Page 86 of Tested

Chapter Twenty-Five

Connor

My phone rings and when I see it’s David, I almost hit the button to ignore the call. I’ve mishandled just about everything, and David’s the one with the most to lose.

He doesn’t deserve having his de facto pack blown up by my stupidity.

I should have refused Poole’s request, said I couldn’t keep the investigation a secret from Trajan.

Told my great-whatever grandmother to go back to hell.

On the third ring, I do answer. I’m at a house that’s apparently some kind of group home for disaffected shifters. Smith had an appointment with one of them, so I’m waiting outside till he’s done.

“Hey. Thanks for taking my call,” he says, like he can sense my ambivalence from wherever he is.

Where is he?I hear traffic sounds, louder than if he were at the house. “What’s up? Do you need a ride somewhere?”

“I’m waiting on an Uber, thanks.” He pauses and says, “See you later” to someone. “Sorry,” he continues. “I just talked with Lydia and there’s a couple things you should know.”

He’s very matter-of-fact and professional, which helps me be the same. “Should I take notes?”

“Hang on. I can text you.”

“It’s okay. I’ll remember. Just tell me what she said.”

He cuts off a sigh. “She said Joey DelMarco is spreading the word that he’ll sell the name of the murderer to the highest bidder.”

Smith comes up the front walkway, so I repeat what David has said. His eyes widen but he doesn’t otherwise respond. I go back to my phone call.

“Smith is here,” I say for David’s benefit. “That’s pretty crazy, especially since we just talked to the guy.”

David laughs. “Must be neither of us look like we’ve got an extra twenty grand hanging around.”

“True.”

“She said something else, too. She’s heard that Janet Edmond’s boyfriend, Tommy, was killed the other night, too.”

Janet Edmond’s boyfriend Tommy…the guy Smith went to talk to last night. “Yeah, that’s crazy too.”

“What?” Smith asks, but I put up my hand. Smith hadn’t mentioned the guy was dead, and all of a sudden I have a really bad feeling. “I’ll tell you later,” I murmur, and then, to David, “Stay safe, okay? I’m going to come by the house after sunrise and pick up my stuff.”

There’s a long enough pause that I’m not sure David will answer me at all.

“Not all of your stuff.”

“David.” It’s more of a sigh than an actual word. I want nothing more than to talk to him, but not with Smith breathing down my neck.

“Don’t youDavidme, drama queen. You don’t get to cut and run. You’re going to come back here and the three of us will sit down like fucking grown-ups and come up with a brilliant plan.”

And a little child shall lead them. That bit of religiosity has me stifling a laugh. “Okay, I’ll call you when I’m headed your way.” I mean, there’s no chance in hell Trajan will be able to cut his ties to Jacques, and as long as his maker’s around, I’m on very thin ice.

We end the call and I meet Smith’s gaze. He’s got an eyebrow raised, as if he’s expecting me to spill more information. I’m already unhappy that I told him about Joey DelMarco. “You talk to Janet Edmond’s boyfriend last night?”

“Yeah, he’s a dirt bag. Didn’t have anything worthwhile to say.”

If Smith is lying, it’s one of the coldest displays I’ve ever seen. His aura doesn’t even flicker. “Cool, well, do we have anyone else on the list for tonight?”

“I think we about covered it. Why don’t you head home and we can touch base around noon tomorrow.”