Chapter 13
CARROTS & CORPSE ICK
Maggie
Like clockwork, a knock at the door signaled that Derek had arrived. I opened the door and found him with his arm around a petite woman with a cute black shoulder-length bob and chunky glasses.
“Derek?”
“Hey, Mags. This is Trixi.” He smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
My eyes flared and a slight heat crept into my face.
“Nice to meet you, Trixi.”
She held out her hand.
I accepted and took note of her nails. Coated in blue and flaking. Like mine.
“We already have something in common.” I grinned and nodded to our hands. “Why don’t you guys come in? Hunter won’t be back for another few hours. I can ask all the questions.”
“Oh, boy. After you, Trix.” Derek held out his hand, leading Trixi in.
I took her purple leather coat and hung it in the closet next to Derek’s. “Aren’t you cold, Trixi? Shorts in the middle of December?”
“Freezing,” she said, running her hands up and down her bare arms. “But I’ve got Derek to keep me warm.”
I blinked. “You guys want anything? I was just getting ready to make a turkey sandwich. Maybe some cocoa to warm you up.”
“Oh, I’d love a sandwich!” Trixi lit up. “But light on the meat—as in none. I’m a vegetarian.”
“Okay, cool. But don’t hate me if I get it wrong. I’m more of a meat and potatoes with an outrageous sweet tooth kinda gal.”
“If you’ve only got cheese, I don’t mind. I live off it.”
“Derek, you want anything?”
“I’m good, Mags.” He put his hand on the small of Trixi’s back and directed her to the window seat, where they snuggled in.
“Aww, aren’t you two disgustingly cute?” I jested, made quick work of the sandwich-making, and handed a plate to Trixi. “It’s just lettuce and Colby cheese. I hope that’s okay.”
“Totally fine. Got any Pommery Meaux?”
I stopped mid-step and blinked at her. “I’m not even going to pretend to know what that is.”
Trixi giggled. “Sorry, it’s a mustard.”
“Oh—yeah. Sure, I’ve got some.”
“Mags, the kind you have is definitely not Pommery Meaux,” Derek quipped.
“Oh?” I said, pulling out the yellow barrel-shaped bottle from the fridge and handing it to Trixi.
“Pommery Meaux is from France.” She stared into Derek’s eyes, pulling him in, and said softly, “Stone ground. Beautiful nutty flavor… Perfection.” Then she kissed him softly. “I’m kind of a mustard snob.”
Oh barf.
Turning away, I one-handed my perfectly meaty sandwich and shoved it in my mouth, taking note of the details of the ceiling, the floor, anything except them.
“I love the way you talk about mustard,” Derek whispered. “It’s so… erotic.”
My nose curled and I took another bite to muffle the sounds of them, but it didn’t help quiet the grossly wet noises coming from their direction.
“So, Trixi…” I said, turning around only to find them in a full make-out sesh. My jaw dropped. Trixi had positioned herself so she was straddling him, the bottle of mustard wedged between them as she ground against his groin.
“Jesus—don’t make me get the hose.”
They startled. The mustard bottle erupted, shooting a yellow rope across Derek’s thigh and onto her chest.
“Sorry, Mags, I don’t know what got into us,” he said, quickly wiping the mustard from her breasts.
“Well, I certainly do. It’s quite deplorable.” Uncle Silas materialized between me and them, just inches from their faces.
“Ahhhhh—!” Trixi and Derek screamed in unison.
“What are you doing?!” I threw my hands up in disbelief. “You can’t just out yourself to regular people like that, Uncle Silas.”
“Why, it’s perfectly alright, dear girl. Derek called ahead—made arrangements, if you will.”
“What?” My brows drew so tight, a headache decided it was the perfect time to arrive.
Derek set Trixi to his side and cleared his throat. “You know how we had to shove all the computer stuff into Silas’s cubby when Hunter moved in?”
“Yeah?”
“Well… the last time I was here, I may have shown him how to contact me, answer a call—send a text.”
“Yes. And the poor lad just wanted to have a little fun.” Uncle Silas floated on an invisible chair, legs crossed and completely relaxed.
“Fun?” I blinked at him. “Trixi, you okay?”
“More than okay!” She grabbed Derek’s face and kissed him hard as she leapt up. “This was amazing! What a rush! Where’s the bathroom? I need to get this mustard out before it stains.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I replied, “Across from the stairs, next to the coat closet.”
I watched her disappear down the hall and waited to hear the bathroom door latch.
“What is the matter with you? Bringing her here to get her ghostly jollies off.”
“It’s not like that at all, Mags—I just wanted to spook her.” Derek got up, set the now crumpled mustard bottle on the butcher block, and grabbed some paper towels. “Besides, it’s not like she wants to give him a ghostly happy ending or anything like that. She just likes being spooked.”
“If I must say, I wouldn’t mind a round with both your new dame and Kathryn. They’re quite rousing to fantasize about.” Uncle Silas spun in the air and passed through the ceiling, his smoky essence whirling around us.
My nostrils flared in disgust.
“Can we focus?” I asked. “You’re supposed to be protecting me. Isn’t that why you came over?”
“Protecting you from what?” Trixi returned, her shirt completely removed and dangling damp in her hand.
“Oh my…” Uncle Silas poked his head through the ceiling and ogled her red crochet bralette.
I sighed. “Welcome to the horror hotel, Trixi.”
“My friends call me Trix,” she stated.
“Well, Trix, welcome. Someone’s either dead—” I gestured to Uncle Silas. “Running from it—” I thumbed at my chest. “Or investigating it—” I flicked my eyebrows to Derek.
He raised a finger in admonition. “Don’t forget trying to fuck it… it’s not just those in this room that have a thing for death.”
“I don’t have a thing for death. I’m trying to avoid it at all costs. Big difference.”
Trixi’s face went serious, and she put her hand on my forearm. “Maggie, if someone is out to get you, we’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
“Thanks,” I said with a small smile. My eye dropped to the little heart-shaped gem dangling in her navel. “Cute piercing.”
“Thanks,” she said, adjusting her belt.
I then faced Derek straight on. “I really don’t think it’s a good idea to bring someone new into our crazy right now.”
“Oh, I’m fine with crazy. I thrive on it, in fact.”
“Yeah, Mags. She’ll fit right in. Just ask Katie.” Derek pulled her in, slipping his hand into the torn hole in her fishnets on her thigh.
“I have no doubt you’ll fit in. It’s not a matter of character. It’s just—” I sighed. “Things happen, people are put in danger—”
“So it’s just another day?” Trix crossed her arms with a smirk.
Just then, Hunter pulled up in his Bentley.
I moved to the window and pushed the curtain aside. “Hmm, he’s home early,” I said to the air, while simultaneously motioning for Uncle Silas to disappear, then I whipped out my phone and texted Graham.
He’s here.
Oh, and I doubt Derek is going to be of any help. He’s completely love drunk on this Trixi girl.
Graham: Nice.
Can’t make it over just yet. Stuck in a meeting with Nettles. Be there soon. Keep Derek and Trixi there.
The door opened and Hunter walked in, wearing one of his nice suits and the silk tie I got him for our one-month anniversary.
I rushed to the door to greet him. “You’re home early. How did scouting go?”
He kissed my cheek and moved past me, a cold disconnect between us. He stopped when he noticed Trixi and Derek standing in the kitchen.
“Hey, Trix,” Hunter said, winking at Trixi and pasting on his charming smile like she had something and he wanted it. “Hey, mate.” He sent a nod to Derek.
Derek nodded back.
Hunter loosened his tie and draped his jacket over the back of a chair, moving through the room like he owned it. “Ready to be a superstar yet?”
“Nah… I’m gonna keep this ladder locked up. Only one gal on the rungs from now on.” He squeezed Trixi in close.
“Shame.” Hunter turned to Trixi, “What about you, Trix, care to up your hours?”
“Sorry, can’t commit. I’m swamped at DomCom.”
“Bugger. Maybe it’s a sign to back out of the comic book and gaming world and jump into camming full-time.”
Trixi’s smile held a half-second too long. “We’ll see, maybe someday.”
“Well, don’t make me hold my breath too long, we’re always looking for more PrettyThings.”
“I’m fine just being a ViceGirl for now, Hunter. Thanks.”
A car door slammed and I knew exactly who it was. I waited for the knock, then opened it.
“Graham! Hi!” I said, trying to sound surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Maggie.” He nodded to everyone and rested his hands on his utility belt, cop-mode fully engaged. “I need you to come down to the station with me.”
“What? Why?”
Graham’s face was unreadable. “Nettles has a few questions.”
“Sorry, mate.” Hunter stepped between us. “What is this about?”
“The Pretty Girl Killer.”
Hunter’s hands stilled at his sides. “And what would Maggie know about him?”
“That’s what we’d like to find out.”
“Maggie, don’t talk to him about this case. Request another officer.” Hunter tugged me to face him—not hard, just firmer than I liked.
A muscle ticked in Graham’s jaw. “I’m the officer assigned.”
“I don’t care. She wants another. And she wants a lawyer.”
“She doesn’t need a—”
Oh god, Hunter was going to be so fucking pissed if Graham didn’t back down. I don’t know why it was such a big deal that I talked to Graham about this. “Hunter, it’s okay, relax. It’s just questions. I’ll get my coat.”
“No. It’s not. He doesn’t need to know the intimate details of your private life. History or not.”
“Actually, we do. To establish anything that the killer may take an interest in. He’s most likely stalking her as well, since she’s built an online presence.”
“Stalking?” I brought my hand to my heart. “I’m just going to go with him, honey. I won’t be gone long.”
“I said, no. Not you.” Hunter grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. “Your online presence is my creation, so any questions should come through me.”