chapter 17
Seeing that she was alone, Brandee stopped by Morgaine’s table. “How are you doing?”
The woman looked a little pale.
“I-I’m okay.”
Not exactly convinced of that and having no customers needing anything at the moment, Brandee sat across from her. “Would you like to talk?”
The woman gave her a weak smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re no bother. Heck, you won’t even let me get you a glass of water.” She smiled hoping to lighten the woman’s mood, but it didn’t seem to help.
Morgaine leaned toward her and whispered, “You must be a remarkable woman.”
“Me? Remarkable? Why?”
“Well, you’re human.”
Stumped, Brandee didn’t respond.
Morgaine leaned in closer and lowered her voice even more. “Before I was turned, I was a witch, but I’d still have been nervous mingling with other paranormals—even in a place like this. To think there’s a wizard over there. Witches and wizards don’t get along, but here I am only ten feet from one. If that’s not amazing enough, I can’t imagine being in here with no superhuman powers at all.”
Powers? A place like this? Witches and wizards? Brandee cocked her head.
Morgaine continued in her low whisper. “Because you’re human, you must feel somewhat vulnerable, right?”
“Uh, I guess all humans feel that way from time to time.” Maybe this Morgaine person was a little insane. Thanks for dumping a crazy woman on me, Nick.
Morgaine smiled. “Exactly. That’s why I can’t help admiring your courage.”
“Uh, okay. Thanks.”
“And, as I understand it, you’re not the only one. A bar full of paranormals, owned by a vampire, with a largely human staff.”
Brandee blinked and rose slowly. Careful, don’t upset the lunatic lady.
Morgaine quickly covered her mouth with both hands. “Oh! I’m sorry. Is that a nonpolitically correct term? Do you call us something other than paranormals here? I’m new to this whole world. I don’t mean to be rude.”
Great. She thinks she’s an alien. Better play along. “Oh? What planet are you from, exactly?”
Morgaine’s eyes widened, and then she laughed. “Ha. Good one.”
Brandee shook her head. “Let me get you something from the bar. Seriously. It’s on me.”
“Well, that’s kind of you, but I try not to drink alone.”
“Hey, I’d join you, but I’m working.” Unfortunately. I sure could use a glass of wine right about now.
“I know. Well, thank you for checking on me. I really am all right. I just can’t get over this being a safe place for paranormals to mix and mingle.”
“What exactly do you mean by paranormals?”
“Oh, there I go again. I just don’t know what other word to use. Supernaturals? What do you call vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters collectively?”
Brandee almost said “myths,” but this woman was deadly serious.
“Customers, I guess.”
Morgaine slapped the side of her head. “Of course. You make no distinction. That’s very PC of you.”
The outside door opened and Brandee spotted Nick as he walked in. Oh, thank God. But the woman’s husband wasn’t with him. Tough noogies. She was going to confront her boyfriend, and if the woman freaked out, so be it.
***
Wow. Brandee looks furious. She marched over, grabbed Nick by his collar, and led him to the back door. If he hadn’t come willingly, he had the feeling she would have screamed at him in public.
“Nick, what the hell?”
“Shhh. What’s wrong?”
Brandee lowered her voice, but the tone was unmistakable. If yelling in a whisper was possible, she was doing it. And she’d said “hell,” not “heck.”
“The crazy lady you stuck me with said Boston Uncommon is full of paranormals. When I asked what she meant, she said vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters. Oh, she also mentioned a wizard and said she was a witch. I thought you and your twin were some kind of oddball mutation. Like X-Men. She seems to think the world is full of them, and this bar in particular. She even said the owner is a vampire. Is she talking about Anthony?”
“Calm down, sweetheart. Trust me. There’s nothing to be upset about. I’ll straighten this out.” He strode to Morgaine and sat opposite her.
“You have Brandee scared out of her wits. What did you tell her?”
Morgaine blinked. “Oh, my Goddess. She didn’t know about the bar? I got the distinct impression that she knew.”
“She knows what I am, but she thought Konrad and I were the only ones.”
Morgaine’s hand covered her heart. “Oh no. I thought she was offended because I was using some kind of politically incorrect term when I mentioned paranormals. My psychic senses rarely let me down like that. Maybe because I was so nervous and she was so calm, I didn’t pick up the right vibe.”
F*ck. “She said you told her about the owner being a vampire. Is that true?”
Morgaine laid her head in her hands, covering her eyes. “Dear Goddess. Yes. I’m such an idiot.” As she lifted her head, a red tear shimmered in the corner of her eye. “I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
Nick looked over at the bar and saw Brandee whispering frantically to Angie. Angie’s eyes were growing wider by the second.
“Damn. First of all, don’t cry. I don’t know how we’d explain bloody tears.”
Morgaine grabbed a napkin and dried her eyes. Then she swiveled enough to see what Nick was looking at and gasped. “She’s not telling the other human employees, is she?”
“I don’t know. Angie is her best friend and roommate. I need to make sure she’s not confiding in her. Sit tight. Sly will be back soon.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yes, he’s fine. He’s helping the police with another situation.”
“Why him? Why not you?” Morgaine trembled and her breathing appeared to grow shallow and quick, as if she were hyperventilating.
“I’m not supposed to be involved in police business anymore. It’s complicated.” Not as complicated as what’s going on in Brandee’s head at the moment, I’m sure. “I’ll be right back.”
Morgaine rested her head on the table. “Oh Goddess.”
Nick didn’t think he should leave her like this, but he had to get to Brandee before any more damage was done. Sadie’s reading had just ended, and her customers were pulling cash out of their wallets.
“Sadie,” Nick called. “Can you come over here for a moment? It’s important.”
She rose and grasped the money held out to her, then hurried over to Morgaine and laid a hand on her shoulder. She was already speaking to her calmly and reassuringly, so Nick left them and stalked toward Brandee.
She skirted the bar before he got there and waited on a table.
Damn it. She’s avoiding me. He took a seat at the bar next to the man with the yellow streak in his hair. “Angie,” he called to the bartender.
She didn’t make eye contact.
Finally, Nick cleared his throat. “Angie. Can you get me a beer, please?”
She nodded but still didn’t look at him.
Shit. What did Brandee tell her? He turned to the guy next to him and said, “Did you happen to hear what the redheaded waitress was whispering to the bartender a minute ago?”
“Not completely. She said something about needing to talk about her boyfriend and a woman. I heard the words ‘loony tunes,’ I think.” He chuckled. “If that’s you, my friend, I’m sorry. It sounded like she was upset. I hope it’s just a misunderstanding of sorts.”
If only.
***
Brandee had managed to avoid Nick for quite a while, but she had finally run out of customers to wait on. And here he comes. Crap. Just once I’d like to have a few minutes to mull over situations on my own without his running over to tell me how I should feel about everything.
She grabbed a rag and began to wipe down a table when he appeared next to her.
“We need to talk, Brandee. Meet me by the back door.”
“I’m working.”
He set his fists on his hips. “You were working when you dragged me over there because you wanted to talk.”
Crap, crap, double-crap. “It was important.”
“Are you saying you’re the only one with something important to say?”
Her face heated. “No.”
“Okay, stop scrubbing the table before you wear off the varnish, and come talk to me.”
He stalked off, acting as if his command was to be instantly obeyed. She was tempted to ignore him and go about her business, but she couldn’t do that forever. Sooner or later, she’d have to talk to him. Might as well get it over with.
She tossed the rag aside and followed him to the back door. Crossing her arms over her chest, she asked, “What’s so important?”
“What did you tell Angie? She won’t even look at me now.”
“That’s private.”
“Did you mention what Morgaine said to you?”
She shrugged. “What I talk about with Angie is between me and Angie.”
Nick raked his hands through his already tousled hair. “I need to know you didn’t break your promise.”
“I didn’t break my promise.”
He stared at her as if he had doubts. “When can we have a private conversation? We need one—soon.”
“Not here and not now.”
His big hands touched her arms and rubbed them, surprisingly gently. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, sweetheart. You know that, right?”
Her defenses lowered a bit. “I really don’t know what to think. Look, I didn’t tell Angie about you.”
“Then why is she giving me the cold shoulder?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I was upset that you brought the crazy lady here. Where’s her husband, anyway?”
“He’s helping the police. See how easy that was? You just open your mouth and tell the truth.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why is he helping the police?”
“He witnessed a crime.”
“Oh.” She thought about pursuing that further, but she really needed to get back to work and she didn’t want to give him time to ask more questions. “Why don’t you call me tomorrow? I don’t have to work until the evening.”
He dropped his hands. “Are you sure you didn’t say anything about me?”
“I didn’t divulge your secret, if that’s what you mean. I just said you had weird friends.”
“They’re only acquaintances.”
She let out a deep breath. “Fine. Now let me get back to work. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“What’s wrong with tonight? I don’t want you assuming things or spreading rumors.”
“I’m already tired. I’d rather not talk until I can give you my full attention.”
His lips thinned. “I’d rather talk tonight.”
She sighed and he finally acquiesced.
“Fine. Call me if you change your mind and want to talk tonight. Otherwise, I’ll call you in the morning. When do you wake up?”
“Depends.”
He stared at the ceiling. “Give me strength.” At that moment, Nick’s cell phone rang. “Wolfensen.” He held up one finger, meaning she should wait. She rested a hand on her hip and huffed.
He turned his back to her. “Damn it! When?”
Whoa. Something must have really upset him. She rarely saw him lose his cool like that.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’ll get right on it and see what I can find out. Yeah. I’ll call tonight. Meanwhile, keep her inside. Okay, bye.”
Brandee tipped her head. “Bad news?”
“I might as well tell you. You’re probably going to find out anyway. Someone made another grab for your cousin Katie. This time they didn’t get her, though.”
“Oh, my Lindbergh baby! Who’s doing this?”
“That’s what I have to find out.”
“Please, let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
Then he leveled his gaze at her. “Yeah, there is. Be there when I call you at ten tomorrow morning. Don’t even think about avoiding me.”
She saluted. “Yes, sir.”