Free Bittersweet Magic by Nina Croft

Too clean, I’d say if I had a suspicious nature.”
    With a rush of relief, she realized that he hadn’t connected her visit to SA International with his missing person case. And why should he? He’d first picked her up here before he’d even told her about the case—he wouldn’t see a connection.
    “You do have a suspicious nature.”
    “Yeah, so I do. But I couldn’t find anything. So tell me, what’s your interest? And where did you get a real nun from? I’m taking it that Sister Maria is actually a nun.”
    “Yeah, she’s the real thing.”
    “How is she this morning, by the way?”
    “Fast asleep when I left. She’s had a tiring couple of days and it’s been a bit of a culture shock.”
    “I’ll bet. So you’re not going to tell me?”
    “No. So is that all that brought you here—just pure nosiness?”
    “Mainly, but I also thought you’d like to know—we’ve put out that picture and we’re already getting some feedback. We’re narrowing it down to an area on the Isle of Dogs close to the river—which ties in with your description. I just wanted to make sure you’d be available when we get a real lead.”
    “I’ll be available.” Something occurred to her. “If you can, make sure you go in during daylight. This guy likes the dark so you’re likely to find her alone in the daytime. You can get her out without worrying about any hostage situation.”
    “Okay. Then we can set a trap and pick up this perverted son-of-a-bitch.”
    “Sounds like a plan.” She gulped another slug of scotch and the warmth flowed through her body, mellowing her mind. She raised the bottle. “It’s good stuff.”
    He shrugged. “I know your helping me puts you in some sort of danger. I don’t know what or how bad, because you won’t open up to me. But I wanted to say thanks.”
    She squirmed in her seat. She wasn’t used to people thanking her. It sort of made her feel guilty. As though if they really knew her, knew some of the things she had done, they wouldn’t be thanking her. She remembered again the screams of the villagers that night.
    Her mother’s death had not gone unavenged.
    Do you want them to pay? Asmodai had asked her. And she’d nodded her head then watched as he had unleashed chaos.
    It hadn’t brought her mother back.
    “You’re not very good at accepting thanks, are you?” Ryan’s wry query brought her back from the past.
    “Scotch, yes. And maybe a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers.”
    “You like chocolates and flowers?”
    “Of course, why shouldn’t I?” She was going to add that she was normal, wasn’t she, but that might have been straining the truth a little far.
    They were silent the rest of the trip, and Ryan dropped her off outside her apartment building. Roz let herself in, but came to an abrupt standstill just inside the door. A woman stood, leaning against the wall as if she had every right to be there. She wore a skin-tight black leather cat-suit—very appropriate—and an expression of disdain on her face. They’d never gotten along.
    “Make yourself at home,” Roz muttered. She hated the idea of the woman entering her apartment.
    Shera pushed herself languidly away from the wall and stepped toward her. A good eight inches taller than Roz, even without the four-inch heels, she peered down, a superior smile curving her scarlet lips. “Nice outfit.”
    “Thanks.”
    “My Lord Asmodai instructed—”
    “Tell me,” Roz interrupted. “Do you actually call him that to his face?” No wonder he had delusions of grandeur. Or maybe they weren’t delusions.
    “Of course. My Lord—”
    “And what does he call you?” She’d always wondered how close the two were. “Kitty? Fluffy?”
    Shera gritted her teeth and thrust her hand out. Roz grabbed the proffered envelope. It contained a disk, presumably with the monitoring system for the bug she’d planted in Piers’ office. “Show yourself out,” she said to Shera. Not waiting for a response, she