He glanced over at me. “The risks of eating ice? They are plentiful. I hope you have good dental insurance.”
Maybe that was why Prudence didn’t like having ice in her house. “The risks of facing off with the lidérc, smartass. You had that smoky devil in your head almost as long as I did.”
“Not quite,” Doc said. “But Violet’s onto something. When you had it shut away in that room, Curion, did you discover any of its weaknesses?”
“Hmm.” Cornelius swirled his wine, his lips pursed in thought.
Meanwhile, Cooper and Natalie continued their battle of wills via a silent staredown. The air practically crackled between them. Maybe they should go back to Doc’s place and work this out alone.
Harvey watched me pour more lemonade and tequila into my glass of ice. “When are you gonna do this killin’ business?”
I shrugged. “When Doc is ready, but I’m thinking the sooner the better. Neither Masterson nor the lidérc will expect me to return for another round right away.”
“I still think you need your bodyguard,” Harvey said.
“Forget it, Uncle Willis,” Cooper cut in. “This has all kinds of potential to veer off-course, or crash and burn.” He looked at me. “Parker, that lidérc has killed two other Executioners. What makes you think you’re going to beat it on your own when it took Prudence’s help just to get it into that mirror?”
“Damn, Coop.” Natalie crossed her arms. “It almost sounds as if you’re worried about Violet.”
“Of course I’m worried about her,” Cooper growled, glaring at me as though I was torturing him with thumbscrews in order to make him admit that. “Contrary to what you two pains in the asses think, I’m not a goddamned robot.” His focus switched back to Natalie. “And I’m not sure how to get it through your stubborn head that I can’t handle you getting hurt—or worse. You insist on standing in the line of fire, not giving a damn about how I feel.”
Wow! I gaped at him, the same as Natalie. A muscle pulsed in his jaw. His arms were locked tight over his chest, as if he was holding himself in check.
“Okay, Coop.” Natalie’s voice was softer now. “Would you rather Vi wait for the lidérc to get loose somehow and come back for her when she least expects it?”
“No, of course not. But I’d rather she give it some time for the dust to settle before going back for the final round.”
Doc and I exchanged thoughtful frowns. This type of chaotic craziness had to be hard on Cooper. He was used to following procedure and controlling everything at a crime scene, and what he couldn’t control he probably wanted to shoot.
“Cooper,” I said, “you don’t have to go with us.”
His steely eyes met mine. “Yes, I do, Parker.” He pointed at Natalie. “But she doesn’t.”
“Damn it, Coop.” Natalie jammed her hands on her hips. “I’m not some dainty lady prone to fainting at the slightest hint of danger.”
“I know that, but …”
“No, you don’t know.” She rushed him, standing toe to toe. “You need to get something through your thick skull. You may be sharing my bed, but that doesn’t give you the right to rule my world.” She huffed, her cheeks pink.
He stared down at her, deep furrows crisscrossing his face. “My feelings for you aside, you can’t go to the Sugarloaf Building with them.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I overheard Hawke telling a couple of the deputies to start monitoring your whereabouts. He thinks Parker ‘the witch’ has connived you into spying on him.”
Her mouth fell open. “You’re kidding me.”
He shook his head.
“Shit.”
“If you go with Violet to kill the lidérc, you risk dragging a tail along with you.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m thinking you and Uncle Willis would be more helpful running a distraction of your own.”
“What sort of distraction?” Harvey asked.
“One that will keep Hawke and the deputies following Nat tied up while we’re at the Sugarloaf Building.”
Harvey clapped once. “I have just the rope for the job.”
“That was a figure of speech, Uncle Willis.” Cooper caught Natalie’s hand, holding it. “As much as I hate this idea, I was thinking that maybe you could challenge Hawke to a few games of pool at the Purple Door Saloon. Uncle Willis can be there, too, making sure Hawke doesn’t get too handsy around you.”
“That might work,” Natalie said, a small smile appearing as she looked at him.
“But you’ll need to let him actually win a game or two.”
“Win, huh?” She sighed dramatically. “I suppose I could, but I don’t like losing.”
One of Cooper’s eyebrows lifted. “You threw a game for me.”
“Yeah, but that’s because I’m smitten with you.” She looped her arms around his neck, giving him a full body press. “I suppose I could lose one time for you, but you’ll owe me.”
“Give ’er your pound of flesh, Coop,” Harvey threw out. “That’ll satisfy her for a night.” He wheezed with laughter as I pulled another cookie out of the jar and threw it at him.
Cooper slid his hands around Natalie’s waist, hooking his thumbs in her belt loops. “You drive me crazy, Beals.”
She kissed the corner of his mouth. “We’re just getting rolling, hot cop.”
“I have it!” Cornelius said and slapped the table, making me jump.
“What?” Doc and I said in unison.
He crossed his arms, looking almost smug. “I know one of the lidérc’s weaknesses.”
* * *
Several hours later, I lay under the covers next to Doc, staring up at the ceiling.
The house settled and creaked around me. While both kids slept in their beds, Aunt Zoe worked into the night out in her workshop. Reid had gone home with a smile on his face, giving me a thank-you hug before heading out to his rig. Cooper had returned to the station for a few hours to work on the pile of paperwork on his
