Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
Days passed, and I still hadn’t seen Connor in person since our hike. He’d been buried in work, and his band, while I was caught up helping Vail with the investigation.
Together, we drove around town at night, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity from Sam.
So far, there was nothing out of the ordinary, but it was taking a toll on my sleep schedule.
I found myself staying up late, talking to Connor on the phone when he got off work, and then crashing for a few hours when I got home.
I really needed to see him again and somehow find a way into Sam’s house. Meanwhile, I was relying on Vail’s blood supply. Most of it was from the hoodie man I killed. At least I knew it was somewhat fresh.
Sitting in my car with my phone pressed to my ear, I called Vail.
“Took you long enough,” she said. Vail was waiting at home for my call, relying on me to provide updates during the day since she couldn’t venture outside when the sun was shining.
She was busy trying to find a remedy for the drug—which we began calling “Retch” after Sable’s comment about it—meaning it was my responsibility to track Sam’s movements during daylight hours.
“I drove all over town before I found Sam and Ivy. They were in a movie. I probably drove past this place four times today,” I grumbled into the phone.
“Okay, follow them, and don’t hang up on me this time,” Vail instructed.
“This is actually really funny,” I remarked as I pulled the car from the curb. “A Vampire hunting the Vampire Slayers.” I chuckled to myself as I followed Sam’s truck.
“Yeah, super funny. You should start a stand-up routine,” Vail said flatly. “Tell me what’s happening. I hate that I can’t be there with you.” Her words were tinged with frustration.
“Well, he’s driving down the road, and I’m following him. And now he’s braking because there is a stoplight.”
“Okay, well, just tell me when something interesting happens then.”
Continuing to tail Sam’s truck, I observed as he made a turn and stopped under an overpass. I pulled over my car, turning off the engine on the side of the road. “Okay, Sam stopped, so I pulled over,” I informed Vail, my voice hushed as I ducked down in my seat to watch them discreetly.
From my vantage point, I watched as Sam rolled down his window, and a girl approached him. They engaged in a brief conversation, but their voices were too distant for me to hear. However, I could see them exchanging small cooler bags. “I think they just did a drug trade.”
“Follow him,” Vail instructed urgently.
I maintained a safe distance to avoid suspicion, updating Vail on their movements as they drove.
They were heading toward the outskirts of town.
Sam turned and drove down a single-lane road that led to warehouses along the river.
The once-busy surroundings gave way to desolation, and my grip on the steering wheel tightened, my knuckles turning white.
My instincts screamed at me to retreat, warning of looming danger, but curiosity propelled me forward.
“They’re going down toward the river.”
Vail’s voice cracked through the phone. “Follow them,” she urged again.
“I can’t. They’ll see my car. It will be odd if I am the only car following them.” I was so close to uncovering more information, but the fear of being caught by Sam and Ivy was too much for me.
“I’m turning around.” I made a left turn while they continued toward the river.
“No, keep going.”
“Vail, no,” I said firmly. “We can’t afford to get caught.”
“But you’re out during the day, they won’t know you’re a Vampire.”
“It doesn’t matter, Vail. I can’t get caught.” I continued driving back into town, my nerves settling as I drove.
“Now we know where we can look at night,” Vail replied firmly.
“But don’t go alone without me. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Okay,” Vail conceded, though I could sense her disappointment.
“I’m coming home. I’ll see you soon,” I reassured her before ending the call and driving back.
When I arrived, the house was dark, the curtains drawn over the windows to shield it from the daylight.
The only dim light was from various table lamps and dripping candles.
I heard Vail in the kitchen; she’d been trying to figure out a remedy for Retch for weeks and had no luck.
Without knowing how it was made, and with neither of us willing to be the test subjects, she had no way to evaluate her remedies.
“How’s it going with that?” I asked Vail, who was stirring a pot on the stove. The smell of fish drifted through the air, and the mixture inside resembled a murky, grey sludge.
“It’s not going well,” she replied with a sigh. “Every time I add some of the Retch, it just turns into this sludge. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”
“When your book arrives at the bookstore, I’m sure it’ll help,” I reassured her.
My phone rang in my pocket. I answered it.
“Hello?”
Vail was staring at me when she stirred her pot. Listening to my conversation.
“Hey, I was wondering if you’re free tonight and want to come for drinks with my friends and me?” Connor asked. I tried to suppress the smile creeping onto my lips when I heard his voice. Vail was mouthing no to me, shaking her head.
“I’d love to,” I said, sticking my tongue out at Vail. “Who’s going to be there?” I asked him, and suddenly Vail was interested.
“Diana, Donovan, Sam, and Ivy.”
I raised my eyebrows at Vail at the mention of Sam’s name.
“Okay, sounds good, I’ll meet you tonight. Text me the deets.” I hung up the phone.
“Do you want to come too?” I asked Vail.
“No, I think I’m going to stay in and keep working on this. I also don’t think that it’s a good idea for you to go,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re going to be surrounded by Slayers.”
“Vail, you’re the one who says we need information. So, I’m getting information.”
“But Sam’s going to be there.” I could hear her reluctance in her voice.
“I’ll be fine. But don’t get any ideas about going to the warehouse tonight,” I warned her. “Not without me.”
“You have very little faith in me,” she said.