Blood on the Bayou Read Online Free PDF Page A

of the bad guys. I don’t want to think of Fern that way. I need him to be my smart-ass best friend who’s always got my back. I need something to stay the same while everything else I’ve counted on morphs at warp speed.
    “Since when have I ever been nice?”
    “You know what I mean.” I try to smile, but can’t. “Surely, not everything I do is cause for criticism.”
    “Of course not. Only about ninety percent.” He softens the words with an arm around my shoulder. “But that’s why you have me. To keep you on track. And today, that means no Happy Saturday Bloody Mary.”
    “I wasn’t planning on having one.”
    “Oh, you can have one. Or two or three.” He turns back toward the entrance to the alley, pulling me along beside him. “You just can’t have them here .”
    “Why?”
    “Guess who is inside Swallows lurking in wait even as we speak?”
    “Who?” I ask, though I have a feeling I know.
    “Dr. Herbert Mitchell Asswipe Jerkface McSmuggy Rideau.”
    I smile. I can’t help it. Lingering feelings for Hitch aside, there are times when Fern’s descriptions fit him to a T. “I know. He stopped by the house last night.” I don’t mention that it was while Fern was inside pouring more mojitos. If he knows I kept juicy news like this from him, he’ll kill me. “He asked me to meet him to talk about some FCC stuff,” I add, experiencing only a slight twinge of guilt as the lie slips out. I can’t tell Fern the real reason that I’m here.
    Even if he were capable of keeping his mouth shut, I wouldn’t risk it. I don’t want to put him in danger, or endure the inevitable lecture about offering aid to the enemy. No matter what I decide, as far as Fern’s concerned, Hitch will always be the enemy. It took him a while to put two and two together, but he’s realized that Hitch is the reason I ended up back in Donalsonville a crankier, sadder, more jaded person than I was before. He’ll never forgive Hitch for that. Fernando is like a big brother that way. He picks on me relentlessly, but he’d die before he let anyone else hurt me.
    Aaaannd now I feel awful for thinking shitty things about him.
    I slip an arm around his waist. “But thanks for the warning. It would usually be muchly appreciated.”
    “Fairy Containment and Control crap, huh?” Hegives me a one-armed hug. “Aren’t you supposed to be suspended until next week?”
    “Yeah. He’s just following up on the Breeze house stuff,” I bluff, resisting the temptation to elaborate. Vague is best. I’ll be less likely to contradict myself later.
    “I think you should tell him to screw off and come back next week.”
    “I could. But then I’d have to see him again.”
    “Right.” He shudders. “Better to get it over with. Like a shot.”
    I stiffen and pull away. I don’t want to think about shots or magic or how many things I’m keeping from my best friend. “I should get to it. We still on for supper?”
    “Absolutely, but let’s do it at your house. I can bring everything over and cook on your sorry excuse for a stove.”
    “But I thought you were going to ask some of the boys to eat with us.” I was looking forward to a tableful of whatever flamboyant guests happened to be staying at The First and Last Chance Flophouse. Nothing to keep your mind off your troubles like heated debates on fashion, politics, musical theater, and the latest gay porn.
    “I was, but considering Hitch is one of my ‘boys’ for the next four days and three nights, I didn’t think—”
    “He’s staying at your place?”
    “Tell me about it.” He runs a dramatic hand through his hair. “I can’t remember the last time someone that straight slept under my roof. It’s bringingthe fabulous levels in the house waaaay down. He left at five o’clock this morning to go jogging. Then he came back to shower and didn’t even bother putting any product in that springy clown hair of his. Just walked out frizzy as hell in saggy jeans and a