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“I don’t see any dogs around to interrupt.”
We take the elevator to the underground garage and get into a new Range Rover, both mirrors intact. I hand my bags to one of the guards before I climb in.
“Why do you need two pairs of black shoes?” he asks.
“Couldn’t decide.” He looks at me the way adults look at problem children. I look back without apology.
“Do you know who Julian is?”
“New prince. Marcus turned him recently.” I shrug slightly. “Looked cute.”
Lex’s expression does not change. “Do you know what it looks like when a new prince goes missing and no one knows anything.”
“He’s not just at a three-day party somewhere?”
“Not his style. Marcus is furious.” A pause. “His family is also causing problems.”
“His family?”
“Julian is a Von Batten. Very old money. They own a significant amount of land in Midnight City. Marcus had plans for him, wanted deeper involvement in real estate developments. Now the situation is becoming complicated.”
We are supernaturals but we use and need money exactly like humans.
“What about his security? They were there when I left.”
“Gone too.” Okay. That part is actually strange.
“What do you want from me, Lex?”
“Did Julian say anything about where he was going that night? Who he was meeting?”
“No.” I think back. Julian’s smile, the view of Midnight City, the girl on the floor. “Nothing specific. Just the dead girl.”
“What?”
“A dead redhead on the floor.”
He goes very still. “When we got to the room it was empty, no body.”
“Maybe they threw it away. I don’t know.”
He looks out the window for a moment. “Marcus is offering a bounty.”
He knows I will ask.
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
That’s serious money. Which means this is a serious problem.
“For what? Dead or...” I pause. “Less dead?”
“Not funny, Lara. If someone can take Marcus’s prodigy like that, it sets a bad precedent. I know you move around the city, I know people talk to you.” He looks at me directly. “If you hear anything, let me know.”
“Sure. Can I go now?”
“Don’t forget your shopping bags.”
