asked, and there was a slight flick of a tongue. Yes, he was definitely something lizard-like.
“Eammon said I should talk to you. I need a little help tracking down some people,” I said.
He grinned, flashing some sharper-than-human teeth and a few gaps where teeth had been. “Talking takes time and time is money.”
“How much for ten minutes? Surely that’s enough time?” I asked dryly, then flicked a glance at Marge.
Her eyes widened, and she snorted a laugh. “Two at best, honey.”
Homer frowned. “What are you two going on about?”
“Ten minutes,” I repeated, “How much?”
“Fifty bucks,” he grumbled.
I dug around in my bag and Alan took that moment to spill out, stretching out beside me. “Where in the fiery pits of hell are we now? Where did you bring me?”
Marge grumbled, “Ghost, you better behave, or I’ll stuff you in a dummy.”
I looked at her as I pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “You can see him?”
“I work black magic, girl. I can see that murdered son of a bitch.” She narrowed her eyes at him and then looked at me. “You do it?”
“Nope. But he’s my ex, so he’s stuck to me. For now. I’m hoping to find a way to unstick him at some point.” I handed the bill over to Homer who took it and licked it before he folded it in half and stuffed it into a pocket. I turned my full attention to the lizard guy and did my best to ignore Alan, who was now strutting around the room touching things. Or trying to touch things.
I took a deep breath and plunged in. “Homer, I’m looking for a necromancer who has a lot of power. He wears a black robe and he made a statue come to life under me. Any idea where I could find him? He’s stolen a spirit from me, and I think a living little girl too. I’m not sure what he’d want with her, but he’s connected somehow.”
Marge grunted at Alan, who immediately yelped, stumbled back, and dropped to the ground next to me. I ignored him.
Homer stared at me. “I work in the cemeteries every day. And I see the necros come and go. Most are weak, or middling at best. I’d have noticed a powerhouse. None in the Big Easy right now.” He shrugged and his eyes slid sideways. Very lizardly.
“I saw him just this morning, which means he’s here now,” I persisted. “I get that you don’t know where he is, but maybe you can give me an idea of a place to start? A necro who might help?”
Marge stepped into view. “What about Eammon’s employee? Lewis or something?”
I sighed. “Louis is weak at best, and while he happens to be in town, he doesn’t like me much. I called him out on how weak he is.”
Homer grimaced. “Yeah, necros are a funny bunch, all ego and thinking they’re at the top of the heap. They ain’t, but you can’t tell them that.”
“Who is? At the top of the heap that is?” I found myself asking the question even though I didn’t need the answer.
“Well, the blood suckers, of course,” Homer looked at me like I was stupid. “They always rule the roost.”
“Yeah, but there aren’t any . . .” I trailed off as I stared at Homer’s face, seeing how his eyebrows winged up. “No. No, there aren’t any vampires out there. Are there?”
Gawd almighty, this was not the direction I’d thought this conversation would go.
“There have always been blood suckers, kid,” Marge said softly, almost like she was trying to ease me into the idea. “The old ones are still out there, hiding. They are not stupid. When they’re young, they are foolish and dangerous to everyone, running around like sharks in the sea. But the old ones? More dangerous and smarter than your average crocodile.”
I just stared at them. It was Alan who cut in with an unsolicited opinion.
“Vampires are not real. This is ridiculous, Bree. We need to go.”
I smacked him upside the back of the head and grabbed his ear. “Shut your mouth, Alan. I’m working here, and you are distracting me.” Damn it, they hadn’t known my name before that moment. And now they knew his too! Gawd, what a mess!
Marge grinned. “We need more than just your name to make a voodoo doll of you, darling. So far I like you, so you’re all good.”
My time was almost up in this stranger than strange house, so I kept my hand clamped