Page 53 of Marked By the Pack
“One of my regulars is missing. And I need you to find him.”
“Elias12492 or KingOfTheDead?”
I stared at him. “How could you possibly know that?”
“Do you want my help or not?”
God, what didn’t he have access to? “It’s Elias12492. He’s usually on every weeknight. But he’s been missing ever since I asked him to do some research on vampires. I feel like something weird is going on. I just…don’t know what. But now I’m worried something’s happened to him. Can you find him? And just make sure he’s okay?”
“Anything else you know about him?”
“He’s always wearing a suit and glasses. I think he probably has a pretty good job. And I’m also almost positive that his name really is Elias. And that he was born on January 24th, 1992.”
“What is with you people and using your birthdays for things?”
“You people? My birthday is used privately. I’m not blasting it all over like Elias.”
“If you come live with me, I can blast something all over you.” He winked at me.
“Ha. Ha.”
Grudge leaned back in his chair and stared at me. His shirt looked extra wrinkly today and I wondered how long he’d been up.
“Anything else you know?” he asked.
“He’s really smart. That’s all I know, really.”
“Hmm… Why do you think he never asks to see your tits?”
“Grudge!” Why did he pretend not to know anything about Elias when he seemed to know everything?
“What? It’s weird that the two of you only talk. He’s definitely up to something shady.”
Yeah…I was almost as worried about that as I was worried about Elias’ safety. “You don’t always ask to see me naked.”
“And who saysI’mnot up to something shady?” He smiled at me.
I knew he was. He was spying on me. But it had also come in handy recently, so I didn’t mind.
Something clattered against my window.
I couldn’t even hide the smile that spread across my face. “I gotta go. Try to find that info about Elias by tomorrow night, okay?”
“But you haven’t even flashed me yet.”
Another rock hit my window.
“What was that noise?” Grudge asked. “Is someone breaking in again?”
I smiled. “No. Please don’t turn off my lights. I invited someone over.”
“Who?” Grudge lowered his eyebrows. “The same guy from last night?”
“What? Sorry. You’re breaking up.” I made static noises like he’d done to me the other night as I shut off my computer.
I pulled off my wig and bunny mask. I’d tell Otto about my real job eventually. But eventually wasn’t today. I pushed the window open and smiled down at him. He had another box of doughnuts. I was pretty sure he was trying to win my heart.
“Front door?” he called up to me. “Or can I climb up tonight?”
