chapter Thirty-Five
Keaty didn’t look happy to see me.
His mood didn’t improve when I sat down and said, “I need your help.”
He slipped the folder in his hand into his file cabinet and closed the office door behind me. “Where are you on the Gerry case?”
I knew he was going to get on me about my outstanding projects for him, like a parent who can never be thankful for all the things done right and only focuses on how you forgot to do the dishes. This was Keaty’s way, and I was prepared for it.
I threw an envelope full of hundred dollar bills on his desk. The money spilled out dramatically, all seven thousand dollars worth. Not our biggest payout, but seventy hundred-dollar bills looks pretty pimp when it’s fanned out on a desk.
“What’s this?”
“I closed the Gerry case.”
“Did you—”
I threw a folder on top of the money. “Paperwork is done.”
I’d actually completed the case a week before leaving for Louisiana but hadn’t taken the time to tell him.
He counted out thirty bills and handed them to me. “Good work.”
“I need your help.”
“I’m all ears.” Sure he was, now. Amazing how four grand in pocket could perk up someone’s listening skills.
“Someone has hired people to kill me.”
There was something in this sentence that really got Keaty’s attention, and it wasn’t that someone wanted me dead. Neither of us was terribly surprised by this.
“Hired? You’re sure?”
“I am.”
“What makes you think it’s a professional job?”
“First, they tailed my car halfway to Lucas’s mansion and tried to do me, Brigit and Kellen in on the highway. Then they knew when I’d be at Kleinfeld and tried to gun me down in public. He killed himself instead of being taken into custody. He clearly didn’t want anyone asking any questions. And two days ago they came after me in Louisiana. It’s professional work if they’re finding me places that aren’t part of my routine and they aren’t being subtle about their efforts.”
“Hmm.”
“Yes. Hmm indeed.”
“Under normal circumstances I would ask if you had any enemies, but…”
I threw another paper on his desk. This one was a list, and it was a list no human should have ever been given. “That’s the name of every werewolf in the Eastern pack. Not just Manhattan wolves, every wolf in Lucas’s pack. Someone isn’t happy about our wedding, and I think that someone is on the list.”
“So what makes you think it isn’t werewolves themselves attacking you?”
“The guy at Kleinfeld was human. And there was no way a wolf could have maintained human form in Louisiana to shoot me. No way. It had to be humans.”
“And you want me to…”
“I don’t know, Keaty. Work your weird P.I. magic. Look at bank records. See if there’s anyone on the list who writes crazy letters to Congress or has a brother who really likes collecting guns. Investigate.”
“My time is valuable, McQueen.”
“And my life isn’t?”
We stared at each other. I chucked my three grand back on his desk. Easy come easy go.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Work fast. I’m getting married on Friday.”
“Mmhmm.”
“That’s tomorrow, in case you’d missed the memo.”
“I hadn’t.”
“Your RSVP must have gotten lost in the mail. I’ll see you at The Columbia. Nine thirty sharp, the ceremony is at ten. Rent a tux.” I got up and pushed the list closer to him with one finger.
“I own a tuxedo.”
“Then dust it off.”
I was halfway between Keaty’s brownstone and Central Park when Sig called.
“If your young Mister Chancery is to be believed, I owe him several debts of gratitude. It would have been quite inconvenient to have to explain to the council why we needed a new Tribunal leader.”
“Nice to hear your voice too.”
“I trust your vacation was invigorating.”
“I feel like a new woman.”
“Yes, I can imagine.”
“Sig, not that I don’t love our little conversations, but is there something I can do for you?”
“Perhaps invest in a personal calendar.”
“Pardon me?”
“It’s Thursday.”
“Yes, and what’s your—?” Oh, Jesus. Today was the day the council would announce their decision about making Brigit a ward, and I’d totally forgotten. I felt like an a*shole of epic proportions. “Is Brigit already there?”
“Waiting very patiently, yes.”
“I’m on my way.”