Read Night Call (Book 2): Demon Dei for Free Online Page B

he here?” she asked Ivan.
    “I asked him here,” Ivan said. “He wouldn’t have come if he’d known you were going to show up. He knows how you feel.”
    She gave him a patient look that nevertheless said it had a short expiry.
    “I want him to look into Gerry’s death.”
    “Oh, Ivan. We’ve spoken about this.”
    “I know, but I can’t let it go. I know something strange is going on.”
    “Let the police—”
    “The police don’t know what to do. It’s been a week and what have they managed? To let Chris out on bail. They can’t even admit he’s innocent.”
    “Ivan, the police will sort it out.”
    He set his jaw and crossed his arms. “Brad’s taking it really hard. They won’t release her body for a funeral. She’s the only family he’s got left, Erin. They were really close. He won’t eat, he won’t sleep. I can’t keep watching him do this to himself. It’s killing me.”
    Erin could have hated Ivan in that moment. She loved him dearly. He was like a younger brother to her, which meant he knew her really well in return. Everything he’d just said had been shaped and aimed for maximum impact in her heart. Especially now.
    “Get out,” she said.
    His hard expression wavered, but then settled back down. “I’ll do whatever I want, Erin. I just hoped you would understand.” He slammed through the door, strode past Hawkins and went out of the office.
    Hawkins stared after him, half out of his chair to follow. Erin opened the door to her office.
    “Don’t follow him,” she said softly. “He needs to be alone. Come in.”
    He eyed her warily, then came in. She waved him into a seat and sat opposite.
    “He wants you to look into the Davis murder,” she began.
    “Yes.”
    “Are you going to?”
    “I haven’t decided yet.”
    Erin straightened the diary on the blotter. “I don’t think it’s your sort of case at all.”
    An understanding smile curled his lips. “You think it’s more your sort, and you’re upset because he came to me instead of you.”
    “Of course not.” She’d modulated her voice, but still it sounded too defensive. Damn Hawkins and his stupid psychic abilities.
    The smile died. “I’m sorry, Erin. I might not be a trained investigator, but if I feel I can offer Ivan and his family something, then I will take the case. No matter how you feel about me, or about Ivan hiring me. I wouldn’t have come here today if he hadn’t assured me you wouldn’t be in. I respect your wishes in that regard, but beyond that, there’s nothing stopping me from having any dealings with Ivan. Least of all you.”
    Ivan had stabbed her and Hawkins twisted the knife. She wouldn’t go down without a fight though.
    “I might not be able to do anything as his boss,” she replied, tone icy. “But as his friend I can talk him out of it. You said it yourself, Hawkins. You’re too dangerous. I don’t want Ivan dragged into your world. He’ll get hurt and I won’t have that. Not again.”
    “My world is your world. It’s Ivan’s world. You just don’t accept it yet. After all you saw and went through, you at least should understand that.”
    The weariness in her limbs was quickly being replaced with tense anger. She curled her hands around the armrests on her chair. “I do understand. All too well. That’s why I don’t want Ivan involved. I lied to him about everything that happened six months ago. He knows you investigate paranormal events, but he doesn’t know it’s actually real. I couldn’t tell him a vampire tortured him or that a werewolf nearly killed me. It wouldn’t be fair on him. He doesn’t need to be put in that sort of danger.”
    “You don’t understand, Erin. This is what I’m trying to say. He’s already in danger from the freaks of the Old World, from the supernatural monsters that are only supposed to be myth and folklore. Everyone is in danger from them. Just because you don’t believe in them doesn’t mean they’re not there. They are,