Chapter 40

Damien

“Hear what?” I asked.

“Someone said my name,” she said, looking around, “But there’s no one here.”

The only times I had heard people hearing voices was when they were going crazy, but Katla didn’t strike me as the type to lose her mind. “She has been through a lot,” Sargon reminded. “Katla, I don’t think–”

“No, there it is again,” she said, “Like earlier. It’s not menacing, just calling to me.”

The buzzer clicked the door open, and we stepped inside the harshly lit pawn shop littered with instruments, lawn equipment, vintage clothing, antiques, comic books, pots, pans, old dusty books, paintings, assorted junk, and a display case of jewelry. The clerk, without looking up, said, “Well, I don’t have all night.”

“Oh, we’re just looking,” Katla said. “We’re looking for a special piece. Something antique, in my favorite color, purple.” I had to give it to her, she was quick.

The clerk looked at her and smiled, his heart started to beat faster, and the unmistakable smell of arousal sweat crept around the smell of cigarettes coming off his breath. Katla used this to her advantage. “Do you have anything like that?” she asked, looking at him and biting her lip.

“Goddess damnit, Katla. Stop doing that,” Sargon howled in my mind, jealous that she had caught this human’s attention.

“Maybe,” the man said, “Depends what you’re looking for. I have this lovely antique hat.” He went to the back and pulled out a tiny women’s hat with a purple veil. Katla crinkled her nose and laughed.

“Definitely not. I was thinking of something more like jewelry,” she said, then she looked at me. “Today is special, right, babe?”

The clerk looked at me and took in my size, and I walked over and wrapped my arm around her waist. “It’s not every day something like this happens!” I said, playing along.

“And what is the happy couple celebrating?” the clerk asked, now curious. Fuck.

“Oh, we just found out I’m expecting, with twins!” she gushed. “We’ve been trying for so long, and it’s been so hard. This guy promised me the moon if it ever happened for us! So, the moon it is. Right, honey?”

“Pups,” Sargon was elated, thinking back to just yesterday at her mentioning them. “Sargon, get control,” I told him.

“That’s right, my enchantress. Anything for you,” I said, looking down at her while she looked up at me grinning. She was so stunning, and smooth. I had to give it to her as I saw the guy softening.

“Maybe a… necklace?” she said.

“Hmm, interesting you bring up a necklace,” the clerk said. “Just tonight a man was in here trying to unload a purple diamond necklace. Shifty and jumpy, actually, but when I went to get the money from the back for him, he was gone.”

“Oh, that’s a shame,” Katla said. “Do you think he went somewhere else? I would love to see it! Do you think it was real?” She was laying it on thick.

“I’m not sure. He seemed like he was in a hurry from the beginning,” the man said. “He was willing to take a low ball price because he said he didn’t have time for me to inspect it. Here is his name though, if he still has it, he may be willing to give you a good deal.” He pointed to Peter’s name in his record book.

“Are there any other shops around here that specialize in fine jewelry like this?” I asked, motioning to the gaudy and cheap necklaces and rings glittering under the harsh display lights.

“Well, Big MIkes was around until Big Mike was shot last month. He’s still recuperating. Closest one is maybe two miles northeast toward Silver Tower.”

“Thanks, friend,” I said.

“Good luck with the twins! My kids have long since grown, but time goes too fast. Make sure to slow down and enjoy it when you can,” he called back. Katla turned around, smiling at him, then we left.

“We know he was here, but now what?” Katla wondered. “Goddess, we need a miracle.”