Dead and Disorderly (Behind the Blue Line Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

interactive.”
    “Between you and Nico,” he supplied, waving his hand while his face remained the picture of innocence.
    It was all she could do to hold back the irritated growl and the urge to smack him on general principle. “Between us and the entity. It spoke to us.”
    Her best friend narrowed his eyes and looked askance at her. “Like on the tape, right? Like inaudible to most people, but picked up by the DAT and you, right?”
    “Like you and me having this conversation right now. We heard it walking around downstairs, and so we followed the footsteps. Once we got upstairs, it spoke, and then it slammed a door. It was kinda crazy. I think Nico wants to help me research and go through the tapes because he’s trying to make sense of what happened. You sent him into the titty bar and told him he was going to the library. Jacked up his whole worldview.” She fixed him with her most disapproving and disappointed gaze, because she knew he would crumble pretty quickly.
    Nigel choked back a giggle and tried to maintain a serious expression. “That wasn’t my intention, really. I just thought you two would get along well, and I see I wasn’t wrong.”
    “Not the point, boyo, and you know it. I’m gonna let this pass because it worked out well, as far as the hunt went, but next time, just come yourself and leave the matchmaking alone. Besides, there are easier ways to get me to bring a date to your wedding.” She joked, of course, because her best friend wasn’t like that, but she had to tease him a little since his fiancée was putting her in a flaming pink bridesmaid dress. “I ordered the dress by the way.”
    “Imani’ll be pleased. This wedding planning thing is making her completely nuts.” His cell phone buzzed in his pocket and he picked it up to look at the screen. “Besides, you and Nico would look great walking down the aisle together.”
    She had no problem imagining her friend’s suggestion. Her in the loud pink dress and him in the dashing tuxedo, it was a pleasant fiction to indulge. As much as she felt a connection to the handsome detective, that kind of distraction could only go badly in the long run. Dating normal people only underscored and highlighted how little she fit into that category. “And I told you to settle down with that shit.”
    Nigel nodded in understanding, looking appropriately contrite, and came around the counter to hug her. “I gotta run. I have to meet the juvenile prosecutor over some stuff. Call me!”
    She kissed his cheek and then waved him out the door. It was still early in the day and the store would be empty for a while, at least until lunch, so she returned to her original goal of throwing a tarot spread.
    After shuffling the deck one last time, she pulled off the first of the three cards she would draw. The Empress, in the upright position. She chuckled softly, since the card indicated a woman or feminine energy, mystery, intuition and higher powers. Nahia looked around the store for a moment, taking in her esoteric inventory. Yeah, that card was definitely her. The next card she pulled was the King of Swords.
    Nahia glared heavenward. “Really?” The King of Swords was definitely not what she’d expected, but wasn’t exactly surprising. He represented a man, a strong, intelligent, just man. Clear-thinking, honest, and armed, that was Nico to a ‘T’. Apparently the cards were feeling especially accurate today. She now dreaded picking up the third and final card.
    The bell over the door saved her and she spent the next half an hour with a miniature rush on herbal tea and scented candles. Every few minutes, though, she found herself staring at the deck in suspicion. When she was finally alone again, she grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge she kept in the office and then returned to deal with the tarot. She refused to be fearful of a simple deck of cards.
    Sitting down on the stool, she steeled herself and grabbed the top card, the last one in