The man shook his head and took the money. “I just got here. I was down at the diner. They give me day-olds and yesterday’s newspapers if I come by at ten.”

“Did you see anyone here last night?”

“Wasn’t here last night. I’ve got another place in town. It’s better, but the lady in the building beside it calls the cops if she sees me there, so I don’t stay during the day.”

“We need you to get out of here,” Adam said. “It’s not safe right now.”

“This is my—”

“—place. We know that. And you can come back in the morning, but right now it’s not safe.”

The man crossed his arms. “You’ll take my stuff.”

I motioned to Adam that we needed to get going.

“Fine,” he said to the man. “Just stay put, okay? Don’t come out, no matter what you hear.”

“Is it a delivery?”

Adam nodded. “Yes, it’s another delivery, but we’ve got new guys and they’re nervous, so stay here and be quiet or they won’t let you stay, no matter what Randy says.”

We started to walk away.

“Hey!” the guy yelled, making us both cringe.

Adam wheeled, shushing him.

The man plucked at his jacket sleeve. “You burned my coat.”

Adam frowned. “How would I do that?”

I took the wallet and gave the guy two more twenties.

“No incinerating the homeless,” I whispered as we walked away.

“Yeah, yeah.”

We walked a few more steps, then he glanced over at me.

“Back there, when the guy jumped you ...”

“Swing first, cast later. I know.”

“If I ask how you’re feeling, can I hope for an honest answer?”

“Not great, not bad. I’ll—”

“—be okay. I know.” He sighed. I pretended not to notice.

“I’m going to try my sensing spell again,” I said.

Adam nodded. I cast. It failed. I was midway through a second try when I caught a flicker out of the corner of my eye. Something flew straight at me, so fast I saw only a fastball blur. It hit the side of my head and everything went black.

thirty-six

thirty-six

I woke up lying on the dusty floor. My arm throbbed. My head throbbed even worse.

“Adam,” I croaked.

Silence. When I tried to rise, my stomach lurched and I gagged, mouth filling with bile. I spit it out and had to take a second to steady myself, head and stomach both spinning.

When I could finally lift my head again, even looking around made my gorge rise.

I was alone. Beside me, I saw the outline of a body in the dust, then drag marks.

They’d gotten the muscular guy out of the way first, planning to come back for the helpless girl next. That was a mistake. I lifted my fingers and cast a sensing spell. Nothing happened.

Shit.