“Not much.” I filled him in on the missing girls, the tail car, and the presence of Jack Shoffru in town, and—mostly—on Molly going missing. Long before I was finished, Rick had his phone out and was pulling info on the names from a database I didn’t recognize. It had a U.S. Government seal with vibrant black and gold lettering and graphics that I didn’t have time to read before he clicked his password in. I figured it was a PsyLED thing and Rick would share if he got something good. Turned out I was right.
“We have nothing on Molly or Evan. Nothing new on witches missing—” He stopped and looked at me from the corner of one eye. “Other than cold cases, which you know all about. George told me about some blood-servants getting sick, and new fangheads going true-dead for no known reason. Said you’d update me.”
Bruiser was talking to Rick? When did that start? “I’ll e-mail over what I can,” I said. “I don’t have much yet.”
Rick shrugged, indicating that would work for him. “Shoffru is a different matter entirely. He’s a person of interest by law enforcement agencies all over. DEA for cocaine and brown tar heroin. DOJ, IASOC, and Interpol for human trafficking and racketeering. FBI just because they couldn’t be left out. And you think he’ll be at the meeting tonight?”
I twirled my empty beer bottle, taking in the hard planes and shadows of his face. I loved it when he talked cop. I just wish he had something to use to find Molly. “Yeah. He’ll be there. Which is probably why Leo invited you and let me ask Jodi to attend. He wants ol’ Jack to know he has cop friends locally and in high places.”
“Huh. Dress code?”
“I’ll be working. Guests are expected to wear black tie.”
Rick gave me a slow smile, one with a twinkle in his black eyes, and said, “I look good in a tux. But I look better out of a tux.”
“Yeah. I remember.” I looked at the time on his phone and stood before I got myself into trouble I might not get out of. “I gotta change and get to HQ. Come on. Walk me out.”
He slid an arm around my waist and half danced me back out into the warming, uncertain spring air.
? ? ?
“I’ll take Bitsa,” I said to Eli, my eyes on my cell, a thumb flipping through text messages, “and change closer to party time. You bring my clothes and the weapons and gear when you come, and get Derek and his guys set up in back. The New Orleans Police Department’s gun-and explosive-sniffing dog and his handler will be at HQ at five p.m. I’ll leave it up to you where you want to keep them, but I’m sure the dog will need water and a place to do his business. Ask the gardener. That’s all I got.” I looked up at Eli. “You got anything?”
“Just an undying happiness that I don’t have to wear a tuxedo or get all dolled up like a girl. You polished your nails,” he accused.
I curled my fingers under, admiring the bloodred color. “Tia did it for me. I’m just a working stiff like you, tonight.”
Eli chortled, and before he could play on the word stiff, I said, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll never be stiff. I’ll never have a stiffie. So don’t go there.” Angie walked down the stairs from where she had been napping, and I said, “Kids present,” which put an end to any smart retorts by Eli.
“Aunt Jane? You going to a party?” Angelina asked, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. “Do I get to watch you become a princess?” Angie had watched my first-ever transformation into vamp security, and never forgotten it.
“Not tonight. Just lipstick and hair.” I pointed at my head.
“Oh.” She dangled by her arms from the banister. “You find my mommy soon, okay? And bring her home. I miss her.” Her mouth pulled down and her eyes welled with tears.
I rushed to her. “I’ll find her, Angie Baby,” I said, cursing myself at the promise I might not be able to keep.
Angie threw her arms around my neck and hugged me. “I love you, Aunt Jane. But I miss my mommy.” She smacked a wet kiss on my cheek and raced back up the stairs into her bedroom. She left me feeling all hollow inside, an emptiness that ached, and cooling tears on my cheek.
“Anything on Molly?” Eli asked softly.
“No,” I said, heading out the door. “Big Evan is getting antsy.”
“Tell me about it. I’m outta here.”
? ? ?
I steeled myself against Leo’s pull on Beast and walked into vamp HQ to see Wrassler and Jodi standing in the foyer. She was dressed in her casual cop khakis and jacket, and nodded a greeting to me. “We’re done for now. I’d like the crime scene to be left as is until forensics can take one last look.”
Wrassler said, “Not a problem, ma’am. I’ll attach a padlock right now.”
“The body’s gone, though, right?” I said, with a half smile.
Jodi ignored my question and asked one of her own. “You got any idea who killed him yet?”
“Not me,” I said, “and if Leo knows he isn’t saying.”
Wrassler kept his face bland. Too bland. I had to wonder what Leo knew. And why he wasn’t sharing.
“Oh. Forgot to tell you,” Jodi said. “The guess about Galveston paid off. Shoffru came in at the port. We have records of passports. Vamps did it legally this time.”
The news was helpful but not currently relevant.