Page 35 of Half Dead

“You droveus,” Gun said. “That means you have to come back within a reasonable time.”

Leo raised his beer bottle. “Hail to the chief.”

I turned to see Chief Garcia stride through the doorway. Unlike her deputy, she was in uniform. She took one look at Leo and gave her head a rueful shake.

“I should’ve known I’d find you here.”

“We’re playing a game,” Leo said. “You should play. It’s good practice.”

“The only game I’m playing now is how fast can I get you home before you make a fool of yourself,” she said, not unkindly.

“You look very busy,” Camryn told the chief. “I can drive him.”

“The bartender called me to pick him up,” Chief Garcia said. “She said he’s leaning more than the Tower of Pisa.”

I whispered in the chief’s ear, “He’s been practicing species identification. He seems eager to develop his sixth sense without the help of magic.”

A wry smile touched her lips. “I should’ve expected that. He’s got achiever written all over him.”

Leo pushed up his sleeve and studied his bare, muscular arms. “What’s written on me? I don’t see anything.”

Chief Garcia crooked a finger. “Let’s go, Kilkenny. I’ve got a passenger seat with your name on it.”

Camryn bit her lip in an effort to hide her disappointment.

“I’ll see you later, gorgeous,” Leo said, booping the tip of her nose with his finger. He blew kisses at the rest of us as the chief guided him out of the bar.

Cam tilted her head as she stared at the empty doorway. “His arms are more muscular than Vaughn’s, don’t you think?”

“Methinks somebody has a new crush,” Gun said.

Camryn nodded. “Yes. It’s obvious he likes me.”

“I meant the other way around.”

Cam’s gaze skated to me. “You two are tight, aren’t you? Would you put in a good word for me?”

“You don’t need Lorelei to play matchmaker. If you’re interested, just tell him.”

“Because that worked out so well with Vaughn.” Camryn’s tone retained traces of bitterness.

“Vaughn is a mage in the guild,” Gun said. “He’s heartless by trade.”

“You two aren’t heartless, and you’re mages in the guild,” I pointed out. “That being said, I’m not sure it’s wise for a professional assassin to try to make a relationship work with a member of law enforcement.”

Cam gasped excitedly. “We’ll be star-crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet.”

“Yes, because that relationship was such a rousing success,” Gun said dryly.

The door burst open, and a man staggered inside. His eyes were wide and wild, and his face was smeared with what I really, really hoped was red paint.

“Gods above,” Cam whispered. “Is he wearing an animal pelt as a kilt?”

“Not only is he wearing it,” Gun said, “but I think it’s brand new, and not the kind you purchase in a store.”

Not red paint then.

The man planted his bare feet on the floor, his heels together to form a V-position.

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