“My first guess was that you’d gone to the office and fell asleep. But since you said you would never sleep there again after you got attacked, I thought maybe you went to your mom’s or your sister’s, so I went to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. Then I tried to call you again around 3:45 ‘cause I knew you would be up, driving to Eric’s, but I got your voicemail again.”
I winced. “I turned my phone off before I went into the trance, and I forgot to turn it back on. I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine. You’re a big girl. I shouldn’t worry.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s natural, especially since I’m staying with you. If it were the other way around, I would’ve worried, too. We’re supposed to look out for each other. I’ll keep that in mind from now on. It was inconsiderate of me.”
We were silent for a moment, then I turned my attention back to the baggie. “But how do you know that’s rhabo and not glitter for Damien’s scrapbook?”
Rosalina snorted a laugh. “I went online and ran a few searches. Apparently, rhabo comes in powder form, then it’s mixed with water to make a drink. I think some vamps snort it, but that’s not the preferred way of ingestion. Anyway, I found a few images of similar bags with that symbol.”
Something about the logo was bothering me, but I didn’t know what.
“We should get ready to go to the office.” Rosalina walked back into the kitchen and got out a skillet to start cooking the eggs.
“Give me that.” I got up and snatched the skillet away. “I’ll cook.”
“It’s my turn. You’ve been doing it all week.”
“It’s the least I can do. As a matter of fact, I’ll cook the rest of the week.”
She put her hands up. “Hey, no complaints here.” She gave me a warm smile, and I knew she had forgiven me for being such an inconsiderate ass.
The relief I felt was monumental.
“So Jake knows everything?” she asked.
I nodded.
“At least that cat is out of the bag. Now, you have to let the wolf out.”
Did I? I still wasn’t sure.
“Who let the wolves out. Woof, woof, woof.” She sang, totally butchering the tune.
I laughed and it all felt normal again.
After a quick breakfast, we headed to the office, extra cups of strong coffee in hand. We both needed them. As soon as we got settled, I dialed Tom’s office to let him know what I had found out.
“Freeman,” he answered.
“Hey, Tom. It’s Toni.”
“Good morning, kiddo. What’s going on?”
I went straight to the point. “Blake is alive.”
There was silence on the other side for a few seconds. “Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
“That’s a hell of an affirmation.”
I said nothing to that, and that got the message across much clearer than if I’d tried to convince him.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t pinpoint the location. I’m sorry. I could try to track him again, but not now. Maybe in a few days.” Tracking wore me out, and I always needed a break to recharge my batteries.
“I’ll put out an APB on someone with his description. Hopefully, he’ll get spotted.”
“There’s something else.”
“Lay it on me.”
“It’s about rhabo.”
Tom made a sound in the back of his throat. “What do you know about that?”
“Do you know who Damien Ward is?”
Rosalina met my gaze across the desk, then lowered her eyes with regret. It was obvious she genuinely liked the mage, and she was brokenhearted to have to do this.
“Isn’t he that extravagant Copper Mage?”
“That’s the one.”
“What about him?”
Are you sure about this? I mouthed at Rosalina. She nodded, though not without looking sick to her stomach.
“Rosalina went on a few dates with him,” I said. “She was at his house last night and found a huge stash of rhabo. It was packaged in these small bags with a bleeding heart symbol stamped on them. She took one of them. I’m sending you a picture now.” I quickly clicked through my photos and sent the image to Tom’s email address. “You should get it in a few seconds.”
“Let me pull it up.” I heard a few keyboard taps and mouse clicks. “I got it. It’s just what we’ve been seeing on the streets. And you say that mage had a stash in his place?”
“Yes. Hundreds, if not thousands of them.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Get a warrant and go check it out. Everyone agrees rhabo had to be created by a mage. Damien Ward would fit the profile perfectly.”
“Would we... have to be involved if he gets arrested?” The last thing Rosalina and I needed was a mage for an enemy.
“Don’t worry, I’ll put it down as an anonymous tip.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Tom.”
“No worries. Stay safe.”
“You, too.”
I set the phone down. “It’s done.”
“Why did he have to be a drug lord?” Rosalina said, crossing her arms and sinking deeper into her chair.
“I’m sorry. It really sucks. I can tell you like him.”
“Oh, well. Maybe I’ll take you up on your offer to find me a mate.”
“Really?!” I sat straighter, getting excited at the prospect.
She shook her head. “No, not really.”
I deflated. “That’s mean. Why would you tease me like that?”
“Call it payback for all the worry I went through last night.”
“Meanie.” I stuck my
