Free Chasing Daybreak (Dark of Night Book 1) by Ranae Glass Page B

Elizabeth Lathery, ruled from a secret location somewhere in North America. While Sekhmet appeared occasionally, she seemed content to allow the regional Chancellors to do the heavy lifting.
    Xavier was responsible for the Conclaves in both the Carolinas and Georgia. He also had two advisers, Ahnarra Collins and Gerard Van Swieten. Ahnarra, I’d met. Gerard was more of a mystery.
    “Lisa becoming a hooker makes a twisted kind of sense,” I stated. “The husband gets in over his head. She goes to the bookie, looking to cut a deal to pay them back. Do you think he knew?”
    Shane shrugged. “Nobody else knew. She might have been able to keep it quiet.”
    I sat back, lacing my fingers together behind my head. “Maybe. They gave her a credit card to use for expenses, but it wasn’t found with her belongings. So where is it?”
    “I see what you’re saying. She either took it and ran off—”
    “Which would have earned her a one-way ticket to a shallow grave for bailing on the Conclave—”
    “Or whoever killed her took it back. Assuming, of course, that she’s dead.”
    I nodded. “My gut tells me she’s dead. The question is—why?”
    Shane and I were still pouring over the new information when a sharp knock came at the front door. It was well past office hours, nearly midnight. He went to check it out and came back with a huge, white box tied with a red ribbon.
    “It has your name on it,” he said, handing me the card.
     
    Isabel,
    I hope it’s not too small. It’s hard to judge size on someone so much shorter than I am.
    See you next week.
    ~Mercy
     
    I frowned. Shane took the card from me and laughed. I took the box, touching it with only the tips of my fingers.
    “It’s not a grenade, Isabel. Just open it.”
    Pushing the stack of papers aside, I set it on the desk and tugged the bow, mumbling, “It could be a grenade. Or a severed head or something.”
    The box practically fell open, revealing layers of crisp, honey-gold satin. With a gasp, I pulled the dress out and stood to hold it to my body. The bodice came down to an empire waist tied with a delicate crème-colored ribbon above a full skirt. The sleeves were small puffs designed to fall almost off the shoulder and covered in sheer lace that matched the ribbon.
    I ran my hand along the smooth gown. I hated Mercy with a burning passion, but I had to admit, she had great taste in dresses.
    “It’s amazing,” was all I could say. And it was the God’s honest truth.
    “You’ll look beautiful,” Shane whispered.
    Looking at his face, I was transported back to the day we picked out my wedding dress. I knew it was bad luck for him to see it before the wedding, but I’d never believed in superstitions.
    Maybe I should have.
    Then I remembered that the whole point of the stupid ball was to make Shane more a part of their family, and less a part of mine. I stuffed the dress hastily back into the box and tossed it aside.
    “Whatever. Listen, I’ve been thinking. All the local vamps will be at this party, right?” He nodded, frowning. “Well, so the vamp from the car might be in the mix. I think we should take the opportunity to sniff around a bit.”
    He snorted. “Oh, that’s punny.”
    I picked up the phone and hit number one on the speed dial.
    A female voice with a thick Asian accent crackled through the receiver, “House of Noodles.”
    I proceeded to place my usual order of orange chicken, wontons, and lo mien. Thank goodness for twenty-four hour delivery , I thought as I hung up. It was then I noticed a light flashing on the machine. I’d been so distracted by the file Xavier had given us, I’d forgotten to check it when we got back.
    I hit the playback button.
    “Isabel, it’s your mother. Again . We’re having a family dinner this Friday night to meet your sister’s new boyfriend and you will be there. I think they might be getting serious. If only your father were still around to see it. I expect you’ve taken care of that