Gunmetal Magic: A Novel in the World of Kate Daniels

rub it in…
    Raphael finally managed to formulate a word. “No. Just wondering where you hid your gun.”
    I showed him my giant clutch.
    “Ah,” he said. “Didn’t see that.”
    Of course he didn’t. He was too busy looking at me. It was a small revenge, but it tasted so sweet.
    Raphael led me to his Pack Jeep that spat and roared, belching magic. He opened the door for me. As I got in, his scent slid along my skin, singing to me.
    Maaate. Mate-mate-mate.
    Damn it.
    I sat in my seat. Instead of closing the door, he leaned toward me, a look of intense concentration on his face as if he were about to say or do something rash.
    My breath caught in my throat. If he bent down to kiss me, I would punch him right in the face. I wouldn’t be able to help myself.
    Raphael pushed himself away from me and closed the door.
    Good. It was better this way. Really.
    Raphael got into the Jeep, shut the door, muting the roar of the water engine, and we took off.
    He reached to the side compartment in his door, pulled out a folder, and dropped it on my lap. I opened it. A time line of his workers’ movements on the night of the murder. “Great. Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    I dug into the time line.
    Twenty minutes later it was clear that none of Raphael’s people had had time to double back to the site and murder their friends and colleagues. Raphael was the only man without a solid alibi. According to his schedule, he’d gone home, apparently without his fiancée. Knowing him, I had expected them to be at it like rabbits, but I guess even rabbits had an off day once in a while.
    I tapped the paper. “What about Colin? Jim’s file said he’s in debt.”
    “He’s in debt because his house caught fire. He took out an emergency loan from the Pack. He works hard and he knows that if he’s ever in trouble, he can come to me.”
    I leaned my head back, but not too hard—wouldn’t do to mess up my hair against the headrest.
    “We agreed to share information,” Raphael said.
    “I don’t have much to share. Spent all day at the library trying to pin down Jamar’s art collection. Found eight items that weren’t in the vault, some with pictures. Nothing stood out. Got a set of prints that doesn’t belong to anyone on your payroll, but there are no hits in any of the databases. Analyzed a metric ton of trace evidence without any conclusive leads.”
    “You will solve it,” he said. “If Jim hadn’t assigned you to this, I would’ve asked for you.”
    “Thank you for the vote of confidence. So nobody can confirm that you went home?”
    Raphael shrugged. “No. Had I known I’d have to provide an alibi, I would’ve made sure not to spend the night alone.”
    “I’m surprised you did.”
    He didn’t rise to the bait. “It’s been forty-eight hours and we have no leads.”
    His tone told me he wasn’t criticizing. His people were dead. Raphael was angry, frustrated, and hurting. “I wouldn’t say that. You know how it goes—slow and steady wins the race.”
    “I know.” He looked at the road. “I had to sign the death benefit papers today.”
    That had to have sucked. “Nick came to see me. He’s having a rough time.”
    “He isn’t the only one,” Raphael said. “I should’ve known about the vault. I should’ve known it was there.”
    “Don’t beat yourself up,” I told him. “I pored over Jamar’s press releases all day and I never once saw the vault mentioned. You didn’t miss it. The information just wasn’t there to begin with.”
    “You really think Anapa had something to do with it?”
    “I don’t know if he did. He has no criminal record. He hasno parking tickets. His company is squeaky clean, although I didn’t have time to dig too deep. In addition, I spent an hour on him in the library today and I found zip. He wouldn’t see me, but he knows he’s under scrutiny. His people know who I am, too.”
    Raphael glanced at me.
    “His mouthpiece made sure to remind me that I no longer had the Order on my side.”
    “Ah.”
    Ah what? Ah—too bad? Ah—I understand? Ah—serves you right? “They know who I am; they know I’m tenacious. Why not spend ten minutes answering my questions? Then I go away, and everyone’s happy.”
    “You think he’s hiding something?”
    I sighed. “I don’t know. I’m collecting information and I’ve run into a roadblock. Short of staging a break-in, this party is my best bet.”
    Raphael snorted. “A break-in. You?”
    “I thought