Detached

by Elicia Hyder

“Nah. I don’t have enough faith in the experiment to require assistance.” He spun around to face me, then pulled me forward onto his lap. “I like you being here.”

  “I like being here too.” I kissed the tip of his nose. “What happens when we go back to work?”

  “We lie our asses off,” he said with a laugh.

  I squeezed his hips between my thighs. “Seriously.”

  “Seriously, we play it cool for a while. I’ll get the ball rolling with the city. Hopefully, by then, all the shit swirling around Sapphire Lake will have died down, and I can transition smoothly over.”

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” I rested my forehead against his.

  “I’m sure I want you. I’ve been certain of that for a long time.”

  I kissed him. After a hot second, he came up for air. “If you want a shower, that’s not the way to get there.”

  I licked my lips. “But you taste like frosting.”

  With a smile, he pulled my hips against his. “Yeah, screw the paint. I’ll deal with the red.”

  It was another hour before I made it to the shower and Essex made it back to the paint thinner. I was lathering my hair with men’s shampoo when I heard him swearing in the bedroom.

  “No luck?” I called out.

  He replied, but over the noise of the water, I couldn’t understand him.

  “What?” I yelled.

  The door creaked open. “It’s hopeless. I might as well—”

  “Might as well what?” I peeked around the blue-striped shower curtain to see him frozen in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

  He was staring at the mirror over the double sinks. In the fog on the glass was a message.

  Nyx, meet me at home. — Orion

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Well, this isn’t how I wanted to spend today,” Essex said, standing beside the open driver’s door to my Jeep. He’d dressed in a loose plaid button-up over a white tee and jeans.

  I slipped on my sunglasses. “I know. Me neither, but I knew all this shit wouldn’t wait for long.”

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “What’s it like when you’re detached?”

  “It’s a lot like being here. I mean, it’s exactly like being here because I am here. I’m just invisible to all you mere mortals.”

  I was trying to make light, but Essex didn’t crack a smile. “So you’d be able to see me standing right here?”

  “Sure. Why?”

  “That Orion guy . . .” He looked toward the street.

  I leaned against my door. “I don’t think he’s a Peeping Tom, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

  “You were in the shower. The writing was on the mirror. Where else could he have been?”

  “He promised me he wouldn’t do creepy shit.”

  “And I’ll bet you promised your doctor you’d take it easy.”

  I linked my fingers behind his neck. “Don’t worry. What are you going to do today without me?”

  He looked at his watch. “Since it’s almost five, meeting with the DA will have to wait. I’ll probably still see Teek. Maybe take him some comic books or something.”

  “You’re a saint, you know that?”

  He pulled my hips against his. “That’s not what you thought last night.”

  “No, it’s not.” I kissed him, letting my tongue slowly drag across his.

  He pulled back. “Do you want me to take you back inside?”

  “Yes, but there’s no time. Can you do me a favor today?”

  “Sure.”

  “Can you dig into Kush? Orion and I need to know all the places we should look for that poppy.”

  “Yeah, I can do that.”

  “Thanks. Are you working tonight?”

  “For the city? No. For you?” He dropped his head back. “God, I hope so.”

  “Should I come back over when I’m finished?”

  A deep growl rumbled in his throat. “I’d hate to have to be quiet for your roommate.”

  I bit my lower lip. “I’ll come running when I’m done.”

  “If you beat me back, you can use the code to get in.”

  My head snapped back. “Really? You trust me with it now?”

  Smiling, he looked away. “I guess you could say that.”

  I was confused. “Why?”

  “The code is zero-five-two-nine.”

  “Zero-five-two-nine,” I repeated. My eyes narrowed. Those numbers sounded familiar. I had to say them again before the lightbulb clicked on. “Oh.”

  His cheeks flushed. “Yeah.”

  I didn’t have to ask why he’d hidden it before. “My birthday.”

  “Pretty cheesy, huh?”

  “Not at all.” It told me more about where we stood than anything words could articulate.

  I kissed him again, threading my fingers through the soft hair at the back of his neck. It was a gentle kiss, deeper in so many more ways than any I’d ever tasted before.

  This time, when he broke the kiss, his face sweetly nuzzled mine. “You’d better go,” he whispered.

  I took a difficult step back, my heart straining to stay with all the pull of a magnetic forcefield. “There’s not much daylight left, so my phone will be silenced for a little while. I’ll call you when I wake up.”

  “Oh, right. You’ll be asleep.”

  “Yes,” I said, bracing to hear something like, “That’s so weird.”

  “Then sleep well.”

  I smiled. “Thanks. Bye, Essex.”

  “Nyx?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Call me Tyler.”

  At home, I parked behind Bess’s car, as it was blocking my garage. I opened the door quietly, hoping to sneak in unseen and unheard. There was no time to get chatty with Bess if Orion was waiting with news.

  The hallway was clear when I tiptoed inside. Her bedroom door was open, and the light was on. I crept quietly to my room and locked my door behind me. “Give me five minutes to change,” I said quietly to Orion, if he was there listening.

  In the bathroom, I changed into a pair of stretchy shorts and a black sports bra. I flopped onto my bed, settled back against the pillows, and crossed my ankles. “All right, let’s do this.”

  Nothing happened.

  “Orion?”

  Nothing.

  “Damn it,” I muttered.

  Conventional sleep was going to be impossible. With a frustrated groan, I got up and went to the kitchen. Once upon a time, when I’d first moved to night shift, I’d bought a box of chamomile tea. I opened and closed all the kitchen cabinets, looking for it to no avail.

  Instead, I found a bottle of ibuprofen “PM” in the medicine cabinet. I pulled it down. “Hey, Bess?” I called down the hallway.

  “Nyx? I didn’t hear you come in.”

  I carried the bottle down the hallway. “Mind if I take a couple of these?” I asked when I reached her door.

  She was behind her computer, wearing a pair of glasses I didn’t know she had. “Not at all. You feeling OK?”

  “Just a bit of a headache.” Which wasn’t a lie. My head hadn’t been one hundred percent since the accident. “I’m all right though.”

  “Is PM stuff OK to take with a head injury?”

  “I’m sure it’s not half as strong as the prescription I didn’t fill.”

  She smiled. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Thanks.” I poured two into my hand and swallowed them without water.

  She looked down at my lack of real clothes, and her brow rose. “How long have you been home?”

  “A few minutes.”

  “Did you work last night?”

  “For a while, until I got into a fight with a suspect and wound up in the ER again.”

  “Are you OK?” she asked, alarmed.

  “Had to have some staples replaced, but I’m fine. I’ll be out of work for a while.” I gestured toward the computer. “What are you doing?”

&nbs
p; Looking up at me, she pressed her lips together. Guilt was all over her face.

  “Bess?”

  “I don’t want to tell you.”

  I crossed my arms. “Now you have to tell me. It’d better not be anything illegal.”

  “It’s not. Well, I guess technically . . .” Her head leaned from side to side.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I hacked into my ex-boyfriend’s server, and I’m erasing all the shit off his computer that I paid for.” She pointed at her wide computer screen, inviting me to look for myself.

  I laughed and walked around behind her. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Movies and games and stuff. He’s going to be pissed when he realizes World of Warcraft is gone.” On the screen, files were moving into the trash can. “I warned him to change the billing credit cards, or else.”

  “That’s hilarious.”

  Her computer setup was impressive. The computer’s brain—beats the shit out of me what it was really called—was encased in clear glass, with swirling colorful lights inside. “You’re really good at this stuff, aren’t you?”

  She shrugged. “I’m all right.”

  “So why are you bartending?”

  “It wasn’t my first choice, but no one in Sapphire Lake or Reno is hiring in computers without a degree. Someday, I’ll finish mine, but that takes money I don’t have, so bartending is paying the bills for now.”

  “Have you had any more trouble with your boss?”

  She laughed. “Oh, hell no. I think he’s actually afraid of me because of you.”

  “Have you talked to Harlan yet?”

  She beamed proudly. “I have a meeting with him Monday.”

  “Good for you.”

  Turning toward me, she put her hands in her lap. “I really don’t know how I’ll ever repay your kindness, Nyx.”

  “You saved my life. We’re even.”

  “No, we’re not. If I can ever do anything for you, please ask.”

  “Actually, I could use some computer expertise with something.”

  “Anything,” she said.

  “Can you dig up some information on someone for me?”

  “Oh, absolutely. Who?”

  “Chief Joseph Magnus.”

  “Your chief?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sure. What do you want to know?”

  “Whatever you can find out about his career before he took the job here. Specifically, if there’s anything to do with a man named Elias Nyx.”

  “Your father?”

  I nodded. “The chief told me they met a few times. I want to know if there are any records of their talks.”

  “Anything else?”

  “I’m trying to decide how much I want to trust the chief. Anything interesting on him would be helpful.”

  She held up both thumbs. “You’ve got it. Can you give me a few hours?”

  “Yeah. I’m going to sleep for a while.”

  “OK. Hey, if you weren’t at work, where have you been all night and all day?”

  I looked away.

  She gasped. “Oh my god, you’ve been with your boss.”

  I tried to stifle a grin and failed.

  “You slept with him!”

  “Maybe.”

  With a quiet squeal, she clapped her hands. “I’m so proud of you. How was it?”

  “Amazing” slipped out before I could remember I’m not the kind of girl who gushes to friends after sex. Not that there had been any sex to gush about in a really, really long time. Or friends to gush to, for that matter.

  She laughed and drumrolled her feet under the desk. “I love it. What are you going to do about work?”

  That was a damn good question. “I don’t know yet. He’s thinking of leaving the department, but for now, I guess we’ll try to keep it quiet.”

  “Are you happy?”

  I smiled. “I am.”

  “Of course you are. I barely know both of you and can’t believe it’s taken so long. Why is that?”

  I lifted a shoulder. “Work, mostly. And when we first met, I’d just gotten out of a relationship.”

  Understatement.

  She grimaced. “I have a confession. I googled you before I moved in.”

  “Ah, so you already know.” Strangely, I felt relieved there wouldn’t be more questions. And, in a way, that she just knew. It was almost like having a friend.

  “Yeah. I’m really sorry about what happened to you.”

  “Thanks. It was a long time ago,” I said, because what else does one say to that?

  “He’s the guy on the fridge?”

  I nodded.

  “He was hot.”

  “Yes, he was. And he was kind.” I took a deep breath and smiled.

  “Well, get some sleep, and I’ll get to work,” she said. “And no singing today, I promise.”

  I laughed. “I’d appreciate that. Are you working tonight?”

  “Only on your stuff. I’m off from the Drexler.”

  “OK.” The hallway light flickered. “I’ll see you when I wake up.”

  “I hope your head feels better.”

  “Thanks,” I said and hurried to my room.

  “Have fun last night?” Orion had a teasing smile when I opened my eyes in the Boundary.

  “I did.” I pointed at him. “This had better be good because you’re becoming a bit of a cosmic cockblocker.”

  “I promise I won’t ever leave a note on a bathroom mirror if it isn’t urgent.”

  “And no watching me in the shower.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Sure. You have a power that every man on Earth, and probably beyond, dreams of.”

  “True, but I have two daughters your age.”

  Thankfully, I was lying down. Orion looked the same age as me.

  “Really?”

  “Really. So you can stop worrying if I’ll respect your privacy. I won’t treat any woman any differently than I would treat them . . .” The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Without permission anyway.”

  I smiled and nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Apology accepted. I can’t imagine the shit you must put up with as a cop.”

  I smiled. “When I do, I don’t have to put up with it for long.”

  We both chuckled.

  Using a glove, he picked up my go bag and plunked it down on the bed. “Get dressed.” He leaned toward me and grinned. “I’ll turn around.”

  “Smart ass.” I dressed quickly with my back to him. “About this shirt.” I turned around. “Where’s the rest of it?”

  Orion glanced back over his shoulder. “It’s practical. Imera is always bright and warm.”

  “But northwest Nevada isn’t. I’m really tempted to revisit that accusation of you being a typical man.”

  He shrugged. “Looks like you’re headed to the gym.”

  “It looks like I’m about to raid some tombs.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what that means.”

  Of course he didn’t.

  “Never mind.” I sat down to put on my shoes. “Why’d you come find me?”

  “I might have something.”

  My brow rose.

  “I did some nosing around today and found out Kush, formerly your John Doe, has some friends in the illegal horticulture trade.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me. Where?”

  He looked at something written on his hand. “South Rock Road, Carson City.”

  “Have you checked it out yet?”

  “I thought I’d see if you wanted to go with me.”

  “Yeah, of course.” I looked around to make sure I had everything. The dagger was still on my calf. The oneiryte vial and light crystal were around my neck. Leaving the flash drive behind, I stuffed the ergane glove into my pocket.

  My doorbell rang.

  “Who’s here?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?”

&nbs
p; I walked past him toward the door. “I’m sorry. X-ray vision wasn’t part of my superpowers package.”

  He stood beside me to listen. I could hear Bess’s footsteps down the hall. There was more than one person outside. They were arguing.

  The door opened. “Hello, can I help you?” Bess asked. “Oh, hi, Ransom.”

  “My brother,” I whispered.

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “If you’d stop asking questions, we might find out.”

  “Hey, Bess.”

  “Bess?” a shrill female asked. “I don’t know any Bess.”

  “I told you Nyx has a roommate now. I’m sorry to barge in, Bess. Is my sister here?”

  “She is, but she’s sleeping. Need me to get her?”

  “Yes, dear. You’re adorable, but we didn’t come to see you,” the woman replied, the click-clack of her heels indicating that she’d entered the condo.

  My heart plummeted to the floor. “Oh god.”

  “Who is it?” Orion asked.

  “My mother.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Like Gran, Mal—whatever the hell her last name was these days—had a slender face, a long nose, and hair so black it refused to turn gray. Unlike Gran, she had a boob job, lip fillers, and a cold, dead heart.

  She wore a skin-tight black dress—her mourning attire, I was sure—with silver jewelry and heels that made her as tall as my brother. Her eyelids were painted a shimmering gold, and her bony cheeks had been contorted with the precision of a set square. On her shoulder was her purse, and in her hand a set of car keys and a giant pair of sunglasses.

  “Saphera.” My name in her hateful mouth made my skin ripple with goose bumps.

  “Mal.” I closed my bedroom door behind me. “To what do I owe this horror?”

  “I’m sorry,” my brother mouthed over her shoulder.

  Mal was visually inventorying my condo. “Nice place you have here, Saphera. I didn’t know you’d moved from your last shithole.”

  I glared at Ransom. “Thanks for giving me up.”

  “I tried to call and warn you.”

  Bess was still lingering awkwardly in the hallway, clearly unsure of whether to stay, go, or maybe call the police or an exorcist.

  Mal noticed. “You can go now, roommate. This is family business.”