his spirit was actually trying to communicate." Or whether I was as crazy as I sounded.
"Given the reports that suggest your clairvoyance is developing strongly in areas that are not the norm, I'd say there's a fair chance you did hear his spirit speak. Which is interesting, to say the least."
"It's creepy, that's what it is."
"Maybe. But the ability to question the truly dead sure as hell would give us an advantage against the freaks we hunt."
"Only if I'm there when they die, Jack."
"Or if their spirits hang around."
A chill ran across my skin. I did not want to think about spirits hanging around waiting for a chat.
"I've asked Cole to send me a transcription of the writing on the inside of the ring as soon as he can, but if you want to have a look at it, it'll be on the recordings I sent via my phone."
"I'll get Salliane to dig them up. I'll also order a check on the design and see what we come up with. What about Trudi Stone - any luck on your follow-up?"
So the caramel cow had gone tattle-telling. Again. "I went to the club where she worked and talked to an Asian fellow. He was wearing a ring with the same design as the ring I found at Dunleavy's."
"Could be a coincidence."
"Could be. I'm doubting it, though. I have a date with him tonight, and I'll do a little mind-probing then, but I was wondering if you could break into the Cattle Club's records and look at his file."
"What's his name?"
"First name is Jin. He was born here, because there's no trace of an accent."
"Human or non?"
"Human."
"Tread warily, then. Don't let him suspect you're something more than human."
"Boss, I think the only thing he cared about was me being a hot-to-trot female."
"Then keep it that way."
"I will." I paused and started the engine so I could turn up the heater. It was beginning to feel like a tomb in the car, and I wasn't sure whether it was the cold weather or trepidation. "How'd Rhoan's investigation go?"
"It's apparently a regular feeding kill. One of the night boys can follow it up."
I'm sure the night boys - many of whom were hundreds of years old - would be thrilled with that. "I'm heading home to grab a break before tonight. I'll e-mail my report from there."
"Make sure you do. And please, stop harassing my PA."
I grinned. "I needed information fast."
"I'm not saying don't ring for information. Just asking if you'd be less of a bitch when you do so."
"In case it's escaped your notice, I am a bitch. Born and bred. Just shag her, Jack, and get it over with."
"I don't suppose telling you to mind your own business will do any good?"
I chuckled. "Not in the least."
"Wolves," he muttered. "Make sure you report in after the date tonight."
"Will do, boss."
I hung up and headed home.
I had a towel wrapped around my body and was standing in front of the wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear, when Rhoan finally came home.
"Hey, sis," he said, plopping inelegantly down on my big old bed. "Hot date?"
"A hot date that's a possible lead." I pulled out a black dress and showed it to him. "Jack told me earlier that your investigation turned out to be a regular kill. You sure?"
"That dress is too formal. You want something that has him thinking about your bod and what he'd like to do with it rather than the questions you're asking." He pushed up from the bed and walked over to stand beside me. "And yeah, the case isn't connected to our Cleaver case. Peri actually thinks we've got a couple of baby vamps working as a team to feed."
"Like we need that right now," I muttered. "Why can't bloodsuckers keep their kids under control?"
"Most do. It's really only a few who run free of the leash."
"That's a few too many if you're one of the victims."
He shrugged and reached into the wardrobe, pulling out a lime-green ruched dress that had leg slits, a super low-cut front, and open back. "Where are you going?"
"Riceni's. And I'll freeze my tits off in that." Not to mention glow neon bright under the subdued lighting.
"Not if you work this right, babe. He'll be throwing off so much heat and desire, you'll burn."
"That doesn't negate the glow factor of the dress."
"God, the older you get, the less adventurous you get."
"That is a good club dress, not a reserved Italian restaurant dress."
He put