"Want to test me?"
"I already did. You're holding it wrong, for one thing. You've had some basic training, but I'm pretty sure I'm"--I fired at a wall calendar, putting a bullet through today's square--"a better shot."
"Are you crazy?"
"I'm not the one testing for fae intruders. Maybe we can talk about that."
"Maybe I can tell you to get the hell out of my--"
"You already did. I declined. Now, I understand that this conversation is making you very nervous, but how about we go grab a coffee and talk."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Two girls are missing," I said. "They're dead. I'm sorry if you didn't know that, but they are. I'm trying to stop the guy who's doing it." I won't mention that it's your brother-in-law. "If you want to test my motives, go ahead, but I'd really rather do that over coffee. This"--I waved my gun--"is just awkward. And kind of rude."
"I..." She trailed off, looking rather like someone who has stepped into a fae realm herself.
"You can check my ID," I said. "But since it could be fake, just take out your phone and google me. You'll get plenty of pictures. Further research will reveal that I've officially solved four murders in the past six months. All were related to that." I pointed at the cold-iron inset. "Which we can talk about, or we can just pretend you know nothing about fae and proceed from there. But I'd really like to get to work finding a killer. So...coffee?"
"Twelve hours," she said.
"What?"
"Give me twelve hours to check out your story."
"You don't need--"
"Then we don't talk."
I started to reply when a board creaked overhead.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Aunika and I went still.
"What's up there?" I whispered.
"My apartment."
"And I'm guessing you don't have visitors tonight?"
"Just you." She started backing away, gun still raised, her attention on the ceiling as she tracked the steps. "Get out of here. I can lose them."
"Lose who?"
She didn't answer, just turned and ran, silently, into the next room. When I went after her, she said, "Damn it, girl. You really don't give up."
I lifted both my gun and switchblade. "Whatever this is, I can help."
She loped down the hall. Halfway to the end, she stopped and cocked her head. Then she eased open a closet door, prodded me inside, followed, and shut the door. I was still mid-step when the light went out, and I bashed into a wall. I clicked on my penlight.
"We're hiding in a closet?" I said.
Aunika waved me into the corner and pulled something on the floor. A panel opened.
"You have an escape hatch?" I whispered.
"Doesn't everyone?"