“I’d love to. Sure man,” he said. “I have some stuff to take care of and a couple classes to ease my way through.”
That lazy attitude was like catnip to the other guy. His dark eyes got a little wider, pupils going big. “Tonight then?”
“I don’t think you need to barge in on his free time, Jake. Tomorrow should be fine after Mr. Rossi and I have had time to go over the quote.”
I heard the words Ryder was saying, but the tone was saying something different. It said that Jake had overstepped whatever deal they had between them and Ryder was pissed.
“Oh, I’m sure Mr. Rossi would let me know if I was being a bother. Plus, I have a feeling he’s a night person. Am I right?”
Yeah, and Jake’s tone was a big middle finger to whatever Ryder had been not-saying to him.
What I couldn’t understand was why this guy was pushing so hard to talk business with Rossi. Unless that wasn’t what was going on.
For probably the first time in my life I wished Rossi were listening in on my thoughts. But since I didn’t have that skill, and in theory all vamps were instructed not to eavesdrop on mortal brains in town, I wanted to tell this guy to back off before he made himself a nuisance to the pissed off vampire who looked like he’d rather have the guy over for a midnight snack.
“Hey Jake,” Crow said, “I’d like to take you up on your offer to talk over that property I own out by Road’s End.”
Crow owned property in Road’s End? That was some of the most sought-after real estate in town.
“We’ll catch up tomorrow,” Old Rossi said. “Come by any time. My class schedule is on the web page. We’re flexible about start and stop times.”
I watched Jake try to tamp down his anger at being blown off. He clamped his back teeth and offered a stilted smile.
“Sure. That will be fine. I’ll come out tomorrow.”
“Thanks again for your time,” Ryder said. “Rossi, Crow, Chief.” He started toward the door. “Coming, Jake?”
Jake did not look like he wanted to go anywhere. He also looked like he didn’t like Ryder telling him what to do.
“Actually, I’d love it if you sat in on the talk, Ryder.” Crow flicked me a You’re welcome look. “How about I buy you gentlemen coffee? There’s a new bakery in town I’ve been wanting to try out.”
Well, that was amazing. Crow offered to cover the bill. Pretty sure it was gonna start raining frogs soon.
I might even buy an umbrella hat if that happened.
“See you later, Delaney.” He also started for the door. Jake had no choice but to walk down the hall too.
I wanted to thank Crow for getting Jake off my hands, and not giving Rossi a chance to agree to a late meeting with the man. I didn’t know what Jake really wanted, but every instinct inside me said he wasn’t just a real estate developer.
Ryder, at the door, glanced back at me and there was a look in his eyes and a rakish smile I couldn’t ignore.
Then all three men were gone, leaving me and the vampire.
“I don’t like him,” I said.
“Crow?” Rossi asked.
“Jake.”
“The Reeds have always had good instincts.”
“Promise you won’t kill him.”
Rossi didn’t say anything for a long moment. Finally: “I’ll make us some tea while we wait for Etta to arrive.”
“That wasn’t a promise.”
“The Reeds have always been perceptive too.”
~~~
Etta showed up halfway through my first cup of tea. Old Rossi’s kitchen was state-of-the-art stone and chrome with navy blue accents.
His tea collection covered an entire wall of the kitchen, loose leaves carefully displayed in small glass containers. There had to be a couple thousand dollars worth of tea on those shelves.
After being informed that some of the leaves were rarer than the town, he brewed me a small pot of something that gave off a surprising peach fragrance. His own cup smelled strongly of wood and a deep green that reminded me of rain in the forest.
Etta arrived silently, in that vampire way. “You needed me?”
She wore a hoodie and jeans and was leaner than the last time I’d seen her. Her wide brown eyes were red rimmed and her dark skin seemed pale, the tumbling curls of her hair pulled back in a tight band.
Old Rossi produced another cup that smelled softly of mint and green tea and handed it to her while ushering her over to the island to sit.
She settled across from me. Rossi somehow managed to make where he sat seem like the head of the table.
Etta wrapped long fingers around her cup and stared down at it. Rossi caught my gaze and nodded toward her.
I hated having to talk to the bereaved so close to a death. I usually made Jean come along
with me. She was good at giving comfort, good at somehow making it seem like there was hope when the world was wrapped in darkness.
“I’m sorry about Sven,” I said gently. “And I’m doing everything I can to find out who is behind his death. I have a couple questions. Do you think you could answer them?”
She nodded, still staring at her cup.
“Were you dating?”
Nod.
“When was the last time you saw him?”
Pause, then her mouth curved into a watery sort of smile. “Four days ago.”
“And where were you?”
“My bedroom.” Her eyes flicked my way.
“Okay.” I nodded and took a sip of tea, encouraging her to do the same.
She seemed to notice she had a cup in her hand, then glanced over at Rossi, who also nodded toward her cup. She raised it, took a sip and pulled the cup away for a moment while the tip of her tongue darted across her lower lip. Then she tilted the cup back for a longer drink.
Some of the tension I hadn’t noticed in Old Rossi seemed to drain away. I wondered if anyone had been looking in on Etta or if I needed to make sure someone was taking care of her.
“Have you noticed anyone around him lately who didn’t like him? Anyone who wanted to argue, fight? Anyone who had made threats?”
“He worked as a bouncer,” she said. “He got threats every night.”
“Anything different or unusual?”
She held very still, her cup pressed into her bottom lip as she inhaled steam through her nose. “He said there were men there...mortal men. At the bar.”
I waited. Plenty of mortals lived in town and a world of them surrounded us. Didn’t sound unusual to me.
“They were quiet. Watched him a lot. Went to the bar every night for a week, drank, but didn’t say much. They weren’t from town.”
That still didn’t seem unusual. Maybe they were in town for a business seminar, or were passing through for a number of other reasons.
“Why did he mention them?”
“He said they smelled funny.”
I tried not to make a weird face. “Okay. How so?”
She shook her head. “He couldn’t explain. But that’s...that’s the only unusual thing he mentioned.”
“Etta,” Old Rossi spoke in a low voice. “Tell us everything.”
I didn’t know if he put any vampire influence behind it, but her eyes flashed and she put her cup down.
“Ryder Bailey was there.”
“Where?” My stomach parachuted to my knees.