Page 10 of Demons and Debts
JANE
When I get into work the next day, I’m a little early. I haven’t seen Dreyson at all. I snort softly as I go in the back door. So much for the Iron Incubi’s help. Still, the deal was bound with magick, so they literally have to help me or they like die or something. I’m not really sure what happens to be honest. But I don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to the bargain I’ve made. They already have my payment, so I’ve done my part. It’s up to them to follow through. If they don’t, well, it’s their asses, but then I guess I’ll be back to where I was yesterday just with nothing left to trade.
I walk through the hallway, and I see Chuck sitting on the phone in the office where there’s a bank of four grey lockers for the staff. He ignores me as I take my backpack off and put it inside, securing it with the combination lock I carry around.
I’m already in my uniform under my jacket tonight so I wait in the corridor out of sight for the clock to read exactly seven before I start working. Sharlene comes to stand with me, and I give her a quick grin as we loiter, Chuck giving us the eye from the office.
But I’m not starting early.
He sure as hell won’t pay us anything extra for it. I didn’t used to care, but then he docked me for being five minutes late one night. I learned my lesson and now he doesn’t get even a second more out of me than he pays for.
‘Hey, did you hear about the body?’
My skin goes cold as soon as her words register, and I glance up at Sharlene.
‘Body?’
She leans in closer, her creased face lighting up. Shar is a purveyor of gossip and there’s nothing more entertaining to her than a juicy story.
‘Yep! The cops were here earlier, Sarge said. He was taking out the trash and found some dead dude in the dumpster out back.’
‘No way!’
I manage to look and sound shocked, I think mostly because I am, but my stomach bottoms out.
‘That’s crazy,’ I say, knowing it’ll spur her on. I don’t actually need to ask her anything.
‘I know! So, yeah, he opens the lid and there’s just this dude in there and, you are not gonna believe this. It’s so gross, but—’
His eyes are missing.
‘His eyes? Gone!’
Not again.I swallow hard.Don’t throw up.
‘Gone?’ I echo, hoping my voice sounds normal.
‘Yep! Snatched out of his skull like…’ she pauses, ‘well, like someone took his fucking eyes!’
‘That’s so messed up,’ I say on autopilot. ‘Do they know who he was? Who did it?’
‘Nope, but he was wearing biker leathers or something.’ She purses her lips in disappointment. ‘I wasn’t here before they took the body and Sarge said there was too much blood to see the patch from what Club he was. Anyway, they think it’s some gang-related thing, I heard. Cops are coming back later to talk to everyone who was here last night.’
I feel so sick. Guess I know where Dreyson went, which means that not only have they found me, but they were here last night. They know where I am. They know I tried to get help. They could be watching me right now.
My hands are shaking as the clock ticks. Seven o’clock. I keep my face neutral. I know how to do that. I look over at Sharlene on the other side of the diner already, picking up her tables as the servers on the last shift clock-off. I’ll miss her when I move on. It’s been a while since I had someone I could call a real friend. But, after tonight, I doubt I’ll ever see her again. It’s safer for her and her kids.
I go through the motions all night. I play the attentive waitress, getting all the tips I can. I’m going to need them. At least I won’t have to pay that rent I owe if I can dodge my landlady until I sneak out tomorrow morning.
Two police officers arrive around eight-thirty and sit in my section. Male and female. They’re supes. Shifters. Don’t ask me how I’m sure. I have no clue and I don’t know what they turn into, but they have predatory looks about them.
Why would the supe cops be investigating a human murder? Fuck. If I’m nervous, they might sense it.
I take a minute to push everything away. The dead body, the incubi, the fact that I’m going to have to skip town in the next few hours. I make sure my heart is beating relatively normally by the time I make my way over to their table.
‘Hi there.’Too chipper! Tone it down!‘I’m Jane. I’ll be your waitress this evening. Can I get you officers some drinks to start?’
Both of them glance up at me. The female looks like she’s in her early thirties, dirty blond hair tied back in a bun. I try not to eye the gun at her belt. She gives me a friendly smile that comes across a tad condescending, but maybe I just have a little human chip on my shoulder. The male is a different story. He’s a big guy, older than his partner, and his nostrils flare as he takes me in, suspicion in his eyes.
