Page 43 of Black Bird

“Sure … but I’m going first.”

“That’s fair.”

Rhaena weighed her list and decided to start with the obvious. “Earlier, when you said … if he’d just said yes. Did you invite him out?” Sarah quieted for a moment and Rhaena kept her eyes on the road.

“… Yeah. He said no. He actually told me to ring you up.” She laughed.

“Did he?!”

“Yes. He said you were off, and asked if I wanted your number.”

She wanted to be offended, but found herself flattered by the notion, somehow. “I would have come. And for the record … he’ll never come out of his little hole. Don’t take it personal. All he ever does is coop himself up, read, and talk to his damn pigeon.”

Sarah’s face darted toward her. “Pigeon?”

“Well … it’s a raven. The only other thing he cares about aside from his job.”

“No shit … that’s why he asked me about it.”

Rhaena looked over. “About what?”

“I’ve got a poster in my apartment withThe Raven by Edgar Allan Poein a frame on the wall.”

It was like a slam to her gut. She didn’t want to make it obvious, and chose not to look back over, but how much these two had in common couldn’t be a coincidence. “That’s his favorite,” Rhaena breathed.

“Really?”

“Yeah … his bird is named after him. Poe, I mean.”

There was an awkward pause, and Rhaena glanced at the GPS and made a right at the next light.

“My turn?” Sarah asked.

“Shoot.”

“Are you two … sleeping together?” It was hard not to bite down on her lip. It wasn’t like she didn’t know Sarah was going to ask that question at some point, but she felt completely unprepared to answer. Rhaena supposed that was answer enough when Sarah started smiling and nodding to herself. “It’s kind of obvious, Northwood. Just … you know. So you’re aware.” Sarah chuckled. Rhaena shot her a look.

“I really hope that’s not true.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open in a grin. “Are you kidding? I hate to be the one to tell you this, pal … but your whole precinct knows. That was pretty evident today when I was there.”

“What?” Rhaena’s eyes bulged, and she stared forward at the street, slowing behind a car that was turning.

“I’m just sayin’ … it’s obvious.”

“Fuck … well, it’s not happening anymore. So, they’ll have to chew on some other gossip. Besides, I think you’re the shiny new toy now at the 12th.”

“God, I hope not. I’ve fought my whole life to be invisible, and just dating Brent alone has made that shit impossible. Now I’ve got this whole thing to worry about, and probably much more of it if crap like tonight keeps happening.”

The GPS pinged and Rhaena pulled into a parking space at a coffee shop next to an old model Beetle that was painted yellow. “Tell me that isn’t your friend’s car.”

“Yeah … why?” Sarah asked, shifting to face her.

Rhaena’s eye twitched and she knew it was partly because of the oncoming full moon that she was having more trouble keeping her temper in check, but she gripped the steering wheel and blew out a long breath. “I’ve seen this car a dozen times. When I was working Conrad’s case. I’m pretty sure he’s been following her, too. I didn’t even think about that.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah … you need to tell her. Both of you need to be on the lookout for strange shit. You said when you lived in Seattle you started noticing people reappearing in places you frequented? And then that’s when you were taken?”

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