my common sense, I’ll take you out.”
“I’m sure you will,” said Colt. “I’m counting on it.”
Chapter 11
The little country club in Connecticut where Andrew swore they’d be able to find Christopher was every bit as snobbish and green as Colt had imagined. He had balked at Andrew’s insistence on donning proper golf attire, not wanting to waste any more time, but the DA insisted that luring Christopher out onto the green was the best way to get him where they wanted him.
It was also the only way to guarantee Christopher wouldn’t be surrounded by security, as he surely would be if Colt had called him.
Christopher was a busy man, but as Colt learned twenty minutes after Andrew had sent him an invitation by text, millionaires were never too busy to get in eighteen holes. As they waited at the club’s cafe for Christopher to show up, he felt like a douche sipping cocktails while Jason and Richie were at the changeling’s mercy, but it was the best—and only—plan he had.
“Alright, I see his car,” Andrew said, peering over his designer shades as he stood. “Stay here, I’m sure he’ll recognize you. There’s a secluded spot on the fourth hole that leads right out onto the highway. Pull my car around and meet me there in forty minutes.”
“What if he gets suspicious before then?”
Andrew stared wearily at him. “You just worry about getting the freak in the car, I’ll handle the schmoozing. I do this for a living.”
“Fair enough,” Colt muttered, turning his head away so Christopher wouldn’t notice him as Andrew went to greet him.
“Chris!” Andrew called enthusiastically, giving the older ghoul the upper-crust equivalent of the bro handshake. “Good to see you again, old man.”
“Look at you. Always knew Daniel’s boy would make something of himself,” Christopher chuckled. “If you stopped snogging my daughter in the lake house long enough.”
Andrew laughed, throwing his arm around the ghoul’s shoulder. Colt knew he had to be wary now that he knew what Christopher was, but to Andrew’s credit, he didn’t show it. Colt watched as the two walked off on the green and kept an eye on the time.
Waiting was already driving him insane after ten minutes, so he decided to call and check up on Ronnie.
“Colt!” the younger ghoul answered immediately. “Hey, did you find Jason?”
“No,” he muttered. “I got there too late. I’m pretty much living out the worst-case scenario right now.”
“Oh, my God.” The horror in Ronnie’s voice was genuine, even though Colt knew Jason wasn’t his favorite person. “Colt, I’m so sorry.”
“He’s still alive,” he clarified. “For now. I’m with Andrew, and we’re working on a way to get him.”
“Andrew? Andrew Wilbur?”
“It’s a long story, and the less you know, the safer you are. Did you find my parents?”
“I found your mom and told her about your ‘prestigious award.’ She screamed before I could even tell her about my awesome made-up bullshit trophy for Excellence in Construction Achievements and started showing me all your spelling bee ribbons.”
“Good. Are you on the way to New Hampshire?”
“Not yet. Your dad’s still at work, but she called him and he’s on his way with something called a MeeMaw. Now she won’t stop showing me your home movies and feeding me.”
Colt sighed. “Yeah, that’s Mom.”
“Dude, your talent show Elvis routine? Bad. So bad. Like, I don’t think I have even a teeny-tiny crush on you anymore bad.”
Colt rolled his eyes. “Just tell her I’m booking them a room at the hotel for the ceremony, and I’ll call them as soon as I can.”
“Will do. Be careful out there, okay?”
“You too. And whatever you do, if she offers you the cookies in that tin, don’t eat them. They’re older than I am.”
“No promises.”
Once Colt was off the phone with Ronnie, he went to get Andrew’s car from the valet and pulled around to the woods on the other side of the course. He knew Andrew would want him to wait, but for one thing, he wanted to be close in case things got out of hand with Christopher, and for another thing, fuck Andrew.
As Colt approached, he noticed the scent of wood smoke. It didn’t seem like the kind of joint where they’d have barbecues on the green, but the smell grew stronger the further he walked.
He could hear someone else in the woods with him. Before long, he recognized the sounds of a struggle. He ran forward to find Christopher on top of Andrew, his face shifted fully. He wasn’t a