Piscary shrugged, his entire body moving with the slight motion. “If I had known he was good at security, I might have made him a better offer, though it would be hard to give more than Mr. Kalamack. I’m just a simple restaurant owner.”

At Trent’s name, I started. “Kalamack?” I said. “He got a job with Trent Kalamack?”

Piscary nodded as Ivy sat stiffly on the bench, her pizza sitting untouched but for the first bite. “Yes,” he said. “Apparently his girlfriend works for Mr. Kalamack, too. I believe her name is Sara? You might want to check with her if you are looking for him.” His long-toothed smile went devious. “She’s probably the one that got him the job, if you know what I mean.”

I knew what he meant, but from the sound of it, Sara Jane hadn’t. My heart pounded and I started to sweat. I knew it. Trent was the witch hunter. He lured Dan with a promise of employment and probably nacked him when Dan tried to back out, realizing what side of the law Trent worked. It was him. Damn him back to the Turn, I had known it!

“Thanks, Mr. Piscary,” I said, wanting to leave so I could start cooking up some spells that night. My stomach tightened, the pleasant slurry of pizza and my gulp of wine going sour in my excitement. Trent Kalamack, I thought bitterly, you are mine.

Ivy set her empty wineglass onto the table. I met her eyes triumphantly, my pleased emotion faltering as she watched herself refill it. She never, ever, drank more than one glass, rightly concerned about lowered inhibitions. My thoughts went back to how she had flaked out in the kitchen after I told her I was going after Trent again.

“Rachel,” Ivy said, her gaze fixed on the wine. “I know what you’re thinking. Let the FIB handle it. Or give it to the I.S.”

Glenn stiffened but remained silent. The memory of her fingers around my neck made it easy for me to find a flat tone. “I’ll be fine,” I said.

Piscary rose, his bare head coming below the hanging light. “Come see me tomorrow, Ivy girl. We need to talk.”

That same wash of fear that I saw in her yesterday swept her. Something was going on that I wasn’t aware of, and it wasn’t something good. Ivy and I were going to have to have a talk, too.

Piscary’s shadow fell over me, and I looked up. My expression froze. He was too close, and the smell of blood overwhelmed the sharp tang of tomato sauce. His black eyes fixed to mine, something shifted, as sudden and unexpected as ice cracking.

The old vamp never touched me, but a delicious tingle raced through me as he exhaled. My eyes widened in surprise. His whisper of breath followed his thoughts through my being, backwashing into a warm wave that soaked into me like water through sand. His thoughts touched the pit of my soul and rebounded as he whispered something unheard.