on my brother’s dramatic love life because one glance at the clock told me I’d be rolling right back out of bed in a few hours. My shoulders sagged with exhaustion at the thought. My adrenaline would kick in, no doubt, but a girl could only go on zero sleep for so long before it ate her up. And this was my first week back on the job.

  Ouch.

  I climbed the stairs to the second floor and let myself into the apartment with a single stroke of my finger against the doorknob. And came to a dead stop.

  “Marcus,” I said, more weary than frightened. “What are you doing here?”

  Marcus sat on Carl, my couch, with his legs kicked up and a decidedly smug look on his face. “Swung by for a visit since ne
ither you nor the vamp seem to have much time to devote to your colleagues.”

  “This is my first week back, Marcus. Give me a break.” I kicked the door shut, wondering why my brothers had bothered to add security hexes if they didn’t work against people like Marcus. “What are you doing here?”

  “You’re not scared of me.”

  “No, not at all.” I reached through the high slit in my dress and withdrew my gun. “I’ve been uncomfortable all night with this wedged up there.” I kicked off my shoes. “My feet are killing me.” I craned my neck back and forth. “I’ve fought off two bouncers and watched a dead body fall off a carriage. You are the least of my problems.”

  “Very well.” Marcus stood. “Then I apologize for making your problems that much worse.”

  “Spit it out.”

  Marcus obliged, but instead of speaking, he raised his hands before him and projected an illusion. A photograph of sorts marked with a time stamp. I was about to ask what he was trying to do when the image sharpened, and I understood.

  “What is this?” I asked, seeing an image of myself and Matthew projected against thin air. It had been taken from somewhere off in the distance at the precise moment Matthew had leaned in to touch my face outside of Felix’s house this evening. While Matthew hadn’t completed the kiss, the image painted a different story.

  “It’s exactly what it looks like,” he said, and then flicked to another picture.

  This time, it showed Matthew and I dancing at Dust. Closely. Much too closely to be considered professional.

  I cleared my throat. “You knew we were undercover.”

  Marcus laughed. “Sure. And I’m sure that’s how the chief will see it, too.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  “Really?” Marcus gave an annoying tilt of his head. “I think I would dare. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “Speaking of being here—you broke into my apartment. And apparently, you abandoned the crime scene you were working to come blackmail your colleague.”

  “Your brother ordered me home to get some rest,” Marcus said with a snip. “I wasn’t tired.”

  I thought some curse words toward Nash but kept my mouth shut. I had enough to deal with right here in my apartment without expanding into family matters, too.

  Marcus strode confidently toward me and my loaded Stunner. “I trust you’ll keep this visit quiet. If this gets out, it’ll hurt Matthew far worse than it will hurt you, and you won’t let that happen. You care too much about him, Detective, and that’s your weakness.”

  I grasped my weapon more firmly. “What do you want from me?”

  “Exactly what I’ve already told you multiple times. I want credit for cracking the case and the promotion I deserve.”

  “If you’d just do your job, you’d have gotten both of those things without blackmail.”

  “I will have both of those things,” Marcus corrected. “Because I’m good at my job when people aren’t withholding information from me. I’m doing the entire department a favor.”

  “Remind me to have everyone send a thank-you card,” I said dryly. “I’m sure the chief will approve of your shrewd tactics.”

  “Like I said, the chief isn’t going to hear about this, and neither is your vampire,” Marcus said, taking another step toward me. “If you do as I ask, none of you will have anything to worry about. Once I’m promoted to lieutenant, I’ll be out of your hair.”

  “I don’t know, Marcus. People like you have the annoying habit of never quite going away.”

  He gave a sad little smile. “Oh, Dani, sarcasm isn’t a good color with that dress. A shame because you do look magnificent tonight. If you weren’t so hung up on that vampire...”

  I had battled enough tonight, so despite the overwhelming urge to land one on Marcus’s nose, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t let myself get out of control no matter how much Marcus provoked me. It wouldn’t help me, nor would it help Matthew or the missing girls. And they were my real priority.

  “Very good,” Marcus said. “I see you’re coming around.”

  “You haven’t told me what you want.”

  “Sure I have,” he said. “The promotion. That means, I need to be in the loop with everything you and King know. When you crack this case—mark my words, Detective, you will—I want to be there. I want the credit. Because if the vampire wasn’t impeding my information flow on this case, I’d be there, too. I just want what’s rightfully mine. I’m sure you can understand.”

  “I’ll never understand people like you,” I said, not bothering to hide the disgust from my voice. “But if you want the promotion, it’s yours. You could have just asked, Marcus. You didn’t have to bring Matthew into this.”

  “Oh, but I did.”

  “No,” I said, stepping backward and yanking the door open. “Because I would have freely given you credit. See, all I want in this situation are the girls back alive, the bad guys in jail, and you out of my life. Goodnight.”

  Marcus’s eyes flashed, but he controlled whatever response had flitted behind his expression. “Very well, Detective. I expect to hear from you soon.”

  I closed the door behind him, slow and deliberate, determined not to give him the satisfaction of slamming it in his face. After I’d given him plenty of time to get out on his own, I padded downstairs and locked up behind him—not necessary, since he’d somehow locked the doors himself. So polite, I thought wryly, and then climbed the stairs and fell into the shower.

  I washed off the makeup and grime that had accumulated over the night and massaged my aching feet. I’d developed a few blisters that I quickly treated with Aloe Ale before slipping into shorts and a tank top and flopping into bed. I pulled the covers over me, and before I could even sigh with tiredness, I was sound asleep.

  Chapter 18

  I woke the next morning to the feeling of being watched.

  My apartment is somewhat of a revolving door for random strangers, family, and friends, so that wasn’t exactly news to me. In fact, I was on the floor in a crouch with my Stunner pointed at Willa before she could widen her eyes in surprise.

  “My, oh, my!” Willa held a hand to her chest. “Well, I guess that teaches me to sneak into a sleeping detective’s bedroom. Stand up, why don’t you, and pull up your shorts. I can see your undies. Very pretty pink, by the way.”

  I immediately let my gun drop to the nightstand and adjusted my pajamas to be appropriate. “Sorry, I didn’t realize I’d have to entertain at...what time is it, anyway?”

  “Five thirty.”

  “In the morning?” I looked suspiciously at her. “When’s the last time you woke up at five thirty?”

  “Oh, you know,” she said with a shrug. “Couldn’t sleep. I came here to get a head start on the chopping and to see if...”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “You thought you might find Jack spending the night downstairs, and you wanted to talk to him.”

  “Maybe,” Willa huffed. “But that’s not really any of your business.”

  “No, but the fact that you’re in my bedroom in the middle of the night is.”

  “Oh, right. You probably fell asleep like, what, an hour ago?”

  “Something like that,” I said through gritted teeth. “I was thinking this might be an emergency, but it appears you just wanted to have a chat?”

  “This is an emergency!” Willa clapped a hand to her forehead. “Sorry. Totally forgot. So, anyway, on my way here to see if I could find your brother—and start chopping vegetables early, mind you—I found a little girl in the streets.”

  “Is she alright? Where is she? Was she alone?”

  “She’s fine.” Willa gestured for me to calm. Then, she winced. “She’s here.”

  “Here?”

  “I mean—out there. Sitting at your table and eating breakfast.”

  “Oh, my, is right.”

  “What was I supposed to do, Detective? She’s barely five years old.”

  “I don’t kn
ow. Call child services? I’m working on a homicide and kidnapping. If she’s alive and well, it’s not my department.”

  “But she’s was looking for you.”

  “For me?”

  “Believe me, I was surprised too,” Willa said before realizing her misstep. “I mean, of course you’re lovely, Dani, I just didn’t think of you as kid-friendly all that much.”

  “I am too kid-friendly,” I said. “Kids are great, so long as they’re not mine.”

  “I still think if you and Matthew ever decided to have some of your own—”

  “Tabling this discussion for never, Willa.”

  “Right. So, do you want to come meet her? She goes by Tink. She’s an elf.”

  Immediately, my hackles raised. “Full elf?”

  “Got that Golden District vibe,” Willa said. “I don’t know how she got all the way over here—you’ll have to ask her. As soon as I found her, I brought her here and got her some cereal from your cupboards. By the way, you really need to fill your fridge. Your milk was dangerously close to expiring.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” I grumbled. “Okay, let me get dressed.”

  A few minutes later, I’d shaken the cobwebs from my sleeping brain and slipped into a pair of black jeans, a black tank, and a black leather jacket. It matched my mood quite well. I had my gun and badge fastened to my hip, along with my travel pack of vials that contained various spells and potions that came in handy while on the job.

  I forced a smile on my face that hopefully didn’t look like a grimace and eased out into the living area. I needn’t have worried about first impressions because the little girl seated at my kitchen table had her head bent firmly over the bowl of cereal and appeared to be chasing around her food with a spoon. She had long, gorgeous hair—golden and wispy on the ends like only children can manage. It flowed freely around her thin shoulders all the way down her back, over a cute little red polka dot dress and white shoes that were miraculously clean.

  “Hi there,” I said quietly. “My name’s Dani.”

  “You’re the detective?” The little girl’s head snapped up with a smile. “I was looking for you.”