Sometimes there are people like the Umbrella Man and say Pocher, who require those skills be put to use. The problem is, at least how I see it at the moment, Kane’s not the only person who knows how to make people disappear. And Lucas appears to be missing.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Kane and I walk into the diner, two ants in an ant pile of hungry people.

There are no open tables. We order takeout and Kane is paying the bill when my gaze lifts and lands on Lucas. He’s at a corner table, laptop open, a slice of strawberry pie by his side, the same strawberry pie I was just told was sold out.

He scoops a big bite of that pie and must sense me staring at him because he looks up and drops that fork, perfectly good pie splattering about. Too bad he’s wearing a black sweater or he’d be looking like a strawberry pop tart right about now.

I start walking toward him and by the time he’s on his feet, I’m in front of him. “What the hell, Lucas?” I demand.

He holds up his hands. “I can explain.”

“Before I tell you to talk fast and do just that and more,” I reply, “Kane and I were in your house, searching for your dead body.”

“Oh hell.” He scrubs his jaw. “Kane was in my house?”

“Yes, and since you’re so high-tech you should know that.”

“Maybe I did,” he snaps, bristling.

“You didn’t. I see it in your face. And wait for it,” I add. “Kane saw Taylor Swift.”

“I hide code on the back of that,” he says defensively.

Like he’d ever write hacking code down anywhere. “How many lies are you going to tell me in twenty-four hours, Lucas?”

“Okay. Fine. I like Taylor Swift. Kill me, why don’t you?” He holds up his hands again. “Not literally, Lilah.”

“And yet,” I assure him, “it’s so very tempting to at the very least bust your balls, but you know why I’m not?”

“This is a trick question, right?”

“Because I believe one day you might settle down and try to have kids and I will have taken that ability from you. I’m handling a murder case that’s gotten personal. You’re family. I thought you were dead.”

“Wait.” His lips quirk. “Are you telling me you were worried?”

“I’m telling you I’m pissed off.”

Kane steps to my side. “Where’s my coconut cake I was promised?”

Lucas’s lips press together. “That’s the thing,” he starts, obviously preparing an excuse. “I told Lilah that I bought food so she wouldn’t worry about me being alone. There was no cake. There is no cake. I came to buy one and they were sold out.”