forget their true natures. Peter and Cody were the most deceptive of all sometimes. They were goofy and absurd in most of their normal living, but at the end of the day, they were vampires.
"And?" asked Roman, getting that zealous look again. "Did you see him in Lake City?"
"No. I followed him once to the Eastside and once to West Seattle."
A chill ran down my spine. "West Seattle? What was he doing there?"
"Nothing," said Peter. "He drove though some neighborhoods, sat in his car for a while. I figured he was stalking prey but saw me and gave up. Which he was smart to do."
"He might very well have been stalking prey," I murmured. "Erik lived in West Seattle. Do you remember the neighborhood?"
"If I saw it, maybe," said Peter. "But I couldn't lead you back there. I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter," said Roman. "This is all we need. This is enough proof."
"It's circumstantial at best," argued Hugh. "Which I told Georgina initially. And it doesn't explain why Hell would want him killed - especially after he helped Jerome. I know, I know." Both Roman and I had started to protest, and Hugh held up a silencing hand. "The contract. But remember, Kristin checked it for you. She said there was nothing wrong with your contract."
Kristin was an imp who worked in Vancouver. I'd done her a favor, and in return, she'd dared to look in Hell's archives and review my contract for me, back when I'd clung to the hope that there might be an error. The imp who'd brokered my contract, Niphon, had been in town behaving suspiciously, and I'd been certain we'd learn that the contract was faulty. Kristin had come back with disappointing news: everything was in order.
"Erik said it wasn't mine that was the problem, though. He said it was a different one," I said.
"What other contract? And how is this connected to your transfer?" asked Hugh. When none of us had an answer, he sighed. "Look, sweetie. I'm as much for a good caper as any of you, but not at the expense of being stupid." He glared at Roman. "You've been around for a while, I'll give you credit for that, but you haven't lived our lives. You haven't had to answer to the system. We do. Don't fuck things up for her with some far-fetched, crazy-ass theory."
"What if it's more than a theory?" asked Roman. "What if it's true?"
Hugh met his gaze squarely. "Then make damned sure uncovering it is worth the consequences."
Silence fell over us. At long last, Cody said, "How much do you think Jerome scared that waitress? Because I could really use a drink."
Roman resumed his coaching, but a weird mood had descended upon us in the wake of the Milton and Erik revelation. We went through the motions, but it was clear no one's heart was really in bowling. When we finally called it a night, Roman declared that we'd all improved but were still in need of more practice. Since that wasn't a mystery to any of us, we set up a schedule for the rest of the week before dispersing. Roman caught a hold of my arm as I was walking out.
"I won't be home tonight," he said. "I've got some . . . things to do."
"Things that are going to get you in trouble?" I asked warily.
"No more than I already am. Just figured I'd let you know in case . . ." He glanced at Seth, then me. "You know, just in case you wanted to know."
"Thanks," I said. Taking the hint, I turned to Seth once we were alone in the parking lot. "What do you think? Do you want to come have a sleepover? Or do you have to go back to Terry's?"
Seth put his hands around my waist and drew me close. "Actually, I have the night off. Andrea was having a good day today."
I remembered yesterday, how, despite her fatigue, it had been clear she'd significantly improved. I felt a flutter of hope in my chest and rejoiced at finally having something that was clear-cut and good in the world for a change. "Do you think she's really healing? That the treatment's working?"
"I don't know," he said wistfully. "I'd like to believe it. It would be . . . amazing. More than I could hope for."
My heart ached for him and for the whole family. I didn't know what to say, so I simply brushed a light kiss across his lips.