Page 13 of Fight (Kitsune #2)

"Do you really think I wouldn't? You taking out that asshole is going to be too good not to tell."

I laughed. "I'm sure, tell her I'll call her later then." I turned and left.

I watched as I walked across the yard, and out the gate, but there was no sign of the man I'd encountered earlier.

I was careful getting into my car and leaving, in case he'd decided to attack me there, and get even for what I'd done.

But nothing happened. Maybe he'd decided I wasn't worth the trouble, but I wasn't counting on it.

I thought it was more likely that he'd try to take me by surprise, to get the best of me.

For lunch on Monday I called in an order for my boss, and myself, to a local restaurant.

When I left the office to pick it up, I felt someone watching me.

I looked around, scanning the area for unfamiliar faces or anything out-of-place, but I couldn't find anyone who appeared to be watching me.

I couldn't pick up any out of place scents either but I couldn't shake the sensation.

I was relieved when I got back inside the office, where I didn't feel like I had someone breathing down my neck.

That afternoon, when I got off, I watched for anyone unusual, or off, on my way out to my car, but I didn't see anything. I thought about it a moment, and realized that the sensation of being watched was gone too.

I didn't notice the note until I'd gotten in the car, and looked up as I prepared to thumb the ignition.

There was a long narrow envelope tucked under the wiper blade, right in front of the steering wheel.

I looked around again before getting out of the car.

I retrieved the envelope, but I didn't take the time to open it right away.

Suspicious that I might be being watched, I quickly got back in, dropped the envelope into my purse, left the parking lot.

It wasn't until I was almost to the stairs leading up to my apartment that it occurred to me to get Devon's opinion. Turning on my heel, I walked across the courtyard to his place.

Devon answered my knock, and smiled when he saw me.

"What a wonderful thing to find standing on my doorstep."

I stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. "Thanks," I gave him a quick kiss as I passed him. "but something's up."

"Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure if wrong is the word, but it's not right either." I recounted what had happened at lunchtime, not seeing someone, but somehow sensing them.

"There probably was someone there. Your enhanced senses know when some thing's off, even if you don't yet know how to interpret what they're telling you."

I nodded, continuing. "And then, when I got out for the day, I found this on my windshield." I pulled the envelope from my purse and laid it on the back of the sofa next to where we stood.

He glanced down at the envelope before looking back up at me. "What's in it?"

"I don't know. I didn't think I was being watched, but I didn't want to open it there, just in case. On my way home, it occurred to me to see what you think, before I opened it."

He looked down at the envelope thoughtfully. "How much have you handled it?"

"Just to take it off the window and dropped it into my purse, then to pull it out just now. Both times I only used two fingers and only on the corners."

"Have you tried to pick up the scent of whoever left it?"

I blinked at him, stunned it hadn't occurred to me. "That would be why I came to you, because sometimes, even the most basic things don't occur to me."

"You're still learning to be kindred, it will take you a while to learn to go straight to senses you're not used to relying on."

"If you say so." I looked back at the envelope lying between us. "How should I go about this?"

"Pick it up by the corner, like you did before, and smell it, see what you can pick up."

I carefully picked up the envelope by the corner and lifted. I carefully sniffed the paper, looking for anything familiar.

"I can smell pack, but nothing else I recognize. How about you?" I held out the envelope for him to scent.

He leaned close, inhaling softly. "I get pack, and a personal scent, but it's not one I recognize. I don't smell anything dangerous." He lifted his head again. "So why don't we open it?"

I flipped the envelope and saw it wasn't sealed, the flap had been tucked inside the envelope instead.

"Guess there won't be any DNA there." I pulled out the flap, and then removed the single sheet of paper inside.

Before unfolding the page, I lifted it to my nose.

Looking up at Devon, I shook my head, letting him know there was nothing new there.

I carefully unfolded the page to reveal the contents.

STAY AWAY FROM THE IMPOSTOR was handwritten in large blocks letters.

Devon read the note. "Impostor? I take it that's me?"

"That would be my guess." I rolled my eyes as I refolded the paper, and put it back into the envelope, not bothering to tuck the flap back inside, before dropping it back in my purse.

"That was far less alarming than I anticipated.

Between the language and the handwriting, I think I know where it came from. "

"Do I need to ask?"

"Probably not. Impostor is what Brandon called you the other day by the pool, and it's his handwriting. Though I don't think it was him watching me today, but since I couldn't spot anyone, I can't be sure."

"He probably had one of his friends watch you and leave the note while he was somewhere else, with plenty of witnesses. Remember, the Anikitos has told him to leave you alone twice now." Getting someone else to do his dirty work could be his way of getting around that.

"You're probably right." I nodded. "I don't want to talk about him, or even think about him anymore, at least not tonight." I took a deep breath and let it out. "Want to go out?"

"What do you have in mind?" He asked.

"I don't care, something nice. I'd love to go dancing but I don't want to stay out that late, plus, I'm pretty sure I can't take music that loud. The last time I tried, I ended up with a killer headache."

"I bet, especially if it was after your first shift." He chuckled.

"The day after." I admitted,

"You're crazy, and damned lucky you didn't hurt yourself worse than a headache." He shook his head in disbelief. "What is it about going dancing that you miss?" He wanted to know.

I tilted my head to one side, and rolled my eyes to the ceiling while I thought for a moment. "Dressing up, feeling sexy, and cutting loose. Feeling the music and moving with it, without worrying how I look doing so."

"So, how about you go get dressed and I take you out, then we can come back here and dance. While you change I'll push everything out of the way, so there's plenty of room."

I was intrigued. "Hmm. Dinner out, then coming back here and dancing with you; and not having to worry about taking things too far in public?" I leered playfully. "Sounds outstanding to me."

He looked at the watch on his wrist. "It's almost six now," He looked back up at me. "can you be ready to go by seven?"

"It'll be close, but if I hurry, I can."

"Then I suggest you go, you're wasting time standing here."

"Thanks." I stretched up and kissed him on the cheek before I turned and left, heading to my apartment to get ready.