yet,” I said, amused. “And there’s no need for the two of you—”
“I’ve had a wee bit too much whiskey to be driving, but I’ll not be left out of the adventure.”
I laughed. “I think calling it an adventure is overhyping it. We’re just going to break into the motel room of a would-be thief.”
“How did you get involved with this thief?”
I gave them a quick rundown and then added, “And before you ask, Jaz is well aware of what I’m doing.”
“Aware but not approving, I take it?”
I grinned. “But technically not disapproving, either.”
He snorted. “Well, it sounds like the perfect evening jaunt. See you soon.”
I hung up, a silly grin on my face. Both he and Eli had become—in the few months we’d known them—an important part of our lives. In very many respects, Ashworth was the father figure that had been so absent in my life, even if he was closer in age to a grandfather.
I made us all a coffee and then headed out to wait at the front of the café. Eli’s SUV pulled up a few minutes later. Once I’d jumped into the back, I handed them their drinks, then belted up.
“Where are we headed?” Eli asked as he checked the side mirror and pulled out.
He was very much the opposite of Ashworth in looks—a tall, well-built, and very handsome man who looked to be in his mid-sixties but was actually a lot older. Ashworth was bald, short but powerfully built, with a heavily lined face and muddy silver eyes.
I gave them the address of the first motel—which was only a couple of streets away—and then said, “How’d the case in Mildura go?”
Ashworth snorted. “What was reported as a supernatural entity feeding off stock turned out to be a bunch of teenagers pretending they were vampires.”
“Ew.”
“Their parents were none too pleased when they discovered that not only would their delinquents face multiple charges, but they’d be held responsible for stock replacement costs.”
“As they damn well should.” I took a drink, then peered forward through the center console as Eli turned into the motel’s parking area.
“Anything look familiar?” Ashworth asked.
I shook my head. “He was in unit twenty-four, so unless they’ve more rooms in another building behind this one, it’s a bust.”
“On to the next, then.” Eli swung out of the driveway and headed down the highway. The next motel was only ten minutes out of town and substantially larger. Eli slowed and cruised past the rooms until we found the right one.
“I’m not sensing anything magic related,” Ashworth commented.
“My thief was human, so that’s not surprising.”
“Humans are quite capable of purchasing spells, lass.”
“And apparently did, as they used a spell breaker on our storage unit.”
“Have you attempted to trace the spell back to its source?”
“Belle and Ava were doing that today.” And I’d forgotten to ask them about it.
“Shall we break in or make it official?” Eli asked.
“Hardly worth expending the magical energy,” Ashworth said. “I’ll just go flash my credentials and grab the key.”
“As long as your credentials are all you flash,” Eli said, voice dry.
“Ah, there you go, spoiling all my fun again.”
As Ashworth jumped out and headed for the reception area, I felt obliged to say, “Which begs the question, does he make a habit of flashing?”
Eli grinned. “Let’s just say that Ira, a party, and too much alcohol, have sometimes led to various parts of his anatomy coming out to play.”
I laughed. “He really doesn’t look the exhibitionist type.”
“There’s a wild man lurking beneath that wonderfully craggy exterior,” Eli said. “Why do you think I love the man?”
Because he’s warm, caring, and generous, and he absolutely adores you. I didn’t say that out loud, though, simply because it wasn’t necessary.
Ashworth returned a few minutes later with the manager in tow. Eli leaned across to grab the backpack from the passenger footwell, then we both climbed out. The room was basic but clean, with a bed, a large TV, and a small desk and chair tucked to one side. A half-wall of glass bricks separated the bathroom from the main room, and there wasn’t a door.
“Well, you’d certainly want to be utterly comfortable with your partner’s toiletry movements,” Eli commented, amused.
“A door isn’t going to stop that sort of sound intrusion.” Ashworth glanced at me. “Do you want to do a psychic skim before we start a full search?”
I nodded and proceeded to do so, running a hand across what little furniture there was, including the bed and the small carryall sitting