Page 92 of Cold Curses

“All signs point to yes. Fortunately, that was enough for a judge to give us a search warrant.”

“Not an arrest warrant?”

“Not without direct evidence tying Dante to the death. The ‘D’ on the note wasn’t enough. We’re heading to the condo now. Where are you?”

“East Side ERC.”

“We can pick you up there. Perhaps when they’re done, your shifter friends would like to tussle with a mess of demons currently running wild through Grant Park?”

Connor glanced at Kieran, brows lifted. Kieran nodded at the silent invite.

“We’ll handle it,” Connor said.

“Petra will email you the details,” Theo said. “Elisa, we’ll be there in ten.”

“Ombuds cooperating with a CPD officer,” Kieran said, and sounded surprised to hear it.

“They don’t call or cooperate out West?” I asked.

“They don’t. Marin County police generally prefer to pretend supernaturals don’t exist.”

“Not a luxury we have in Chicago,” I said. “And we need all the help we can get. So, thanks for heading all the way out here to offer your support.” My voice was exceedingly pleasant.

I climbed out of the SUV, went to the other side of the vehicle,and kissed Connor through the open driver’s-side window. “Be careful. Who knows what kind of germs they carry.”

He smiled. “We will, and same to you.”

“Always,” I said, and kissed him again for good measure.

Then I shifted my gaze to Kieran, who watched us with an expression that wasn’t as light as friendly curiosity, but wasn’t as antagonistic as full suspicion. Skepticism, maybe.

“I don’t care why you’re here,” I said, giving voice to the thing we were all thinking about. “And unlike Connor, I don’t have to be diplomatic. If you put him in danger, you’ll answer to me.” I smiled, with fangs. “And I bite.”

* * *

Fortunately, Gwen was driving a CPD cruiser, as I’d have had a very uncomfortable time trying to fold myself into the backseat of her tiny convertible. Instead, I played perp behind bulletproof glass, and talked to her and Theo through the tiny perforations. I was glad Kieran didn’t witness that, as it would’ve taken some of the shine away from my fantastic parting line.

“Kieran Swift, eh?” Theo asked. “Goodwill mission?”

“The pretense seems to be he’s here to help with demon management.”

“You don’t think so?” Gwen asked, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.

“I think he’s here to evaluate Connor’s power and determine whether Connor’s avoiding challenges because he’s not strong enough to win.”

“Dangerous presumption,” Theo said.

“Fortunately for him, Connor is not an asshole. But I’m not expecting much out of the demon patrol. Wouldn’t surprise me if he stood by and watched. Many shifters have an irritating habit of letting other people handle their problems.”

“Anything new with Lulu?” Gwen asked.

“No change. Alexei and Aunt Mallory are taking shifts.”

“Hopefully this will help,” she said. “We don’t have enough to convince a judge to give us an arrest warrant—or not those still in town, anyway—but who knows what goodies we can find in his condo?”

“Crappy art and lizard-skin shoes.”

“Not taking that bet,” Theo said.