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the police think.”
    His eyes widened innocently. “‘Just Say No.’”
    She ignored that. “I want to know if you know any thing about it.”
    Caitlin suddenly noticed there was a bartender be hind the bar now, a young kid, college age, with good enough instincts not to hover; he was quietly restocking the shelves. Case snapped at him, “Jack and Cokes over here,” and waited until the kid turned away to answer Caitlin.
    â€œWhat about drugs don’t I know?” he quipped. “But it’s only tourists who are dying, sugar. NHI.”
    NHI was a cop insult referring to the lowest of lowlifes: No Humans Involved. Of course, in New Orleans that could get confusing….
    â€œJust tourists,” Caitlin echoed, pondering.
    â€œDrug virgins,” Case elaborated helpfully. “Couldn’t handle the high.”
    But why? Caitlin wondered. Tourists doing meth? It didn’t make sense.
    The young bartender set drinks in front of them. Caitlin ignored hers, while Case drained his in one pull.
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    Behind the bar, cloaked as the college kid, Ryder bided his time. It was taking everything he had to conceal his disgust for Case, for the scene playing out before him. Classic Shifter, this one, taking full advantage of his glamours, which wouldn’t work on an Other, obviously, but humans fell for them every time. And Keepers, too, it looked like. Even with her specialized knowledge, Caitlin had been ensnared, at least at one time. And by what? This pathetic excuse for an Other, so enamored of his powers that he’s lost all sense of who he ever was—the center cannot hold. And a drunk and an addict on top of that, clearly.
    â€œDo you know a shifter named Ryder Mallory?” Caitlin asked suddenly, and Ryder was jarred out of his thoughts. Did she sense him?
    He moved casually down the bar to get out of her range, crouched as if to reach under the sink.
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    Case stared at Caitlin, lifted an eyebrow. “Can’t say that I do.” He reached in front of her for her drink, lifted and drained it.
    Lying, Caitlin thought. Not even bothering to cover.
    He smiled at her, as if reading her thoughts. “Can’t keep track of everyone, cher .”
    â€œWell, if anything comes to you, you’ll tell me, I’m sure,” she said.
    â€œI’d rather come to you, cher. In you, with you, in every which way,” Case said softly, and leaned over to lift a strand of hair from her cheek, curling it around his finger, tugging her forward….
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    Behind the bar, Ryder abruptly stood, anger flaring, and in that moment Case turned sharply and stared toward him. Ryder adjusted his body, struggled to hold the cloak of illusion in place…and once again he was just a college kid, merely spacing out in Case’s direction.
    After a long moment Case turned back to Caitlin, but Ryder could see that the younger shapeshifter was jumpy now, and figured he’d better get while the getting was good. He couldn’t afford to be caught, at least until he knew more. He picked up a case of Turbodog and headed for the kitchen door.
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    Caitlin didn’t know what had just gone on, but Case was suddenly edgy and hyper.
    â€œGot to get back,” he said, jerking his head in the general direction of the stage. “My public awaits.”
    â€œI want to talk to Danny,” she said abruptly.
    She saw Case stiffen subtly, but he covered it well, smiled at her. “Why would that be, Keeper?”
    There was no point in lying to him; he always knew. “I want a sitting. To see what he’s seen out there.” She knew Case would know she didn’t mean on the streets but in the astral.
    Case shook his head mockingly. “Danny’s not home tonight.”
    Meaning Danny was high, as if she didn’t know. Her anger burned. “How do you live with yourself?” she asked, not bothering to hide her contempt.
    â€œSame way