Page 67 of Cheater Slicks

The sisters had a way of always reducing anything remotely biblical todo as we say or get eaten.

Sharks were optional.

Hrm. I should practice. See if I could manage even a small hop before taking a bigger plunge.

The Atlantic would be freezing this time of year if I miscalculated on the beach house and hit the water.

“This doesn’t sound like a great plan.” Josie’s gaze tagged the door. “You’re sure Kierce can’t help?”

“Are you willing to trust Matty’s wellbeing to Dis Pater?” That was what it amounted to, now that I had gotten the god’s temper raging. “He did murder me for funsies.”

With the toe of my shoe, I broke the circle, unable to drive Josie’s idea about the cat ID tag out of my head.

Leaving her with Pascal, I sought out Rollo, who was about as happy to see me as expected after our earlier excursion.

“No,” he said sharply. “You’re not going out twice in one night.”

The flat refusal stumped me. “But?—”

“Mamaw would whoop me if I let you get hurt. Don’t like it? Ask your boyfriend to stand in for me.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Life’s not fair.”

“Leave the boy alone,” Jean-Claude said from the doorway. “He’s only doing what Vi would do.”

When I tried to argue but found I couldn’t, I had to remind myself Rollo was the next best thing to a professional anchor. He was the most experienced one in this area and had the benefit of a lifetime of absorbing crumbs of information Vi dropped throughout her daily life. Jean-Claude had made his point. I should trust Rollo with my best interests, in this case.

The ticking clock was making me reckless if I was willing to storm Dis Pater’s house in search of his cat who, knowing my luck, would have a QR code engraved on his tag instead of his details. Which I couldn’t scan because phones and astral travel didn’t go together.

“You’re right.” I surprised both of them with my easy acquiescence. “I shouldn’t push my luck.”

“I don’t trust that look on your face.” Rollo rapped his knuckles on his desk. “What are you thinking?”

“Come on.” Jean-Claude gripped my arm. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.”

“That’s a bold claim, but you’re the one fool enough to make it.” He sighed. “Good luck,mon ami.”

To keep the tentative peace, I let Jean-Claude drag me into the hall so Rollo could get back to work.

Leaning down, he guaranteed he held my full attention. “Have you considered all your options?”

“You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Kierce is in the basement, helping me with a project that will keep him occupied for a good hour.”

“Okay, well, you just shut down my sales pitch to Rollo, so…?”

“There’s more than one way to skin a cat,cher. Or, in your case, a cop.” He released me, pivoting on his heel. “One hour.”

I was embarrassed to admit I stood there for a full minute before his meaning sank in.

Anunit.

She could help me. Maybe. I had to brave Harrow to find out.

Nervous about the state I would find him in, I walked up to his door and knocked twice.

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