Roland held the spear before him, studying it intently, eagerly. “Incredible, Callie. Truly.”

I shifted from foot to foot, glancing back at Claire. She looked smug at her involvement in my victory. “Thanks for covering for me.”

She shrugged, smiling. “Felt pretty cool. Like I was in a movie or something.”

“You were sure to use my name?” I pressed.

She nodded. “Yep. My coworker, Jenny, wore her hoodie just like you asked, just a bit of a white hair clip-on showing, and I made sure the reservation was under Callie Penrose. We had a nice dinner. Not that I understand why. It’s not like anyone important goes to that place.”

I smiled back. “I know a handful of cops that do. I’ve never been there without a cop present at a table. The nearby precinct loves the burgers they have. And the Guinness, judging by the few that have hit on me there. You used my card?”

Claire nodded. “Yep. Jenny paid for dinner with the card I slipped her.”

Roland was watching us curiously. I shrugged at him. “I told her to have a trusted friend,” I shot Claire a questioning look, and she nodded adamantly, miming zipping her lips, “pretend to be me and pay for dinner. Just in case there are any questions or reported thefts later. Or if anyone is following Nate Temple’s acquaintances in town. They’ll know that the girl that spoke to him briefly at the auction was at a dinner tonight, paid for it, and hopefully a cop or two will personally back up my story. If not, they have my debit card used there.”

Roland nodded, a very considering look on his face. “That is very… devious of you.”

I shrugged, not wanting to take too much credit. “Nate told me I should have an alibi. But the plan was all mine.” I wanted to make sure I was honest with Roland. His face seemed to demand it, even with something as innocent as this. He never would have known otherwise, but I felt better coming clean. “So, how do we get it to the Vatican?”

His smile faltered. “We can’t do that yet.”

I frowned, confused. “I thought if I got one of the pieces out of their hands…” I saw the guilty look on his face. “What’s going on, Roland?” I demanded.

He sighed, setting the spear down on the blankets over his stomach. “We need all the pieces. One piece can call out to another if the right person knows how to look for it.” I gritted my teeth. “And since the Demon is hot on your trail, I fear she will know how to use it for that.”

“And when were you going to tell me this part?”

He met my eyes. “I had hoped to be up and out of bed before you got it. But Claire says my convalescence will be longer than I thought.” Claire’s look told me the other side of the story. Roland had likely intended for it to be a two-day bed rest, when it was obvious to anyone with half a brain that he would be down for at least a week. “I had intended to help you get the other pieces. But it looks like your efficiency has brought you another task. No good deed goes unpunished,” he smiled, trying to douse my anger with a sense of pride at a job well done.

I scowled back, not falling for it. “I need to get the other two pieces.”

He nodded, at least looking a little ashamed. “Nate will help. I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew this would be the case already.”

I began to get pissed off, remembering the quiet moment Nate and I had shared less than an hour ago, sitting on the roof. He hadn’t been quiet because he was dismissing me. He had been planning our next move, knowing that the game wasn’t over. His distant attitude took on a new light now as I imagined him scheming, planning, and calculating our next play, all while leaving me unaware.

Letting me think we were finished, and ready to part ways, but knowing that wasn’t the case.

Like a small test.

Would these assholes — as different as they were — never cease playing their games, trying to be delicate with me? It was downright infuriating. Sure, I had been nervous, terrified even, about my first job, but I had done well! I wasn’t a piece of porcelain on the shelf.

Every single man I knew seemed ready to protect me from bad news, whether I wanted it or not.

“Fine,” I growled angrily. “How do we keep that one safe while I get the others?”

“I can mask it for a time.”

“Of course you can. I’m sure you told me that already, but my tiny female brain must have dismissed it because it was too scary,” I snapped, appreciating his resulting wince. “I’m going to get a drink. Perhaps the bartender won’t be scheming behind my back. Claire, let’s go.”

“Callie—” Roland pleaded.

“No, Roland. I’m always honest with you. Always. Even with the alibi thing. I didn’t have to give Nate credit. I could have let you believe as you would. But I didn’t. I told you the truth. You didn’t. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” That one hurt him, but I didn’t care. “I’ll be back later.”

And I stomped out from the room, ignoring his protests behind me. I heard Claire grabbing a light jacket as she hurried out of the apartment and joined me in the hall.

* * *

We sat in a bar, walking distance from the apartment, but one I hadn’t checked out before. I hadn’t wanted to see any familiar faces. I was two shots down before I felt calm enough to smile. It took me one more shot to use words. I leaned close to Claire. “Sorry. It’s just… that man!”

She nodded, accepting my apology, although her smile let me know it wasn’t expected or needed. A mischievous gleam entered her eyes. “You talking about Roland, or… Nate?”

I shot her a look of pure murder, opening my mouth to say one name, but I let it float away unspoken as I gave her a faint smile of my own, although mine was frustrated, not at Claire, but at the situation. “Both, I guess,” I finally admitted.

She nodded, then patted my shoulder comfortingly. We talked idly for a few minutes, not wanting to discuss any dangerous topics in such a public place. It felt nice. To unwind. Remove the Freak stuff. Just be a young, single girl on the town. No vampires. No billionaires. No cryptic, conniving old warrior priests. Just girl talk. Soon, I was laughing, and drinking at a reasonable pace, enjoying the slight, comfortable buzz filling my head. Just enough to relax me without mental degradation.

“Before you showed up, Roland heard from the hospital. Father David is doing okay. He woke a few times, but is still delirious, and the heavy pain-killers in his system didn’t let him stay awake long. But he’s expected to be fine.” I let out a breath of relief.

“Thanks for telling me.”

She shrugged, looking around the bar for a few moments, people watching. She straightened, setting her empty drink down. “That stuff goes right through me. I’ll be right back,” she said with an odd grin on her face, slipping from the stool. Was she drunker than I thought?

“Buddy system?” I sighed, untucking my leg from the stool.

She gripped my shoulders, stopping me. “Oh, no. That’s okay. I’ll be back in a minute or two.” She was still grinning, but she slipped away before I could press her.

“What’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?” a familiar voice chuckled from behind me. I whirled on my stool.

And came face to face with my lunch date, Johnathan.

“You’re stalking me,” I finally said, flashing him a surprised smile of delight.

He held up his hands. “Guilty.” Then he shook his head. “Actually, you’re on my turf, now. I always go here.”

“Oh? Then how did I meet you at that other bar last night?”

“My little sister dragged me there kicking and screaming. Remember?” I nodded. “That was her bar. This one is mine.” He leaned closer to whisper a secret in my ear. His minty breath and faint cologne were pleasant. “I don’t tell her about my spots, though. She’ll ruin all my fun.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fun like picking up drunk chicks at your bar? Or asking them to lunch the next day?”

He frowned at me, his mild disapproval plain. “No. Any idiot can tell you that never works. I can honestly tell you that I’ve never picked up a girl for the night at a bar.” He didn’t sound upset, exactly, but he did sound… adamant.

I nodded shyly. I hadn’t meant to offend him. Just to tease, but it felt nice to see him get defensive about it. It… put truth to his words. “Sorry,” I mumbled, wondering if Claire had fallen into the toilet. Then I scowled, rethinking it. She had seen Johnathan, recognizing him from last night, and snuck away as fast as possible. Sneaky little shit.