Page 121 of Tin God
Ben frowned. “So the gold exchange sent a message to… itself?”
“No, it didn’t go back to the same server, but it did come back to Vancouver before Lang lost it.” Raven shrugged. “And that’s all we know so far.”
“Did you find his day people?”
“That’s Summer’s job,” Raven said. “She’s better at interviewing people than I am. Apparently I’m seen as intimidating.”
“Clearly that would be an asset,” Tenzin said.
“Right?” The girl huffed out a breath. “But no, Katya wanted soft hands for this one. Said she didn’t want to scare anyone off.”
“We need to track the physical cash,” Ben said. “Paulson is paying his people, and it’s likely going to be in cash considering where they are.”
“Where is Summer?” Tenzin asked. “She was the one you were calling when you saw us?”
“Yeah.” She lifted a large phone. “She’s got two day people she thinks might have taken gigs for Paulson.” Raven looked Ben and Tenzin up and down. “You guys bring anyone who’s slightly less…”
“Scary?” Tenzin asked. “Lethal?”
“Vampire-y.” Raven looked embarrassed. “If Grim Reapers exist in our world, they would look like the two of you.”
Ben muttered, “Fucking flannel shirts.”
“You want someone who looks human and nonintimidating?” Tenzin asked. “He’s already on a plane.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
If there was one thing that Carwyn loved, it was an American-style diner. They could be glossy, retro reproductions or gritty, dive-like holes-in-the-wall.
He loved the smell of burnt coffee, bacon grease, and hairspray. The scent of cigarette smoke that clung to the older staff. He even liked the cracked vinyl booths, though he could rarely fit into them.
“Oh fuck me, you’re in heaven, aren’t ya?” Brigid’s smile was amused.
“This isbrilliant.” It was a retro diner, but one that hadn’t been reproduced. The red vinyl booths were well-kept but cracked with age, and the chrome detailing along the edges was original and shined to a bright mirror finish.
The menu was on a board posted over the counter, and a young woman with blue hair stood waiting to greet them, wearing a white apron over her jeans and vintage bowling shirt.
“Hey, welcome to Janie’s. Two?” She grabbed laminated menus. “You eating here or?—”
“Meeting friends,” Brigid said quickly, pointing to the redhead at the end of the diner who was already sitting down.
“Oh, for sure!” The girl quickly ushered them down the aisle to the large round booth that anchored the diner. “Hey, Summer. Didn’t realize you were expecting more.”
The young vampire looked up, her blue eyes meeting Carwyn’s. She smiled, and his heart eased a little bit.
“Yeah, I wasn’t sure if they were gonna make it in time.” She looked at the waitress. “Thanks, Rose.”
“No problem.” She turned to Carwyn and Brigid. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Coffee,” they both said at once.
Carwyn and Brigid had learned that tea was best left on the other side of the ocean unless they were making it themselves.
Brigid sat next to Summer, and Carwyn slid in behind her, angling into the booth the best he could. He looked at the two young men who were sitting across from Summer and staring at both of them with wide eyes.
“Hiya,” Carwyn said. “How is it, lads?” He slumped his shoulders and turned on his best “friendly father” voice. “Thanks for coming to speak with us.”
The dark-haired young man who looked South Asian turned to his friend. “Oh, I didn’t think we had a choice about it. Can we just?—?”