Chapter 1 #2
I dragged my eyes back from where I was trying to see through his bulky uniform and watched the silent interplay between the officers.
Officer Trigger Happy was scowling at his partner, and I realized it wasn’t just me that he didn’t like.
He really did not like his partner, who appeared to be outright ignoring the glare being sent his way.
“Sir?” Officer Tall Drink of Water said.
“Sure,” I agreed. It wasn’t like I had anything to hide. My duffel upstairs was only the overnight basics and I was still wearing my satchel, which meant they couldn’t accidentally knock it over to get around needing a search warrant. I glanced at the name stitched on his uniform. “Officer King.”
The officers stepped in.
“You live here?” King asked. He looked around, his expression neutral. His partner, Officer Richmond, seemed more skeptical, raising an eyebrow, his lips pursed.
“Renting,” I said. “It’s a Rntl.”
“A what?” Richmond asked.
“R-N-T-L,” I said, spelling it out. “The app?”
“Never heard of it,” Richmond said. His hand was resting on his gun again, and it looked like if it were between me and his partner, he still wanted to shoot me more than King. “We’re going to need you to provide some ID and proof of residence.”
“Why?” I said. “On what basis?”
King looked at his partner and then back to me. His expression twitched, and he said, “If you just have the confirmation email from Rntl, that would be great.”
This was not going according to plan. I didn’t have a confirmation email, and I doubted that my client wanted it spread around that he’d hired someone to take care of his ghost issue when he was arguing with Rntl that it was just a bunch of renters trying to get out of paying their bill.
“I think I’d like you to leave,” I said.
“Can we take a look around first?” King said. “Just to make sure that you’re safe.”
“From the prowler,” I said, drily. “In this weather?”
“She said she saw someone sneaking around the house the past few days,” Richmond said, eyes narrowed. “You know anything about that?”
I did know something about it. I’d been by the house a few times over the past two days. Once in daylight, once at night, and I’d combed through every inch of the grounds, looking for even a hint of a grave, altar, or anything else that could trap a spirit here.
Still, that wouldn’t do much for my cover story as a tourist here on holiday. I waved a hand. “Look away.”
They began a search of the house, always keeping me between the two of them. At the bedroom where I’d dropped my gear, I wasn’t even a little surprised when Richmond “accidentally” knocked the bag over. It was still zipped shut, and he bent to lift it back onto the bed.
“Heavy,” he commented, eyes narrowed. “You mind if I take a look inside?”
I glanced at King, whose mouth had gone tight. King’s voice went low, and that did something to my stomach. A yes, officer, sir, kind of thing. “Richmond.”
It sounded like a warning, and I wanted to see who would win. Richmond looked older. Was he senior to Officer Goodie-two-shoes?
“He’s going to say it’s okay,” Richmond said, his eyes staring me down.
“We don’t have any reason to search his bag,” King said. “Unless you think a prowler can fit inside it?”
Richmond turned to his partner, a sneer pulling his lip back. “What? You going to tattle on me, King? Go whine to the sergeant? You should go work for the rat squad. Or Paranormal Crimes. I hear they love snitches.”
Stiffening, King shook his head. “Put the bag down.”
“He’s going to say I can search it,” Richmond said, his grin that of a schoolyard bully used to getting his way. “If you’ve got nothing to hide, you won’t mind if I look inside.”
“You’re welcome to,” I said. I’d bet that he had some homophobia to go with that hair trigger temper.
“But I’d probably use gloves. I came here on vacation, so it’s mostly just dildos.
Lube. Some harnesses, you know I like a little light BDSM, so there’s a few toys in there that have been in all my orifices.
And I haven’t had a chance to wash anything yet, too busy with all the gay sex I’ve been having.
I’m doing a whole tour of the coast. Started in Santa Barbara, going to finish in San Diego.
Like a gay sex tour kind of thing. So, search away, but, you know, gloves and maybe a mask. ”
“You’re a queer?” Richmond dropped the bag like it was on fire, wiping his hand on his pants. “Pervert. I should take you in, see how you like our orifice search.”
“Sounds kinky,” I said. “But I actually have plans tonight. So, if your safety check is done, I’d like to get to them. A lot of gay sex to have tonight.”
“We’ll let you get to it,” King said. His face was almost blank, but the slightest hint of a smirk hid in his eyes. Oh, I liked him even more.
“He’s a pervert, we should take him in,” Richmond growled, stalking close to me. He got in my face, but I’ve dealt with scarier than him before and I wasn’t planning on backing down.
“Please, officer, take me,” I said, holding out my hands as though I was inviting cuffs. I worried I was playing the bit too hard, but then I saw King yawn to hide his grin.
“Richmond, you want to explain why you’re bringing him in, be my guest,” King said. “It sounds like maybe you do want to search his bag?”
“You’re a freak. Why’re you defending him? He another of your alchemist buddies? Someone from your studio?” Richmond sneered, glaring.
With a slight straightening of King’s shoulders, I saw the point sail true and hit home. No wonder he liked rules. Alchemists lived for rules, or, more accurately, they practiced magic by them.
With a shove, Richmond pushed past me and took long steps down the hall. He stomped down the original wood stairs, and I winked at King.
“You sure you don’t want to stick around?” I asked. “I’m better company.”
“I’m sure you are,” he said, eyes heating me to my bones like a hot shower after a long day. “Mr. Ferro.”
And okay, so Mr. By the Book wasn’t such a stick in the mud after all. I was about to invite him to leave his card, when a scream ripped through the house. A slam shook the entire second floor.