by Skye Knizley
“You look beautiful,” Raven said.
Aspen blushed and looked down. “Thank you. Your mom helped me a little.”
“All she did was help accent what was already there,” Raven said. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Lady Storm,” the maître d said. “Your table is ready.”
The two women followed him through the crowd to a table for two set in the back. A bottle of champagne was already chilling beside it. Raven let Aspen sit, then took the seat opposite.
It took them but a few minutes to place their order. Once their waiter had poured the champagne and left them alone, Aspen sipped and then met Raven’s eyes.
“What did King say?” she asked.
“He asked a lot of questions about the whereabouts of Drakulia,” Raven said. “He seemed pleased we lost him in the lake, a little concerned we didn’t stake him first, and that was it.”
“That was it? Come on, Ray, what about, you know!”
“That was it,” Raven said with as much seriousness as she could muster.
Aspen cocked her head and looked at Raven. “You are so lying.”
Raven laughed. “He offered me a job. Special Agent Storm with something called Section Thirteen. He wouldn’t give me any more details until I said yes.”
“Well, give!” Aspen said. “I mean, you said yes, didn’t you?”
Raven looked away and played with her champagne glass. “I told him I had to think about it.”
Aspen blinked in surprise.
“What? Why?”
Raven looked up. “You, for one. Your career is here and this sounds like I might be all over the place. Two, Rupert. From what I understand Frost is taking retirement and I have no idea who might end up running Division One. He’s my partner, I can’t just run out on him.”
Aspen shook her head. “Raven, you can’t always do what you think is best for someone else. You’ve been doing what your mother wanted since you were a kid. Now you’re thinking of holding back again because of Rupe. You wouldn’t be running out on him, you’re not dying or anything. We both know you would be back here in a heartbeat if he needed you.”
Raven looked at Aspen and sipped her champagne.
“What about you?”
Aspen blinked. “I thought that was obvious. I go where you go. I can get a job anywhere so you’re stuck with me as long as you want me.”
Raven took Aspen’s hand and ran a thumb over her fingers. “Thank you, Aspen. That’s what I wanted to hear. But let’s take it slow, huh?”
Aspen smiled back and squeezed Raven’s hand. “I promise, Ray. But you’re dodging my question. Are you going to say yes or not?”
“I don’t know,” Raven replied. “I admit, I’m tempted. There have to be weird cases away from home, but I’m a Chicago girl. This is my city.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound as if you have to make a decision right away, why don’t you sleep on it a couple days. It isn’t as if you’ve been reinstated, though, right? You’ll need to do something sooner or later.”
Raven opened her clutch and pulled out her badge. It hung on a beaded chain, shiny and new.
“Lieutenant, if I want it,” Raven said. “Cap offered it to me today along with the longest apology I’ve ever heard. Not in charge of the Division, just a lieutenant. More money, more perks.”
“Wow,” Aspen said. “I can see why you’re so torn. Not that you need the money but a promotion is cool.”
“Yeah,” Raven said.
Aspen squeezed Raven’s hand again. “Whatever you decide, I promise you Rupe and I will have your back.”
“I know.”
The waiter arrived with their food and they let the conversation wander to other things. They’d survived and buried one of the darkest evil’s they’d ever encountered. Tonight was a time for celebration.
FIVE DAYS LATER
RAVEN CROUCHED ON THE PARAPET of Holy Name Church and looked out at the city. She loved the way the full moon glittered off of the spires of the old tower and the office plaza downtown. From the right perspective you would never know what lurked in the darkness.
Four stories below Rupert Levac was lurking in the shadows watching for Robyn Mackenzie. They’d identified her as the prime suspect in their latest bizarre murder case. She’d killed five men. With her teeth.
“You there, Ray?” Levac’s voice asked in her ear.
“Yeah, Rupe, what’s the news?”
“I’m cold, I’m hungry and I’m convinced this chick isn’t going to take the bait. Why don’t you come down from the crow’s nest and we’ll grab a coffee. You still haven’t told me if you’re taking King’s offer or not,” Levac said.
“Because I haven’t decided yet,” Raven replied.
“You haven’t?” Aspen asked. “Then why are we looking at places in Quantico?”
“Because I’m thinking about it and they want me to go through some stupid training class. Will you two focus? We’ve got a nut to catch,” Raven said.
“I’m telling you, she isn’t coming,” Levac said.
“Wait, I think I have something,” Aspen said at the same time. “Rupe, check your four o’clock. See the blonde woman with the bad coat?”
Raven craned her neck and spotted the woman Aspen had tagged. She was tall and so painfully thin Raven thought she might explode if she ate a cheeseburger. She was wearing a red dress and heels beneath a white fur coat. She’d just walked up to an attractive middle aged man outside his hotel room.
“I see her,” Levac said. “What do you think, Ray?”
“Move in but be careful,” Raven said. “I’ll be right down.”
She stood and looked at the city one more time. It might stink, it might have the creepiest crawlies in the world lurking in its belly, but it was her city, no matter where she was assigned.
But right now she had work to do.
She stepped off the ledge and vanished into the night.
WEST ERIE STREET, CHICAGO
FIVE DAYS AGO
MASON STORM LURKED IN THE shadows across from Wildfire, a steakhouse he’d frequented years ago. It didn’t look like much, just a plain grey stone building with a black and white sign proclaiming chops, steaks and seafood. But the food was phenomenal and well worth the price.
He stepped into the light and watched his daughter, Raven, enter Wildfire. She looked beautiful in her black dress and her mother’s jewelry. He wanted to rush to her and tell her how proud he was, how much he missed her. But he knew the time wasn’t right. She wouldn’t yet understand.
“Are you going to tell her, dad?”
Mason Storm looked at the woman by his side. Though dressed in black fatigues and combat boots, she was the spitting image of Raven, which was to be expected. Raven was only three minutes younger than her sister.
“No,” he said. “Someday.”
Sable frowned and looked up at her father. “But not today?”
He shook his head and turned toward the silver 2011 Shelby parked at the curb. “But not today.”
I would like to thank my editor Elizabeth. Ever so patient and ever so good at what she does.
My publisher, who takes an interest even in the stupidest of my ideas.
My friends who put up with me being totally neurotic and never finishing anything on time.
The gamers, without whom I am as naught.
And my fans. Thank you from the bottom of my heart