“And she said they did.”

“Yep. Megan and Alastair caught them snooping around one night when they were out tending to the animals. Vee saw the whole thing. Megan wanted to call the cops. Alastair said he’d handle it. He took Ginny and Brandi aside, talked to them, then came into the house and told Megan they wouldn’t have any more problems. She still wanted to report it, but he was adamant. Said it would only cause trouble in the town. She backed down.”

“That’s not an encounter he’s likely to have forgotten,” I said.

“Nope. If Megan’s saying she never met the girls either, then he’s told her to keep her mouth shut.”

I PARKED NEAR the Radu place, and we got out to deal with Tiffany.

“If she recognized you, we should presume she knows who I am, too,” Adam said.

“I wouldn’t.”

“Thanks.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. The only reason she knows me is because of my parents. As usual.”

“And the only way she’d know me is because of my dad. As usual.” He shook his head. “Supernaturals overshadowed by their famous parents. We should start a support group.”

“I think we already have.”

We walked along the sidewalk. Both the officers were hanging around outside the police station. They saw me and peered at Adam, whispering between themselves, then went inside. A second later, Bruyn came out. I waved. He nodded, civil enough, which was all I could hope for at this point.

“Cody lives across from the police station?” Adam said. “That doesn’t seem too bright if he’s up to his eyeballs in something illegal.”

I shrugged. “Another way of pretending he has nothing to hide.”

A kid raced between us, nearly knocking Adam off the curb. I glanced over my shoulder to see the sidewalks filling with children.

“Shit!” I said. “What time is it?”

I checked my watch. Three-thirty. I swore again. “I told Tiffany I’d be there before her kids got home. She won’t talk to us if they’re there.”

I picked up the pace. As we approached the Radu house, I heard a baby crying. That wouldn’t make things any easier—fussy baby, kids getting home ...

The Radus’ neighbor was out on his porch. An old guy in a house-coat, baggy trousers, and slippers, he looked like he’d just woken up, and from the scowls he was sending next door, I could guess what woke him.

When we started up the walk, he yelled, “Tell that girl to shut her baby up or I swear I’ll do it for her.”

“I’m sure she’s trying to,” I said.

“Not very hard. The brat’s been wailing for an hour now.” He strode to the sidewalk and yelled across the road at Bruyn. “Can’t you do something about that? She’s disturbing the peace.”

Bruyn waved, like he couldn’t hear what the old man was saying, then turned and went back inside.

“It’s a baby,” I said. “It cries. And right now you’re making a helluva lot more racket, so how about you shut it.”

He gaped at me, then glowered at Adam, as if it was his fault for not keeping me in line. Adam rang the bell. The neighbor turned to head inside, then noticed a towheaded girl in pigtails coming along, holding the hand of a smaller pigtailed blonde.

“You there,” the old man said. “Tell your mother—”

“Zip it, old man,” I said. “Go back inside and get dressed before you get arrested for flashing little girls.”

Adam chuckled and stepped aside to let the girls get to the door.

“We were just ringing for your mom,” he said. “I think she can’t hear with the baby crying.”

The older girl nodded shyly, eyes down. She tugged on the screen door. Adam held it open for her. The girl turned the knob, but the inside door didn’t budge.

“It’s locked,” she said.

“Mommy must be having her nap,” the younger one said as her sister rang the bell. “She takes a nap when Taylor does and she always locks the door. She usually sets her alarm, but if she’s really tired, she forgets.”

“Do you have a key?” Adam asked.

Both girls shook their heads. “Mom’s always home,” the older one said.

“Can I try it?” I asked.

The girl nodded. I cast an unlock spell under my breath and turned the knob.

“Huh,” I said. “Must have just been stuck. Go on in. Tell your mom we’re here.”

The older one glanced back to make sure we weren’t going to follow them. I let the screen door close. Inside, the baby’s howls turned to whimpers as she heard her sisters.

“Mommy!” the younger one said, racing past her sister as she dropped her backpack. “We’re home! Did you make the cupcakes? My teacher said I need two dozen for the bake sale and—Mommy? Come on, Mommy. Wake up!” Giggles erupted, punctuated by squeaking springs.

“Don’t jump on the bed,” her sister said. “Mom?”

There was a pause, a long one, and my heart started thumping. Adam gripped my elbow, reassuring.

The older girl ran into the hall. She saw us and started, like she’d forgotten we were there.

“Is everything okay?” I called through the screen.

“It’s Mom. She won’t wake up.”

twenty-nine

Tiffany lay curled up on her side, under the covers. Her younger daughter still stood on the bed, uncertain. She gave a tentative bounce, and for a second, I saw myself years ago, bouncing away as my mother sang, Ten little monkeys bouncing on the bed...

My mom. Their mom. Oh, God. Please no.

I touched Tiffany’s neck. She was warm, but I couldn’t find a pulse. I shook her shoulder. Her head lolled back, eyes still closed.

I turned. “Adam—”

He was already running back into the hall. “I’ll get them.”

“Mom?” the older girl said, her voice wobbling.

“She’s sick,” I said. Liar, liar. “Take your sister and—”

I stopped. I wanted them out of that room. God, I wanted them out of that room. But I’d just been found over another dead body. I couldn’t stay in there alone. So I scooped up the younger girl and carried her out, motioning for her sister to follow.