Page 60 of Midnight Auto Parts

While we waited on Carter to update us, Kierce and I hung back to avoid interfering with those who were organizing search grids and cocked an ear for any useful information.

“…both women…”

“…reported a bright light…”

“…gone when we got here.”

He and I exchanged a weighted glance, but we remained in the background until Carter arrived wearing a scowl so sharp it could carve diamonds. She noticed us but tended to her team and received a report from several officers before venturing over to us.

“Two female officers were taken,” was her curt greeting. “We’re contacting their families now.”

“Humans?”

“A white witch and a kobold,” she clipped out. “The witch, you met earlier. Byeol Kim. The kobold is Stephy Tate.”

Meaning humans, witches, and fae had been taken. Their affiliations with vampires and wargs made a fine cross section of the local paranormal population. Had I believed for a second aliens were at fault, I could grasp why they would require such a broad sampling. Since I didn’t, I couldn’t explain what, aside from gender, the victims had in common.

“The officer with the…?” I traced a circle over my cheek. “How did that happen anyway?”

“Tate laughed it off when I asked, said Kim got clipped during an arrest two nights ago.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Perks of the job.”

“Hey.” I tugged the brochure from my pocket. “Can you look into this?”

“Grandview Women’s Club?” She cocked an eyebrow. “Are you considering a membership?”

“I found that in Pink Panic. I wasn’t sure if it was junk mail or what, so I called them last night. A woman answered the phone and asked if I needed help. Not likehow can I help youbutare you in dangervibes. I tried to get details out of her, but she clammed up fast. It might be nothing, but it could be something.”

“Okay.” She took the paper from me. “I’ll get someone on it.”

“There’s one more thing.” I scrolled to the photo I had snapped, the one with a number I had yet to call, and as I scanned it, I got a jolt of recognition. “Can I see that for a second?” She returned the brochure, and I verified my hunch. “It’s the same number.”

“That’s the burner phone from the third victim’s car,” Carter said, craning her neck to see the picture.

“Her last call was to the Grandview Women’s Club.”

“Good work. You’ve established a link between two of our victims.” Carter’s smile came on slow. “But maybe in the future don’t touch the evidence without gloves on? I’ll have to contact forensics and let them know to eliminate you from the suspect pool.”

“I would appreciate that.”

“We would also appreciate access to the burial ground,” Kierce said. “Then we’ll get out of your way.”

With a tight nod, she granted permission before dissolving back into the heart of the chaos.

“We need a bone from each skeleton that’s missing pieces,” he told me quietly. “Then we can leave.”

“Okay.” I twisted my hair into a bun to keep it out of the way. “I’ll start here, and you can start there.”

We crawled down, separating to focus on our tasks, but this time, when I palmed the beasts’ skulls, there was a change in vibrancy. Determined to figure it out on my own, I focused on the map behind my eyelids. When that didn’t help, I decided tocompare the feedback against the nearest skull. And that was when I discovered… “More bones have been taken since we were here last.”

“Yes.” Kierce simmered with rage at the further desecration. “Three more.”

“The same number of women from this last batch of disappearances.” I frowned. “What does it mean?”

“I’m not sure.” He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “Collect your bones, and I’ll collect mine.” He thrust out a bag with a crinkling liner. “Place them in here and cinch the top closed when you’re done.”

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