From the back, Reese mumbled and
stirred.
I slapped her leg through her jeans,
hard. She mumbled a little louder and slowly blinked, asserting more control
over her body.
She sat up, looking at me. “Allen?”
she said, unsure.
“Yeah. What the blankity blank were
you doing there?”
Peripherally, I caught Nikki’s
slight smile.
“Blankity blank? Are you a
grown-up?”
“My use of profanity is not the
subject. Explain.”
“I was after the story.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it.
What’s the point? She’ll just
keep talking about the damn story.
“How did you know where it was?”
“I recorded your phone conversation
on my tablet,” she grinned.
Several curse words went through my
head, all applied to myself.
I better talk to Jen and Jessie
about what all these gizmos can do. I am definitely not up on their
capabilities.
“Cute. Well, you should congratulate
yourself.”
“I am.”
“Not on that. You went face-to-face
with not just a fae, but with a wight, and survived.”
She stared at me flatly. “Is that
supposed to mean anything to me?”
“Two supernatural creatures in one
night!”
“Three,” Nikki added.
“Three, counting the will o’wisp.”
Nikki threw me a sidelong glance. I
knew what that was about, but I wasn’t going to bring her into the
conversation.
“A weird disco light, some
anorexics, and a creepy stockbroker. Unless you meant the college kids peddling
drugs.”
“Matthew,” Nikki said, pointing out
the windshield. “I believe your backup is on the way.”
I looked, confirming the stream of
vehicles in a tight line.
I hastily dialed Collins.
“I’m on my way!” His voice was
faraway, on speakerphone.
“You’re about to pass me. Pull into
the gas station on your right.”
“What?”
“It’s over. They bugged out.”
“You better have a fucking good
explanation for this, Allen. Judge is going to have my hide, the department,
too.”
I smiled, “Not
this time. You’ve got a great scapegoat.” I looked back at Reese.