Page 19 of Hounded

Despite having carried on a relationship with an artist for decades, I knew little about that field and the players who populated it. Most mortal business didn’t concern me. People came and went, lived and died. They rarely warranted my notice.

“Well, I promise Indy has,” Sully said.

“Had,” I corrected. “He’s different now.”

Sully’s brows scrunched.

The waitress sidled up to our table to deliver cinnamon rolls and the check.

I reached for the ticket, but Sully was faster, pulling it into her lap while she dug a patchwork coin purse from her skirt pocket. She stacked a pair of twenties on the bill and pushed it to the corner of the tabletop before turning her utensils on her cinnamon roll.

“Regardless,” she said with emphasis, “you should bring Indy to the show. It would make a nice date.” Her mischievous grin made clear that she reveled in the opportunity to piece together my fragmented love life.

“Free drinks, hors d’oeuvres,” she continued. “Not to mention it would give you a chance to peacock a little. I know how well you clean up.”

I looked down at my cinnamon roll and took a spoon from my silverware bundle, using its blunt end to cut lines through the icing pooled on the plate.

“We’ll see,” I said.

Polishing off the coffee in her mug, Sully set it on the table with a clunk. She swiped her napkin across her lips to reveal a smirk. “You’ll be there. I’ll tell Indy and let him drag you kicking and screaming if that’s what it takes. And you’ll thank me afterward when he’s putty in your hands.”

I chewed my lip while scooping globs of icing onto the tip of my spoon and watching them dribble off. My stomach had turned along with our conversation and was so stirred up now that I couldn’t bring myself to eat another bite.

“Loren,” Sully said, gently calling my attention.

With my head still down, I lifted my gaze to meet hers.

“He’s gonna love you.” She smiled. “He always does.How could he not?”

A deep breath filled my chest, but I didn’t reply as Sully set to work on finishing her cinnamon roll. When she was done, she scooted to the edge of the booth seat and stood, beckoning for me to rise as well.

We headed for the exit, where I broke out ahead to hold the door.

As she passed onto the sidewalk outside, Sully called to me. “You wanna come back to my place for awhile?”

“I have work,” I replied. A job that Whitney recently reminded me of. If he was irritated by my delay, then Moira was twice as much. I could only test her patience so far.

Sully brightened with sudden interest. “Who’re you after this time? Politician? Movie star?”

We waited at the intersection until the walk sign flashed. Other pedestrians wove around us in a hurry, and I waited until they were several feet ahead before responding.

“A cop.”

“Oof.” Sully winced. “Cops are civil servants. Pretty sure killing one makes you the bad guy, Lore.”

I paused mid-step and turned toward her, then swung my arm in reference to myself. “Demon.”

“Demonic.” She ticked her finger. “You’re possessed. A vessel for a demon.”

“More like their junkyard dog,” I muttered.

We walked on, accompanied by the sounds of rushing traffic and passersby chattering on cellphones.

“Is he a bad cop, at least?” Sully asked, a bit breathless from rushing to match my long strides.

“He made a deal with a demon so,” my brow furrowed, “not a great cop.”

“Yousigned a deal with a demon, and you’re pretty all right.”

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