Yuki bounced in her seat, fork splashing strawberry juice from her waffles onto the table, as she spoke rapidly on the phone. Usually I gave Yuki her privacy and tuned out my werewolf hearing, but it was obvious that Emma had some exciting information.
Had she found a clue to the Grabber’s identity?
Leave it to Emma to manage research while working. During her shift at the animal shelter, Emma had read reports of a stray cat in Sansborough, outside an apartment building at 115 Sheridan Street—beside one of the photography studios on our list. No one had reported seeing an actual cat. The residents who called it in, complained of a cat waking them from their sleep as it wailed outside their building. The event took place three nights ago, the same day Sarah Randall went missing.
Emma had pieced the clues together and called another volunteer to finish out her shift at the shelter. That was when she had called Yuki, making her splash sticky syrup all over the glass covered tablecloth.
I had taken Yuki out for breakfast hoping that waffles covered in ice cream and strawberry syrup would coax her to eat. Being actively plagued by a ghost, even one whose smell impression wasn’t a foul stench, often made it difficult for Yuki to eat.
Plus, I suspected that Emma’s concerns over Yuki’s mental health were accurate. When I picked her up this morning she looked as though she spent the entire night wrestling with her demons. She may wear dramatic makeup, but the dark circles around Yuki’s eyes weren’t completely intentional.
But Yuki was awake now and smiling from ear to ear. I matched her smile with my own and flagged down our waitress to pay our check. Emma was on her way and Simon would join us before we left town.
It was time to rescue Sarah Randall.
“You were listening, right?” Yuki said.
Yuki ended the call with Emma and continued to bounce in her seat. She clapped her hands and smiled, looking like a little kid—a kid wearing a spiked collar and red lipstick. It was unbelievable cute.
“Yes,” I said. “Sounds like Emma discovered a potential location for the Grabber. That was some quick reasoning.”
“I know, like, she’s totally amazing,” she said.
Yuki happily scooped up a forkful of ice cream smothered waffle and put it in her mouth with a contented sigh.
“She’s not the only one,” I said. I leaned across the table and kissed Yuki, licking away the whipped cream at the corner of her mouth. “And you’re twice as sweet.”
Yuki swallowed and a hint of pink showed through her white face powder.
“Only you would call me sweet, Calvin Miller,” she said.
I took in her appearance, dressed all in black with spikes at her neck and wrists. No, not everyone would think Yuki was sweet, but that’s just because they don’t bother to look beneath the surface. And they don’t kiss her while she’s eating waffles.
“I promise to do so every Saturday henceforth, my Dung Beetle Princess,” I said, standing and bowing at the waist.
Yuki groaned.
“Oh no, don’t start that again,” she said.
I took her hand and pulled her to her feet. She gasped as I stole another kiss. Someone at a booth behind ours started clapping.
“…mmm,” she said. That’s embarrassing”
“Embarrassing?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yeah, embarrassing, but yummy,” she said. “People are staring. Let’s get out of here.”
“After you, Princess,” I said. With a flourish, I gestured to the door. “Your carriage awaits.”