Bittersweet Magic (The Order #2)

For a second, Roz considered ignoring him, but a quick glance behind her showed Graham still watching from just inside the glass doors. She couldn’t risk making a scene. Besides, there was that bottle of scotch. With a huge sigh, she picked it up, clambered into the passenger seat, and tossed him a filthy look.

“Are you following me?”

“Yes. Fasten your seat belt.”

She did as she was told, staring straight ahead as Ryan pulled out into traffic. She resisted the urge to put her hand up and check the wound at her throat. It was healing fast, but would still be clearly visible. At least the horrible headdress hid it from view. Ryan wasn’t stupid, and it would be difficult to persuade him that fang marks in her neck had nothing to do with his exsanguination murder case.

“Back in fancy dress, I see.” He broke the silence.

“I’m trying it out as an alternative lifestyle. I think I’d make a good nun.” She gave him her best guileless expression, added a serene nun smile, and then took a swig of scotch.

Ryan snorted.

“So why are you following me? I’ve made it clear that I’ll help you as long as you don’t bring attention to me. And this”—she waved a hand around the car—“is bringing attention to me.”

“Why? What are you hiding from? Maybe if you tell me, I can help make the problem go away.”

“Why would you do that?”

He cast her a quick sideways glance before turning his attention back to the road. “Because we’re friends. And friends look out for each other.”

Warmth stole over her as she realized that he actually cared. But she couldn’t allow that to matter, and she certainly couldn’t drag him any further into her fucked-up life.

“Thanks, but no thanks. My problems aren’t the sort you can make go away. I’ve just got to live with them.”

He shrugged but appeared resigned. “You heading home? I’ll drop you off.”

“Thank you.”

“So what’s your business with SA International?”

She’d known he wouldn’t give up that easily. “None of yours.”

“Come on, Roz. You can’t not tell me—why the outfit? Why this company? I did a search on them—they’re as clean as they come. Too clean, I’d say if I had a suspicious nature.”

With a rush of relief, she realized that he hadn’t connected her visit to SA International with his missing person case. And why should he? He’d first picked her up here before he’d even told her about the case—he wouldn’t see a connection.

“You do have a suspicious nature.”

“Yeah, so I do. But I couldn’t find anything. So tell me, what’s your interest? And where did you get a real nun from? I’m taking it that Sister Maria is actually a nun.”

“Yeah, she’s the real thing.”

“How is she this morning, by the way?”

“Fast asleep when I left. She’s had a tiring couple of days and it’s been a bit of a culture shock.”

“I’ll bet. So you’re not going to tell me?”

“No. So is that all that brought you here—just pure nosiness?”

“Mainly, but I also thought you’d like to know—we’ve put out that picture and we’re already getting some feedback. We’re narrowing it down to an area on the Isle of Dogs close to the river—which ties in with your description. I just wanted to make sure you’d be available when we get a real lead.”

“I’ll be available.” Something occurred to her. “If you can, make sure you go in during daylight. This guy likes the dark so you’re likely to find her alone in the daytime. You can get her out without worrying about any hostage situation.”

“Okay. Then we can set a trap and pick up this perverted son-of-a-bitch.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She gulped another slug of scotch and the warmth flowed through her body, mellowing her mind. She raised the bottle. “It’s good stuff.”

He shrugged. “I know your helping me puts you in some sort of danger. I don’t know what or how bad, because you won’t open up to me. But I wanted to say thanks.”

She squirmed in her seat. She wasn’t used to people thanking her. It sort of made her feel guilty. As though if they really knew her, knew some of the things she had done, they wouldn’t be thanking her. She remembered again the screams of the villagers that night.

Her mother’s death had not gone unavenged.

Do you want them to pay? Asmodai had asked her. And she’d nodded her head then watched as he had unleashed chaos.

It hadn’t brought her mother back.

“You’re not very good at accepting thanks, are you?” Ryan’s wry query brought her back from the past.

“Scotch, yes. And maybe a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers.”

“You like chocolates and flowers?”

“Of course, why shouldn’t I?” She was going to add that she was normal, wasn’t she, but that might have been straining the truth a little far.