Page 70 of Deadly Deception
The note was attached to the inside of the upper pizza box lid. Of course, neither Boone nor I had ordered a pizza, and I’d briefly argued with the delivery man that he had the wrong room. He’d checked the order and confirmed that he was in the correct place and the pizza had already been paid for…in cash. I’d taken the box inside, and Boone used one of his Pops’s charms to check for malicious magic. I made a mental note to ask Warlock Holland if we could get a few of those for the precinct back home. I could think of at least a half dozen cases where that bit of knowledge would have come in handy.
“Yuck,” Boone said as he plucked the note from the inside of the lid. “I don’t think this was thought out. It’s not even in a plastic baggie. It’s got grease and cheese on it.” Boone made a disgusted face as he smeared pizza sauce across the outside of the note.
“What does it say?” Aurelia asked while crowding between Boone and myself. It was the closest I think she’d ever willingly come to me. I wanted to ask her to back up but thought better of it. Her forward position allowed me a better view of Little Fang through the odd plastic bubble in the backpack. It gave the impression I was watching a kitten on TV.
“Should I use gloves?” Boone asked me. He held the note at the very corner, dangling it between his thumb and forefinger.
“I’m supposed to say yes, but your prints are already on it. Just try and hold onto the corners. I doubt forensics will find much on it anyway, and we can always discount your prints.”
Boone nodded while teasing the note open. His eyes scanned it, briefly widening before narrowing. Boone’s green eyes brightened momentarily and red creeped up his neck, flushing his cheeks.
“Read it, necromancer,” Aurelia demanded. She seemed far too invested. On closer inspection, I realized Aurelia was excited. Her expression and demeanor were absent of any concern.Instead, she reminded me of someone anticipating the next season of their favorite television show.
Boone huffed and snapped, “If you’re so antsy, you read it.”
“I do not read this language.” Aurelia didn’t sound upset. She simply pointed out a fact.
Boone’s ire immediately vanished. “Oh, I… Well, I hadn’t considered that. You speak English.”
“That is different than understanding these scribbles,” Aurelia pointed out.
Boone took a moment to consider that before offering a firm nod. He read the note. “There’s an address,” Boone said. “That’s important, but not the interesting bit.” Clearing his throat, Boone read, “You will be expected tonight. You may bring whoever you like. I care not. I don’t mind more blood on my hands. Vanja.”
I whistled. “That’s to the point.”
Boone shrugged. “Yes and no. I mean, we pretty much already figured that. We still don’t know exactly why Vanja wants me. We can guess, but even if it is to bring someone back, then who and why?”
I reached for my coat, already sliding my arms into the sleeves. “I suppose there’s only one way to find out.” I handed Boone his coat. Boone set the note down on the nightstand, opened so I could see the address and plug it into my phone. “I assume you want to go ahead and let Sheriff Henson know.”
“I think that’s best,” Boone agreed. “Vanja didn’t threaten Navarre or Tabitha if we told anyone else.”
“Vanja just threatened whoever walks through the door.”
“Yup,” Boone agreed while zipping up his coat, swallowing his body and hiding his frame. “Aurelia, you coming with us or—”
“I can find the necromancer on my own.” Aurelia barely finished speaking before she disappeared.
With a shake of my head, I took a photo of the note and texted it to Sheriff Henson. “Not the most helpful djinn.”
“I swear, sometimes I don’t know what to do with her.”
I glanced at Boone, eyebrows high. “Sometimes? You’re telling me there are times youdoknow what to do with her?”
Boone chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. “Fair point. I’m just saying, Aurelia’s been hanging out with us the better part of the afternoon. She could have told us at any moment where Navarre was being held.”
I rocked my hand back and forth and answered, “Maybe, maybe not.” At Boone’s incredulous glance, I explained. “When Warlock Holland and I were looking for you, Aurelia knew your location, but she couldn’t explain it in a way we’d understand. I have no idea how Aurelia travels around.” I twirled a finger in the air. “I kind of think of her like a homing pigeon. Aurelia doesn’t understand streets or addresses. She just…goes…” I didn’t know how better to explain it.
Boone stared at me, expression blank with contemplation. “You think she would have told us even if she could have?”
“Not a chance.” I didn’t even need half a second to consider it.
Boone’s sigh was long and deep. “That’s what I thought. I’m not sure taking Little Fang with her was a good idea. Aurelia might be nearly indestructible, but that kitten isn’t.”
“I’m not sure there’s much choice. Sounds like Peaches’s plan of training Fang’s hunting instincts out of her, at least when it comes to the sprites, didn’t work out so well.” When Boone asked Aurelia about Fang’s reappearance earlier, she’d explained that the kitten had gotten ahold of a sprite. From what I understood, the sprite had an injured wing but had been rescued before it had become dinner. Peaches was very unhappy.
My phone beeped with an incoming text. Stopping, I pulled up the message, unsure what to think.
“What?” Boone asked. I must have been making a questioning face.
