Frost & Bothered (3 page)

“Does being a PI pay much?”

Rude much? I tried for neutral. “Pays enough.”

“I’m wondering because they’re always poor in books and movies. I’m going to be a film maker,” she said, her tone turning lofty. “I’m going to do all the important stuff on my movies. Writing, direction,” she waved her hand. “I’ll be famous someday.”

“Fame’s overrated.” I was still worrying about my name being leaked to the press. The bodies we’d found during the case we’d worked for the vampire lord, Derrick, were still popular news fodder.

Lacey frowned as she glanced at me. “Don’t be silly. Everyone dreams of being rich and famous.”

Yeah, and eventually, they grew out of it. I didn’t want any part of it, having enough headaches to deal with. Not in the mood to argue with her, I looked across the street as we paused at the curb. “O’Banion’s awaits.”

The three of us sloshed across the street road and into the place, which proved to be a sports bar. The tables were tall, and so were the chairs. Everything was made of metal and looked spindly. People perched on the chairs like overgrown bugs. A huge, flat-screen TV dominated one end of the rectangular space.

“Over there.” Lacey pointed to a table halfway between the entrance and TV. “That’s Jake and Marty.”

“Okay. Thanks for your help.” I headed toward the two guys, hoping my polite dismissal was enough. Once there, I introduced myself. “Hi, I’m Cordi Jones.”

“She’s a private detective,” Lacey chimed in, slipping around to stand beside me.

“Yeah, and I’m looking...”

“For Rico. His mom’s freaking out because he didn’t make it home last night.

I looked at her. “Thank you. I’ll take it from here, if you don’t mind.”

“I don’t. Go ahead.”

“She doesn’t know how to take a hint,” one of the guys said. “That’s why we call her ‘Lacey the Leech’.”

Wow, rude. I had an instant where I didn’t know how to respond, because they might have useful information, but pissing them off wouldn’t result in getting it from them.

Fortunately, Soames decided to step in. “That was pretty damn rude.”

“So?”

My partner smiled, his eyes turning a clear gold, and spoke in a silky growl that reminded me of the one time I’d badly aggravated Logan. “So, I think maybe you should apologize to Lacey.”

Both guys went stiff, and the one who’d called her “the Leech” swallowed hard enough for us to hear. “Sorry, Lacey.”

She smirked, but I really couldn’t blame her. My partner was still smiling. “Thank you. Now, I believe my friend has a couple of questions for you.”

Just like that, I had their undivided attention. “When’s the last time you saw Rico?”

“Last night, at the club.”

“That’s Jake,” Lacy said. “Marty’s the rude one.”

I nodded. “Which club?”

“Dreamland. It’s new, and pretty cool. Lots of hot waitresses.” Jake’s gaze flicked toward Soames. “And, uh, it’s kind of the in place right now.”

“Was he with someone?”

“Rico danced with a couple of girls, but I don’t think he was hooking up with anyone. I’m not sure when he left. He didn’t tell anyone he was leaving, but that happens.”

“Okay, where is this club?” Jake gave me the address. “Great. You’ve all been really helpful. Thank you.”

We managed to beat Lacey out the door, and once on the sidewalk, discovered snow falling again. “Crap. Rush hour’s gonna be a bitch.”

“And your car’s on the other side of the campus.”

“That’s not a problem.” I held out my hand, and Soames took hold with a laugh.

“You are such a wuss about the cold.”

“Quit picking on me.” I teleported us to my car. He released my hand and walked around to the passenger side. I dug out my keys, but turned my head just as a dark figure leaped out from behind the two-feet-tall bushes on the other side of the sidewalk that lined the parking lot.

A quick grab of TK, and the guy hung in mid-air. With more leisure, I realized it was Nick’s older brother, Patrick. “No fair, Psychic Girl.”

“Dude, you have about three seconds to explain what the hell you thought you were doing before I stick you on top of the flag pole.”

“I was leaving class, and saw your car. Thought it was a golden opportunity to put an end to Nick’s moping.”

Soames leaned on the roof of my car and snorted. “By mugging Discord?”

Patrick rolled his eyes. “No, I was going to kidnap her.”

“Okay, yeah. Flag pole topper is so a part of your immediate future. Because seriously, kidnapping me?”

“Well, yeah. The plan was, I kidnap you, take you home, and then Nick and you have a nice talk. You get back together, and no more mopey little brother.” Patrick grinned. “Good plan, right?”

“You’re an idiot,” Soames said. “I’m voting flag pole too.”

“Oh, come on.” Patrick kicked his legs. “Can I get down now?”

“Why should I let you down? You’re planning to kidnap me.”

“Not for nefarious purposes. For a good cause. Big difference.”

I sighed and lowered him to the ground. “Nick and I aren’t getting back together. Your good cause is a lost one.”

Patrick shoved his hands into his pockets. “He loves you.”

Not sure how to respond to that, I simply nodded.

“Won’t you please give him another chance?”

Soames groaned. “This is the problem with wolves: The men don’t know how to deal with rejection.”

“Oh, and you pussy,” Patrick paused to smile. “Cats do?”

My partner smiled back, showing plenty of teeth. “Most of us do, because we’re taught that women are people too.”

“I know women are people.”

“Too bad your dad doesn’t,” I muttered.

“Dad’s old-fashioned.” Patrick flapped his hand. “Come on, Psychic Girl. Nick’s heart is broken. He’s suffering.”

As though I didn’t have enough guilt weighing me down lately. I had to work to keep my voice pleasant. “Look, it’s great to find out you really care about your brother, but you’d help him more by convincing him to find someone who wants the same kind of life he does. I’m really sorry he’s having a hard time right now, but dude, I’m not responsible for anyone’s happiness but my own.”

Patrick’s face crumpled into a frown. “You don’t love him.”

“No.”

“Then why were you looking at houses together?”

I managed to keep from sighing. “I was looking for a house for me. It would’ve been rude not to include Nick because we were dating then.”

“Oh. So you’re definitely not going to go with me to talk to him?”

“Definitely not.” What good would it do to see Nick and possibly explain exactly why I’d gotten together with him in the first place? None. The only results would be more hurt.

“What if I got on my knees and begged?”

Amusing as the idea was, I shook my head. “Not even then.”

Patrick sighed. “I tried.”

“Yes, you did.” I had to fight a smile, because funny as it was, his “try” had included attempted kidnapping, and then laying a big, old guilt trip on me. Heart in the right place or not, both were jerk moves.

“All right.” Patrick pulled his hands free of his pockets and squared his shoulders. “Please accept my apologies for bothering you.”

I studied his face for a second before saying, “Apology accepted.”

“Thank you.” He inclined his head to first me then Soames. “You two have a good evening.”

“Thanks. You too.” We watched him turn and walk away. I looked over at Soames, who shrugged. “Might be just me, but he seemed less douche baggy than usual right then.”

“If you say so.”

I unlocked the door. “I did. Must be running a fever.”

Opening the passenger door, Soames laughed before dropping out of sight to take a seat. I followed suit after a final glance in the direction Patrick had taken, and started my car.

A
layer of ice had formed on the windshield, and I switched to defrost. In doing so, I glanced in the rearview mirror to find Ginger had returned. She crouched in the cargo area, her face lurking between the front seats. Her eyes were red.

Determined to ignore her, I cast about for a conversation starter. “Why do you still call me Discord, instead of Cordi?”

“Habit, I guess. That’s how Logan introduced you to us.”

“Well, we’re partners, friends, and clan now. You can call me Cordi.”

“Okay. Should I mention you prefer that to the others?”

“Sure. Would it be weird if I called you Dane?”

He chuckled. “A little, since only my parents call me that anymore, but it’s cool.”

“Awesome.” I turned the windshield wipers on, clearing away bits of melting ice. They skated over a good portion of it, but I left them on. “I’ve been wondering. Do you think of yourself as a tiger, a human, or...?”

Soames, I mean, Dane, shrugged. “A person. We’re just people who happen to have two shapes we can switch between.”

Had that been rude to ask? He didn’t look offended. “Sorry. I’m being too nosy.”

“Nah, you’re just trying to figure us out, and that’s fine.” He scratched his chin. “What’s our next stop?”

“It’s Friday night and we have a club to check out. Next stop is Mom’s. I’ll change and then we’ll go to your place so you can do the same.” The wipers and defroster had done their job, clearing the last of the ice.

“Sounds like a plan.”

I glanced in the rearview to discover Ginger was gone once more.

E
ven though the trip was business-related, I decided to dress up for the occasion because I hadn’t been to a club in ages. Thanks to some advice from Sal, my fairy godfather—heavy emphasis on the “god” part—I’d learned to build a better mental shield. It cut way down on the energy drain of keeping other people’s thoughts muted.

Telepathy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

When I returned to the living room where Dane waited, he whistled. I sucked in my cheeks, put my hands on my hips, and did a catwalk turn with my head high, to show off the clingy black and green dress. Long-sleeved and low-backed, its hemline ended just above my knees. It was made to go clubbing in. I’d chosen a pair of black pumps with two-inch heels.

“You’re really going to freeze in that.”

“I’m going to wear a coat.” Actually, I kind of needed his opinion on the one I had in mind. “Be right back.”

Back in my room, I pulled out the second of my thrift store finds. Mom’s eyes had bulged when I’d first shown it to her, until she’d realized it was fake fur. Slipping it on, I hurried back to the living room, watching Dane’s face when he saw me.

“Terra’s going to want one,” was the first thing he said. I relaxed. “Where’d you get it?”

I stroked the soft lapel. “Thrift store. Isn’t it cool?”

The coat was white tiger skin. The interior was lined with black Sherpa, adding weight to the outer, acrylic shell. I’d locked and targeted on it the second I’d spotted it, and held my breath while trying it on. The coat was fitted to the waist, with a full skirt, and it had buttons up top, but tied at the waist.

“Very cool,” Dane assured me. “But be prepared for Danielle to hate it.”

I hesitated, my fingers on the buttons. She already didn’t like me very much. According to Alanna, Danielle had her eye on Logan, and our few interactions definitely supported that theory. Danielle didn’t like that he and I were friends, and she was probably going to completely flip her lid when we did go on that future dinner date. “Maybe I should I wear a different coat.”

He grunted. “I wouldn’t change.”

I stroked the coat’s skirt, trying to decide. There hadn’t been a chance to wear it before now, and I really wanted to. “Are you sure Terra won’t be offended or something?”

“I’m sure she’ll love it, and it looks great on you. Come on, I have to have time to clean up, too.”

That was persuasion enough. “Okay.”