Page 26 of Insidious Monsters
I grinned. “You took it like a champ, though.”
He shuddered. “What is wrong with some people. In what universe is it okay to hand a stranger your snotty tissue?”
“Agreed,” Dottie said. “Not cool.”
“Thanks, luv.” Archie patted Dottie.
“No problem.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The two had been buddy-buddy ever since our night at the club and their stint on the dance floor.
I guess music did bring people together.
“So what’s the plan?” Archie asked. “We head down to Bentley Station, strong-arm this Margie, and force her to put out the word on Marty?”
“Or…” I poured myself a coffee. “We head down to Bentley and politely ask Margie for her help.”
“Aw, come on, it’s been weeks since we strong-armed anyone. I didn’t even get in a decent punch on faceless man.”
His words reminded me that he was the reason I was safe. That I owed him. I handed him the freshly poured coffee. He looked down at the mug in surprise.
“Just take the damn thing, will you.”
He took it with a grin. “I could get used to this.”
“Yeah, well, don’t. Gratitude has a statute of limitations, you know, and mine runs out in about…” I looked at my watch. “Six hours.”
“I wish I’d been there,” Dottie said. “I’d have scalded the shit out of him.”
Archie’s brows shot up and I could see the lightbulb appear above his head, see the wordswe should so take Dottie with us on our next casehovering on his lips.
“No.” I shot him a glare.
“You don’t know what I was about to say.”
“Yeah, I do, and the answer is no.”
“What?” Dottie asked. “What’s the question?”
I gave Archie mydon’t you darelook.He touched the tip of his tongue to his top lip, grinning evilly at me. “I think the statute of gratitude needs to be extended by a day, don’t you?”
Fucker. “Fine.”
“What’s going on?” Dottie asked.
“I was going to suggest we have another night on the town, but reality-check chick here”—he looked at me—“feels we need to focus on work right now.”
“Oh, boo,” Dottie said.
“Soon though, Dot, I promise.” I picked up my notepad. “We’ll fill August in when she gets here with lunch.” I glanced at my watch again. “She’s late.”
“Roll With It could be busy,” Archie said.
We still had to scout for her latest eldritch, and the rift coordinates Quentin had sent to Archie were an hour away. I needed some downtime before our visit to Margie tonight. I hated to admit it, but I’d been feeling drained recently, and the headaches I usually only got after stepping onto the spirit plane were getting more frequent.
My phone rang and I answered without checking caller ID.
“Nandi, where are you?” Celine asked.
