“Out of town, actually,” Lucas said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us—”

“When we’re done,” the knife-thug said. “And we aren’t done.”

He smirked at me and reached out his free hand toward my breast. I started murmuring a binding spell, but before I could cast it, Lucas lifted his hand and blocked the youth’s.

“Please don’t do that,” Lucas said.

“Yeah, and who’s gonna stop me?”

“I am,” a voice rumbled.

Everyone looked up—way up—to see Troy. He plucked the knife from the thug’s hand.

“The mission bodyguard,” I said. “Sorry, guys, but we have work to do. Thanks for your cooperation, and don’t stay out too late. It’s a school night.”

A chorus of muttered Spanish, none of it complimentary I’m sure, followed us from the alley, but the kids stayed in their doorway.

When we were out of earshot, Lucas glanced over at Troy.

“You realize, of course, that you robbed me of a rare opportunity to display my martial prowess, and win untold weeks of feminine appreciation.”

“Sorry ’bout that.”

I grinned and squeezed Lucas’s arm. “Don’t worry. I know you were mere milliseconds from blasting them with an energy-bolt spell.”

“Absolutely.” He glanced over his shoulder at Troy. “You’ll have to forgive Paige’s overenthusiastic attempt to befriend the local wildlife. Not many of their type where she comes from.”

“Hey, we have gangs in Boston.”

“Ah, yes. I believe they’re particularly bad down by the wharf, where they’re liable to descend upon the unwary, surround him with their yachts, and shout well-chosen and elegantly elocuted epithets.”

Troy laughed.

Lucas continued, “When dealing with gang members, Paige, it’s best to treat them as you would a rabid dog. Whenever possible, avoid their territory. If you inadvertently run into one, avoid eye contact, back away slowly…then blast them with a good energy bolt.”

“Got it.”

“Shall we continue—”

Lucas’s cell phone beeped. He answered it. Fifteen seconds later, he hung up.

“They found him?” Troy said.

Lucas shook his head. “Just checking in to see if we had.”

“Like we wouldn’t call if we did.” Troy gazed around the field. “Aw, f**k this. He’s not here. You know what? I think you’re right. I think he’s lying low at a buddy’s house. Griffin knows all about the other attacks. That’s why he gave Jacob the cell phone, and told him to report anything unusual. Jacob probably spotted one of the neighborhood bad boys, panicked, and phoned it in. Then he felt stupid and took off.”

We looked at one another.

“So,” I said. “Do you guys want to take the north end again and I’ll cover the south?”

They nodded. We were just about to split up when Lucas’s phone buzzed. Another brief conversation.

“Griffin showed up in the second sector,” Lucas said.

Troy winced. “Oh, shit.”

“Precisely. He’s making things difficult for the searchers. Unintentionally, of course, but he’s quite distraught. They’re understandably concerned, considering his abilities.”

“What kind of half-demon is he?” I asked.

“A Ferratus,” Lucas said.

Not one of the more common half-demons. So rare, in fact, that I had to translate the name from Latin before I remembered it. Ferratus. Iron-plated. A one-trick half-demon, but that one trick was a doozy. When a Ferratus half-demon invoked his power, his skin became as hard as iron. No wonder Benicio had snapped up Griffin from the St. Clouds. He was the perfect bodyguard…and the last guy you’d want going on a rampage.

“Dennis has asked me to intercede,” Lucas said. “They’re only a block over. I suggest we walk, and cover the intervening area along the way.”

“I could stay here and—” I began.

“No,” both men chorused.

I followed them into the alley.

As we walked, I drifted behind Lucas and Troy. So long as we were moving, I might as well cast my sensing spell and see whether I picked up anything. No reason to let them know what I was doing—that would only increase the pressure to provide results. Since they were both examining every nook and cranny on the way, they assumed I was doing the same and didn’t notice as I fell farther behind.

I found two more alley cats. My alternate career with Animal Control was looking bright. On the positive side, as soon as I sensed kitty number three, I knew it was feline, which meant I was learning to distinguish between presence strengths.

I’d just finished finding my fourth stray cat when a distant voice hailed us. I peered down the alley to see several men approaching Troy and Lucas. The second search party. I quickened my pace. I’d gone about ten feet when I sensed another presence. Stronger than a cat, but…I stopped walking and concentrated. No, too weak to be human. I took another step. My feet felt lead-weighted, as a niggling uncertainty plucked at my brain. Too strong to be a cat, too weak to be human. So what was it?

Ahead, the men stood in a huddle, voices carrying to me only as waves of sound. Lucas saw me, but didn’t wave me over. Tacit permission to continue searching. So no harm in checking out that presence. I traced it to an adjoining alleyway. I turned to show Lucas where I was going, but he’d left the group. Gone to find and calm Griffin, no doubt. I’d zip down the alley and be back before he noticed I was gone.