Page 55 of Insidious Monsters
The eldritch trails had run cold and there were no echoes to be found. This was a messed-up case, and my heart was heavy as we stepped onto the bridge and headed for our meet-up spot—a small coffee shop not far from the tower. Tourists loved to fuel up there before taking a trip up the many steps to scope out the epic view.
Tables with outdoor heaters were usually set up for patrons in the winter, but the area outside the coffee shop was devoid of furniture today.
The place was dead.
I peered through the window, and from the looks of it the proprietor was about to close for the evening. I’d been here many times while taking a break from a case, and the owner was no stranger. In fact, she’d quickly become a friend.
Jennifer was hard as nails, took no shit from anyone, but had a heart of gold. She was also a single mum, and this was her sole source of income. She wouldn’t be closing early unless she had no other alternative.
I pushed open the door and stepped into the warmth. “Hey, Jen, what’s going on? Why are you closing up early today?”
She set a chair upside down on a table and placed her hands on her hips. “I thought fuck it, kicked all the customers out, and decided I’d take the night off.”
I arched a brow, waiting.
She sighed.
“Ever since the suicides, no one wants to come here.”
“Suicides?”
She gave me a have-you-been-under-a rock look. “Don’t tell me you haven’t heard? Three people have killed themselves by leaping off the tower in the pastweek. They’ve shut the place down while the PD investigates.”
Human victims, then. “They’re investigating the suicides?”
“Probably to make sure there was no foul play. I mean, what are the odds that three people would decide to top themselves in the same week in the same way off the same damn floor of the tower?” She shrugged. “It seems awfully coincidental, not to mention that none of the people who died fit the profile.”
“Have you been listening in on the scanners again?”
“Whatever. It’s not like there’s riveting shit to do in the evening once Tommy’s in bed.”
I grinned. “How is the little tyke?”
“Growing and getting obnoxious.” She smiled. “But cute as hell.”
I won’t lie, several cases had been cracked thanks to Jenny and her secret scanner. She’d helped me listen in on PD chatter and pick out the info I needed on several crossover cases in the past.
She plucked her keys from the counter. “I’m not gonna bother opening up tomorrow. No point while the tower is shut.”
“You going to be okay?”
“I got savings. I’ll be fine. It should blow over, and as soon as the tower reopens, I’ll be back.”
I walked her out.
“Everything okay?” Quentin asked.
Jen looked from him to me. “Are you going to introduce me to your…friend?”
“Quentin is my handler.”
“Ooo, is that what they’re calling it now?”
Quentin cleared his throat. “Actually, August is my charge. My rift walker charge.”
Her eyes grew round. “What the heck? When did this happen?”
“A couple months back. I meant to pop in and tell you, but shit’s been crazy.”
