The door cracked open and J.D.’s voice floated through. “Got a fire to put out, Jaime. Needs your special touch.”
“Just hold on, okay?” she said to me, throwing on a robe. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hey, it’s me,” I said, shifting the cell phone to my other ear. “Is your dad there?”
“Paige, nice to hear from you,” Adam said. “I’m fine. Midterms went well. Thanks for asking.”
“Sorry,” I said. “But I’m kind of in a hur—”
A drill screeched outside the dressing room.
“Holy shit, what are you killing?”
“I think they’re dismantling the stage,” I said. “Is Robert—”
“He’s out with Mom. What stage? Where are you?”
“Miami. And, before you ask, I’m here looking for a necromancer. I’ve found one but she’s not quite…right, so I was hoping Robert could put me in touch with another one in the area.”
“What do you want a necromancer for?” A pause, then his voice dropped. “You’re not thinking of…you know…with your mom? You don’t want to go there, Paige. I know you’re still—”
“Give me credit. I’m not trying to call up my mother. It’s for a case.”
“You’re working a case and you didn’t call me?”
“I just did.”
Another earsplitting mechanical yowl, followed by shouts and catcalls.
“Sounds like a party,” Adam said. “You said something about a stage? Where are you? A strip club?”
“Pretty close, actually. I just got to see a strip act. Wrong gender, though. Now, tell—”
“Oh-ho, you aren’t tossing out that teaser without an explanation. What the hell are you doing looking for a necromancer in a strip club?”
“It’s not a strip club. It’s a theater. Ever heard of Jaime Vegas?”
“The—” He whooped a laugh. “Are you serious? Jaime Vegas is a necromancer? I can’t believe people watch that shit. So she’s for real?”
“In a…manner of speaking.”
“Oh, God, how bad is she?”
“Let’s just say showbiz suits her well.”
“Hey, now, don’t go playing nice. This isn’t Lucas you’re talking to. What’s she like?”
“Flakier than puff pastry.”
Another whooped laugh. “Oh, man, I wish I was there. So about this case…you changed your mind about working with Lucas?”
“I never said I wouldn’t work—”
“Sure you did. When I was up in Portland last month. Lucas was talking about that Igneus case, and I said maybe you could help, and you said—”
“This is just temporary. He’s busy, so I’m filling in.”
Jaime slid into the room. I lifted a finger. She nodded, grabbed a Gatorade, and perched on the edge of the vanity counter.
Adam continued, “If he’s busy, that means you need a partner. I could—”
“I’m fine. You have school.”
“Not for the next four days, I don’t,” Adam said. “No classes until Tuesday. I’ll just hop—”
“Stay. If I need you, I’ll call. In the meantime, can you ask Robert about nec—” I glanced at Jaime. “—that list? It’s kind of urgent.”
“I will if you promise to call back with all the details.”
“I’ll call you first thing tomorrow. As soon as you wake up. Say, noon?”
“Very funny. I’m up by ten. Call me back tonight. It’s only seven o’clock here, remember.”
I agreed, then hung up and turned to Jaime.
“Sorry about that. I wasn’t sure how long you’d be.” I put my cell into my purse and hefted it to my shoulder. “Look, I’m sure this is a bad time for you, right after a busy show and all. I appreciate you taking the time to see me, and the show was…great. But you don’t need me bugging you with this. Whatever favor you owe Lucas, consider it squared.” I stepped backward toward the door and grasped the handle. “Anyway, it’s been great meeting you, Jaime, and I wish you all the best—”
“I’m sorry about what I said. I stuck my foot in it so far I’m kicking myself in the stomach right now. After a show, I’m so wired, I just—I don’t think.”
“That’s okay. I—”
“I mean, shit, I can’t believe I didn’t figure out who you were the minute Lucas told me your name. I knew your mom. Not personally, but I knew who she was, and then I heard about you and Eve’s daughter last spring, so I really should have put two and two together, but when I do a show, my brain goes on hold and—” A wry twist of a smile. “And I babble and blather, and make no sense at all, not that you noticed or anything, right?”
“It’s okay. Obviously you’re busy and you don’t need this, so don’t worry about it. I have other necromancers I can contact.”
She began brushing her hair. “Better necromancers.”