Reed snorted. “It was like a mini—atomic bomb.”
Montevista grinned. “The stories aren’t exaggerations.”
“Wow.” Sydney looked at Eve. “So, you killed the wolf a second time, but the Nix showed up today at the festival.”
“Exactly.” Eve’s fingertips traced the veins within the granite countertop. “In fact, the police left a message on my voice mail this afternoon. I wish they would have called yesterday or even this morning. Then I would have been prepared for the Nix to pop up.”
Pausing his stirring, Reed stared hard at her. “The same detectives who are investigating Mrs. Basso’s death?”
“The ones from Anaheim, yes. Jones and Ingram. I haven’t heard from the Huntington Beach Police since their initial interview.”
“What do they want?”
“To talk to me. They didn’t give any specifics. I’m guessing the Nix might be back to his old tricks. He’d already killed a dozen people before Mrs. Basso, so I can’t see him stopping now.” Her chest ached at the thought of her neighbor. “I don’t understand why we weren’t hunting him a long time ago. Isn’t it our purpose to save lives?”
I’m sorry, babe. The sympathy in Reed’s tone elicited a grateful smile from her.
Montevista gave her hand a commiserating squeeze. “No one knows what criteria the seraphim use to target Infernals.”
Most demons kept a low profile. Being too obvious not only pissed off God, it pissed off Satan, too. Neither of the two was ready for Armageddon just yet. Satan wasn’t powerful enough, and God liked things the way they were.
But the Nix was too cocky. He’d been killing women all over Orange County and leaving distinctive “calling cards” that caught the attention of the police—a water lily floating in a Crate and Barrel punch bowl. The death of Mrs. Basso had brought notice to Eve, too, who’d unfortunately had her own Nix calling
card sitting in plain sight on the coffee table. Now, the detectives were looking at her for information she couldn’t provide. Replying with, There’s a rogue demon on the loose, but don’t worry because I’m a demon slayer for God, wasn’t the way to alleviate their concerns
Alec suddenly appeared on her left side, shifting into her home without warning. “Let me guess: Kung Pao chicken.”
“Good nose.” Eve looked back and forth between the two brothers, noting the perpetual tension that filled a room when they were both in it. Alec should have knocked Since he lived in Mrs. Basso’s old condominium next door, it Wouldn’t have been a hardship. But a traditional entry Wouldn’t have the same irritate-Reed factor.
Alec set one hand on the countertop and the other on the back of Eve’s stool. Leaning in, he pressed his lips to her temple. “If Abel’s cooking for a girl,” he murmured, “it’s always Kung Pao.”
“Really?” She looked at Reed with raised brows.
Montevista’s dark eyes filled with amusement. Sydney glanced away with a half-smile.
Reed glared. “If you count ‘always’ as being a onetime thing in nineteenth century China. We’d get more mileage talking about Cain’s ‘Hop on, baby, let me take you for a ride’ spiel. You think I suck at pickup lines—”
“I’ve actually got something worth riding on,” Alec drawled.
Reed’s bamboo spoon hit the side of the wok with a clatter. “Saddle up and fuck off, then, shithead. No one invited you over.”
Eve slid off the stool. “Enough. Satan’s lackeys are after me and you two want to argue about who’s more adept at getting laid?”
“He started it’ Reed snapped.
“I’m finishing it.” Eve wished a shot of liquor was an option. Unfortunately, mind-altering substances were ineffectual in her mark-enhanced body. She crossed her arms and asked Alec, “Did you come over because you have some news for us?”
He shook his head. “That’s the problem. Not a word on the streets about this supposed bounty. We’d expect to hear something through an informant or an Infernal seeking shelter, but it’s dead quiet.”
“You had to barge in on our date to say you don’t have anything to say?” Reed growled.
“No.” Alec smirked. “I had to barge in because it pisses you off.”
Eve snapped her fingers to bring their attention back to her. “The fact that we’ve been busier than usual can’t be a coincidence, since you’re always telling me there is. no such thing.”
Alec nodded. “Right. I’m still digging.”
“Also.. . thinking about that night in Upland brings up something important that I forgot until just now.”
Four pairs of eyes trained on her.
“The Nix said something to me,” she went on, “just before I rolled him into the kiln. I asked,