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“They are respectable, polite men who are good at their jobs.” She flattened her napkin on her lap.

“And what do you think of Colton’s fiancée?” I was rapidly switching gears. I knew when to take my foot off the gas. And though I wanted to talk to Shay about her findings, there wasn’t much she could tell me that I didn’t already know.

I knew it was a werewolf. Knew it had a sadistic sentience. Knew it needed to die.

Instead of responding, Shay made a face when I mentioned Colton’s fiancée.

“You’ve met her, then.” I smiled.

“Not really,” she replied. “Met would imply she acknowledged my existence.” She inclined her head a tad, focusing on my black eye that I hadn’t bothered to cover. “You’ve met her, I assume.”

Shay was far too shrewd for her own good. And mine, for that matter.

“I had the displeasure of having dinner with her last night.”

Shay looked down at my hands, curled around my empty glass. “And am I to guess that happened at dinner?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t start it.”

“Really? You got in a fistfight with Angela at the Hughes’ house, and you didn’t start it?”

I grinned at the sarcasm in her tone, relishing in the warm banter that we seemed to fall into without much effort. “I don’t remember all the details. How long has she been in town?”

Shay thought for a moment. “A while. Her family lived in Salt Hill for years, but she was here often.” She tapped her chin. “They moved here not long after you left town, actually.”

Well, isn’t that fucking convenient? Angela was looking more and more like my witch. And wouldn’t it be a hardship to have to kill her? Though I’d have to cover my tracks carefully since my skirmish with her was already documented.

Then I’d be leaving town right when she disappears. Not that I’d be back again, but I really didn’t want to be some kind of fugitive. Not that I wasn’t already in a couple of small towns.

“What do you think of her?” I asked Shay after the waiter brought our food and gifted me with a fresh Bloody Mary. Shay’s lip curled, signifying that she wasn’t fond of Angela, but I wanted more of her shrewd observation. It was clear she spent her time cutting up the dead and observing the living.

“I think she’s a raging bitch.” She picked up her fork, cutting into her egg.

I grinned, delightedly surprised by her candor as I dug into my own food. My plan was to grill her for every detail I could, helping to solidify my theory.

“Well, isn’t this nice?” a nasally voice asked right as I went in for my bite.

“Fuck,” I muttered with a full mouth, knowing who the owner of that voice was.

Shay went sheet white, obviously recognizing it too.

And there she was, head to toe in Laura Ashley, cloying perfume arriving before her, fake smile displaying a mouth full of veneers.

“I never thought I’d see the day when Hadley Harris and Shay Finkley were having brunch,” Sarah declared, hitching her purse higher on her shoulder, eyes darting between the two of us.

Shay, who had been relaxed, almost confident, shrank back in her seat, her eyes casting downward. She looked smaller. Younger. More vulnerable. The transformation was so jarring, it made me want to stab Sarah in the hand with my fork.

“I never thought I’d see a lot of things,” she added, her eyes running up and down me purposefully before settling on my eye, then my hand.

“I live to surprise you, Sarah.” I took a large bite of my bacon, chewing obnoxiously at her.

She demurely laid a hand on her chest. “I heard there was an … incident at the Hughes’ house last night.” She looked at my knuckles again. “I can only assume you’ve had some hard times since leaving town, and some survival methods are hard to forget, but Angela is a good friend and person.” Her tone was sour. “Her and Colton are happy.”

I swallowed down my bite before smiling. I fucking knew they had to be friends. Though that made me wonder if Sarah was a demon-blessed witch too.

No, just a regular old bitch, I decided.

“And I’m happy they’re happy,” I told her sweetly. “All I want for Colton is to marry again. I’m sure Angela will be a great second wife. And I’m so happy you’ve got a friend like her.”