Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

to its regular flow of customers. Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 382-383
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    Still, I kept an eye out for trouble. If Jonah McAllister a bad plan, if I hadn’t collapsed the whole mountain in ever connected me with the blond hooker who’d been at the process.
    Mab’s party, he’d get his giants, come to the Pork Pit, and I didn’t know the Fire elemental’s reasoning, and I’d raze the restaurant to the ground—with me inside it. never believed much in luck. But I knew that I’d dodged Which is why I had Finn make some discreet inquiries my own death that night. But now she was actively into the matter. Jonah McAllister was said to be seething searching for me, and I had no illusions about what with rage over the murder of his son—and the fact the inwould happen if she ever discovered my real identity. cident had taken place at Mab Monroe’s mansion. McAlThe fact was I’d have to be more careful for the forelister had vowed to find his son’s killer and take care of her seeable future—at least until someone else caught Mab himself—with his bare hands. Mab Monroe was also said Monroe’s interest.
    to be livid at the fact someone had dared to murder her lawyer’s son in her own home.
    Two weeks after the incident at the mine, I perched on Mab was also said to be quietly searching for a blond my stool at the Pork Pit reading The Adventures of Huck- hooker who’d attended her party and had been seen leav leberry Finn by Mark Twain. Fletcher’s copy of Where the ing with Tobias Dawson. According to Finn, the Fire el Red Fern Grows adorned the wall beside the cash register, emental had sent Elliot Slater and a couple of his giant of course, but it had been joined by something new—the goons to question Roslyn Phillips about the mysterious picture of him and Warren T. Fox. I think Fletcher would hooker. But Slater had eventually been satisfied that have liked having it in the restaurant.
    the invitation and rune necklace had been stolen from It was a Monday night again and quiet except for my Northern Aggression without Roslyn’s knowledge. Still, two customers—Eva Grayson and Violet Fox. The two I had Finn wire Roslyn a significant amount of money college girls sat at the counter, slurping down chocolate to help make up for what I was sure had been a forceful milkshakes and studying. Their books covered a good interview.
    portion of the countertop. Eva and Violet had started And I still wondered about that night at the party coming into the Pork Pit at least once a week when they and why Mab hadn’t just killed me herself when I’d been had an hour or two to kill between classes. Sometimes, knocked out cold on the ground in front of her. It would Cassidy, Eva’s other friend, joined them. But more often have been easy enough for her to do. Why make Dawthan not it was just the two girls. son do it? Why make him take me somewhere else? Had “So when are you going to go out with my big brother?”
    Mab known he would take me to the mine? Maybe she’d Eva said, pushing aside her empty milkshake glass. thought I’d kill Dawson for her, and she could step in and I looked up from my book. “Why do you ask?”
    have all the diamonds for herself. It wouldn’t have been Eva stared at me. “Because every time I mention I’ve Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 384-385
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    been in here, he asks me how you are, Gin. Why don’t fort to contact me. People always talked about the stages you give the poor guy a break?”
    of grief you went through when something traumatic I raised my eyebrow. “If your big brother wants to ask happened. Hah. I’d pretty much moved from hurt to just me out, he can come down here and do it himself, instead plain pissed, with no stops in between. Still, I was curiof getting his little sister to plead his case to me.”
    ous as to why Donovan had come, what he wanted to say Eva waved her hand. “I’m just filling you in on owen’s to me now, two weeks too late. Fucking curiosity. Just good qualities. Not pleading his case.”
    wouldn’t let me be.
    “What was it you told me you were majoring in again?”
    “Sure. Let’s chat.” I turned my gray eyes to Violet and
    “Marketing,” Eva replied with a grin.
    Eva. “Why don’t you girls go in the back for a few min“I rest my case.”
    utes and convince Sophia to make you some fresh milkViolet just laughed and took