by Amy Boyles
Stone nodded. “Looks like.” He said hello to Dot and Vordrid as I tugged Gabby into the house. “Mommy return in a little while, okay?”
“Okay,” she said.
A couple of minutes later, I was out the door with Stone beside me. “Nice mums,” he said.
I glanced over at the flowers. I still hadn’t planted them and I felt seriously guilty about it. Justin had given them to me and now he was dead—drained by a vampire.
I stopped at the edge of the curb. “Where’s your car?”
“Oh, we’re not driving,” he said.
I balked. “We’re not? How’re we getting there?”
He winked at me. “We’re going angel style. Flying.”
I backed up. “Are you serious?”
He shook his head. “No.” He pointed a set of keys at a red Porsche. The alarm blipped. “There’s my car.”
“Oh wow,” I said. “I didn’t expect you to be driving that.”
“We angels know how to get around,” he said.
I quirked a brow. “Seriously?”
He opened my door. I glanced up into his silver eyes. The closeness caught me off guard, and my heart knotted in my throat. Okay, I don’t know if it was my heart, but it was something that knotted. Maybe my thyroid. The thyroid’s in the throat, right?
Then it was definitely my thyroid.
“We have an agency that sets these things up for us.”
“Even fallen angels?”
He winked at me. “I have connections.”
A smile played on my lips. “So is this like an angel agency?”
He arched a brow. “Do you know it?”
I laughed. “No, of course not. I’m not an angel.”
He leaned forward. “Because if you know about it, I have to keep you quiet.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah? How’re you going to do that, Mr. Big Bad Angel?”
He slid his fingers over the door frame. They brushed mine. A shot of fire spread over my arm and down my legs.
Thank goodness I was a big, bad vampire hunter. I could handle a little intimate contact.
I think.
Stone leaned into my ear, his breath buzzing against my skin when he said, “I have my ways of keeping humans quiet. I’m sure I could be creative.”
Okay. That did it. A wave of girlie hormones zinged through me. I pulled away from him before things got any more intense and said, “Okay, great. Let’s go find some vamps.”
I slid onto the buttery seat and held my breath as he shut the door and crossed to his side. Dear all that was good in the world. I needed to hold it together. Like, really hold it together. There were vampires on the loose.
Okay, one vampire—but it was on the loose. I needed to focus on it. Get it sent back to hell and be done.
I did not need to start fantasizing about some exceptionally hot angel that made my girlie parts thank heaven that he existed.
Right? I didn’t need to do that.
Right. I knew I could get my brain to wrap around that correctly.
Or so I thought, ’cause when Stone slid into the seat beside me, a cloud of his clean-shaven scent enveloped me.
A cloud that an angel might be sitting on.
Hmmm.
“So, where’re we headed?” he said, cranking the engine.
The car purred, making the same sound I wanted to make. Anyway. Time to focus.
“The Red Brick district. It’s over by the school.”
He quirked a brow. For the first time I noticed how dark and thick his lashes were against the light irises. “Red Brick? Sounds like we’re looking for ladies of the night.”
I laughed, making sure it was deep and throaty instead of high-pitched and whiny, which was how it could somehow come out. “Yeah, it’s officially called the Warehouse district ’cause all the old warehouses there were remodeled, but I refer to it as Red Brick ’cause that’s what the buildings are made of.”
He nosed down the street. “The Red Brick district it is.”
We arrived in front of Nightshots right as things got rolling. Overstuffed scarecrows and hanging witches decorated the outside door. A sign advertised a big party Halloween night. Those twenty and younger were welcome to attend.
“Guess that means we’re not invited,” Stone said. His hand burned a spot on the small of my back as he guided me inside.
I glanced up and back at him. “How old are you, anyway?”
He kept his eyes straight ahead as he said, “I don’t have an age.”
I really didn’t know what to say to that. “I plan on stopping mine at thirty-three. It’s the perfect age—I’m mature but not too old.”
We paused inside the door. Stone slid a protective hand around my waist to my hip. The gesture instantly soothed me and made me feel safe.
“I might be fallen, but I’m still an angel. Protecting is what we do. Don’t try to argue. It won’t change where my hand is.”
I gulped down a knot. “Okay.” Truth was, I didn’t want to.
Even though it was early, the club was already filling up. Sparse lighting, metal tables, a dance floor and an interior of red brick all added to the ambiance. The place was a teen hangout, and from what I could see, a very popular one.
My gaze swept over the crowd. In the far corner I caught a glimpse of red hair. I stepped closer, nudging aside the teens in front of me.
“Come on,” I said to Stone.
We moved through the crowd, and I clearly made out a woman standing near the bar. Her back was to me, but I knew exactly who it was—Charlie, the coroner’s daughter.
TWELVE
“Witchy senses take time to develop. For some it takes longer than others.”
—The Witch’s Handbook
* * *
The redhead turned around, and my heart flopped to my feet. Though the hair was the same, the face wasn’t, to put it nicely.
I stopped.
“Not her?” Stone whispered in my ear.
I shook my head.
“Y’all look a little old to want to listen to the band. How can I help you?”
I glanced over. The bartender smiled at me. He had dark hair that curled behind his ears and coffee-colored eyes that held a lot of warmth.
I walked over and leaned my elbows against the lip of the tacky wood. Seriously. I’d never once been in a bar that didn’t have a tacky surface. How hard was it to wipe down an edge?
“This your place?” Stone said.
The man nodded. “Sure is. I’m Luke Wade.” They shook hands.
“Looks pretty popular,” I said, eyeing a tableful of kids playing some sort of card game.
Luke smiled. “I hope it is. It’s a place for kids to get off the street and stay out of trouble. It’s working pretty good so far.”
Stone studied him. “That’s a good cause.”
Luke pulled a couple of glasses from the rack, iced them up and shot in a few splashes of Coke. He slid them over to us. “It’s a cause that’s close to me. I was a troubled youth. If I’d had a place like this to go to, one where folks looked out for each other, my path would’ve been a lot different.”
“But then you might not’ve opened this club,” I said.
Luke’s gaze flashed to me. “Everything happens for a reason, right?”
I nodded. “Most times it does.”
“Drinks are on me,” Luke said. “What can I do for you two? I gather this isn’t a social visit to see if you want to join the hangout.”
“We’re looking for someone,” Stone said.
Luke swiped a rag down the slick top. “Oh? Who is it?”
I pulled a picture of Charlotte from my purse. “This girl. You recognize her?”
He took the picture and studied it. His shoulders tensed, and his mouth pressed to a thin line. “Sure,” he said casually. “Charlie usually comes by a few times a week.”
I exchanged a glance with Stone. “Have you seen her lately?”
“Not since a few days a
go.”
“Did anything seem off about her when you saw her? Anything strange?”
Luke shook his head. “No.”
“Was she hanging out with any guys? Did she have a boyfriend that you knew of?”
“No,” he said quickly. “Not that I can think of.”
“Would you know if she did?”
Luke shrugged shoulders that I’m pretty sure he worked out three times a week. With his dark eyes, muscular physique and lopsided smile, it was easy to see why girls hung out here, and if pretty girls gathered, then you can bet your tush that guys would be fistfighting to get in.
“I’m pretty friendly with most of the kids. Know them by name, and most of them know each other. Feel free to ask around. Plenty of kids know Charlie.”
“Thanks,” I said. “If we have any more questions, can we reach out to you?”
Luke retrieved his wallet and handed me a business card. “Call anytime. If I think of something I can remember, where can I call you?”
Crap. It had been forever and a day since I’d handed out business cards. Dex always made sure that sort of administrative stuff was taken care of. Since I didn’t have any, I did the next best thing—I fished a pen from my purse, grabbed Luke’s hand and wrote my number on the flesh under his thumb.
I smiled at him. “You can reach me there.”
Luke glanced down at the number. “I’ll try not to wash it off.”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling. I tossed my curls over my shoulder. Stone and I walked off.
“Trying to get a date,” the angel said.
I shook my head. “No, but I want him to remember to call us if he thinks of anything. Though I doubt he will.”
Stone nodded. “He knew the girl.”
“Knew her a little too well, if you ask me. Did you see his reaction at the picture?”
Stone glanced over his shoulder. “Caught it. He’s hiding something, but I still don’t think he’ll forget you for a while.”
“Don’t be jealous,” I said. “Angels don’t have human emotions.” I had no idea if that was true; it simply sounded good.
He nudged me playfully with his elbow. “We have a lot of emotions. More than you can guess.”
“Want to try me?”
“You got all night?”
I clicked my tongue. “No. I’m a mom.”
He laughed into his fist. “Come on. Let’s see if any of these kids know Charlie.”
The door to the club opened. I froze, clutching Stone’s sleeve. “Him.”
“Who?” he said, gazing around the room.
“That guy. The one who just walked in.”
His gaze narrowed. “What about him?”
“He took over the janitor’s job. Has a vampire fetish—both he and Justin did, according to that kid.”
Stone pulled my hand from his arm. “Let’s talk to him.”
Stevie Cartman sat at a table by himself. He hoisted a skateboard from the floor and laid it on a chair beside him.
“Hey, Stevie,” I said. “How ya doing?”
He brushed a slash of dark hair from his eyes. “Hey, Miss Lady. I didn’t know you hung out here.”
“This is my friend Stone,” I said.
Stevie leaned back. “Whoa. Man, are you built like one or what?”
I suppressed a laugh. “Stevie, I was wondering if you knew a girl named Charlotte? Here’s her picture.”
He barely looked at the photo. “Yeah, I know Charlie. Dude, you seen her?”
I shook my head. “No, I haven’t seen her. Have you?”
Stevie picked at the dirt circling his fingernail. “Not since last week. We were pretty tight. Well, dude, I mean as tight as you can get without dating somebody. But we talked all the time; that’s what I mean.”
I shot Stone a look. “Stevie, Charlie hasn’t been home for a few days. Her dad’s really worried. Was she dating anybody that you know of?”
Stevie bit down on a hangnail and spit out a chunk of flesh. “Yeah, she was.”
“Who?” I said.
The teenager shook his head. “Charlie wouldn’t tell anyone. Apparently she had some hot guy she was dating, was spouting off about it, but wouldn’t say who it was.”
My heart sank. That didn’t help me. “If you think of anything else, let me know,” I said. “You know where to find me.”
Stevie waved us good-bye. “Sure thing, Mrs. T.”
“Mrs. T?” Stone said when we got out onto the street.
“No clue where that came from,” I said. “You like it?”
Stone laughed. “It’s great. Makes you sound like the bride of Mr. T., the wrestler from the eighties.”
“I pity the fool who thinks that,” I said.
Stone smiled. “So you know him.”
“I’ve seen some reruns of the A-Team.”
Stone started to open my door but paused. His gaze flickered behind me.
“What?” I said.
He nodded. “Turn around.”
I did as he said. “What is it?”
“Look up at the second story of that red building.”
My gaze slowly raked the building. Hovering two stories up floated the spirit of a woman. She reached toward the glass and pressed her face to the window.
“Holy crap,” I said. “What is going on?”
Stone sighed. He shook his head. “Why didn’t I think about this before?”
“What?” I said.
“The veil. When Star fell, her descent caused a magical vortex, right?”
“Right.”
He stared at me. “She also tore the veil. The barrier that separates our world from the spirit world.”
“No,” I said, realizing what he meant. “Things can get out.”
“Right,” he said, his voice grim. “And all of hell’s creatures are set to let loose in Normal.”
Oh crap.
THIRTEEN
“Sometimes you have to admit when you need help.”
—The Witch’s Handbook
* * *
“Do you know how to repair the tear?” I said.
Stone had peeled out of the parking spot. I was pretty sure if I’d been standing beside the car when it rocketed away, I would’ve smelled not only burnt rubber but also charred asphalt. As if that were possible.
I mean, I guess it could’ve been.
Stone shook his head. “No, I don’t know how to repair it.”
“Didn’t you fall from heaven?” I said.
He threw me a dark look.
“Sorry,” I said.
“That was different,” he mumbled. “I was already here when things went sour between me and everything celestial.”
“We need to check out the crash site. See if there’s a rip or a hole or pit or whatever.”
“I’m on it,” Stone said. He raced down Main Street, heading out of town.
“Don’t go too fast; there are cops around here,” I said.
“They haven’t met my Jedi mind trick,” Stone said.
I rolled my eyes. “What’s that?”
“The power of persuasion,” he murmured.
“I’m skeptical.”
His gaze slid toward me. A tendril of bang hung in his eyes. He pushed it away. “You wouldn’t say that if you’d experienced it.”
I gripped the edge of the seat as he cornered a turn at a speed that shoved my heart into my throat. “What were we talking about? Staying alive tonight and not crashing?”
He chuckled. “Sorry. Told you I drive fast.”
“As you’ve said. I just don’t have a death wish. Kid at the house and all.”
He relaxed off the accelerator. “Right.”
We slowed to a normal speed, and I eased up on the leather.
It didn’t take long to reach the crash site. Yellow DO NOT CROSS police tape marked the area. The place itself was off the main road, in the middle of a small soybean field surrounded by trees. It was an annex crop off a farm. The main acreage lay beyond
the tree line, with this smaller area looking more like a garden than anything that offered a real livelihood.
“I came out here when it first happened to see if I could get Star,” Stone said. “But she was gone.”
“That’s what Vordrid did, too,” I said.
The car drifted to the side of the road, and Stone killed the engine. “Let’s go.”
I opened the door and shimmied out of the seat. I don’t know what the heck the clutches of that bucket were made of, but it basically never wanted you to leave. I had to use exertion mixed with a good old pull on the lip of the door just to get out.
“Whew,” I said when my feet hit dirt. “I made it.”
Stone quirked a brow at me.
I brushed my jacket. “Never mind.”
I planted my booted feet firmly on the uneven ground and smiled. It had been a while since my heels had hit anything other than man-made terrain, and the unevenness made me smile. This was the sort of thing I lived for.
The site itself was exactly as Vordrid had described. The hole clearly was shaped somewhat like a human. Piles of dirt on three sides delineated the form.
“So if there’s a rip, where would it be?” I said, stalking around the crater.
“Right here,” Stone said.
He stood at the edge of the tree line. I crossed to him quickly, my heart jackhammering against my ribs. He pointed to a strip of land beyond the boundary.
A green light erupted from a tear in the ground. Steam rose, curling as it drifted into the sky.
“Think we can pile some dirt on top and that’ll fix it?” I said.
“I doubt it,” he said.
“Too bad,” I mumbled.
As we watched, the head of a spirit burst from the seam. I jumped back in surprise. Stone gripped my arm, steadying me.
The spirit blinked at us with black eyes. It stared at us for a minute, as if trying to figure out what we were; then it zipped up and away, pointing directly toward town.
“What else is in there?” I said.
“You don’t want to know,” Stone replied.
I crossed my arms. “Yes, I do. I need to know what we’re up against.”
“Demons, mainly. Good thing is, it’s not a very large tear.”
