Flirting Under a Full Moon - By Ashlyn Chase Page 0,4
everything.”
“Do you ever get tired of it?”
“Tired of what? Your train wreck of a life?”
“Not just mine. Lots of people tell you more than you want to hear. It looked as if someone was talking your ear off when I was getting Nick his beer.”
“Nah. That was just a tourist wanting recommendations for cheap hotels. Like fifty bucks a night.”
Angie handed her a glass of Chardonnay, and Brandee took a welcome sip. “Fifty dollars? In this city?”
“Yeah, that’s a hoot, huh? I tried to recommend the hostel I’d heard about, but they weren’t interested.”
Brandee leaned back against the loose pillows. “So, getting back to me…if you were in my knockoff shoes, would you accept a date with Nick Wolfensen?”
“Not unless he changed his policy.”
“That’s what I was thinking. But how do you tell a guy to completely change his lifestyle?”
“Just come right out and say it. Someone needs to.” Angie sipped her wine.
“I guess so. I’ve got nothing to lose if there’s nothing to gain.”
Angie scratched her head. “I think that made sense.”
Brandee thumped her feet onto the coffee table and crossed them at the ankles. “Okay, I’ll confront him.”
“Good. Do it where I can watch.”
“Pervert.”
***
“Nick, I know this is your first case, but we’re desperate. The mayor’s stepdaughter has been kidnapped.”
“Desperate?” That’s hardly a vote of confidence. “If you’re so desperate, why use a brand-new PI? There are plenty of options for a kidnapping case.” Nick wanted the job, but his cop instincts told him something didn’t sound right. Captain Hunter had arranged this meeting fifteen minutes ago. They met at Boston Uncommon but left the bar immediately so they could talk in private.
“There are paranormal circumstances, and we don’t have time for lengthy explanations.”
“I see. What are these ‘circumstances’?”
“She’s a fire mage.”
Nick’s eyebrows shot up. “Shit.” He stopped at a bench and glanced around. No one was within earshot, so he and Hunter sat down. “Do you think the kidnappers know this?”
“Don’t know. No ransom demands have been made. There’s been no contact at all.”
“Any witnesses?”
“A neighbor thought she heard something like a muffled yelp of surprise, but when she looked out her window she didn’t see anything.”
“Where were her parents?”
“The mayor was at City Hall and her mother was in the house. She didn’t think she needed to supervise a twelve-year-old in her own backyard. Now she’s sick with guilt.”
Nick felt for the poor woman. The best way to help her was to find her daughter. “So they may have kidnapped her for her power.” Nick rubbed his chin. “The criminal who’s not looking for money is usually looking for some kind of power.”
“It gets worse. The girl doesn’t know what she can do yet. A female fire mage won’t realize her power until the first solar eclipse after she hits puberty. Her mother kept putting off telling her.”
“Shit. She’s untrained and unprepared. Her parents must be frantic.”
“To put it mildly.” The captain rested his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “This case could make or break your career. I wouldn’t blame you if you decline, but I hope you won’t. I think you’re our only hope.”
How could he refuse? Not only would he feel responsible if anything happened to the girl, but she could burn the city to the ground if the kidnappers couldn’t teach her how to control the power she didn’t even know she had—the power to set fires with no more than a thought.
“I’ll do my best.”
The captain let out a long breath, as if he’d been holding it for a while. “You’d better do better than your best. The next solar eclipse is in nine days.”
***
“Sadie, I need your psychic services.” Nick slid into the booth opposite the woman who was becoming famous for her gift. Anthony’s aunt was certainly good for business. The bar had never been this busy in the afternoon.
“You know the drill,” she answered matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, yeah. The one-drink minimum.”
He held up his finger to catch Wendy’s eye. He’d have preferred Brandee to wait on him, but he didn’t see her.
Wendy strode right over. “What can I get you?”
“What are you drinking, Sadie?” Nick asked.
“Aren’t you having anything?” Sadie seemed surprised. Maybe she wasn’t all that psychic after all.
“No. I need to be sharp.”
“White Russians are my favorite.”
“One White Russian for the lady and a glass of water for me, please.”
“Sure ’nuff,” Wendy said. She practically skipped away and threaded through the Friday afternoon crowd.
“So, what did you need my services for?” Sadie asked.