Chapter 103

Kadeem

“Try it and I guarantee, you won't regret it.”

With a devilish grin and a Vanna White flourish, Mateo waved his hand over his plate of chocolate pie.

The bell chimed behind them, bringing in a rush of warm night air as more patrons filed inside.

Kadeem, Mateo, and Riley were settled into the booth of an old diner just outside of the city limits. It was well past midnight, but this place was iconic enough to keep the hordes weary travelers of I-35 coming through its doors. Signed photos of celebrities, including a few Weres, covered the walls.

Mateo pushed his plate in front of Kadeem. “Not even joking," he said, with an earnestness that made Kadeem roll his eyes instantly. “This is the best pie I’ve had in my life!”

“Mateo," Kadeem said, shaking his head, "You say that about every dessert you lay eyes on.”

“This time,” he begged, "I'm telling the truth!"

Kadeem leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his black coffee. “I’ll pass.”

“Hey jackass,” Riley piped up, the vinyl groaning underneath her as she shifted in her seat. “What about me?”

"Sure, go on,” Mateo said, pushing it in her direction with a sigh of defeat. “But my thrill is when the Health Nazi actually gives into temptation.”

Kadeem flipped him off and glanced out the window at the sound of a semi truck blowing its horn as it barreled down the freeway.

“Mmmm,” Riley closed her eyes. She licked the spoon slowly and a smile came over her lips.

She went for a second spoonful, but Mateo snatched back his plate with an authoritative smirk on his face. “First sample’s free. Next bite will cost ya.”

“Gross,” Riley said, rolling her eyes, “I’m fine going back to my pumpkin pie.”

Mateo gave a snort.

Riley immediately shot him a look. “September is fall,” she said. “I don’t want to have to defend myself anymore.”

Mateo shook his head disapprovingly. “Not in the south, sweetie. It’s like a million degrees out!”

To his shock, Kadeem had formed an unlikely trio with Riley and Mateo over the past few months, even if they were something of a dysfunctional unit.

It began pragmatically. Kadeem needed to relay the events of the trip, and he was too worn out and too cranky to tell the whole insane story twice.

After they arrived back at Ardal's house, he helped get them unloaded. He left the kids with hugs and Ardal with an icy nod before calling Mateo and Riley to meet him at a local pub.

He knew better than to chase away his emotions with booze, but the weightier feelings always seemed to slip away easier with a drink or three - and if anything called for a drink, surely, it was this.

Riley and Mateo made it straight away, listening attentively as he recounted the ordeal in a hushed tone, tucked away in a distant booth.

“I told you it would be a shit show!" Riley blurt out the second he was done.

“Thank you," he said, cutting her off immediately with a heavy dose of acid in his voice, "I’m well-aware of what you told me. I wasn’t looking for a 'told ya so' victory lap.”

“Well,” Mateo said, crinkling open his third Saltine wrapper. “Naturally, I’ve got plenty of thought-provoking questions and opinions to bestow upon you..."

Kadeem crossed his arms. "Oh, please," he chuckled darkly.

What was he doing with these two clowns?

"But, first," Mateo continued, "I’m going to need more sustenance than this." He crunched into the cracker with a scowl.

So over burgers and beers, they helped Kadeem begin to sort through the puzzle he hadn't yet solved. They weren't exactly a crack team, but they were his.

"Need a refill?"

The nasal drawl of their waitress thankfully interrupted the pie debate.

She stood at the end of the table, a steaming pot of coffee in her hands.

Kadeem let her fill his cup before looking across at Riley and Mateo in the diner booth.

“Okay, kids, have we had it with the petty shit?"

Riley let her angry glare drop, shifting her focus to Kadeem.

"Well, no news," she said. "Your uncle Bob's as good as gold."

"When he knows he's being watched," Kadeem replied flatly, setting his mug down.

"Or," Mateo said, "When his partner in crime is... indisposed. Any sign of the doctor?"

Kadeem shook his head. "Nope." He drew out the word slowly, enunciating the 'p' with a slight pop. "Nor from Beelzebub, his mom."

Riley spoke up. "And, there've been no vampire attacks all summer," Riley said. "Maybe the whole thing is just... over?"

Kadeem drummed his fingers on the table. "That would be nice."

Riley suddenly looked very busy with her pie, avoiding her gaze as she cut it with her fork. "Has, um, you know, your mom heard from your sister? Maybe?"

"You don't have to tip-toe around it," Kadeem said, but his voice came out in a gruff bark. He collected himself with a small sigh. "I don't know. We haven't talked much since I got back, and Layla's the last thing I want to discuss."

Riley kept her eyes averted and took a bite of her pumpkin pie. "I heard Pack X was going to go after the vampire covens."

Kadeem cleared his throat. "Yeah. Guess things are heating up again."

Riley sat her fork down and looked up at him. "I mean, you can't blame them?"

"Kadeem, dear." Mateo gave him a knowing look from across the table. "Have you bothered to ask Ardal yet, if she's heard from Dr. Rayburn?"

Kadeem was grateful to be pulled into another topic, but that didn't mean he appreciated Mateo's nudge about Ardal. A low growl escaped his throat. "No."

"Clearly," Mateo said, "She's his first stop."

"Send Embry and Sara to talk with her," Riley offered.

"There is no way that would go well," Kadeem chuckled darkly.

"Quit avoiding her then," Mateo said.

Kadeem snatched up his coffee mug. "You guys don't get it."

"Funny enough," Mateo said. "I'm deeply familiar with this topic. I could ghostwrite your damn memoir!"

Kadeem let out a tattered laugh. "Well, I'll consider it. Not like she has tried to reach out to me either, though."

The waitress came back to bring their bill, and Kadeem quickly seized it before the other two could. He smiled while they grumbled.

"You know, I think," he said softly, holding the door as they stepped outside, "We can probably disband at this point with our meetings. We're not exactly making headway, are we?"

Crickets chirped as they tread through the grass behind the building.

Kadeem turned to Mateo. "Oh, don't look so sad," he said, not able to hold back a surprised laugh.

"I guess I've just enjoyed our little soirées," Mateo sniffed.

"You live with me, Mateo!"

Riley and Kadeem burst into laughter.

"Yeah, well, this felt different," Mateo said, looking down at his shoes. "I was... one of the gang."

"You still are." Kadeem thumped him on the back.

The three of them shifted into their wolf forms and began their way home, pausing only once - Riley swore she caught the scent of a wood nymph tucked away in some thick underbrush on the site of a new housing development yet to be cleared.

As Kadeem and Mateo rounded the corner towards his home, their noses both caught a familiar scent.

Kadeem growled and slowed his pace.

Then Susan emerged from the gloom, a coy smile gently playing upon her ruby lips.

"Surprised to see me?"