They keep going to the wrong office, the man continued, too intent to hear my sarcasm. But we do know the banshee tear belongs to a Mia Harbor. The womans been around since Cincinnati was a pig farm, and I wanted to ask you to come down tomorrow about nine and help us interview her.
I leaned against the counter with a hand to my forehead. What he wanted was for me to bring a truth amulet. Humans were adept at reading body language, but a banshee was devilishly hard to interpret. Or so Id heard. The I.S. never sent witches after banshees.
Ivy was staring at me, brown-rimmed eyes wide. She looked surprised. No, shocked. Nine is too early, I said, wondering what was up with her. How about noon?
Noon? he echoed. We need to move quickly on this.
So why did you kick me out when I was making progress? I need the morning to make up a truth charm. Those things are expensive. Unless you want a five-hundred-dollar bill for it tacked onto my consultants fee?
Edden was silent, but I could hear his frustration. Noon.
Noon, I said, feeling like Id won some points. Actually, I had a truth amulet in my charm cupboard, two feet away, but I didnt get up until eleven most days. As long as were done by two. Ive got to pick up my brother at the airport.
Not a problem, he said. Ill send a car. See you here.
Hey, has anyone looked at my car yet? I said, but the line had gone dead. Tomorrow, I said with a smile, setting the phone back in its cradle. I waltzed to the fridge for the milk, then looked at Ivy when I realized she was still just sitting there. Whats the matter?
Ivy leaned back into her chair, her expression worried. I met Mia Harbor once. Right before I was assigned to work with you in the I.S. Shes aninteresting lady.
Nice lady? I asked as I dumped in the milk. If she had been around since Cincy was a pig town, then she was probably a really old nice lady.
Ivys brow was furrowed when I glanced at her, and she put her eyes on her screen. Her behavior was off. What is it? I asked as neutrally as I could.
The pen she was tapping stilled. Nothing.
I made a scoffing sound. Somethings bothering you. What is it?
Nothing! she said loudly and Jenks buzzed in.
Grinning, the pixy landed on the island counter between us in his best Peter Pan pose. I think Ivys pissed cause you found the banshee tear and she didnt, he said, and Ivys pen started tapping again. It was so fast, it almost hummed.
Nice going, Jenks, I muttered as I stirred the milk into the soup. The ticking of the burner was loud until the gas lit with a whoosh and I turned it to low. Wheres that buddy gargoyle of yours? Hes supposed to keep watch at night.
I dont know, he said, not worried at all. But hes as hard as a rock. I wouldnt worry about him. Maybe hes visiting his folks. He does have a life, unlike some of us here.
I think Rachel finding that tear was great, Ivy said tightly.
I glanced over my shoulder at Jenks, and at my encouragement, he went to make irritating circles around her. He could get away with a lot I couldnt, and if we didnt find out soon what was bothering her, it might be too late to head it off when we did.
Then youre mad because youve been working on Kistens murder for six months, and Rachel got farther in six minutes by sniffing the floor, he guessed.
Ivy leaned her chair back on two legs, balancing as she measured his flight, probably calculating where shed have to be to catch him. Both are valid ways of investigation, she said, her pupils widening. And its only been three months. I didnt look the first three.
I continued to stir the soup with a clockwise motion as Jenks rose up in a column of sparkles and darted out of the kitchen. The pixy noise in the sanctuary had reached dangerous levels, and I knew he wanted to handle it to give Matalina a break. She was doing great this winter, but we were all still worried about her. Nineteen was old for a pixy.
That Ivy hadnt done anything to find Kistens killer for the first three months wasnt a surprise. The hurt had been that bad, and she thought she might have been the one who had done it. I dont mind going out with you tonight, I offered again. Ford left the ladder.
Im doing this myself.
I bowed my head over the soup, breathing in the acidic scent and feeling Ivys pain now that Jenks wasnt here cluttering everything up. Id been Kistens girlfriend, but Ivy had loved him, toodeeper, on a gut level, with the strength of the past, not like my new love, based on the idea of a future. And here I was, making her deal with the pain. Are you okay? I asked softly.
No, she said again, her voice flat.
My shoulders slumped. I miss him, too, I whispered. I turned to see her perfect face frozen in grief. I couldnt help it, and risking a misunderstanding, I crossed the room. Its going to be okay, I said, touching her shoulder for an instant before I withdrew and went into the pantry for the crackers.
Ivy had her head bowed when I came out, and I said nothing as I found two bowls and set them on the table with the crackers between them, shoving my bag and the mail out of the way. Uncomfortable with the silence, I hesitantly stood before her. Im, uh, starting to remember a little, I said, and her dark eyes flicked to mine. I didnt want to tell you in front of Edden because Ford thinks hell reopen the case when he finds out.
Fear flickered behind her eyes, and my breath caught. Ivy is scared?
What did you remember? she said, and my mouth went dry. Ivy was never scared. Ticked, seductive, chill, occasionally out of control, but never scared.
I shrugged, trying to look nonchalant when I pulled back, a sliver of my own fear sliding under my skin. I know for sure its a man. I got that today. He caught a splat ball without breaking it when I tried to shoot him. And he dragged me down the hall on my stomach after I tried to get out. I looked at my fingertips, then put a hand to my middle. Eyes on the hallway behind her, I whispered, I tried to claw my way out through a wall.
Ivys voice was a thin whisper. A man. Youre sure?
She doesnt still think it was her, does she? I nodded, and her entire posture slumped.
Ivy, I told you it wasnt you, I blurted. God, I know what you smell like, and you werent there! How many times do I have to say it! I didnt care that it was really weird I knew what Ivy smelled like. Hell, wed been living together for a year. She knew what I smelled like.
Ivy put her elbows on either side of her keyboard and dropped her forehead into the cradle of her fingers. I thought it was Skimmer, she said flatly. I thought Skimmer had done it. She still wont see me, and I thought that was why.
My lips parted as it started to make sense. No wonder Ivy hadnt been hell-bent on finding Kistens killer. Skimmer had been both her best friend and girlfriend in high school, the two sharing their blood and bodies while Ivy was out in a private school on the West Coast. The intelligent, devious vampire had moved east to get Piscary out of prison and hopefully become a member of a foreign camarilla to be with Ivy, and the top-of-her-class lawyer would cheerfully kill Kisten or me if thats what it would take. That the petite but deadly woman had killed Piscary only added to the travesty of vampire logic. She was in jail for the crime of killing a city masterin front of witnessesand would likely stay there until she died and became an undead herself.
Kisten couldnt be taken down by another living vampire, I said, pitying Ivy for having lived with this alone for six freaking months.
Her deep brown eyes had lost their fear when they met mine. Hed let Skimmer kill him if Piscary gave him to her. Ivy looked at the mirrored black square the night had turned the window into. She hated him. She hates you Ivys words caught, and she shifted her keyboard in a nervous reaction. Im glad it wasnt her.
The bubbling soup was threatening to run over, and I got up, giving her shoulder a squeeze of support before I went to turn it down. It was a man, I said, blowing on the top and flicking the gas off. Its going to be okay. Well find him, and we can put an end to it.
My back was to her, and I froze as a faint tingle started at my neck, the scar shed given me hidden under my curse-smoothed skin. I felt the muscles in my face grow slack, and my motion of stirring the soup slowed as the feeling deepened into a soft anticipation that struck the pit of my being and rebounded. Knowing Ivy couldnt see, I let my eyes close. I knew this feeling. Missed it, even as I struggled, against my instincts, to push it away.
In her relief that Skimmer hadnt killed Kisten, Ivy had unconsciously filled the air with pheromones to soothe and relax a potential source of blood and ecstasy. She wasnt after my blood, but shed been uptight for the last six months, which was probably why just this hint of pheromones felt really good. I breathed them in, enjoying the rush of desire that tightened my gut and set my thoughts spinning. I wasnt going to act on it. Ivy and I had a safe, secure, platonic relationship. I wanted to keep it that way. But that wouldnt stop me from this tiny little indulgence.
Sighing, I forced myself to focus on what I was doing. I adjusted my posture and shoved the whisper of desire deep, where I could ignore it. If I didnt, Ivy would sense my willingness, and wed be right back where wed been six months ago, unsure, uneasy, and way too confused.
Are you going to open your mail sometime this century? Ivy asked, her voice distant. Youve got something from the university.
Glad for the distraction, I tapped the spoon and set it in the spoon cozy. Really? I said, turning to find her eyeing the half-hidden stack of mail. Wiping my fingers off on my jeans, I came closer, pulling the slim envelope with the university emblem on it out from under my bag but leaving the rest, as it so clearly bothered her. Id registered for a couple of ley line classes right before winter break, and this was probably the confirmation. I could use ley lines, but everything I knew had been learned by the seat of my pants. I was in desperate need of some formal classes before I fried my synapses.
Ivy shifted her crossed legs and focused on her computer as I ran my finger under the seal, having to tear the envelope to actually get it open. I pulled the letter out, hesitating as my check floated to the floor. Ivy was on it in a flash, short hair swinging as she bent to pick it up.
Ive been denied entrance, I said, bewildered as I scanned the formal letter. They say there was a problem with my check. My eyes shot to the date under the letterhead. Crap, I had missed early registration and now Id have to tack on another fee. Did I forget to sign it or something?
Ivy shrugged, handing it to me. No. I think this has more to do with the professor dying the last time you took a class.
Wincing, I jammed everything back in the envelope. Problem with my check? I had money in my account. This was crap. Shes not dead. Shes in Trents basement playing Ms. Fix-it with the elven genetic code. The woman is in heaven.
Dead, Ivy said, smiling to show a slip of teeth.
I looked away, stifling a quiver at the sight of her fangs. This is so unfair.
The harsh clatter of pixy wings gave us a second of warning, and I dropped the letter in disgust as Jenks buzzed in. Ivys eyes were wide in question as she gazed at him, and turning, I was surprised to see a stream of red sparkles slipping from him. We got trouble, he said, and I jumped, looking down when a faint bump came from under the floor.
Ivy stood and looked at the faded linoleum. Someones under there.
Thats what Im telling you! Jenks said, sounding almost snotty as he hovered between us with his hands on his hips.
There was a masculine, muffled shout and a series of thumps. Holy crap! I shouted, dancing backward. That sounded like Marshal!
Ivy was a blur headed for the back door. I jumped to follow, jerking to a halt when the rear door in the back living room thumped open unseen. Bis, who rented out the belfry, flew into the kitchen at shoulder height, his skin a stark white to match the snow and his eyes glowing like a demons. The cat-size gargoyle beat his wings in my face, and I backed up. Get out of my way, Bis! I shouted, squinting at the draft and thinking about Jenkss cold sensitivity. What the Turn is going on out there?
There was a commotion in the living room, but Bis wouldnt get out of my way, shouting in his resonant voice about how he was sorry, and hed clean it up. That he had followed the kids with the paint and didnt know it was a distraction. I was ready to smack him one when he landed on my shoulder.
I could barely feel his weight, but vertigo hit me and I slumped back into the counter, shocked into thoughtlessness. The sensation wasnt unexpected, but it got me every timewith Biss touch, every single ley line in Cincinnati became clear and present in my mind. It was sensory overload, and I wavered on my feet, focus blurred. It was worse when he was excited, and I almost passed out. That Jenkss kids were darting among the hanging pots didnt help.
Get. Off, I breathed forcefully, and looking chagrined, the gargoyle beat his wings three times and perched himself sullenly on top of the fridge. The pixy kids scattered, shrieking as if he were death itself. Biss creased face scowled at me with teenage bad temper, and his pebbly skin shifted to match the stainless steel of the appliance. He looked like a sulky gargoyle peering over the edge like that, but thats what he was.
My head jerked up when Ivy shoved a snow-and-dirt-covered man into the kitchen. His face was hidden by a hood, and frozen chunks of dirty snow scattered across the floor, leaving streaks of mud as the kitchens warmth thawed them. The odor of cold earth rose, and I wrinkled my nose, thinking it almost smelled like the man who had killed Kisten, but not quite.
Ivy sauntered in behind him to take a stance in the door with her arms crossed over her chest. Marshal was behind her, and he came in, sliding around Ivy with no hesitation and grinning from ear to ear, excited and bright eyed under his knit hat. His coat and knees were covered in dirt as well, but at least he hadnt rolled in it.
The unknown man in the parka lifted his head, and I almost flew at him. Tom! I shouted, then checked myself. It was Tom. Again. Under my house instead of looking at my car. Fear slid through me, replaced with anger. What are you doing under my house!
Jenks was at the ceiling yelling at his kids to get out, and when the last fled, with their wooden swords and plasticcoated straightened paper clips, Tom pulled himself upright and pushed his hood back. His lips were blue with cold, and his eyes held an irritated anger. It was then that I noticed the ley line zip-strip on his wrist, where his gloves ended. He was basically magically neutered, and my estimation of Marshal went up a notch for not only knowing what to do with an experienced ley line witch, but for having a zip-strip to begin with.
I was coming over to drop off that box you left in my car, Marshal said, shifting to stand between Tom and me. Thats when I saw thishe gave Tom a shove and the man caught himself against the island countercoming over the far wall. So I parked and watched. He gave a couple of kids a can of black spray paint and a twenty, and after Bis chased them off your front door, he snuck around back and broke the lock on your crawl space access.
Mouth open in anger, I thought about giving Tom a shove myself. You paid someone to ruin our sign! I shouted. Do you know how long it took me to clean it the first time?
Toms lips were starting to pink up, and he pressed them together, refusing to answer. Behind him, I saw Bis sneak out of the kitchen. The small gargoyle had gone entirely white to match the ceiling, and only the rims of his ears, his long clawlike nails, and a thick stripe down his whiplike tail were still gray. He was crawling along the ceiling like a bat, wings held to make sharp angles and claws extended. It just about broke my creepy meter.
Rachel, Marshal said gently, he did it to get rid of Bis. Marshal took off his hat and unzipped his coat, sending a wave of redwood into the kitchen, heady from whatever magic hed used to catch Tom. Whats important is finding out what he was doing under your church.
We all turned to look at Tom. Good question, I said. Got an answer, witch?
Tom was silent, and Ivy cracked her knuckles one by one. I hadnt even known she could, but thats what she was doing, pop, pop, pop.
Ivy, I said when it was clear he wasnt going to say anything. Why dont you call the I.S.? They might be interested in this.
Tom snickered, his arrogance clear. Sure, you do that, he said. Im sure the I.S. would love to know a shunned witch was in your kitchen. Who do you think theyll believe if I tell them I was buying charms from you?
Oh shit. My gut twisted, and I frowned when Marshals eyes widened at the word shunned. Without a word, Ivy set the phone down. Her eyes a dangerous black, she eased closer. A threatening haze seemed to drift a few seconds behind her as she placed her finger under his chin and asked in a soft voice, Is there a contract out on Rachel?
Fear bubbled against my skull, and I caught it before it triggered something worse in Ivy. Id lived with a death threat before, and it was hard. If not for Ivy and Jenks, I would have died.
Tom took a step back and rubbed his wrist. Shed be dead already if there was.
Jenks bristled, his wings a sharp clatter as he came to stand on my shoulder.
Oooooh, Im scared, I said to hide my relief. What are you doing here, then?
The angry witch smiled. To wish you a happy New Year.
My eyes narrowed, and, fist on my hip, I looked at the dirty puddles his boots were making. Gaze slowly rising, I took in his white nylon pants and his gray coat. His face was calm but the hatred was there, and when Ivy shifted her feet, he jerked, tense. Id start talking, she threatened. If youre shunned, no one will care if you dont show up for church next week.
The tension started to rise, and my gaze broke from Tom when Bis flew back in.
Tinks diaphragm! Jenks shouted. When did he leave? Rachel, did you even see him leave?
Here, Rachel, the gargoyle said as he dropped an amulet and my hand flashed out to catch it. The metallic circlet hit my palm with a cool sensation, smelling like redwood and frozen dirt. I found it stuck to the floorboards. It was the only one.
Toms jaw went stiff as he clenched his teeth. My anger grew as I recognized it from the days when Id sit with my dad while he prepped his spells for a night at work. Its a bug, I said as I handed it to Marshal to look at.
Ivys face grew even grimmer, and spreading her feet, she tossed her short, gold-tipped hair out of her eyes. Why are you bugging our kitchen?
Tom didnt say anything, but he didnt have to. Id found him in front of the Tilsons house. He had told me he was working. He probably thought wed have the inside scoop on the situation, and since he didnt have access to anything magical or the Inderland database, he was going to steal what we knew and use it to jerk the tag out from under us.
This is about the Tilsons, isnt it, I said, and I knew I was right when his eyes went to the soup, scumming over. You want to tell me now? Save me the trouble of having Ivy beat it out of you?
Stay away from her, Tom said vehemently. Ive been watching that woman for five months, and shes mine! Got it?
I leaned back, nodding as he confirmed my thoughts. Tom knew they werent the Tilsons and was probably working on the murders already. He seemed to think the woman had done it. Im just doing my job, Tom, I said, starting to feel better. Sure he had bugged me, but my car was probably not wired to explode; dead people dont talkusually. Tell you what. You stay out of my way, Ill stay out of yours, and the best witch will win. Okay?
Sure, the man said, confidence suddenly flowing from him. Good luck with that. Youre going to come begging to talk to me before this is all over. I guarantee it.
Jenkss wings made a cool draft on my neck. Get the cookie out of here, he said sharply, and Marshal came forward to manhandle him out. Ivy beat him to it, gripping Toms wrist and twisting his arm into a painful angle to propel him into the hall.
Dont forget his amulet, I called after her, and Bis darted down to take it from Marshal and fly after them. I heard a muttered comment from Ivy, and then the back door shut. Bis didnt come back. I assumed hed gone with her.
She can handle him okay? Marshal asked, and I nodded, my knees suddenly shaky.
Oh yeah. Shell be fine. Its Tom Im worried about. My stomach hurt. Damn it, it had been ages since anyone had dared to violate the security of my home, and now that it was over, I didnt like it. Grimacing, I stirred the soup, nervous energy making me slop it over. Jenks was flitting like a mad thing, and while wiping up my spill, I muttered, Park it, Jenks.
The kitchen grew quiet apart from the rasp of Marshal taking off his coat, but it was the gurgle of him pouring two cups of coffee that brought my attention back. I managed a thin smile when he brought me one. Jenks was on his shoulder, which was unusual, but the man had saved us a lot of trouble, and Jenks had to appreciate that since he couldnt go outside and Bis was just one gargoyleand a young, inexperienced one at that.
Thanks, I said, turning from the soup and taking a sip of coffee as I leaned against the counter. For Tom as well as the coffee, I added.
Looking satisfied and smug, Marshal pulled a chair around and sat with his back to the wall and his legs in the middle of the room. Not a problem, Rachel. Im glad I was here.
Trailing a thin green dust, Jenks flew to land beside me, pretending to feed his brine shrimp on the sill. I knew Marshal thought my estimation of the danger I could attract was overrated, but even Id admit that his catching a shunned ley line witch was impressive.
I breathed deep as I listened to the pixy play-by-play, filtering in from the sanctuary, of what Ivy was doing to Tom. The subtly masculine-flavored scent of redwood eased about me, a witchs characteristic smell. It was nice smelling it in my kitchen, mixing with vampire and the light garden scent I was starting to recognize as pixy. Marshal was eyeing the ceiling in an expectant way, and chuckling, I went to sit with him.
All right, I said as I touched his hand encircling his coffee. I admit it. You saved me. You saved me from whatever Tom had planned. Youre my great big freaking hero, okay?
He laughed at that, and it felt good. You want that box from my car? he said, starting to gather himself to stand.
I thought about what was in it, and froze. No. Will you throw it out for me? Im not throwing Kisten away, I thought guiltily. But to keep his last gift in my bottom drawer was pathetic. Uh, thanks again for going with me out to the boat.
Marshal shifted his chair, angling it to face me. No problem. Is your FIB friend okay?
I nodded, my thoughts drifting to Glenn. Ford says hell be awake in a few days.
Jenks had gotten himself a pixy-size mug of coffee from the still-dripping machine, and he settled between us on the box of crackers. He was unusually quiet, but he was probably keeping an ear on his kids. There was a sound of rising awe from the sanctuary when Ivy did something, and I winced.
My eyes went to the corner of the envelope, and in a sudden surge of irritation, I picked it out. Hey, will you do something for me? I asked as I handed it to Marshal. Im trying to pay for some classes, and I need to get this to the registrars office, like yesterday.
I thought registration ended, Jenks piped up, and Marshals eyebrows went high as he took it.
It did, he said, and I shrugged.
They sent my check back, I complained. Can you see if they will take it? Use your connections to get it in the system? I dont want to have to pay the late fee.
Nodding, he folded the envelope over and slid it into a back pocket to look at later. Brow furrowed, he leaned back in his chair, thinking. You want some soup? I asked, and Marshal smiled.
No, thanks, he said, then his eyes brightened. Hey, Ive got tomorrow off. Its a teacher workday at the university, but its not like Ive got any papers to grade. You want to go do something? Blow off some steam? After I get your check in, that is? I hear they opened up a new skate park on Vine.
Whereas two months ago the offer would have tripped all my warning flags, now my lips curled up in a smile. Marshal wasnt my boyfriend, but we did stuff together all the time. I dont think I can, I said, annoyed that I couldnt say yes and go. Ive got this murder Im working onand my sign to clean
Jenkss wings clattered. I said Id help you with that, Rache, he said brightly, and I smiled and curved my hand around him.
Its too cold, Jenks, I protested, then turned back to Marshal. Then Ive got to pick up my brother at the airport at three, talk to Ford at six, and then go back to my moms and do the good-daughter thing by having dinner with her and Robbie. Saturday Im in the ever-after with Al My words trailed off. Next week, maybe?
Marshal nodded in understanding, and suddenly seeing a golden opportunity to avoid being badgered at my moms, I blurted out, Uh, unless you want to come with me to my moms for dinner? Shes making lasagna.
The man laughed. You want me to play boyfriend so your life doesnt look pathetic, right?
Marshal! I gave his shoulder a smack, but I was red-faced. God, he knew me too well.
Well, am I right? he needled, his eyes glinting under his hat-flattened hair.
I made a face, then said, You going to help me here or not?
You bet, he said brightly. I like your mom. Is she making pi-i-i-ie?
He stressed the word as if it meant the world to him, and I grinned, feeling better about tomorrow already. If she knows youre coming, shell make two.
Marshal chuckled, and as I sipped my coffee and smiled back, content and happy, Jenks flew out of the kitchen on quiet wings, a green trail of dust spilling from him to slowly fade to nothing.
Six
The FIBs lobby was noisy and cold. Gray street slush had been tracked in, making a soggy mess of the rug and creating a slowly diminishing black path to the front desk, set back from the twin glass doors. The FIB emblem in the middle of the room was dingy from a hundred footprints. It reminded me of the emblem on the floor of the demons law offices. A joke, Al had said, but I had my doubts. I shifted nervously in the nasty orange chairs they had out here. Saturday, and my teaching date with Algaliarept, always seemed to come up too fast. Trying to explain to Robbie and my mom why I was going to be incommunicado all day would be tricky.
I had cheerfully strode into the FIB about ten minutes beforemy mood excellent since Alex had brought my car homemy snappy boots leaving prints on their emblem as I went to the front desk to announce who I wasonly to be asked to take a seat, like I was some weirdo off the street. Sighing, I hunched over with my elbows on my knees and tried to find a comfortable position. I wasnt happy about being asked to wait. If Ivy had been here, they wouldve fallen all over themselves, but not for mea memorychallenged witch they didnt trust anymore.
Ivy was currently out on the street trying to pick up the sixth-month-old trail of Kistens killer. Guilt for not having done anything sooner had gotten her up long before me. Jenks had come with me today in the hopes that wed stop at a charm shop on the way home. He wasnt interested in a charm, but the stuff that went into making themthings that a garden-loving pixy cheating hibernation cant get in December. Matalina wasnt doing well, and I knew he was upset, ready and willing to spend some of the rent money he got from Ivy and me on his wife. Sitting here in the FIBs lobby was a poor use for both our days. Not to mention that it was cold.