Page 101 of The Music Demon

“What are you thinkin’?”

“That we pop into the wings at the concert and spy on the kids. What do you say?”

She pursed her lips. “Could be good trainin’ for my job as hunter. I’m in.”

There was no place to park, but Cassidy had anticipated that and was waiting on the walk talking to a couple of people, looking gorgeous in a red suede jacket with red feather lapels and a long gypsy skirt. She waved when she saw him and hurried toward the car with a big smile.

He leaned over and opened the door for her.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi,” he replied, just before it hit him in the gut for a second time. The goddess sitting just inches away with a smile that said she was interested was Cass.His Cass.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“What? No. You look incredible.”

“Wow. I’d be willing to get out and do this over to hear that again.”

“You don’t have to go to all that trouble to hear me talk about how beautiful you are.”

“Look, Darby. You don’t have to say stuff like that to get me to help you with your music. I already said yes. I’m sold.”

“I’m not kissin’ ass, Cass.” She giggled. “I didn’t mean for that to rhyme. But I can’t be the first guy who’s told you this. Even sandwich dude said you’re fine.”

“Sandwich dude?”

“The guy who was in your kitchen takin’ balogna very seriously.”

“Oh.” She laughed like she knew who he was talking about.

“You know the way? I don’t know the way.”

“Yeah. I know the way. Take a right at the corner. So. Not a starving artist, huh?”

“You mean the car? It’s rented.”

“Compared to most of the people in the neighborhood that still makes you king.”

“What if I told you I’ll be eating noodles for the rest of the month?”

She grinned. “I’d say it’s worth it.” After the briefest pause, she added. “And you can come get a balogna sandwich anytime.”

“That’s a very generous offer.”

The concert was everything Doo hoped it might be. He took two hits off a joint that Cass offered, but declined more. He didn’t want to miss a thing.

It felt like he’d gone to heaven, watching Quicksilver perform with nothing between him and them to distract or obstruct his view. They played their hearts out and left their souls bared. Doo decided the demon who gave him those tickets was an angel in disguise. He consciously tried to freeze every minute in memory, all the while knowing that most of it would disappear with the next sleep cycle.

Cass spent most of the night watching Doo watch the band. In some ways she thought it was a more compelling show. It’d been clear from the first note he’d played in the backyard of the Quinn’s Gate Record Company house that Doo Darby had been singled out; touched by the gods of music. And she was thinking it was going to be a privilege to shepherd him toward an opportunity to shine.

The fact that he seemed to be interested in her beyond what she could provide in the way of connections wasn’t bad either.

The dance of budding interest was observed by Lyric and Shivaun standing in the wings behind speaker towers, amid equipment crates and cables on cables on cables. Even from that distance it was clear to see there was chemistry between Doo and his date.

“So. He likes redheads,” Lyric said as if he was making an observation that explained a lot.

“What’s wrong with that?” she replied.