Dee slowed the car to a crawl, even going so far as to wave as their pursuers, trying to keep a discreet distance, dropped back. Neither officer returned the wave.
“Poor Mick,” Dee said, her voice full of sorrow. “He loved that house.”
“Poor Mick?” Craning his neck for one last look before they turned the corner, Cenrick shook his head. “Whatever happened there, he brought upon himself.”
She bit her lip, but didn’t contradict him.
Once back at her place, she again waved at the police cruiser, shaking her head as she climbed the stairs.
“Now what?”
Depositing her shopping bag on the sofa, she eyed the shredded cushions and grimaced. “I’d go shopping for a new couch and pillows, but I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have a job.”
He headed to the kitchen, and began making them both cheese sandwiches. When he’d loaded up two plates, he returned to find her in front of her computer.
“Check this out.” She pointed at the screen. “Natasha Klein no longer works for NASA.”
He read the short piece, which detailed how the brilliant scientist had become an independent consultant, moving to the South Worth area and setting up shop.
“I wonder how Mick met her?” Dee mused. “Top level scientist and cops don’t exactly mix.”
“That’s one question only Mick can tell us.”
“If he’s able to speak.” Grim, she clicked off the screen, closing her internet program. “I’m wondering if she’s making him one of the Soulless too.”
“I doubt that.” He had to scoff. “She’s using him for something. He wouldn’t be of any use to her if she zapped his mind.”
“All right, let’s go with that theory. What do you think she’s using him for?”
“What does Mick have that no one else does?” In a second, he answered his own question. “He’s Fae.”
“And gay, so he wouldn’t be hitting on her.”
“True, but his being Fae is most important. I’m thinking Mick’s the one who led her the Fae. He had to conceive the idea for stealing Fae magic, and therefore their souls.”
Dee crossed her arms. “Assuming that’s correct, we’re still left with why? Why would Mick do such a thing?”
Pondering, both fell silent. In the end, neither could come up with a plausible motive.
Handing her the sandwich, he went back for two cans of cola. They ate quickly and silently, both watching the clock, each hoping this plan would work.
If it didn’t, he didn’t know what else they could do.
When they’d finished eating, she searched a bit longer on the internet, then powered off her computer and stretched. “I’m going to go get ready.”
The clock read seven.
Cenrick nodded, watching her walk down the hall towards her room. A moment later, she emerged and tossed him a bag.
“Here. Get ready.”
Eyeing the bag dubiously, he waited until she’d gone before see what she’d bought him.
Inside, he found fitted slacks made of some stretchy material that looked like leather, and a silk shirt in a bright colored paisley pattern.
He stared in disbelief. No way in Hades was he wearing this. Instead, he snapped his fingers, muttered a quick spell, and retrieved some of his own clothing from Rune.
Dressed, he sat on the edge of the couch to wait.
“Hey, it fits perfectly. What do you think?”
Cenrick looked up. His mouth went dry and he had to remind his heart to keep beating.
“What the…” He couldn’t find words. The shiny, black miniskirt, made of the same material as the slacks she’d bought him, barely grazed the top of her thighs. Her legs, appearing endlessly long, were encased in high, stiletto-heeled boots made of the same material. Her blouse – if one could call it that – also black, appeared to be made of several wispy strips of silky material held together by silver chains.
Merely looking at her made his temperature rise.
“You look…”
“I look like a hooker, don’t I?” Her grin told him this was exactly what she wanted. “With this outfit and the magic you put on me, those goons will be like putty in my hands.”
“I was going to say you look fantastic.”
“Really?” Her eyes narrowed. “You look great, but why aren’t you wearing the stuff I bought you?”
“Because,” he crossed his arms. “I’m not gay.”
To his disbelief, she laughed. “Hey, it was worth a shot. Since you insist on coming with me, I figured the more you blended in, the better.”
“Sorry.”
“All right.” She lifted a shoulder then, back to business, rubbed her hands together. “Let me get my car keys and we’ll go.” About to walk off, she stopped. “I wish there was a way I could get a wire.”
“A what?”
“A wire is like a hidden microphone, which would capture what is said and relay it back to you. Cops use them all the time in undercover work.”
“Can’t you get one?”
“No. Not a single guy in the IT department would outfit me now. I’m on suspension, remember?” Bitterness sharpened her voice. “But I’ve got something almost as good. Here, catch.” She tossed something at him.
Out of reflex, he caught it. “What’s this?”
“A cell phone, encased in vinyl so you can carry it.” Coming closer, she brought with her the heady scent of her musky perfume. “Look, you can even punch the keys through the plastic.”
“Do you have one?”
“Sure. The one I’m giving you is one of those prepaid phones. I bought it to give as a gift to someone once, and didn’t. Since I have my regular cell, I’ve never used it. I turned it on and it still works. I even programmed my cell number in it for you.”
He turned the vibrant blue object over in his hand. “Why do you want me to have this?”
Her gaze was unblinking. “So I can call you if I need you, or vice-versa. It’s a way of us keeping track of each other.”
“I see.” He dropped the phone in his pocket. “We won’t lose track of each other. I have no plans to leave your side. Are you ready?”
She stared at him for half a heartbeat before finally nodding. “You promise me you won’t do anything rash, like threaten some poor guy in there?”
“If you’re in danger—.”
“No. I’ll be fine.” She held up her own cell phone. “I’ve got this. You’ve got to let them talk to me, remember? Otherwise, this won’t work.”
“No matter what, you’re not leaving with them, understand? We stay together.”
“You worry too much. We’re just dangling the bait in front of them. They can come get me later, on my terms.”
He sighed. “Then let’s go.” Slipping on his gloves, he let her lead the way to the car.
The drive seemed to take forever. He greatly preferred the Fae method of travel. A quick spell and you were there.
Finally, they exited the freeway. Driving down a four lane road packed with cars, Dee located an empty spot and parallel parked.
“Show time.” Inhaling sharply, she checked her watch one final time. “You ready?”
He nodded.
Sliding out of the car, she smoothed down her shirt, allowing him to take her arm. “Remember, you promised.”
“I know.” He nodded. “You look beautiful,” he said, and meant it.
“Fae?”
“Very Fae.” And very Dee. He wondered why his chest felt so tight. Stupid. Really stupid.
“Good.” She smiled up at him. “You look fantastic too. But then, you always do.”
They strolled up the sidewalk, joining the crowd of fancy-dressed people laughing and talking.
Turning into a closed off, brick-paved street, Dee pointed several doors down. “That’s where we’ll try first.”
Music boomed from inside each doorway they passed. Cigarette and cigar smoke mingled with the odor of alcohol and various scents of bot
h male and female cologne.
The beginnings of a headache pounded behind his temple.
A burly bouncer guarded the doorway. Dee paid the cover fee and held out her hand to have the back stamped. Mimicking her, Cenrick did the same.
Inside, the noise and smell was even worse.
“Hey,” Dee leaned close, having to shout to make him hear her. “I’m going to go work the room. You do the same.
“No.” He grabbed her arm. “We work together.”
“You’re going to blow the entire thing.” She yanked her arm free. “Now, go on.”
He didn’t bother to answer.
A tall, slender man stepped into their path. “Hey there, handsome.” He had eyes only for Cenrick. “You must be new here.”
Studying the man’s aura, Cenrick realized he was Fae.
From the behind the man, Dee mouthed something that looked like “Talk to him.”
Cenrick fumed as she sauntered away, looking gorgeous and confident and oh so very Fae in her short skirt and high heels.
Still smiling expectantly, the slender Faerie waited for Cenrick to speak. He made small talk, trying to appear interested in case this guy was one of Mick and Natasha’s henchmen, and trying to keep an eye out for Dee.
But he lost sight of her in the crush of people.
The Fae who’d intercepted him continued to chatter, oblivious to Cenrick’s discomfort.
“Excuse me,” he finally said, pushing past the guy and ignoring the stunned look on the other Fae’s face. Shouldering the crowd, he searched for Dee.
It seemed an eternity before he located her, standing at the bar with a tall, good-looking man on each side. She had two drinks in front of her, a gift from each of her suitors.
Though he hated to break this up, enough time had passed for the enemy to make their move.
Strolling up behind her, he slipped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her neck. “Sorry I’m late, honey,” he drawled, giving both men a warning look. “Want to introduce me to your new friends?”
She glared at him. “I—.”
Both men instantly moved off.
“Let’s go.” Dee tucked her arm in his. “Even though you broke your promise, I think we got what we came for.”
He started to speak and abandoned the idea as they skirted the dance floor.
Once outside, the noise level dropped dramatically. “What’d you get?” he asked.
“Later.” She gripped his hand hard. “Wait until we get to the car.”
Silently, they hurried through the crowd. She pressed the remote, unlocking the doors.
“Bingo.” Sliding into the driver’s seat, she flashed him a triumphant grin. “They bit.”
He watched as she turned the key in the ignition, backing out of the spot. “When? We weren’t separated that long?”
“While you talked to your admirer.” The corners of her mouth curved in a smile. “As soon as I got away from you, they surrounded me. This Fae magical stuff really works.”
About to tell her the truth – her appeal was due more to her own beauty than the spell, he hesitated.
“Guess what else?” she asked. “I saw one of those goons from Mick’s house were there, scouting the crowd.”
“Natasha’s bodyguards?”
“Yep. And even better, they were with Natasha. I saw her holding court up near the stage.”
“Natasha?” He hadn’t seen her at all. “Did she see you?”
“I made sure she didn’t. I also looked for Mick, but he wasn’t there.”
“I’m worried about him even more now,” she continued.
He was too, but saw no point in making her worry more. “You said they took the bait. When?”
“You know those guys you interrupted at the bar? One of them started reciting Shakespeare, if you can believe it. I had to pretend to find it fascinating. He quoted from Midsummer Night’s Dream, I believe.” She chuckled.
“A Fae favorite.” Cenrick shook his head. “And a good move on his part. Any real Fae would find such a recital fascinating.” He paused, considering his next words. “But he wasn’t Fae, Dee. The only way he could know such a thing is if someone Fae told them.” He didn’t say the rest, though he knew she had to realize it. Someone like Mick.
“Yeah, well. He gave me this.” She handed him a card. “Fae Frolic. It’s advertising a big party.”
While she drove, he read the rest of the card out loud. “More than a party, a place where Fae living among mortals can get together and cut loose,” he said, quoting directly from the card. He felt the spell woven into the paper, a beguiling spell, strong enough to enchant a weaker Faerie. When he told her about this, Dee nodded.
“Good thing I’m not Fae. Another thing to my advantage.”
Once more, he studied the card. “There’s no location.”
“I caught that too. When I asked, the guy said it changed every week. He said he’d call me.”
“You gave him your number?”
“Of course.” Smiling smugly, she took back the card. “We got them, hook, line and sinker. All we’ve got to do now is wait for the call and we can start reeling them in.”
Chapter Fourteen
IN THE morning, the ringing phone dragged Dee out of a sound sleep. Beside her, Cenrick sat up. Heart pounding, she reached for the receiver. Caller I.D. showed it another unknown call.
“Hello?” She couldn’t clear the sleep from her voice.
“Turn on the television.” She didn’t recognize the young, male voice. “Channel eight.”
“Who is this?” she asked. But the click told her the caller had already hung up.
Dropping the phone in the cradle, she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV.
Instantly, a full-screen picture of her filled the screen.
“… suspected in the disappearance and possible murder of her partner, Mick Morsi. The body, which has not yet been officially identified, was clad in a South Worth Police Department uniform and is believed to be that of Officer Morsi. A formal police investigation is underway.”
Body?
They cut to a commercial. The jingle for a laundry detergent began playing merrily.
Stunned, she fumbled with the remote, finally succeeding in turning the television off.
She and Cenrick stared at each other.
“What the—-?”
“That body better not be Mick,” she cried, throwing back the covers. “So help me, if they’ve murdered Mick, I’ll—.” She choked on the rest of her words.
Cenrick grabbed her, pulling her close. “Listen to me. That body is not Mick.”
“How do you know?” She attempted to push him away, though only half-heartedly. “They’re setting me up for his murder.”
“No, they’re not. Dee, it can’t be Mick. If they’re setting you up for a murder, they’re using someone else’s body.”
Swiping at her eyes, she gaped at him. “What do you mean?”
“Even if they succeeded in killing a Fae, which is not an easy task, they’d never leave a Fae body for the authorities to autopsy. The anomalies in our blood and bone structure would set off too many alarms.”
“Then where is Mick? You know what they’re trying to do. How can he stand back and let this happen?”
“I’m afraid I believe Mick’s already been taken.”
She stared. “Taken? As in Soulless?”
He nodded. “That would explain his conspicuous absence.”
“Can’t you ask the Oracle?”
“I would think she would tell us.”
“Maybe not. She might believe if I knew, the knowledge would impair my judgment.”
“So you don’t know this for certain.” Dee lifted her chin.
“Of course not. Either way, he appears to be out of the picture. Maybe he has other, more pressing concerns.”
She shot him a sideways glance to let him know she didn’t buy that any more than he did. “He’s out of the picture because they�
��re trying to make it look like I’ve killed him,” she said, her voice grim. Staring at the card she’d placed on the dresser, she shook her head. “All we can do now is hope they call. And soon.”Cenrick glanced from her to the phone. “I—.”
The doorbell rang.
“Now what?” She dragged a hand through her mussed hair and climbed out of the bed, Cenrick right behind her.
A quick look through the peephole told her the morning had gone from bad to worse.
“Internal affairs,” she said. “What now? At least I know I’m not under arrest, or they’d send regular uniforms instead of these guys.”
“I’ll stay out of sight.” Cenrick stepped back into the bedroom.
Once he was gone, she opened the door. “Riddick and his sidekick, I see. What do you want this time?”
Their eyes widened as they took in her short pajamas. She bit back a curse word. With all the uproar, she’d managed to forget about the Fae spell Cenrick had placed on her, as well as what she was – or wasn’t – wearing.
She looked up at Riddick, catching him staring at her chest with an intense look. A quick glance at the younger guy told her he too was besotted, smiling a dopey smile. Great. She directed her attention back to Officer Riddick, since he seemed the tougher of the two.
“How can I help you?” she asked, keeping her voice polite and businesslike and doing her best to pretend she wasn’t wearing pajamas. At least they were shorts, rather than some filmy nightie.
Riddick swallowed. Heat blazed from his eyes as they swept over her. “I never realized you were so,” he moved his hand in an hourglass shape. “hot.”
Hot. Crap. That did it. “Come on in, take a seat on the couch. Give me a minute to change and I’ll be right back.”
“Please don’t.” The younger officer spoke up. His freckled face wore a completely infatuated look. “You’re absolutely lovely the way you are. Please don’t deprive us.”
“Uh,” Dee looked at Riddick, her expression plainly telling him he needed to do something about his partner.
Riddick shook his head. “He’s right. Please, don’t change. It’s not often we get to see someone as beautiful as you.”
Muttering a particularly unladylike word, Dee spun on her heels. “You two can wait in the living room. I’ll be right back.”
Missing Magic Page 17