Page 32 of Shades of Silver City

Godric pats my shoulder. “Listen, I know she has a nice ass.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.” I rub my temples.

“Sorry, sorry.” He holds his hands up placatingly. “That’s not who I meant when I said meet a girl.”

“Regardless.” I fiddle with my watch. “I proposed we work together.”

His brow scrunches. “Doing what?”

“I really don’t think she knows about her dad. She knew about the dust but blames the Nightcrawlers.”

“She might know more than she thinks. Or she might have access to information,” Godric says.

Pausing, I take a moment to consider the fear she demonstrated in the alley when I first met her. “She hates the Scouts. There’s no way she’d talk openly about things that threaten her.”

“Do you think you can get more information out of her?”

I stroke my jaw, hating his implication that I’m using Tasia—getting close to her to learn what she knows about her father’s work. “Yeah. I think I can.”

He laughs, patting me on the shoulder. “No glamour either, bro.”

“I’m aware,” I say. Godric can sense truths like I can sense death. But if glamour doesn’t work on her, his magic might not either. “Okay, I’m going to walk Scathe. Then I’ll scout the area again. Meet me downtown in about an hour?”

His frown finally softens, his lips turning up ever so slightly at the corners. “Yeah cause the mutt really needs you to walk him.”

“Appearances, Godric.” Having a routine—especially in Sweetcreek—is crucial to maintaining our cover.

“You walkin him? Or he walkin you?”

“Both,” I mutter.

“It’s been too long since I’ve seen that old mutt.”

Scathe is not old. And he’s definitely not a mutt, but I grin regardless. “And whose fault is that? Maybe if you came around more…”

He snorts. “Tell the mutt to come visit me sometime.”

I chuckle. “I’ll tell him.”

“The ball is coming up,” Godric says. “Got your suit?”

The grin melts off my face. “Hasn’t exactly been my priority.”

“I know, but this is important. We can find out who bought the lab.”

Tightening my lips, I give a sharp nod.

The masquerade ball is an annual event hosted for the power players of the city. Though I’ve earned an invite for the past five years thanks to Ataraxy, my successful tech security company, this year is different. Rumor has it that Mesmeric Labs sold in a private auction and the new owner will be there.

If Godric is right, and the dust is back on the streets, this could be a huge lead. When Pixel tried to find information on Mesmeric’s new ownership, she was unable to locate any records at all. Everything in their servers was mysteriously lost a few months back.

I need to attend this ball, pretend to play the game, and mingle with the people I despise.

“Got a plus-one yet?” Godric asks, a sly look crossing his face.

Glancing at Pixel, I say, “Would you care to attend with me?”

She smiles, tucking her hair behind her ear and glancing at Godric. “I can’t.”

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