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Sixty-tas halfway between a va powerful I had wondered what I would read Psy-o in policeazine, only used by federally funded law enforceured I would never see one, but here was a psy- around witches," I said, my tone nonchalant "I have some powerful witch amulets Molly washedone shoulder, and ate another cookie though the crumbs stuck in my throat "Pick one I don’t really care"

"We don’t much like witches in New Orleans," Herbert said

"Why not? They did their best to steer Katrina and Rita and Ivan back into the gulf," I said The cop’s face twisted in prejudice and hatred Ahhh I’d found his hot button and the reason he was brought to visit me Beast could suy was a serious witch hater Which ticked me off

"Not their fault that one coven didn’t have the power to sendcruer than any one faory five to a cat-three at landfall You gotta give theun butt and his night-stick "Don’t gotta do nothing"

"You gotta be a dickhead," I said, rinned at hie of her playing with an injured rabbit and let rin widen But I carefully didn’tus speculatively Yeah She’d picked her position

"We don’t like witches in N’awlins, no better’n we like va in onit aside with a screech of wood Beast watched hiathered herself I held her still "Vamps, who killed a dozen cops and ate ’e for the cop killers"

When he o feet away, Jodi grabbed his arm and said sharply, "Jis and unable to help myself "No one knows if the caht video Youan ass outta yourself, and spouting off so a lot of tourist money in I bet no one wants to annoy the moneymakers"

"The vamp council can kiss my--"

"Jim! Outside Now"

He jerked away and stohed and felt a bit guilty all at once Though Beast was having fun, I didn’t particularly like the fact that I enjoyed baiting the law It wasn’t s to help us, are you?" Jodi asked, her voice so soft that it inary audio pickups

"I’ your cops, your hookers, and your tourists Sounds like help to ain, her voice soft with real curiosity

"I already addressed that question"

"Your papers claim you’re twenty-nine, but you act like a fifteen-year-old kid half the tirandhter, you set offpower of so power, and you deliberately taunt a cop when you ht hiuessed, but race to blush I huffed a laugh "Good cop/bad cop works only in the movies I have your cell number, Jodi I’ll call if I need backup I’ll call if I need infor that NOPD needs to know"

"Why didn’t you just offer that right up front?"

"Why didn’t you just ask for it right up front?"

Jodi stared atAfter a good minute of that, she heaved a breath and turned to the door "Thank you for your time"

Silent, I followed her to the door and locked it after her When they pulled away, I walked to the bedroom and threw myself onto the bed Could I be any more stupid? Could I?

Beast purred in happiness Fun

I wished that Molly would call On the heels of the thought, the phone rang I rolled over, yawned at the ceiling, and answered Molly’s number showed on the readout "How’d you do that? You’re a witch, not a psychic"

"I didn’t," she said "Angie told irl was scary strong When Angie ca out of her in athe trailer they lived in at the time When I rode up, it was to see theas going on, I raced inside, right into theEvan, who hadn’t knohat I was Molly can keep a secret