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"Hi, Mac," she said, with a big customer-service smile plastered on her face "And hello to you, too," she practically purred at Aidan, and I barely resisted the urge to smack them both

"Lisa" I pulled her toward the entrance, away fro in to hear our conversation "Can we talk?"

"Uuess"

I headed outside, and Lisa shuffled behind me Aidan held the door for us He didn’t seeaze, but I did Who did she think she was, anyway?

Not that I had any claihts As the door swung shut, the cool afternoon air touched aze fro forher confused expression I added, "From the police?"

"About what?"

I took a deep breath "Amanda’s dead, Lisa"

"Amanda? Your partner?"

I nodded Then looked away from the pity that flashed on her face

"Oh, I’ Her expression was now tinged with sadness, but the uncertainty was still there

"Do you remember when I was here last Monday for lunch?"

"Oh, sure I do" She slanced at Aidan

Of course she’d re in on Monday, since Aidan had joined ive her I needed infor her wasn’t likely to help her ht?"

"Yeah, I remember She came in super late for your lunch date I told her you’d been in earlier and it seemed like she didn’t remember that she was supposed to uess But happy, like, really happy Ready to jump on a table and dance happy"

I frowned Amanda was solid, and rarely showed her emotions That kind of display wasn’t like her "Was she alone?"

"Yeah, but she was dressed up in a clubbing outfit I asked her if she had a hot date and she said yes Guess she washim at Sylvester’s" Lisa’s eyes widened "Do you think her date killed her? Oh ether and forced out what I hoped was an encouraging smile From the look on Lisa’s face, I wasn’t entirely successful but it was the best I could do

"We don’t know anything for sure yet Can you think of anything else she ht have said or done?" Aidan asked

She shook her head "No, sorry I wish I did She was a nice lady"

After quizzing Lisa for the next hour, h Amanda’s visit to the restaurant twice fro other than what she’d told me initially Amanda had stopped in for a quick bite to eat on her way to a club to iddy even--and had seemed disoriented

"Thanks for your help, Lisa," I said, already lost in thought I gave her a quick wave, ignoring her questions, and stalked back to ered Probably to ss over with the waitress, but I wasn’t in any ?" I called overfor his reply, I opened my door and juer built in my chest When had Amanda fallen under the incubus’s thrall? It had to have been after I’d seen her at the cri I would have noticed if she’d been off her game Wouldn’t I? I shook my head in an attethe asshole who had killed her

It had to be an incubus-- fit Succubi thralled their victi them into a dreamlike state that lasted for hours, even days, which made their prey more pliable and easily influenced Incubi could likely do the sa Records indicated their powers had been nearly identical to that of their succubi cousins Marisol had confirmed that research, as as close to firsthand experience as I was going to get Lisa hadn’t seen the killer, but between her and Jason’s statements, I was almost certain it was a ht after he thralled her? Giving her a chance to break free and get help didn’t ave others the opportunity to notice so Why risk it? The answer hit me, and my breath flew froht

It was part of his ga her come back to him, the possession of another’s will That’s why he did it Sick bastard As I pulled into Sylvester’s parking lot, I gripped the steering wheel tighter The freak was going to pay