by Linda Wisdom
“A double date? With Nick? It’s not as if he isn’t housebroken and hasn’t gone insane and bitten someone in centuries, but he’s still not someone most humans want to party with,” she reminded him.
His lips tightened. “Look, I thought it might be fun for all of us to go out. Do you want to do it or not?”
“Sure, it could be fun.” But her suspicion level still hovered in the high digits. “So who’s the lady?”
“Someone new.” He still refused to look at her.
“How new?”
“Just new. What is this? An inquisition? Damn it, Jazz! You just turned my house into a noxious dump and now you want to play good cop/bad cop all by yourself? Give me a break here!”
Defensive. This was very much a new thing with him, so she must be special in his eyes. Now she was even more curious to meet the mystery woman. “Uh, no, I was just curious. We women are like that.”
He took a deep breath. “Sorry. It’s just that…” he shook his head. “Let me know what Nick says. Don’t worry; I know he can’t eat.” He wrinkled his nose. “I’m going out to pick up a couple, or ten, cases of the strongest air fresheners I can find.”
A few moments later, Jazz heard the growled rumble of Krebs’ Porsche rolling down the driveway.
“If she had called you on the house phone I could check Caller ID,” she muttered, heading for the phone and tapping out numbers. “There are days I really hate having a high moral compass.”
“I’m sure there are more than a few who would disagree with that statement.”
She smiled at the sound of Nick’s voice warm in her ear. “I was hoping you were awake.”
“I’m writing up a report for a client. What’s going on?”
“It seems Krebs has a new woman in his life and he asked if we wanted to double date this Thursday night. It should prove interesting. Witch, vampire, two mortals. We’d be a well-diversified group. What do you think? Nick?” she asked when she didn’t hear anything.
“What did he tell you about her?”
“Just that he wanted to make it a foursome. Why?”
“Nothing. Just curious, I guess. Thursday is fine.”
“He left to run an errand, so I’ll let you know the time as soon as I find out.” She paused. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine; I’ve just been busy. I picked up a couple of new clients the other day.”
Jazz dropped to the floor by her bed and sat cross-legged leaning back against the black and white comforter. The question tripped off her tongue even as she dreaded asking it and dreaded even more the answer she feared she’d receive. “Were Esme and the girl ever found?”
“Yes.”
She so didn’t want to ask the all-important question that had to follow his reply, but that had never stopped her before. “It was Reinhold who found them, wasn’t it? And he destroyed them.”
“It’s Protectorate business.”
Let Nick think a cold and clipped voice would stop her from probing further, but she already had confirmation of what she knew deep down had happened. It still sent icy shivers through her body.
“I’ll be the first to admit that what Esme did was wrong but we’re talking about a child, Nick. It’s horrible that such innocence needed to be destroyed.”
“We’re talking about a child with the strength of five adults. A child who could have a temper tantrum and kill without a second thought.” His words bit into her flesh like tiny knives. “She was one of the undead, Jazz. Her soul was gone. She died when Esme turned her into a feral animal.”
She touched her stomach that felt queasy all of a sudden. “Oookay, I am really sorry I asked.”
“And I’m sorry I put it that way to you, but you’ve been around long enough to know it’s the way of our world. Not a pleasant one, but necessary.”
“Reinhold always enjoyed that part of your work,” she said quietly before she exhaled a deep breath. “So, on to a lighter topic. Thursday night. The four of us doing whatever couples on a double date do.”
“Haven’t you ever been on one?”
“No.” But she hesitated too long to sound believable.
“When and who with?”
Jazz winced at the steel coating his question. She was never so grateful she’d called Nick instead of going by his office. This was a conversation she didn’t want to have face to face. Come to think of it, this was a conversation she didn’t want to have at all.
“We were broken up at the time.” You decided the Protectorate was more important than me. A petty thought, yes, but even after two hundred years it was a grudge she held close to her heart.
“Which time?”
“It was a long time ago and you don’t know him.” She really should learn to keep her mouth shut! “Besides, I can’t imagine you were living like a monk during those times.” She winced as her internal gargoyle whomped her upside the head.
“We’re talking about you, Jazz,” Nick reminded her.
“And I don’t intend to go any further unless you’re willing to share. So let’s just let this lie for now and I’ll see you on Thursday.” She quickly disconnected the call. “Men! It’s all right if they tomcat around, but if you have one teensy weensy innocent date they act as if you had a rip-roaring affair.” She scowled at Fluff and Puff as they chattered their defense of Nick. “And those statements you two are making are proof you’re guys.” She wrinkled her nose at the stench that hadn’t left the room and seemed even worse when mixed with fresh air and baby powder scented air freshener. “Ugh! I need to do something about this.”
Before she could move a step the phone rang. “He better not be calling to demand the name of the guy I dated. A name I don’t even remember much less what the guy looked like,” she muttered, reaching for the receiver, “then he can think again. What now?”
“Jazz?”
She froze at the sound of the soft feminine voice. Definitely not Nick.
“Hello, Mindy.” Jazz wasn’t known for having a cautious nature, but this was one time she’d do her best to listen more than talk. “Don’t tell me. You managed to buy out Dweezil.” Oh yeah, there was that mouth again.
“I realize I’m not your favorite person,” Mindy said.
“Gee, ya think?” She almost bit down on her tongue. “Sorry. It hasn’t been a good day.”
“I’d like to explain something to you. I was angry with Dweezil. I asked him to make me a partner. I offered to buy in and the money could have gone a long ways to expand the service. Buy new vehicles and increase the garage space. Instead, he laughed and said no elf would do anything more than make him coffee.”
“That sounds like D, all right. So what do you want from me?”
“I know my father could have been a lot crueler to you the day you were at our office,” Mindy said. “And you would have had every right to be the same back to him, but you weren’t and I thank you for that. He’s…” she seemed to search for the right word, “difficult at times.”
“Fine, we were polite to each other. Why are you calling?” she asked.
“My father wants to drive Dweezil out of business. I just want to run my car service my way,” she said softly. “But my father feels you’ve been helping Dweezil more than you claim and that you were even before you came down to our offices.”
Jazz thought of the curse that almost blew up her car. “What is he doing?” She heard a muffled sound as if Mindy turned away from the phone.
“Someone’s coming, but you need to look to the past,” she whispered. “What is haunting you is from there.” She hung up.
“Wait a minute!” But Jazz yelled too late and Mindy was gone. She snarled at the receiver as if the inanimate object had been the harbinger of troubling news. Which, if she rationalized it right, it had. “Cryptic much? Look to the past. Gee, only 700 years to sift through.” When the phone rang again she fostered the hope that Mindy had a change of heart and was going to tell all to make it easier for Jazz.
>
“Are you up for a road trip?” Nick asked.
Jazz thought of the smelly house, her stilettos huddled in the closet because they hated the smell as much as the rest of them and Fluff and Puff weren’t too happy with the horrible odor either.
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
“Doesn’t anyone say good-bye anymore?” She tossed her phone down and ran for the bathroom. The good thing about having her magick back was that she could easily get ready in ten minutes.
***
“You going to tell me what died in your house?” Nick asked, as he steered his Wrangler toward the freeway on-ramp. He wore what Jazz called his scary, but incredibly sexy, vamp garb. A black silk button-down shirt, black leather pants, and his black leather duster along with black sunglasses finished the daunting look. “I haven’t smelled anything like that since London in the 1500s.”
“It was the result of a bounceback spell. I tried finding out who’s behind the nightmares and got a smelly house instead.” She sipped the mocha espresso Nick had thoughtfully brought her. Something she appreciated a lot more than flowers. Unless it was her favorite chocolates. They ran a very close second to anything loaded with caffeine.
“No wonder Krebs was carrying a case of air freshener into the house.”
“And Mindy called me. It seems it’s more her father who wants Dweezil driven out of business.”
“He doesn’t know Dweezil very well, does he? He prefers driving others out of business.”
“No kidding. But then she said something that makes me wonder just who all knows what’s going on with my nightmares. She said if I want to find out who’s behind what’s going on with me I need to look to the past.”
“That was her only hint?”
“I could have used a few more. Such as what decade or even what century, but she hung up before I could ask her any questions.”
“And it’s not as if you haven’t made your share of enemies over time.”
“Not enemies. Just people who didn’t agree with me.” She eyed the southbound lanes sign. “So where are we going?”
“How does Laguna sound?”
“Nice, but if you wanted a cloudy beach we could have stayed home.”
“Not if you’re looking for a sneaky Wereweasel named Willie.”
She sat up straight and turned toward him. “You found Willie? How did you find him?”
“Coby had put the word out and called me this morning that one of his people spied Willie in a Were club down in Laguna.” He made a quick zigzag around a slow moving sedan.
“Coby? I gave him my card. Why didn’t he call me?”
“Don’t pout,” he teased.
“It’s the witch thing. He trusts a vampire more than a witch. And I’m not pouting. It’s my lip plumping lip gloss.” She quickly uncrossed her arms and settled her expression in something less…pouty.
Nick grinned, but he knew better than to say anything more.
“Coby better not get cursed anytime soon, because he won’t get any help from me,” she muttered returning to the comfort of her espresso. “And you will buy me lunch.”
“Shouldn’t you be the one buying me lunch since I’m the one taking you to Willie, which is your problem, not mine?”
Jazz shuddered at the idea of patronizing one of the underground cafés that offered an iron-rich menu alongside one more palatable to her taste buds.
“Take me out to lunch at a restaurant of my choice and I promise you a night you will never forget.” Her fingers danced along the length of his thigh until they reached the button fly. She smiled at the hardness that grew under her fingertips.
“Deal.”
She smiled at his prompt agreement. Men were so easy!
Normally, Jazz loved browsing through the many shops and art galleries in the funky beach town of Laguna Beach. But Nick abruptly turned up a steep road framed with small colorful bungalows set on either side of a street that was so narrow it could barely accommodate vehicles going in opposite directions. She twisted in her seat looking at the picture postcard view of the ocean behind them.
“He’s up here?”
“No, but I think I have a tail and if I do, I want to lose them before we reach our destination. And don’t turn around either.”
“Oh please, like I don’t know Super Spy 101.” She pulled down the visor then frowned. “No mirror?”
“You look fine and you look too obvious doing that anyway.” He made a quick turn up a twisty road that was even narrower than the one they had been on.
Jazz rested her head against the headrest and glanced toward the side view mirror.
“Why do they always drive those huge SUVs with heavily tinted windows? Talk about obvious.” The answer hit her as soon as she finished her question. “Since there’s no reason for government authorities to be after us, it’s got to be vampires. Why are they following us? Or are they following you? Okay, this just isn’t acceptable. Show to me what I cannot see. Show to me who these people be. Because I said so, damn it!” She flicked her fingers over her shoulder. A shower of dark purple sparks traveled through the air until it hit the black SUV behind them. At the same time the windshield momentarily cleared showing her the driver. “Ugh! It’s Reinhold.”
“I thought so. He prides himself on never losing someone he’s tailing,” Nick said grimly.
“Yeah, well, his perfect record is about to be marred.” Jazz bared her teeth. She closed her eyes to better concentrate. “Big bad vamp about to get his due. Big bad vamp won’t have a clue. Big bad vamp up for something dire. Big bad vamp has four flat tires. Because I said so, damn it!” This time she turned around and pushed her power toward the vehicle behind them. The moment the power hit the SUV all four tires deflated and it shuddered to a stop. She squealed with glee and clapped her hands. “I am so good.”
Nick chuckled as he sped up, making several turns before he headed back down to the Pacific Coast Highway.
“So do you guys have your own version of Triple A?”
“They’ll be here soon and Reinhold will be pretty pissed off you did that.”
“I thought about seizing up the engine too, but I guess that would have ticked him off more.”
“Definitely.”
Jazz looked at the elegant hotel Nick slowed in front of. “Good place to hide the Jeep.” She allowed the parking valet to help her out.
“An even better place to hide a Wereweasel.” He climbed out and tossed the keys to the valet as he walked around the Jeep’s hood. He laced his fingers through Jazz’s and steered her through the lobby.
“He’s hiding here?” She eyed the two-story high waterfall that dominated the lobby, expensively dressed women who were bleached, Botoxed, and lipoed, and the men who paid the bills. She imagined spending a long weekend here with Nick where they didn’t leave their suite. The idea grew more appealing by the minute.
Nick nodded as he headed for the bank of elevators. It only took a bit of vamp power to ensure they had the elevator to themselves.
“Coby managed to obtain the suite number.”
“A suite? That scuzz is staying in a suite? I can’t see him making that much more than minimum wage. How did he afford all this?” She eyed the discreet sign advertising the rooftop restaurant and its elaborate brunches along with another sign detailing spa services. Oh yes, she wanted to stay here for a while.
“I guess we’ll have to ask him.”
“Since you’re already dressed like the darkest of dark I guess you’ll be the bad cop while I’m the good cop. For once I want to be the bad cop,” she groused.
He hugged her close to his side. “I promise not to ruin your fun. Just go for the out of control witch.”
“I can’t believe he’s staying here,” she muttered, feeling the plush carpet beneath her feet as they walked down the long hallway. “Someone must be footing the bill and I’d like to know who.”
Nick stopped at the suite double do
or. “You ready to go all witchy on his Were ass?”
Jazz thought of her precious Fluff and Puff incarcerated in bunny slipper jail. “Oh yeah.” She rapped on the door.
“Who is it?” The voice on the other side was squeaky.
“Housekeeping,” Jazz trilled, pushing her face so close to the spy hole all Willie would get was a nose and part of one cheek.
“You were already—” The door opened a crack, which allowed Nick not to have to destroy it.
“Hello, Willie,” Jazz purred, gliding into the suite with Nick on her heels. She didn’t have the all-black vamp look or fangs or red eyes, but she did have a couple of aces up her sleeve. She had the resources to turn him into one nasty looking slug if she didn’t get the answers she wanted. “Fancy finding you here. I wouldn’t imagine you to be one for a luxury hotel. Or do you come here for the heated stone massage? It’s obvious you don’t make use of any exfoliation treatments.” She made a face at the tufts of dark fur that sprouted over the collar of his grimy T-shirt and covered his arms.
Willie’s looks suited his Wereweasel heritage perfectly. He was a bit shorter than Jazz, small and wiry with sharp features that betrayed his feral nature. With a narrow face and black beady eyes, Willie looked every bit the weasel. His gaze darted between Jazz and Nick as he slowly backed up. When he turned to escape through another room, Nick was there before him, blocking any chance of retreat.
“I wouldn’t make her any angrier if I were you,” Nick advised, keeping his stance relaxed with his hands folded in front of him. “The lady’s had a rough morning and she’s already done some serious damage to an SUV.”
Willie blanched. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Did we say you have?” Jazz wandered around the large parlor, wrinkling her nose at the piles of dirty clothing left on a chair and one end of the couch. She hoped a very big tip would be left for the maids because they deserved it if they had to deal with a disgusting slob like Willie. The wide-screen TV showed a soccer game that was thankfully muted. She paused long enough at the wet bar to fix herself a sparkling water and grabbed a bag of peanuts since she was feeling a bit peckish. No reason why Willie’s benefactor shouldn’t pay the high price for her snack. “Funny thing, Willie. Rex said you were dead.” She opened the peanuts and tossed a few into her mouth.