prepared to dash-away, but instead of heading for the break room Rosalie wandered out into Penrose’s. She wasn’t alone. From David’s position, he glimpsed Red Glasses obviously following behind. Intrigued, he tagged along.
Rosalie roamed the store oblivious to her two tails. She acted oddly, staring at everyone she passed. Red Glasses kept her under close scrutiny. When they reached the Linen Department, the woman whipped out her phone. David snuck up as close as he dared and eavesdropped.
“Yes, Ms. Crowder,” he heard her say. “She kept a customer waiting at the service counter while she wasted time in the back… Now she’s walking around the store without the elf hat… Yes, I’ll keep watch… Oh, no, I think the hats are adorable… Yes, very festive.” She hung up and dropped the phone back in her purse.
David narrowed his eyes. “Well, well, Sneaky Shopper,” he muttered to himself as the woman wandered off. “I think I need to leave Rosalie another note about you. Let’s see how inconspicuous you’ll be once your secret identity is broadcast to all the employees…and those red glasses are just plain goofy-looking.” He made a promise to himself. That smile will be back on your face tomorrow, Rosalie.
Good intentions. That’s all it was…
Pleased, he looked around for the girl and locked gazes with a pair of stunned brown eyes not more than six feet away.
“David?”
Oh, shit.
He dropped to the floor and dashed-away. Now he stormed across Penrose’s roof. “Bright, David. Really bright.” He had spooked her. She’d report him to security. They’d check the cameras at night.
Shit, again.
David stood in a funk. Rosalie was on guard now. He couldn’t search Penrose’s unnoticed during the day and continued to have no luck at night. He rubbed his weary eyes. The frustrating search wore him down, and the link g Cnd durrew fainter every day.
Maybe he should talk to the girl. He could apologize for upsetting her and explain his mission. Rosalie knew the store. She could tell if something was altered or moved. If he explained about The Book and the importance to all of humanity…
David groaned. “She’ll call the cops or the nearest loony bin. Either way, I’m so screwed.” He squared his shoulders. “Suck it up, David. She’s your last chance to find The Book.”
Her address wasn’t hard to track down. He dashed-away into her car and pulled out the registration. The big question concerned the best method of approach. David sighed. Talking to girls had never been his strong suit. For a moment he wished Billy was with him. The hellhound would come up with a good line. Not that Billy needed one. When you’re six foot three and built like a man-god, talking was largely unnecessary.
Perhaps if he came bearing gifts?
David found Rosalie’s apartment and used the last of his cash to purchase Chinese take-out from a restaurant called the Golden Palace across the street. He waited inside and watched out the window while practicing lines.
“Hi, Rosalie. I’m not a stalker.” Oh, God.
“We’re all in terrible danger.” Seriously?
“I know Santa.” Shit.
Rosalie parked her car and entered the apartment building. David bucked up his courage, picked up the take-out bag, and followed her inside.
****
Grace looked up as Sadhri entered the room. “Anything?” she asked the shiva.
“Not much. If anybody knows squat about the theft, they’re not talking. How about you?”
“The same, except I discovered one curious little tidbit. Dominic made the rounds of the lower level demons.”
“Interesting. He’s supposed to keep in touch with his constituents, of course. Not that he cares about anyone who doesn’t use their powers to draw a six-figure salary.”
“He met with Latisha last week.”
“Really? Dominic never had any use for the Fury before.”
“I need to find out what changed.” Grace grabbed her handbag. “I already called. She’s expecting us in her
Rosalie roamed the store oblivious to her two tails. She acted oddly, staring at everyone she passed. Red Glasses kept her under close scrutiny. When they reached the Linen Department, the woman whipped out her phone. David snuck up as close as he dared and eavesdropped.
“Yes, Ms. Crowder,” he heard her say. “She kept a customer waiting at the service counter while she wasted time in the back… Now she’s walking around the store without the elf hat… Yes, I’ll keep watch… Oh, no, I think the hats are adorable… Yes, very festive.” She hung up and dropped the phone back in her purse.
David narrowed his eyes. “Well, well, Sneaky Shopper,” he muttered to himself as the woman wandered off. “I think I need to leave Rosalie another note about you. Let’s see how inconspicuous you’ll be once your secret identity is broadcast to all the employees…and those red glasses are just plain goofy-looking.” He made a promise to himself. That smile will be back on your face tomorrow, Rosalie.
Good intentions. That’s all it was…
Pleased, he looked around for the girl and locked gazes with a pair of stunned brown eyes not more than six feet away.
“David?”
Oh, shit.
He dropped to the floor and dashed-away. Now he stormed across Penrose’s roof. “Bright, David. Really bright.” He had spooked her. She’d report him to security. They’d check the cameras at night.
Shit, again.
David stood in a funk. Rosalie was on guard now. He couldn’t search Penrose’s unnoticed during the day and continued to have no luck at night. He rubbed his weary eyes. The frustrating search wore him down, and the link g Cnd durrew fainter every day.
Maybe he should talk to the girl. He could apologize for upsetting her and explain his mission. Rosalie knew the store. She could tell if something was altered or moved. If he explained about The Book and the importance to all of humanity…
David groaned. “She’ll call the cops or the nearest loony bin. Either way, I’m so screwed.” He squared his shoulders. “Suck it up, David. She’s your last chance to find The Book.”
Her address wasn’t hard to track down. He dashed-away into her car and pulled out the registration. The big question concerned the best method of approach. David sighed. Talking to girls had never been his strong suit. For a moment he wished Billy was with him. The hellhound would come up with a good line. Not that Billy needed one. When you’re six foot three and built like a man-god, talking was largely unnecessary.
Perhaps if he came bearing gifts?
David found Rosalie’s apartment and used the last of his cash to purchase Chinese take-out from a restaurant called the Golden Palace across the street. He waited inside and watched out the window while practicing lines.
“Hi, Rosalie. I’m not a stalker.” Oh, God.
“We’re all in terrible danger.” Seriously?
“I know Santa.” Shit.
Rosalie parked her car and entered the apartment building. David bucked up his courage, picked up the take-out bag, and followed her inside.
****
Grace looked up as Sadhri entered the room. “Anything?” she asked the shiva.
“Not much. If anybody knows squat about the theft, they’re not talking. How about you?”
“The same, except I discovered one curious little tidbit. Dominic made the rounds of the lower level demons.”
“Interesting. He’s supposed to keep in touch with his constituents, of course. Not that he cares about anyone who doesn’t use their powers to draw a six-figure salary.”
“He met with Latisha last week.”
“Really? Dominic never had any use for the Fury before.”
“I need to find out what changed.” Grace grabbed her handbag. “I already called. She’s expecting us in her
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