Page 125 of Dead Heat

Now I was thoroughly confused. Why didn’t he want to be found by Erika?

I looked at the golden-haired beauty. “Would you mind giving us a minute alone?”

He cut a quick glance at Oskar. “Do you want to be alone with these intruders?”

Oskar nodded. “It’s okay, Ivar. Thank you.”

Ivar pointed at his eyes and then pointed the same two fingers at me.

You’re keeping an eye on me. Got it.

“Please don’t take me to her,” Oskar pleaded. “I’ll give you anything you want.” He paused. “Well, I can’t offer you much in Helheim, but I left riches behind in your world.”

“Is that what Erika wants?” I asked. “Your valuables?”

“In a sense.”

“I’m going to need you to be a little more forthcoming, Oskar.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “I worked for an auction house before I died. That’s where I met Erika. She seduced me, told me she loved me, then asked me for a favor.”

“Boy, Erika has her whole blackmail thing down to a science.” At least she hadn’t used one of her daughters for this particular scheme. “What was the favor?”

“She asked me to steal an item before it went to auction.” He offered a weary smile. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“That you’re the ideal thief.”

Oskar’s eyebrows inched up. “Is that really what you’re thinking?”

“Yes. You’re nondescript. Probably trustworthy. Who better to slip in and out of a room unnoticed? What was the item?”

“A mistletoe arrow.”

I slapped my forehead. “You’re the guy.”

Oskar frowned. “You know about this?”

“Not in great detail. My friend is a regular at auctions in and around New York City. He mentioned that the arrow went missing, and someone died.” For once, The Corporation wasn’t to blame.

“Did someone catch you and kill you for it?” Max asked.

“No. I decided to do a little research on the item after I stole it. I know, I know. I really should have done my work beforehand, but I’m pretty sure Erika had been using a spell on me to keep me sweet on her. Once the spell started to wear off, I was able to see her clearly. In truth, she frightened me.”

“I guess you didn’t like what you found out,” I said.

He shook his head. “The mistletoe arrow was the same one used to kill Baldur during a great feast of the gods.”

“And you believed Erika wanted to use it for a similar purpose?”

He nodded. “I pretended I hadn’t managed to acquire it yet and asked her a few questions. If she’d only wanted it as a piece of history, I would’ve given it to her, but it was clear she had more nefarious plans for it.”

“She actually admitted that to you?” Max asked.

“She thought I was still under her thrall.”

“Typical witch,” I murmured.

“I went straight home and hid the arrow. She discovered from a news report that it had been stolen and figured out my betrayal. She came looking for it and begged me to tell her where I’d hidden it, but I refused. That’s the reason I’m here.”

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