His hand touched my shoulder. Bingo.
“Don’t give me some cheesy line about being okay!” I yanked his hand from me and shoved it away, my eyes darting around. But I didn’t see a streak of color or feel a gust of wind.
Crap.
I turned to Potts. “I wanted to talk to you about my family today, but I guess that won’t be happening.”
The red-headed doctor raised the eyebrow above her scarred eye. “Don’t worry. Detective Muller is leaving my property.”
I glanced over at her desk. “Did you move your sign in book?”
Potts growled at Muller. “Stealing shit doesn’t make it admissible evidence.”
“Don’t need evidence. Just need a lead,” he bantered back.
She moved forward to swipe at him, but the man literally disappeared from sight.
My stomach dropped out. “What the fuck was that?” I asked.
Potts shook her head. “That asshole stole my sign in book! That’s fucking confidential information! I don’t give a shit if he’s a top Pinnacle investigator—”
“No. How’d he leave?” I insisted.
Potts furrowed her brow at me. “Girl, haven’t you ever seen a Tock before?”
Her words made my throat close up. Motherfucker! A Tock was hunting me?
I wouldn’t even be able to see him coming.
18
“What’s that look?” Potts, ever perceptive, sashayed forward and pointed a finger and then swiveled it around my face. “That look is concerned. Why the hell do you need to be concerned about that Muller fuck?”
I swiped my tongue over my teeth and let Mom willingly come to mind. It didn’t take but a second before tears brimmed up.
Potts shook her head. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You think I haven’t seen fake crying?”
“My mom’s dead.”
Potts stopped. She pressed her lips together, which made the scar near her eye stretch tight. She jerked her head toward the leather visitor’s seat near her desk. “Go sit.” She stomped over toward the door of her office and peered out. “What happened to that guy of yours?”
I shrugged, because I really wasn’t sure. It was unlike Zavier to just disappear. “He didn’t want to come in.”
Potts nodded and shut the door. “He’s got a record, doesn’t he? Damn, Hayley, don’t make me do the responsible thing and say you shouldn’t date—”
“Don’t say it then. That’s not what I’m here about anyway,” I retorted as I slid into her leather chair. It had nice lumbar support, and if I were someone else, someone with normal problems, I could see myself relaxing into it as I spilled all my secrets. But I was me. And I didn’t have time for that shit. I still had work to do.
My toe started tapping the floor as Potts came back. She didn’t go behind her desk, like I expected; she leaned against the side and turned her head to look at me, sharp-eyed as a hawk. “Tell me,” she commanded.
I tried to give her the brief version, but sorrow has a way of wedging itself in and making simple tasks, like talking, harder. It took several choked-up minutes before I could get the basics out. But I didn’t cry. I wouldn’t let myself. I wasn’t here to mourn. I was here to help Matthew.
“I need to know how to unravel the illusion spells you put on Matthew’s room.”
Potts raised her brows. “I wouldn’t recommend that.”
I glared at her. “I didn’t ask for recommendations.” I bit my lip. “Look. Sorry. That came out bitchy.” I met her eyes and for a second, let my real expressions through. “You’ve heard what’s going on with the vamps. What if they decide mass “extermination” is necessary? What if they move them? He’s all I have left.”
The silence grew so long that I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears. Potts’ help would make this damn thing so much faster. And with stupid-ass Callum causing an uproar, I needed every extra second of help.
"How are you even going to get inside?" Potts asked. "I tried this morning, to go renew the spells on him. No visitors."
I shrugged. "Haven't gotten there yet. They'll reopen soon," I lied. I didn't want to reveal that I was planning on breaking and entering. Especially not if that cop already associated her with criminals. I didn't want him coming back and using a damn Honesty Amulet to get her to spill everything she knew about me. I was already hesitant. In fact, I stood suddenly, wondering if the asshole had planted anything in her office. "Can we go for a walk? I'm thirsty. I need something to drink."
"We just—"
I went over to her filing cabinet and yanked open the drawer that she'd been standing in front of when I'd first come in. I yanked out several files.
"Hey! Those are confidential!"
I ignored her and slid my hand inside the cabinet, feeling along the bottom of the next drawer up. My fingers brushed against a small, half-moon shaped object. I grabbed it and pulled. The magnet that had held it to the metal came loose pretty easily and I pulled my hand out of the cabinet, holding up a tiny amulet for Potts to see.
I couldn't tell by looking at it what kind of amulet it was, but I knew for a fact that it wasn't an Honesty Amulet or I'd never have pulled off my ditz move earlier. Maybe it was only magically recording our words, like a wiretap. Hopefully that was it. Part of me wanted to crush it. But that would make me look guilty. Better to put it back and let Muller think he had the upper hand. It would be better to keep our conversation in here innocent and obnoxious.
Potts raised her hands and her fingers curled into claws, like she was ready to attack.
I didn't say anything, just carefully replaced the amulet, trying not to let it make a sound. Then I tried to think of a way to cover for what had just happened. I started to fake cry. "I just wanted to see what Mom said about me. When she sent me here. But I can't even see my own file? That's bullshit."
Potts blew out a breath but took my cue. "Hayl—" she started to say my name but cut herself off when I gave a quick shake of my head. No need for Muller and his Pinhead cronies to track me any easier. "Hey, look. Your mom just wanted what was best for you."
I strode toward the door, ignoring her, betting that her curiosity would make her follow. It did. She snapped like I'd put a leash on her, and I heard footsteps trailing across the carpet as I yanked open the door and stepped into her reception room. I glanced around, but didn't see a glowing amulet in there. That didn't mean Muller hadn't put an illusion spell on it though.
Once we were on the sidewalk, I started walking in the opposite direction of the Chinese restaurant. A quick scan of the parking lot showed me Zavier was nowhere to be found, though our bike was still in its spot. I had no idea where he'd gone, but we'd come here with a purpose, and I needed to follow through on it.
Potts caught up with me as I passed a shoe repair shop, containing an elderly Asian man hunched over a pair of leather loafers. I made room for her on the sidewalk and we walked shoulder to shoulder.
"I'm guessing that amulet is like a wiretap. You might want to check around for more of those." I chewed my lip and peered into the window of a small dry cleaners to see if they had a vending machine. No dice. “Dammit. Why are there no vending machines,” I grumbled under my breath.