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“Everyone here needs to take a shower!”

I walk into Lucas’s place and its rank. After a quick inspection I find them all in the combination living room and kitchen; Enrique and Jay watching TV while Lucas and Tic Tac sit across from each other at the kitchen table with laptops in front of them and Jack at the endcap. There’s also an open container of sushi in front of Lucas.

“You know you smell like that stuff after you eat?” I demand, grabbing it and taking it to the trash where I dump it, in a scent-controlling sealed can.

“Damn it, I was eating that, Lilah,” Lucas whines.

“We agree with Lilah,” Jay calls out. “Which is why we ordered pizza.”

“Jack solved the waitress mystery,” Tic Tac says, strangely silent on the sushi, which means he’s a second offender. This iswhy I don’t like to be around people. I find out the gross things they do.

Kit joins hismenand I sit down on the opposite endcap to Jack. “I’m listening.”

“I went into the diner today and flirted with one of the waitresses.”

The idea of him doing any such thing is downright comical. “You. Flirted? Did you describe the way Michael killed victim number three in Halloween 2 ?”

“No. Should I have? I remember exactly. It was a dark night and—”

“No. Please. I beg of you, do not tell me. Just get to the part where you solved the mystery.”

“Marissa, that’s the waitress I just met, she told me they were all paid to know nothing. And what do they know?”

“She doesn’t know. She wasn’t a part ofit,but she says that Meghan who works tonight got paid. And she’s real nervous. Ifyou ask her with your badge as decoration, she says Meghan will talk.”

I’m skeptical but Murphy left me that card to the diner, this new information suggests a large, payday-worthy secret. “When does she get in?”

“Seven.”

“Then we’ll go to dinner at seven.” I conclude.

“We, including me,” Kit calls out.

“Only if you stay out of sight, and in the parking lot,” I say. “I need Elsa to get bold and come atmeso she doesn’t shift back to her target list. And before you argue,” I rotate to face him, “I’m an FBI agent. I do shit like this and if you don’t likeit,I’ll arrest you and if you don’t believe me, try me.”

“Kane won’t like it.”

“Kane has a love-hate relationship with my badge, and if he wants the part he loves, he needs to deal with the part he hates. And yes, I’ll say that to him, but he’s a little busy right now.” I turnback around and offer my attention to Tic Tac and Lucas. “What else do we have?”

“I got my hands on Elsa’s discharge file,” Lucas offers. “She was forced out on a mental health recommendation, but from what I can tell, she was fine after her exit. She opened her business. She goes to the gym. Sheactually doescharity work for wounded warriors.”

My brows dip as I try to work through this. “Then what set her off now? Why create a hit list and act on it now?”

“I can answer that,” Tic Tac offers. “The government had been trying to buy her father’s property for years, for big money, too. She said no. And when they finally used a law, I’ll spare you the details on, to force her to sell, she was not happy. Neither was Mark. He got some big namedattorneysinvolved. It’s tied up in the legal system now, but it’s not looking good for Elsa and Mark.”

“Okay, then. Good work, everyone. I don’t think Elsa is coming for any of you, but coming at you would be coming at me, so sticktogether to be safe.” I push to my feet. “I’m going home to get some quality time in Purgatory. I need to think.”

“What’s bothering you?” Jack asks.

“Her. And how she got here.”

“You want me to come with you?” Jack asks. “We can go straight from there to the diner.”

“No, Jack. I do not want you to come with me. Jay can bring you to the diner.” I step back into the living room. “Ohand Jay, I got you out of the police academy. Kit is going to get someone he knows to train you.”

Kit’s lips twitch ever so slightly. He’s obviously aware that I’m just giving Jay a hard time but also awake-upcall. Somethinghas tochange.

Jay pales, white as awinter’sday. “Raz? Isn’t he replacing the kingpin?”

“Yes,” I confirm, “and I never said it was Raz, but if you survive whoever it is, you can survive anything. We’ll get you started right after the election.”

“I’ll train him,” Enrique says. “I know what needs to change.”

I consider him a moment, aware of the darkness beneath his surface that’s balanced with loyalty. “If Raz isn’t available for some reason, like his new job calls him in, Enrique gets the job.” I head for the door, and Kit follows, my shadow, but I have a feeling he’s not my only shadow.

And that’s why I agree to go to dinner with Jack. It’s not about Jack. It’s about letting Elsa find me.