Page 34 of Dead Ringer

I kept Cain’s snarky thoughts firmly locked behind my teeth. “I’ll be okay. I’m sorry I worried you.”

Henner didn’t look convinced. “You’re doing something for your case tonight, aren’t you? That’s why you can’t make it to the movies.”

I fiddled with the straps of my shopping bags, not sure what to say. I thought it was swell how dang smart Henner was. But in this one instance, I did wish he were just a little bit less clever.

“Darla.”

“It’s just to look around. What’s the word they use on those copper shows? Renaissance?”

Henner chuckled. “Reconnaissance?”

“Yeah, that one. I just need to see if they’ve got what I’m looking for. Then it might turn into a heist.” The last I added in a mutter, forgetting how close Henner was standing.

But he didn’t yell, or tell me I was being a dumb Dora. He just looked at me with that furrow on his forehead that told me he was worried. I hated to worry him, but a gal had to make a living.

“Let me come with you.”

I blinked, sure I hadn’t heard him right. “What was that?”

“I don’t want you to go alone.”

“Well, it’s a work thing.”

“So, don’t you think you could use a computer guy? Especially if it turns into a heist?” He smiled, but his eyes were still worried.

A computer guy? Of course, someone who could control alarms and cameras and all kinds of other stuff with his magic would come in handy. But more than that, I would love to have Henner with me just to have him with me. Cain was great, but he didn’t exactly have a hand for me to hold. Unless I was just holding my own, which would be weird. The only problem was…

“It might be dangerous,” I said, all apologetic. I didn’t want to see Henner get hurt just because he got roped into my business.

“I know.” Gently with just one finger, he smoothed a lock of my hair back and tucked it behind my ear. “That’s why I want to go.”

Little shivers traveled from my ear all the way down my neck, and my tongue darted out to swipe over my bottom lip.

He’s a distraction, Cain warned, from the peanut gallery in the back of my head.You can’t afford for him to get in the way.

Honestly, how a big man in a Police Chief’s uniform could be such a Mrs. Grundy was beyond me.

Maybe he is a distraction,I thought back, irritated. I had to focus to keep my lips from twitching.But you can’t think of any way a guy with Technomancy might be useful to us? If Henner can get into the building’s security cameras, we’d be able to tell if the idol is there without ever even stepping into the building.

Well, that shut Cain up. I could tell he wasn’t very happy having Henner along on our caper still, but he also didn’t have any arguments that weren’t based on him being worried we might smooch or something with him in toe, so I took it as me winning.

I tapped my finger to my lower lip, giving Henner an elaborate once over. He was dressed as usual, in black cargo pants, his beloved battered sneakers, and his favorite hoodie with a pattern of bones on it, rib cage, pelvis, and arm bones. It even had a little red heart nestled among the ribs. He looked comfortable and casual, and I loved the look for him, but we’d need something a little different for this.

“I don’t know.” I pretended to think about it for another few seconds. “Do you have a tux?”

The smile was slow to creep across Henner’s face, but it was still blinding. “I’ll see what I can come up with.”

I knew it was dumb. We were heading into a sticky situation, maybe even a dangerous one. The kinds of people who ran underground art auctions didn’t seem like the type to let go of grudges easy. But part of me couldn’t help but be a little excited for it all. It was kind of our first dress up date.

“Pick me up at eight,” I told him with a smile.

Chapter Twelve

When Henner picked me up, right on time, I almost didn’t recognize him.

“Holy smokes!” I looked him up and down, and hoped I wasn’t drooling.

Henner had not only found a black suit somewhere, but also a shirt and tie. Also black, and he reminded me a bit of the funereal chic of Magda’s wake, but he looked like a million bucks. He’d also smoothed his hair back into a tail, so it made him look a bit like he had really short hair.

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