Chapter 3

Three

JANE

The air smells like the dead of winter, but there’s a light breeze telling us that spring will soon be arriving. A happy sigh escapes me. I love spring. Fresh and new, starting over, turning over a new leaf and all of that.

“I’m so sorry, Jim. I forgot cash today. Can I hit you up for double tomorrow?”

“Don’t you worry, Miss Jane. You always take care of me. You and Miss Livy are so kind. Someday, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.” Jim sits under his newspapers in front of the store, but just to the side so he doesn’t bother anyone. He’s still wearing the blue cap and mittens I knitted for him during downtime between customers.

As I unlock West Tech’s glass door, my lips broaden into a grin at seeing Cal’s strapping back leaning over the counter, hard at work. He must have arrived early today. My nose tingles in anticipation of his patchouli and orange scent.

“Oh wow, you’re here early!” I say brightly, but he doesn’t even flinch, only sparing me a cursory glance.

“Hey, Jane. Yeah, I had to do some bookkeeping. How have you been? Did you enjoy your weekend?”

As I stuff my purse under the counter, Cal’s eyes stick to his computer screen, fingers flying away on the keyboard. Ugh, if only I’d worn lipstick today. I bet he would look longer if I’d worn mauve. Does he even like makeup on a girl? Why don’t I know this?

“It was fine, relaxing. Just reading in my apartment since the weather’s been so cold. How about you? Do anything interesting?”

Straightening up, he turns to peer down at me with his garden green eyes as his aura envelops me. It takes him a moment, ingesting my appearance, his gaze searching my face with a seriousness he always seems to carry. “What were you reading?”

“Crime and Punishment. You ever read it?” I said that fast. Was it too fast?

“Yes.” He swallows. “I have.”

Why does just his stare make me soaking wet? My heart flutters under the shadow of his figure. Taking a deep breath in, I ask, “Um, you mentioned last week about setting me up with the training? I was thinking about that this weekend.”

Cal’s face brightens into a big smile, eyes crinkling at the corners and flashing his white teeth. “Were you? Was it occupying your mind?”

Even though his smile is warm, the sentiment is confusing me. What does he want me to say? Did I think about him? Yes…all the time. “Uh, yeah. I mean, I am nervous since you warned me it would be tough, but I really want to do well at this job. I figured if you were watching out for me, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“I’ll definitely watch out for you, Jane.” Were his eyes narrowing as he spoke? Before I can interpret the gesture, his smile vanishes, and I’m left with emptiness and unease. “The first step is gathering and collecting the correct species. It’s winter, almost spring, so likely you won’t find anything of value. But the primary mission is to get you used to traveling the lands and knowing the areas well. That way, when the warmer weather comes, you’ll be ready. Obviously, we grow our own, but when we want a new harvestable, I send someone out to forage.”

His arm reaches toward me as he takes a step closer. Bending my elbows, I almost grip his waist, thinking he’s going in for a hug. But at the last minute, he gathers his phone from the counter behind me. My act did not go unnoticed as his worried brow comes back in full force. Fucking great.

“Yeah, no problem. I can forage.” Please don’t turn red, I silently command my cheeks.

“The danger lies in the location. You’ll be exploring Gnarled Pine Park and around the woodlands beyond.”

Immediately, my pulse speeds away. “Donovan’s territory?” Unnoticeably, I scan his face for some acknowledgement of this, but he’s staring down at the ground. His dark brown hair waves with his slight head nod.

Unlocking his phone, he flips it around for me to see. “I want you to download this app. It helps with identification until you’re sure what you’ve found. Obviously, there’s reading materials I’ll want you to look over, too.”

“Okay, I can do that.” Bending lower to get my phone from my bag, Cal’s waist leans away from my head. Guess I used that crotch trick too many times. He is so not into me. Disappointment rips through my chest for a moment, but I try not to let it show. As I tap through my screen, Cal observes over my shoulder. His nearness causes tingles to erupt down my neck.

“But remember, mushrooms can’t be trusted.”

Flipping my red hair, I turn to look at him with a question on my face.

“They’re notorious for stalking.” The tension between his eyes eases as he snorts a little laugh, and I join him with my loud one, my lungs vibrating with joy. I love it when we play. Seeing him carefree is a rarity, but makes me think there’s a lot more to him.

Answering with my own joke, I say, “Didn’t anyone ever tell you mushroom puns are in spore taste?”

The grin on his face broadens until my stomach does back flips. An urge to run my fingers through his hair overwhelms me. “I didn’t use to like mushroom puns, but they’re starting to grow on me.”

“Ha! I thought you were a fun-gi. And here you are making⁠—”

“Miss Jane Ersatz?” A deep voice crackles through the store, startling both of us with quick jolts. Cal and I turn to the front door where two uniformed police officers stand with their hands on their gunned belts.

Clenching my teeth, I nod and ask, “Yes?”

Not even trying to be discreet about who owns him, the one with a red bull pendant blazing on his uniform approaches with a confidence he shouldn’t have. Not for being in the wrong territory. His partner, nondescript, probably new, stands near the door, guarding it from entering customers.

“Do you know William Patte?” The man’s face curls into a sneer with the name.

Forcing my muscles to settle, I only open my mouth in reply. “Yes.”

“You were the last known contact he had.”

Shaking my head, I ask, “I-I’m sorry, were?”

“His body was found in his apartment early this morning. A neighbor called it in from the stench and…mess. I’m told you were seen leaving there last Tuesday evening in a hurry.”

A cough exits my open mouth as I gasp. The butterflies that had been swirling in my stomach from flirting with Cal are suddenly replaced with worms twisting, nausea rising up my throat.

“We-we had a date.” Strauss’s people wouldn’t have done this. These two wouldn’t play pretend cops if he had anything to do with it. “I went home after that. He was fine when I left…”

“Well, he’s not fine now.” Narrowing his steel-colored eyes, he says, “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about Will’s feet, would you?”

My heart stops beating. “Um, his feet?”

“Yes. His feet are missing. Well…” He chuckles and briefly looks at his partner, who matches his laugh. “His toes are missing.”

Stifling a scream, I jump as Cal’s large palm wraps around my shoulder, moving me behind him slightly. “Sir, does my employee require a lawyer? Are you arresting her? This was her boyfriend. I believe your questions are upsetting her.”

“We need to know, sir, if your employee was the one to take bolt cutters to Mr. Patte’s feet and carry his toes off somewhere.” Staring down at me, the officer says, “He died in a pool of his own blood. For some reason, he was unable to move.”

Rubbing my arms, I turn into Cal’s chest as his arm surrounds me. Of course, the first time he touches me like this is when my foot fetish friend is murdered. I shake my head into his blue sweatshirt, the warmth from his hold a nice reprieve from the chill of interrogation. “No! I didn’t!” His firm pecs muffle my voice.

“What time did this supposedly occur?” Cal’s honeyed voice vibrates across my forehead as he speaks with the officer.

“Sometime early Wednesday morning between midnight and six a.m.”

Fingers lace through my hair and scrunch at my scalp as Cal pulls me back to peer into my face. “Is it okay if I tell them?”

My eyebrows fold together in confusion, but Cal doesn’t wait for my response.

“She was with me, Officer. We didn’t want Will to know. It’s new. We just started…” When his lips press gently against my temple, my clit pulses in response.

There’s no movement or words for a long minute. Finally, the officer says, “All right, Mr. Von Dovish. If you’re her alibi, we’ll look elsewhere.” And they have to. As King of West Side, they will leave it alone, or else have the entire senate to deal with.

“She’ll also have a Von Dovish lawyer available if you try to speak with her again.” Cal’s large palm slips around my waist as he tugs me farther into his hard chest. As I embrace him, turning my head to hear his heart steadily beating, my hands get a sense of how well built he is underneath his hoodies and distressed jeans. Does Cal work out?

“Of course, she will. Have a nice day.”

Sniffing dramatically, I hope he won’t let me go. The door chimes as the police leave and Cal peels me off of him, placing a hand on each of my arms.

“I’m so sorry, Jane. Are you okay?” Tilting my chin up to look at him, concern is painted across his forehead in wavy lines. I’m very aware of how close his lips are to mine. A tiny pucker would press us together. Maybe he genuinely cares about me. I guess he does do comfort. The sad girl thing seems to be working.

“Yeah… It’s just so strange. I was there with him and now he’s gone. And his toes! I-I didn’t do this, Cal.” Giving as much of an appearance of a distressed girl, I let my bottom lip quiver slightly.

Tucking me back into him, he squeezes me tight. “Oh, I’m sure you didn’t. If you need anything… If they harass you, you tell me, okay?”

Nodding against his body, I feel his nose inhale against my hair. Did Cal just sniff me?

Breaking our touch, he slowly lowers his arms and steps back. His gaze is set far off, and the troubled frown he often displays returns. “I knew him, too. He was…an ex-employee. I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, but I need to do some investigations for West Side’s safety. I’m going to take off. Will you be okay here, or should we close early today?”

“No, Cal, I’ll be fine. Do what you need to do.” Snatching his hand before he can leave, I squeeze it, and he peers down at the hold as if the touch is a snake bite. As quickly as I touch him, I drop it, the pain of his sudden rejection confusing me. Was his intimacy earlier just an act? “Thank you. But…why did you give me an alibi?”

Lifting his eyes to mine, he smiles. “For West Side. Gotta look out for my people. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Hmm, Will is gone. That’s disappointing, but I’m much more worried about myself. Clearly, someone was watching us. Who? That’s the big question. The same person who moved my tissue box? Cal’s reaction seemed genuinely concerned. He watches everyone, but I know he usually has his big meeting with Alpha at the time I left Will’s place. Strauss wouldn’t send cops if his people had done such a thing…unless it was to pin it on me. Just someone nearby to take the fall? Or maybe to get rid of another of Cal’s employees?

If it wasn’t Strauss, that would leave Freidenberg’s new people or Donovan’s old ones. Could be good. Could be bad.

Wandering to the back of the store, I knock on the wall behind some computer shelves. They open with a loud creak to reveal a short and disgruntled Echoes, shoving her thick black-rimmed glasses up her nose. Spotting me, she walks away with her messy black bun coming unraveled with every sway of her curvy hip movements.

“I would say ‘come in,’ but you know you’re not allowed back here.”

“Meh, you’ve never kicked me out,” I say as I shut the wall behind me. Meandering around the room, I pick up dirty clothes and toss them into a filled hamper. Trash goes into the overflowing can. “Who do you think did it?”

“Donovan’s crew, no doubt. I bet anything that’s who Cal will find. Freidenberg’s guys are too green and haven’t figured out what the fuck they’re doing. It wouldn’t be Strauss. He wouldn’t send his rent-a-cops over here if so.”

I nod with an awed, innocent look on my face. “You’re so smart about this stuff. Why didn’t you or Cal see it?” Busying myself with straightening her dishes in the sink, I run the tap with hot water.

“Well, I mean, Cal has his meeting with Alpha. And Hostile was running that shift…” She takes a long sip from her soda straw, her almost black eyes staring down at the floor. When she peeks up, she studies my expression. “Between you and me? Cal’s worried about a mole. He’s setting up Hostile to see if he’s into something he shouldn’t be. Don’t you say a word!” Hostile, the second Von Dovish hacker.

“Who would I tell? Orphan with no friends, remember? Zero loser over here!”

Her thick lips curl into a snarky smile. “It’s why I like you.”

When I finish a few dishes, I collapse on her futon, watching the screens in front of her casually. “But now I don’t have a date. I thought Will could be the one.”

A snort ricochets off the cinderblock walls of the cavernous apartment. “You’re ridiculous, Jane. Stop it.”

I chuckle in reply. “But, seriously. I’ve always wanted to get married before thirty. I never had a family of my own and I want one. Someone to spend holidays with or even someone to just be in a picture with me. I’m so bad at this whole dating thing, really. And you set Will and me up. What are you going to do about my dating life now? It’s in your hands, Echoes! I trusted you!” Playing with the ends of my auburn locks, a braid forms between my fingers.

“I know plenty of guys who would want a hot redhead in their beds. But you need someone nice because you’re too pure. I don’t want one of those sickos taking advantage of you.” Echoes spins in her chair and eyes my body up and down. “Are you a virgin?”

Blushing fiercely, I say, “Um…that’s none of your business.”

“That’s a yes!” She bites her bottom lip. “Okay. I’ll send you Rainier’s number. Not a computer geek. One of the farmers. More your style, I think. He’s shy, but he’s cute! And you guys could have ginger babies!”

“Thanks, Echoes.” We both hear the chime of the door through her monitor. A customer. Trying to control my smile of satisfaction for a job well done, I get up to greet them.

“Jane? You said you don’t have any friends, but you do.” Tilting my head at her, I open my mouth to ask, but she interrupts me. “Me!”

“And what a great one to have.”

The rest of the day, my thoughts are consumed with my tissue box. Maybe I turned it. Did I turn it? It’s been days without any movement. I must have scooted it without realizing. Perhaps an inadvertent brush with my arms when I flipped on the lamp. That must have been it. In any case, I placed it back in its rightful place, square with the edges of the nightstand.

And it mocks me with its stillness every evening.