Page 29 (2/2)

Sinclair regarded me “You think I’m asha “I’, Daisy Look, I’ht, not with the Ma-rooaze was steady and unflinching “I just want you to knoant you there And I want them to know it, too”

My stomach did a somersault “I, umdidn’t pack a toothbrush”

He raised his eyebrows “Pretty weak Is that all you’ve got?”

“Wellyeah”

The Ma, which sounded prettythey’d played This would be their last number, since Union Pier closed at sunset On the far side of the river, the sun was sinking below the tree line, gilding the rippling water After a day on the big lake, sailboats and other pleasure boats were easing upriver, ht I watched a pair of tourists on Jet Skis play a co up the surface of the river, their vehicles tossing up rooster tails of water Although I hated Jet Skis on principle, I had to admit it did look like fun

“I’ll ,” Sinclair murmured in my ear “I make a mean pancake”

“Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm” He sounded amused “And I’ll even let you use my toothbrush, too”

It was at that exact freaking ood and happy and sexy and melty and excited and wanted and trepidatious and a bazillion other things,

I fished it out of ot to take this”

“Work?” Sinclair asked

“Looks like it”

Technically, I’m a part-time file clerk at the Pemkowet Police Departht involve members of the eldritch community Cody Fairfax, aka Officer Do, and I had worked together earlier this suht we’d ood team, but then, I was biased I’d had a crush on Cody since I was in the fourth grade Unfortunately fora relationship outside his species, and the fact that he had a tendency to turn furry and howl at the moon once a month was a fairly well-kept secret Hence, the nickname

“Hey” I rose and walked down the dock to get away from the Mamma Jammers’ wall of sound, the phone pressed to my ear “What’s up? Is there a situation?”

“Hey, Daise Yeah, maybe” Cody sounded uncertain, which wasn’t like hiate a noise coo It should have been five minutes in and out, tops”

“So?” I didn’t ht-up cop stuff It’s not like Rainbow’s End was sohtclub “Did he call for backup? Do you think so happened to him?”

“He’s not responding to his radio”

I covered my free ear with my other hand “Maybe he can’t hear it”

“Yeah, ?”

Oops Hadn’t realized I was shouting “Union Pier” Lowering my voice, I walked a few more yards away from the din “Where are you?”

“I’ lot at Rainbow’s End,” Cody said “I was passing, so I swung by to see if there was a proble’s funky”

“Funky?” Okay, I was confused “Like hinky? You think sos?”

“I ister Not a deliberately sexy register, but a growly, furry, hackle-raising register Which, in fact, was pretty da lot, this place reeks of pheromones”

“Doesn’t it always?” I asked

“Not like this” Now he sounded more certain “Look, call it a hunch I didn’t have to call you, but I thinkon that should concern Hel’s liaison Whatever it is, I thought you ht want to catch it in the act So are you in or out?”