She shrugged. “Maybe. More likely, you’re getting a familiar.”
“Like, a witch’s familiar?”
“Yeah, but you’re not a witch. Not from your description of your powers.” She looked around at the empty street, as if she’d just remembered where we were. “Actually, we should discuss this later.”
“No kidding.” I stood and dragged the policeman behind the bench. If someone looked closely, they’d find him, but it would have to do for now.
Mac did the same with her guy, and we met at the front door. I raised my badge and gave her a look. “We’ve got this.”
“Totally.”
“And thanks for your help.”
She grinned. “I’m always up for an adventure.”
“Well, I think this will deliver.” I swiped the card, and the door buzzed. I pushed it open with my elbow, not wanting to leave any prints, and waited for Mac.
“I’d better scan this one. Just in case it counts how many people enter.” She scanned, then followed me in.
Quickly, I pulled on a thin pair of leather gloves that I kept in my jacket pocket. I didn’t want to leave any prints behind. Properly protected, I hurried to the wall, where a directory was posted. I searched it, finding my destination at the bottom. “Looks like it’s in the basement.”
“Ooh, perfectly creepy.”
“Let’s go.” I strode toward the stairs, not wanting to get stuck in an elevator. The building echoed hollowly around us, and I doubted there were many more people here at this hour.
We took the stairs two at a time, reaching the morgue a minute later. I took mental stock of the potions that Eve had given me. They were shoved in my pockets, and I was grateful they hadn’t broken in the scuffle with the guards.
The morgue was quiet and cold as we entered.
“He would have been a recent autopsy,” I said, gazing at the wall covered in dozens of little metal doors where the bodies were kept on ice. Or whatever it was that they kept bodies on.
“Do you know his name?”
“No.” I scanned the numbered doors. “Damn it, there are so many.”
“Maybe the computer system will say. Or there might be notes on a desk.”
We split up, searching the space. I didn’t have much familiarity with the morgue, and the enormity of the task ahead of us was nerve-racking.
Then I heard the footsteps in the hall.
Oh, no.
I met Mac’s gaze, and mouthed, “Hide.”
13
Carrow
Mac and I flattened our backs against the wall on either side of the door. As the footsteps approached, I fingered the potions in my pocket, then withdrew the mind control one, carefully unscrewing the cap. When the figure entered, elation shot through me.
She wore a white coat like ours. A security guard might not know where my guy was, but this person would.
I dumped the powdery potion into my hand and jumped, grabbing the woman by her arm and yanking her toward me. She opened her mouth to scream, and I raised my hand, blowing the powder in her face.
She sucked in a lungful of the purple powder and went still.
“Holy crap, that worked,” I said.