No More Black Magic (12 page)

“They aren’t assassins. Besides, your father was cleared by the coven as long as he didn’t do it again. They understood there were circumstances that were out of his control.” He shrugged, “but your father never forgave Christof.”

And I wouldn’t have either. I sighed. 

“What does this have to do with anything?” Levi met my gaze. “No secrets Abby.” He reminded me and I wanted to curse that stupid rule.

“The name came from my father’s notes as well, but I’m really trying to figure out if this is at all tied to the murders I’ve been dealing with.” I kept my voice even. “I never understood why my parents were murdered, now someone tried to kill me and there is someone dismantling people in our city.”

“And other than the runes, why do you think it’s connected?”

“Because this last crime scene had a hand holding this picture.” I pulled up the picture on my phone. “That’s my father and Michele.”

He nodded. “I told you that they researched together, but I don’t know why your newest victim would have had it.”

“I don’t know if the hand belonged to this particular victim or another.” I shook my head. “I have to call Clarissa and find a way to explain that one of her coven members might have died an extremely painful death.”

“Where you found the hand.” Levi added.

I shook my head. “No, Detective Mason found the hand. Luckily for me, they are letting me stay on the case and not taking me off.”

“It’s because you are the best they have.”

I really hoped that the state didn’t decide to replace me anytime soon, because I’d be terrified to meet someone they thought was better.

Levi looked at Simon. “And what is he doing here? I thought you didn’t need company now that the hex was off you.”

I glanced at Simon and shrugged. “We went out for a drink and then I decided that I needed to come here. I drove for the night, which meant that he had to come or be left at the bar.”

“This was a far more amusing choice.” Simon said without missing a beat.

A sly smile crossed Levi’s face and I wanted to smack him. That’s not where I was going with my night, Simon and I were not hooking up in any way and there was nothing more than a friendship between us.

“And on that note, I’m off to find the vampire who is selling thrills.” I rolled my eyes and stood. I glanced out the window and found myself wishing that I could stay in for the night. Here. At the place that I still considered home. I shook off the sudden homesick feeling trying to crawl through me and started out of the meeting room.

“Don’t forget Abby, you can’t be here tomorrow night.” Levi remained in the chair looking at the photo I left on the table.

I nodded and started to wonder if the event had anything to do with that package I had picked up a few days earlier. “Don’t worry, like I said, plenty to keep me busy.”

Simon and I both left the room in silence. He didn’t say a word as I led him back through the ballroom, through the halls and the foyer, and back out into the cold crisp mountain air.

“You had no idea that your dad was capable of that, did you?” Simon asked as we got back into the car. There was nothing accusing in his voice, but maybe a touch of concern.

I didn’t really want to think about it, but I shrugged. “I knew he was powerful enough, but I never thought he would do it. Especially for some research.”

“Maybe there was something more than what Levi knew was going on. I mean, let’s face it. Everyone has their secret, maybe your dad was keeping one from him.”

It was a possibility and I sighed. “It doesn’t matter, the guy is dead and I don’t have to worry about him being the one that sent the Cult after me.”

“Do you think that’s why the Cult went after your parents?” Simon asked as I started the car.

I thought about it. “Someone would have to have told them about what happened. Admitting it meant either they were there with them or they knew someone that was. It wouldn’t have just been my parents that were killed.”

“Good point.” He was silent for some time and I assumed he was thinking things over. “Shit, I don’t know Abby, it’s what? How many years old?” He leaned back in the seat. “Maybe it’s time to bury the past.”

He was right. The only problem was, I had buried it and suddenly it was coming up to bite me in the ass. It wasn’t something that I really wanted to come up again. If I could put it to rest now then I wouldn’t have to worry about it later on.

“I’m going to sleep, I’m not used to your hours. Wake me up when we get wherever.”

I rolled my eyes. “Liar, you’re a werewolf, your hours are the same as mine. I’ll drop you off once we get back into town.”

“We should stop for food first. I’m starving.” He yawned and I knew that he was actually tired. He might have kept my same hours, but he wasn’t used to all the running around that I did. Hell, at this point I was exhausted too.

W
e stopped by some fast food joint and ate cheap burgers as I drove to his house. I dropped him off and promised that I’d be home not long after dawn. It was weird to have someone that would be waiting for me to get home. Nothing sexual or romantic about it. It was kind of like a roommate and I found myself wondering if I should find a roommate if only for the fact that someone would care if I didn’t return home one day.

Then I thought about that roommate possibly finding my dead body one day and decided that a roommate was a stupid idea. Maybe I would get a cat instead.

I parked in one of the many empty parking spots. This late at night ,during the week, there weren’t many people wandering downtown. The vampire should be easy to spot. This particular street used to be known for hookers and prostitutes, and the cheap motels that littered the area still spoke to that time. The signs creaked and were only half lit. All of them had vacancy illuminated, but the chipped paint on the doors and the unkempt parking lots probably turned away even the most desperate tourist.

A big neon Native American sign waved at me with its fake moving lights. The effect wasn’t even right. I shook my head and got out of my car. I moved my badge so that it was hooked on the back of my pants, hiding behind my jacket. I wouldn’t need it, but I never walked around without it. Having it had saved my ass more than once.

I cringed as I approached the hotel with the sign. I couldn’t even see the sign that actually had the name on it. I looked around for the office and found it at the end of a row of badly painted brown and orange doors. I smiled; glad to see someone was attending it.

I walked in and the person didn’t look up, didn’t move his big work boots off the counter top and didn’t even fold the newspaper down. I rapped my knuckles on the counter. “Gotta question for you.”

“Unless you’re getting a room, I don’t care.” Still no eye contact. Nothing.

I rolled my eyes. “Really, could you be any more rude? I could be a damsel in distress and you wouldn’t care.”

“You aren’t in distress and no damsel says ’gotta’.” He finally dropped his feet to the ground and folded his newspaper. I knew the blond hair and blue eyes that looked at me. I prayed he didn’t remember me from high school or my night could go very wrong.

“Abigail!” He gave that award-winning smile he had as the star football player.

Crap.

“You’re looking good Abby, I heard you work for the state now. Who would have thought that awkward little witch in high school would work for the state.”

I forced a smile. “It’s nice to see you, John. Been busy?”

“Not tonight, too damn cold, but things will pick up as the snow rolls in. We’re the last ones to fill up, but we do eventually.”

Ski season brought people into the city occasionally, but it was more of a pit stop between slopes. Not a whole lot here for tourists during the winter. “That’s great. I’m actually looking for someone. You know, working and all.”

“Yeah figures, a pretty woman like you wouldn’t be caught dead on this side of town so late willingly.” He shrugged and then leaned forward on the counter. “What can I help you with?”

Maybe he would be useful, but I hated when I ran into people that I knew. They always assumed my business was state and normally they were right. Except for this. This was Levi business, but there was no need to let John know that.

“There’s a vampire around here who’s been selling stuff to people. Know who he is?”

He nodded. “They call him the Wizard, what he sells he calls “Thrills‘’.”

“And what is Thrills?” I crossed my arms and rested them on the counter.

He shrugged. “Hell if I know. I assume it’s some type of drug. The working women around here love it and say it makes them feel more alive while they are, well, um...working.”

“Great, any of them tell you where he can be found?” I didn’t even want to touch the prostitute thing. Apparently this part of town was clinging to its history.

He nodded. “Nevada and Fifth.”

Right before the crappy motels started. It wouldn’t be a long walk, just a couple blocks. Or I could drive, but that would tip the vampire off that someone who wasn’t a buyer was coming. No one would risk their car being seen near a drug deal.

“Thanks.” I turned to leave.

“Wait!” John called and I turned back around to find him scribbling something down. He handed me a piece of paper. “Call me sometime, I’d love to have a cup of coffee with you.”

I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or terrified. He’d spent most of high school picking on me and now he was hitting on me? In what world did that make sense? “Thanks.” I stuck it in my pocket and wasn’t sure what else to say so I spun around and left.

The wind had picked up and I wondered if we were going to get our first snow tonight. It bit my skin and stung. Luckily for me, vampires didn’t feel the pain of cold wind. They were dead and they were already cold. I briskly walked the couple blocks and found a figure standing on the corner right where John had told me they would be.

I wrapped my arms around myself and walked over to him. He was tall, lean, and looked like he walked out of a classic vampire flick. His face was sunken, eyes dark, hair wispy, and it took me by surprise. I hadn’t seen a vampire that bad off in a long while.

“Heard you sell Thrills.” I smiled.

He snarled at me enough to show fangs. “I know you.”

I put my hand behind my back and touched the butt of my gun. “Yeah? Most people know me on sight.”

“You’re Levi’s little hunter.” His voice had a slight British accent and his motions were showy. Wild waving arms, whole swaying body, he reminded me a bit of a certain pirate in the movies.

I raised a brow. No one had really referred to me as a hunter before, but I was starting to think he wasn’t in his right mind. “Something like that. Heard you’re selling stuff to the humans. They’re calling it Thrills.”

He put a hand up to his chin like he was pretending to think. “My dear, I don’t know what you are talking about. All I do is give them happy thoughts. Do you want to try?” He put a hand under his jacket and pulled out a clear vial. “You look like you could use some happy thoughts.”

“Nope, drug free. Here’s the deal, find another territory or I’m going to have to kill you. Levi doesn’t want you selling anything to the humans or supernaturals. Got it?”

He smiled and I saw the points of his fangs. His mood had completely changed from when I first approached him. “Oh, the always noble Levi, he’s not as great as you think, love. Everyone has their past.”

“That has nothing to do with the fact that you are selling drugs in his territory. I won’t be so nice next time I find you.”

He chuckled. “If you can find me again.”

“You underestimate me.” I shook my head.

He bobbed his head for a moment and his eyes rolled to the sky like he was listening to something or debating something in his head. I took a step back as he took a step forward.

“What’s wrong? Scared of me?” He held a hand out, the one with the vial. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Yeah, like I could believe that. I wrapped my hand around the grip of my gun. I took comfort in the steel. “Do you understand that you are no longer welcome in this territory?”

With a whoosh and a thump I hit the ground. Luckily for me, I had moved my arm and now he was pinning me to the ground.  The glass shattered near my head and his fingers dug into my arms with a bruising grip. I hated when they fought back and I was this close to them.

I got my knees between us and kicked him away. He jumped back and landed in a crouch, watching me. I flipped up to my feet and pulled my gun out. Squeezing the trigger, I took two shots at him, but he was gone. Fuck. My gaze scanned the area. He wasn’t anywhere close that I was able to see, but that didn’t mean anything.

I knew I should have just shot him in the first place, but my damn morals got in my way. What the hell was this guy up to? I brushed the dirt off me and holstered my gun again. I grumbled and picked up one of the shards of glass. I’d be able to take it to the lab and have it analyzed. I had delivered my warning and it wouldn’t be hard to find him again. All I had to do was look where the next case of the Thrills popped up.

I headed back to my car. Once I got there, I pulled out a bag from my glove compartment and put the glass in it. I locked the doors and started the car. I wasn’t sure what I would tell Levi about the vampire, but I’d have to see what happened. Maybe he’d grow a brain cell and find a new territory. If not, I was going to have to kill a vampire. Not my favorite pastime.

I went to the office instead of Simon’s house. I had access to the lab and needed to see the hand still. If I could get some more information then I could possibly find a lead in the case, because this random body part thing wasn’t doing a whole lot. I slid my key card and slipped into the building. Kathy, our night receptionist, was leaning back with her legs up. I cut her some slack because it was a crappy shift and the fact that she wasn’t sleeping was impressive.

“Hey Agent A!” Her brown eyes brightened as she saw me come in. She sat up and her black hair fell over her shoulder. If she stood, she’d be my height. “I actually have a message for you. Detective Mason said that he left you some notes from the hand. He’d follow up tomorrow.”