Instagram. I can tell you what she had for breakfast the morning she died.”
“I’m guessing there’s no obvious connection.”
“No, and depending on what ritual was performed, it might not have mattered. If whoever killed them needed blood, any blood will do.”
“I think it would be a good idea to have the High Priestess reach out to the covens in the area and make sure none of the victims were witches.”
“Good idea, I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“Thanks. She filled me in on the demon you came across last week, and if they really are planning something big, we need to be ready.”
I shovel another loaded chip into my mouth, wanting to tell Ruby that I more than appreciate her help but don’t want to put her in danger, though I have a feeling she’ll say the same thing Easton said. If the world is in danger, it’s everyone’s problem.
My phone dings with a text. It’s too soon for it to be Lucas, and it’s not. It’s Abby.
Abby: Do you know why Scott is ranting about Lucas getting arrested yesterday evening?
Me: Because he did get arrested.
Abby: ??
Abby: I saw you that night.
Abby: I’m so confused. He’s saying you blew up his office now.
Me: I did.
Abby: Hang on. I’m calling you.
“I need to talk to my sister,” I tell Ruby and get up, grabbing one last chip, eating it as I walk into the front sitting room. “Hey, Abby,” I say, answering the phone after only one ring.
“What is going on?” she whispers. “Scott keeps saying Lucas is in jail.”
“That’s because he thinks he is.”
“You altered his memory?”
“The opposite, actually,” I tell her. “He and Ella were the only memories that didn’t get altered.”
I hear a door close, and something rustles through the phone. “Okay, I’m in my closet,” she says, speaking a little louder. “What happened?”
“I’m guessing you didn’t see the news where William and Scott are trying to get some new law passed that will punish anyone who’s in a relationship with or works for a vampire, did you?”
“What?”
“I take that as a no. They want to take away healthcare and insurance from anyone with any sort of relationship, whether it be personal or professional, with a vampire. My employees at the bookstore would be affected by this because I’m married to Lucas. If this law goes into effect, their insurance companies can legally drop them or charge them an insane amount.”
“That’s terrible!”
“I know. And the only reason they’re doing it is to lash out at me, because Nancy and William had dinner at the same restaurant Lucas and I did, and that creepy old white guy, Gregory Smith, I think is his name, and his wife were there, and they knew who I was and tried to roll with the Callie was off helping poor kids in Africa story. I didn’t play and said I had no idea who they were.”
“So they got embarrassed and are punishing millions of people to punish you. I’m so sorry, Callie.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t do anything, and I have doubts these laws will go into effect, right? Like you said, millions will be hurt from it. I’m trying to be hopeful that there are more decent people in the country or the…the place where they vote for things.”
“Yeah, me too. But, uh, how does this have anything to do with Scott thinking Lucas got arrested?”
“Because he really did,” I say. “We went to talk to Scott, to tell him if he has an issue with me then take it up with me alone. He must have hit a silent alarm or something, and the cops showed up, blah, blah, blah, and Lucas didn’t resist arrest and instead went peacefully.”
“Was this after I saw you?”
“No, before.”
“But…when…how?” she stammers.
I bite my lip and look out the window at the front yard. Frost covers the lawn, glimmering in the light cast down by the lamp posts along the cobblestone path. I know what her reaction will be if I told her Lucifer flew in and saved the day, and I know I’m going to find it unfair to him. He’s helped me many times now, not including how he saved Abby’s life.
“I had some family help me.”
“Oh, you mean your dad’s side.”
“Yes,” I say, and it’s not a lie. “Everyone’s memory got altered except Scott. There’s no record of Lucas getting arrested. No body cam footage to go over. It’s like it never happened.”
“Wow. Well, that was a much more complicated response than I was expecting.”
“And