Chapter 12
Felix sat at his desk trying to compose an email after calling in his concerns about Pete.
That had not been the conversation he’d wanted to have first thing this morning, but putting it off wasn’t going to do anyone any good.
A teeny, tiny part of him prayed the agency wouldn’t find anything, but a bigger part knew it was going to be a shit show.
Especially since he’d gotten the impression there was already an open case.
Way to ruin someone’s holiday, Felix.
Although if it was Pete’s, Felix wasn’t going to lose much sleep over it.
His gaze went to his phone for the umpteenth time after responding to Liam’s text.
Should he call and let him know? No. He’d tell him about it tonight.
Liam didn’t need that weighing on him all day, and he shouldn’t find out about it alone. He should have a friend with him.
Yeah. A friend. Except a friend probably wouldn’t be sending flirty texts at nine in the morning. Epic fail there, and Felix was keenly aware of the sheen of sweat that’d developed on his upper lip as he waited for Liam’s reply.
spell last night go ok?
hope today is better
time will tell
and it will be around 6
God, he was an idiot. Way to just be friends, Felix.
He sourly shoved a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth.
Obviously, his judgement was being impaired by lack of sleep.
Last night hadn’t been particularly restful.
His parents’ mattress was older than he was, and he couldn’t get his brain to shut up.
His phone buzzed, and he lunged for it.
can’t wait
Felix was kicking himself, but he couldn’t wait, either. He smiled, watching the bubbles churn as Liam typed, then stopped, then typed again.
i hope i get another hug
Felix’s breath caught, heat flushing through him—and a barrage of texts came through immediately on its heels.
i don’t mean bcuz ur upset
but i would
if u wanted me to
He grinned, imagining Liam kicking himself.
see you @6
Felix put the phone back down, still smiling. Okay, maybe he was a being a dick with that last text, but he couldn’t resist making Liam sweat a little. Lord knew, Felix had done enough of it when they’d been dating before—he froze, then ran a finger under his collar. Is that what they were doing?
No, it…fuck. Felix pinched the bridge of his nose. What was it he’d told himself last night about not going down this road again? Who the hell had he been kidding? He was already strapped in and going along for the ride.
There was a knock at his door, and Lorraine rolled in, her scooter’s basket full of nefarious packages.
She tossed one onto his desk, and it landed with an ominous thud.
“I’m on vacation next week. Merry Christmas or whatever you heathens celebrate,” she grumbled, her tone definitely belying the message.
“Thanks…?” He picked it up, trying to figure out what the hell was in the brown lunch bag. She’d stapled it shut with a mangled ribbon. Felt like rocks.
“They’re cookies.” She sniffed, adjusting her wig. “You better not be one of those keto freaks.”
Shit, was he supposed to have gotten something for her and the rest of the staff? “No, ma’am. I appreciate it…enjoy your vacation.”
“I won’t, but I’m taking it anyway,” she grumbled, throwing her Lark into reverse. “And if you want to get me something, I’d suggest one of those hidden cameras for the copy room.”
“No leads on the butt cheek bandit yet, huh?” he asked, taking a sip of coffee.
She scowled at him. “No, and that joke of a sheriff’s department had the audacity to tell me they don’t keep scrotum prints on file. This town’s full of degenerates.”
Felix just stopped himself from spitting out his mouthful. He swallowed with difficulty. “That would be quite the lineup,” He daubed a napkin over his paisley tie, trying not to laugh.
She shook her cane at him. “You’re just as bad as the rest of them. Mark my words, perverts like that just get bolder.”
“I’m sorry, Lorraine. I don’t mean to make light of the situation. I’ll see what I can do about a camera. Oh—did you have those files delivered to the library archives?”
“I did, and that’s another problem waiting to happen. One vampire’s bad enough, two makes it a proper nest down there, and no good will come of it!” She harrumphed and floored her scooter, slowly wheeling out of his office.
He sighed, not disagreeing, but he hoped it would be better than the alternative.
In the meantime, maybe Chase or Liam’s dad had one of those trail cameras the town could borrow.
He’d ask them tonight. Felix ran a hand over his face and went back to his email.
Most of it was denying budget requests and dealing with the standard bureaucracy and red tape.
But after trying several times to respond to Bertha Well’s umpteenth request that the town pay for neutering and spaying the raccoons digging up her flowerpots, he gave up and fed what he had to a chatbot.
“Make me sound like less of a bitch…” he murmured.
It spat something out almost immediately. Huh. Not bad. Felix hit send, going with it. There was another knock on his door, and Chase poked his head in.
“Hey, Felix. This a bad time?”
“Nope,” he said, pushing back in his chair. Christ, it was already two. “What’s up?”
“I had a look at that curbing. Did you say there was more of it?”
“Yeah. Give me a sec and let me see if I can find the original order.” Felix got up and riffled through one of the file cabinets lining the far wall. Behind him, Chase’s stomach growled.
“Sorry,” he laughed, poking a finger into Chamber’s cage. The weasel hissed at him and lunged as he pulled it back. “I had to work through lunch.”
What the hell had been that company’s name? Argo, Arrigat… “There’s a bag of cookies on the desk,” he said over his shoulder. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” A moment later the bag rustled.
Ah. There it was Arinson. Felix pulled the file and turned just in time to see Chase go green and spit his mouthful into the bag. “Uh, you okay?”
“Fuck, no.” Chase gagged, spitting again as he stumbled back. “Why the hell would you feed me cat food cookies?”
Felix blinked at him. “Cat food?”
“Dude, I saw a piece of Meow Medley when I spit it out!”
Felix stared at him for a minute and then burst out laughing. “Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Chase glared back. “You’re lucky they weren’t tuna. My auto-injector’s out in the truck.”
Shit. “Okay, that’s not funny, but,” Felix snorted, “it still kind of is.”
Chase wiped a hand across his mouth and what looked suspiciously like a small smile. “Fuck you.” He stabbed a finger at him. “Do not tell Jena.”
“Oh, I’m so telling Jena,” Felix said, going back to his desk. “She might want to ask Lorraine for the recipe.”
“Fucking hell.” Chase ripped one of the chairs in front of Felix’s desk back and sat, scraping his tongue against his teeth. “Damn, that was vile. Now I’m sorry I agreed to come out with you guys tonight. You’re lucky Jena’s really missed you.”
“Ditto,” Felix murmured parsing through paperwork. “I told Liam to pick us up at six. We’re dropping off the urchins at his parents, then heading there. I hope that works?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem. Hey, you hear anything else about that vamp?”
Felix glanced up. “Nope. Why?”
Chase knocked his knuckles against the arm of the chair.
“The node. It doesn’t usually talk to me like it does to Jena, but when it accepted that oath…
” He shook his head. “It clearly said to both of us that we’d need her, the vamp, and neither one of us thinks it was talking about this clusterfuck with Fayet. ”
“Well, isn’t that just dandy,” Felix muttered, pulling out the sheet he was looking for, and prayed Sweets wasn’t right about the universe using their spell as a vehicle to balance a bunch of vampire karma. “Here. I think this shows what’s still at the warehouse.”
Chase chewed his lip. “Jesus. The town took a bath on what Chambers paid.”
“Color me shocked.”
He huffed out a breath. “It’s enough linear footage for what I’m looking to do, but I’m not paying more than market value for it. Figure on getting maybe of half that.”
“At this point, I’m more than willing to cut our losses, and since we can’t afford to have it installed, it’s not doing anyone any good.
” And what Chase was proposing to shell out was still a ridiculous amount.
Felix knew business was good, but damn. Jena had found herself a sugar daddy. Lucky bitch.
“It’s an investment,” Chase murmured like he knew what Felix was thinking.
“If I can build the manor like I’m envisioning, it’ll make my portfolio.
What I’m doing over at the Witchery has already reeled in more business than I can comfortably handle locally.
If things go to plan, by the time the manor’s done, I can roll that into another location, maybe two, and can expand up the Eastern Seaboard with the buzz the press from the manor will create. ”
Felix quirked a brow, with Chase’s magical bent, there was no maybe about it. “I wasn’t aware you had plans for world domination.”
Chase grinned. “Nah, but I do have plans for a big family, and someone’s gonna have to pay for all those college degrees and weddings.”
“Well, as long as Jena’s on board, I’ll be happy to facilitate that by selling you my gently used curbing.”
“She’s coming around. I’ve got her up to three.” Chase grinned, standing. “I’ll work up a bid and get it to you in the next couple of days.” He waved over his shoulder as he left. “Thanks, Felix. See you tonight.”
“That you will.” Anticipation roiled in Felix’s stomach as he glanced at the clock again. Another fifteen minutes until he had to pick up the urchins, then Cruze had rehearsal…shit. He was going to have to take them back to his place so he could grab another change of clothes and get ready.