Steal the Day (Thieves #2)(47)

I made my way down the stairs, again sticking close to the wall.

I had already seen quite a bit of the first floor. There was a frilly foyer that led into the parlor, where I’d learned I really didn’t like all liquor. The dining room was large, with a nice-sized table covered in white lace. Mary Jo had cleaned up. Everything was pin perfect neat. There were two bedrooms on this level, and I would have to find a way to search them tomorrow. There had been talk of a backgammon tournament. It would serve Dev right to have to spend an afternoon playing board games.

Then, there it was, right off the kitchen, a little door. It could have been a little laundry room or maybe a pantry, but I seriously doubted it. This one had a brand new shiny lock. I smiled in the darkness. I really liked locks. They were like big neon signs pointing the way to treasure. A shiny lock was one big X marking the spot.

The light in the kitchen came on, and I whirled around. Maybe I wasn’t as good as I thought I was since I hadn’t heard anyone at all.

“Oh, it’s you, Mrs. O’Malley.” Mary Jo wore a long robe that probably covered an old-time nightgown. I wondered where Mr. Renfro was and those four blessed children.

I smiled and held up my hand. “So sorry to get you up. I was just trying to find the kitchen. I forgot to take my antacid. Boy, if I miss one pill, my reflux can be ferocious.”

“You should pray about that,” she said piously as she got me a glass of water. “Your husband seems like a nice man.”

“Yes,” I agreed because supposedly I had just married him. I should think he was nice.

She nodded, a glazed look coming over her. “He has a glow about him. I noticed that the moment I saw him. He’s a special one.”

I swallowed the antacid and passed the glass back to her. It really was an antacid. In my line of work, stomach issues can be a hazard. “This is a really nice place.”

Mrs. Renfro smiled as she immediately washed the glass, dried it and put it in its place. “It’s my labor of love. My husband lives out on our farm. That’s what pays the bills, of course.”

“And your kids? Are they on the farm?”

She looked confused briefly, but then her face settled into that passive smile. “Yes, my babies. They live with their father. I get out to the farm at least three times a week.”

I took a deep breath because she was just full of creepy goodness. There was nothing in her manner that should have had my crazy-ass bitch meter going wild, but it still was. Then there was the fact that Felicity’s information pegged her as a witch. She didn’t seem like a witch to me, but I would know more after I got into that little room. “Thanks. I should get back to my husband.”

“Of course, dear,” she said absently. “Men have their needs. We just have to think of pleasant things while we lie there.” She shuffled off and the light went out.

I made my way back up the stairs, not bothering to hide my steps. I had what I needed. I would find a way into that little room and hopefully it would yield up my treasure. It had been a while since I used my trusty lock-pick set, but I was itching to give it a try. I closed the door behind me. When I turned, I had to stifle a scream. There was a shadow hovering right outside my window. I almost woke up Dev when I realized who it was.

I parted the filmy curtains, and Daniel gave me a wave. Seeing Daniel flying was magical to me. He looked so carefree floating outside my window. Though Daniel hadn’t aged a day since he was twenty-one, the heavy mantle of responsibility often made him look older. Now he had that mischievous gleam I remembered so well. I turned the handle, and the shutter-like window swung open.

“Zoey,” Daniel said softly, holding out his hand. “Come out and play. You gotta see this, baby.”

“What?”

Daniel shook his head. “Nope. Seeing is believing. Come on.”

I stepped up onto the window seat, and Daniel pulled me into his arms. He cradled me to his chest and then we were flying. I held on for dear life because I’d only done this once before, and I was definitely not used to the sensation. Daniel seemed surer of himself this time. He veered past trees and soared over them. The night wind whipped through my hair, and I managed to open my eyes. I looked up at Daniel. He grinned down at me. I was glad to see he finally understood there was an upside to his undead status.

I relaxed in his arms and let myself enjoy the view. It was cold, but Daniel was warm against me. He must have fed well because I could feel his heart beating, and it only felt that strong when he was full of blood. I suspected that certain tabloid publications would be making their way to this part of the world soon to investigate a rash of bovine exsanguinations.

“Look down, baby,” Daniel said in my ear.

We were flying above a field, and I looked down to see several large animals running, their big bodies defined by the moonlight. They ran in a pack and seemed to be playing. I strained to see the details. Daniel floated over to a group of trees and settled himself on the high branches of an enormous oak. He set me down once he found his footing. I leaned forward. It was easy because I knew whatever I did, Daniel would be there if I made a mistake. I stared down on the pack and realized what I was looking at.

Razorbacks. They were enormous. The large pigs were, at the very smallest, a hundred and fifty pounds. The largest was likely two fifty. I counted twelve. Some of the pig were chasing each other, nipping and playing with affection. Then three much smaller pigs came into view. These were obviously babies. They jumped over each other, tumbling and snorting as they played.