Page 65 of Deadly Avarice
Tenzen hummed. “Well, that is good to hear. What wasn’t so good to hear was the close encounter you recently had within the state of Louisiana. I must admit, I was very distressed when I found out you were run off the road in an attempted assassination.” Tenzen’s congenial tone hardened.
I sucked in a harsh breath and swerved when I realized I was starting to drift into the middle lane. I definitely deserved the honk sent my way. I pulled into the nearest business parking lot and placed my rental in park.
“Erasmus, are you quite all right?” Tenzen asked when I’d been silent too long.
“Yes! I just… Our conversation was a bit too distracting and I was driving, so I pulled over. That took a minute.”
“Apologies. You should have informed me you were otherwise occupied and that it wasn’t a safe time for a discussion.” Tenzen’s words held more than a note of censure. “I am beginning to believe you do not understand your true worth and importance, Necromancer Boone. I find that most…distressing. I insist you take better care or I will be forced, for your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the species I represent, to take matters of your safety into my own hands. Perhaps I should have another conversation with Detective O’Hare.”
My veins turned to ice and I shivered despite the heat pushing its way through the rental’s ventilation system. “It wasn’t Franklin’s fault.” It wasn’t anyone’s fault but the asshole who assaulted me. My fear was quickly replaced by anger. “And I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Hmm, yes, well, I suppose that remains to be seen. Please do not hesitate to let me know should you require assistance, either in your quest to find your brethren or regarding your own safe keeping.”
“I—” I had absolutely no idea what to say.
“I’m afraid I’ve taken up too much of your valuable time. Please have a care, Necromancer Boone.” The call ended, leaving me chilled to the bone and shaking like a leaf. I could be overreacting, but I didn’t think so. I felt threatened.
“Fuck,” I cursed while tossing my phone into the passenger’s seat. “I never should have called Director Huxley for help.” But would that have mattered? In a way, he’d reached out to me first. You could argue that I’d asked Agent Frost to contact the Magical Usage Council on Navarre’s behalf, but I hadn’t asked for more. I hadn’t even truly considered more.
Resting my head on my steering wheel, I felt a heavy wave of exhaustion hit me. What in the hell was I supposed to do now?
Chapter
Twenty-Three
Franklin
“Dustin Boggman. ‘Boggs’ to his associates. His name has come across my desk more than a few times.” Detective Ellie Decatur said. “He’s your typical small-town dealer, or at least he was. Recent information suggests he’s attempting to expand his operation.”
My grunt was automatic. “Secondhand information has come to my attention that suggests your information is accurate.” I related my conversation with Billy Davies along with his deceased brother’s case file.
“Well, shit,” Detective Decatur cursed. “That moves Boggs up on my list of priorities.”
“Mine too. Do you have any undercover operations going on where Boggs is concerned?” I didn’t want to jack up any ongoing undercover work with my own investigation.
“No. Like I said, up until now, Boggs has mostly been small time. I hate to say it, but bigger fish take priority.” Decatur sounded genuinely regretful.
“Trust me, I get it. We’re all short-staffed.” The sad truth was that the police were often more reactive than proactive. We simply didn’t have the man or woman power to do much morethan that. “Since this has to do with one of my homicide victims, do you mind if I retain point on this case?”
“Mind? Hell, I’d be grateful. What can I do to help?”
“Sending me anything you can on Boggs would be a first step. Now that I’ve got a full name to work with, I can get busy on my end as well, but you could save us some time. I’m afraid the clock’s ticking on this one.” I didn’t like the short timeline we were working with. So far, nothing had come of the surveillance we had set up and around the Davies’s family. I didn’t know if that would hold out or not. Many would say it was still early days, but I got the feeling Boggs wasn’t waiting around. Billy was a good-looking kid. Even if he could come up with the supposed money Lucas had owed Boggs, I got the feeling it wouldn’t be enough. Boggs was after a bigger payday.
“I’ll get everything put together and send a file over ASAP.” I rattled off my official e-mail address and Decatur asked, “Anyone else you want this sent to?”
It didn’t take but a second for me to decide to hand out Becks’s information too. “She’s our tech genius.” I doubted Becks would agree with the genius part, but compared to me, she was a damn savant.
“I’ll make sure you have it by noon.”
Considering it was just a little past ten a.m. I thought that was more than reasonable. “Thanks, Detective Decatur.”
“I should be the one thanking you, O’Hare. If you can get this guy off the street, that’s one less asshole on my plate.”
I grinned. “I’ve always been good at cleaning my plate, as well as others’ at the table.”
Decatur chuckled. “You’re my kind of man, O’Hare. If I weren’t already a married woman, I’d be tempted to ask you out.”
“Ah, but I’d have to decline as I’m a taken man.” I loved being able to say that. “I hope to put a ring on it soon.”
