"I thought I'd stop by before heading home." She couldn't get too close though, because as soon as he caught my scent, Hotep growled and lowered his head aggressively: protecting my mom from the bad coyote.
"I'll be fine," I told her, curling my lip at the Doberman.
I actually like dogs, but not this one.
"Give my love to Curt and the girls." "Don't forget to work things out so you can come to Nan's wedding." Nan was my younger half sister, and she was getting married in six weeks.
Luckily, I wasn't part of the wedding party, so all I had to do was sit and watch.
"I have it on the calendar," I promised.
"Zee's going to take care of the shop for me." She glanced at him, then back at me.
"Fine, then." She started to give me a hug, then gave Hotep a rueful look.
"You need to teach him to behave like you did Ringo." "Ringo was a poodle, Mom.
A fight between Hotep and me wouldn't end well for either of us.
It's all right.
Not his fault." She sighed.
"All right.
You take care of yourself." "Love you.
Drive carefully," I told her.
"I always do.
Love you." Zee was sweating by the time the car was out of sight.
He took his hand off the building and the paint returned.
"I didn't do it for you," he grouched.
"I just didn't want her hanging around longer than necessary." We both stepped away from the door to look at the painting that was now mostly covered by a big, fat-lettered red "LIAR." The paint of the crossed bones was thicker than the spray paint, so even though I couldn't see most of the color, I could see the outline of it.
"The vampires dropped Stefan in my living room last night," I told him.
"He was in pretty rough shape.
Peter ...
one of Adam's wolves, thinks whoever did it was hoping Stefan would attack me and we'd both be out of the way.
Stefan wasn't in any shape to talk much, but what he did manage to convey was that Marsilia found out I killed Andre." Zee traced his fingers over the bones and shook his head.
"This might be vampire work.
But, Mercy, you've been putting your little nose so many places it doesn't belong; it could almost be anyone.
I'll talk to Uncle Mike--but I expect your best bet for information about it is Stefan, because it doesn't feel like fae magic.
How badly is Stefan hurt?" "If he were a werewolf, I think he'd be dead.
You think this is magic?" It felt like that to me, but I was hoping I was wrong.