White Witch, Black Curse

A woman with a tray was slowly passing, and I met her eyes. She smiled at Jenks and handed me a little plate. "We've got twenty minutes," I said, nervous, as I put a few bites of food on it. "Jenks, you want to scope out the bathrooms?"

"You got it, Rache," he said, and he was gone.

By the looks Ivy and I were getting, it was growing obvious that this was almost an office party. Everyone seemed to know everyone else, and they were all dressed alike, too. Elegant, but a little out of date—classy geek, maybe? No wonder Ivy and I were getting eyed.

Slowly we made our way onto the revolving floor. Balloons were netted to the ceiling for midnight, and the lights were low to keep the view fabulous. I didn't see anyone I recognized, but it had been a long time since I'd been in school, and I'd taken only one class at the university. I'd flunked it, but that was because the teacher had faked her own death before finals.

Ivy snagged two light amber glasses as we moved. She handed one to me without looking, and as soon as we found the band, I stopped beside a potted plant at the window. There was a small dance floor, and I turned when the woman started singing "What's New?" Crap, it was the same band that had been playing at Trent's wedding-rehearsal dinner—minus most of the players. There were only five this time. But it was her. The woman's voice bobbled as she caught sight of me, and I looked away. Being recognized shouldn't cause fear.

"Nice music," Ivy said, seeing my flush. Taking a deep breath she added, "Edden's here."

My back to the band, I stared at her. "Edden? You can smell him?"

She smiled. "He's standing behind you."

Startled, I spun, almost spilling my drink. "Edden!" I cried as I set my glass down and took in his tux. There was a thickening at his chest that told me he was wearing a sidearm in a holster, but he looked great with his hair slicked back and his almost squat figure standing shoulder to shoulder with mine. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Working," he said, clearly glad to see me. "I see Glenn got through to you. Thanks for coming in. You look nice." Attention going to Ivy, he added, "Both of you."

Ivy smiled, but I was flustered. "That's not why I'm here," I said. "I told Glenn no. I'm here doing some personal spelling. I didn't know this was the party you were talking about, and even if I did, I wouldn't be working it. Mia isn't going to show. Ivy, tell him Mia won't be here."

Ivy adjusted her little clutch purse, hanging on a thin strap. "She won't be here."

Oh yeah. That was a big help.

Captain Edden rocked back in his dress shoes to look mildly irritated. He had a plate with a stuffed puff on it, and showing a thinning spot in his short hair, he took a bite. "Personal spelling. What is that? Witch speak for washing your hair?"

"I am spelling," I said. "Jenks is here somewhere, Ivy's chaperoning, I guess, and my date will be along about midnight. I've got his clothes in my bag."

Edden's gaze dropped to my oversize shoulder bag that didn't match my shoes, my dress, or my hair. "I bet you do," he said dryly, clearly still upset I'd turned him down, then showed up at the same party he wanted me to come to with him. "Well," he said as he wiped his fingers on his napkin and set his plate aside, "if you aren't here for Mia, then I'm going to guess your personal spelling involves Trent." I shook my head, and he sighed. "Rachel, don't make me arrest you tonight."

"Trent has nothing to do with this," I said as I watched Ivy mentally map out the floor, "and Mia isn't going to be here. Your profilers are way off. She's not worried about you bringing her in. She's fighting her own personal war with Ms. Walker, and, Edden, you need to back off and let things cool down. You hire me for my opinion, well, there it is. Don't you have one of those amulets I gave you? It's blank, isn't it?"

Edden frowned, telling me it was. His eyes scanned everywhere with the skill and patience of the military officer he'd once been. "After the incident at Aston's, three independent profilers put Mia here or at another highly visible party," he said, as if not having heard me. "We'll catch her, with or without your help. Enjoy your evening, Ms. Morgan. Jenks. Ivy."

His last words, though dry, held a hint of anxiety, and my instincts kicked in. "How's Glenn?" I asked, and Edden's jaw clenched. Ivy saw it, too, and when Jenks flew up, we all faced him square on, not letting him leave. "My God. You didn't put Glenn back on duty, did you?" I looked over the edge of the windows to the party below and the FIB cruisers. "Is he down there? At Fountain Square? With his compromised aura? Edden, are you crazy? I told you I'm not ready to face a banshee, and Glenn sure as hell isn't."

Ivy set her plate down, and Edden's squat form shifted uncomfortably. "He's fine. He's got one of those amulets and he knows what she looks like. The minute she shows, he calls. Lower your voice."