Rock 'n' Roll is Undead (Veronica Mason (33 page)

“About that…Yes, you could say we were aware. It was Pierce.” He stared at his shiny black shoes. “Um, sometimes I may have been with him. You’re one hell of a driver.” He chuckled, looking up.

“I can’t believe you followed me. You scared the hell out of me.”

“It was for your own safety,” he said.

“I could have been killed,” I countered.

“You could have been killed if we hadn’t followed you.”

“But my father had you checked out,” I said.

“Sneaky little thing, aren’t you? I’m an undercover agent. Of course he wouldn’t find anything.”

“Were you really in the Marines?” I asked.

“Yes. That part was true.”

“I don’t know what part about you isn’t a lie.”

I studied Buzz’s profile—his strong jaw and sexy full lips. What would have happened to me if he hadn’t been here? I knew what would have happened—my ass would have been toast.

“What about Monty Bradford and Barbie?”

“They’re fine. Monty took off walking after their argument. Barbie found him and they went to a hotel to make up.”

“What? She cheated on him. And don’t they have a home to go to?”

“Hey, I don’t get into personal affairs.” He held his hands up. “Whatever makes them happy. If he forgives her, that’s his problem.”

“What about the blood on the phone?”

“Apparently someone is a sloppy eater.”

“That’s just gross. This is all so strange. Can the night get any weirder?” I placed my head in my hands, my temples thumped. Grandma Annie always talked about her “magic headaches.” I wondered if that’s what I had? Since my magic had never really worked, I’d never understood what she’d meant.

Chapter 57

“I’m so sorry, Veronica.” Kitty cried, moving closer to me. “I had no idea.”

“It’s okay, don’t cry. I believe you didn’t know. You always fall for the wrong guys.” I placed my arms around her and squeezed.

“Yeah, I’ll admit I attract losers, but Danny took it to a whole new level. I didn’t mean anything I said on the phone. He made me, you know?”

“I know, Kitty. It’s over now. We’ll put it behind us.”

“I hope I never see him again. He deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison.” She sniffled. “Your spell book is in the backseat of his car, by the way.”

“Oh, thank goodness you found it. I thought it was gone for good.” The book had been close by. That explained why the feeling had returned. I needed that book for my magic more than I realized.

Danny yelled at Kitty as he was being loaded into the back of the police cruiser. “I’ll call you, Kitty. Send me a text, okay? I’ll read your twitter page—” The officer slammed the door shut, cutting off his words.

“He’s clearly insane,” I said squeezing Kitty’s shoulders tighter. “Don’t even look at him.” I hoped he enjoyed playing rockabilly—in prison. With any luck, they’d give him bad blood to drink.

They loaded Frank into the back of one of the other police cars. He didn’t look my way. I wanted to ask him why. I wanted to tell him I’d trusted him and ask how could he do that to me. But the thought of speaking to him right now made my stomach turn.

An officer approached us and I quirked a brow, frowning. “You. I know you.”

He was the man who’d been in the diner. Apparently, agents from IPCI had been everywhere. Sneaky little things, they were.

“We found Mr. Ernst at the perpetrator’s home. He was banged up, but okay. He asked that you call him.” He handed me a piece of paper with the producer’s number.

“He wants me to call him?”

He nodded.

I stared at the paper. The night had been nothing short of surreal. Now it came down to this? Did I want to know what he had to say? He probably had a few choice names to call me; none of them being Veronica.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Buzz asked.

I smiled. “I don’t know. He probably wants to cuss me out for getting him involved. I almost got him killed.”

“I doubt it. You call him or I will.” Buzz pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

“You’d do that, wouldn’t you?”

“I would. Now call.”

I dialed his number, and waited with bated breath for an answer. “Mr. Ernst? It’s Veronica Mason. You wanted me to call you?” My voice shook.

“Veronica, hello.” He sounded tired. “I didn’t want you to think I took off and didn’t come back on purpose. I was a little tied up.” He chuckled.

Was he delirious? “You’re apologizing to me? I should apologize to you.”

“For what? You did nothing wrong.”

“It was people around me that did this to you.”

“No, no. Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. Things turned out okay. Listen. I’d love to sign you to our label. Can you meet me Monday morning?”

“Yes! Yes, of course.” If he’d asked me in person, I would have planted a kiss on him.

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

He gave me his address and we arranged to meet Monday morning at his office.

“He offered to sign me,” I said once I clicked off Buzz’s cell.

Buzz scooped me up and kissed me. I hadn’t expected such a reaction from him, but I didn’t push him away, either. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Even self-imposed ones. With his arms still laced around my waist, he moved his lips from mine, then said, “I felt a connection to you from the moment I saw you, you know. I can’t explain it. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s your aura.”

“Or her boobs. Or her nice butt,” Kitty blurted.

I shot her a glare. “Kitty.”

Buzz chuckled. “Well there is that, but seriously, there’s a light surrounding you, and I can’t help but be drawn to it. To you.” He brushed a loose strand of my hair away from my face.

“I suppose you want me to forgive you now?”

“That’s the idea, yes.”

“Oh, forgive the guy already,” Kitty said, “and be thankful he isn’t a crazed killer.”

Buzz and I laughed. Poor Kitty.

Now I knew why Kitty had been a part of my dreams and visions. They were leading me to Danny in a long, roundabout way. I’d have to discuss with Grandma Annie about how to fine-tune this new ability of mine. Not that I wanted it, I wished it had never started, but a gal has to do what a gal has to do.

“They’ll be here for a bit.” Buzz motioned toward the police. “Why don’t you go home and rest?” he asked.

“I do need rest. But before I go, I need to make a quick call. I would wait until I get home, but it’s very important, do you mind?” I asked.

“No, go right ahead.” He stroked my hair, then turned and walked away.

I stepped to the side, away from the noise and lights. “Grandma Annie?” I asked when she picked up. “Did I wake you?”

“No, dear. I had a feeling you’d call.”

I knew what she meant by feelings, because I had them, too. A sixth sense, so to speak. I wouldn’t even ask about her feelings. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know tonight. My brain was too full at the moment.

“I found the book. Well, Kitty found it, but it’s safe.”

“Oh, I’m so relieved. The book holds special powers for you, but I guess you’ve figured that out by now.”

“The book has special powers for me?” I repeated her words.

“Yes. The more you use it, the better they’ll be.”

Not sure I believed her on that one.

“Just like your music. You’ve practiced to get better,” she said.

“Practice makes perfect, huh? So the book is responsible for the visions and dreams?”

“Yes, Dear. But don’t ever let the book get away again. Understand?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t. But you should have told me sooner. You should have said something.”

“I didn’t know it would have that kind of reaction with you so soon. I’d heard from my mother that it would with the right person. And apparently the right person is you.”

“But where does it come from? The book? The powers?”

“I don’t know, Honey. I never asked. It’s a mystery you’ll have to uncover, I guess. But really, it’s not important. What’s important is that you use the book.”

Not important? There was no way I could not know something like that. Wasn’t she the least bit curious? Something like that would eat away at me until I had answers.

“We’ll discuss this more tomorrow. You come over and bring the book.”

“Okay, Grandma. By the way, the record producer liked me.”

“I knew he would. What’s not to like? See you tomorrow.”

“Love you, Grandma.”

“Love you too, Honey.”

Had I just dreamed my grandmother gave me a book that allowed me to have psychic visions? Nope, I was really here and fully awake. I’d just had the conversation, no denying it. Not only that, Buzz stood beside me again. Smiling and looking more gorgeous than ever.

“You still need a bass player?” he asked.

I nodded. “Maybe.”

“Good, I’ll be your bass player, if you’ll help me.”

“Oh, so it comes with strings attached, does it? But how can you possibly be an agent and play bass at the same time?”

“Hmm, good point. I’ll figure out something.”

“So what do you need help with?”

“We need an agent.”

“Excuse me? An agent with IPCI?”

“That’s the place.”

“I don’t know what to say other than you’re insane.”

“Well, we can discuss this later, of course, but with the visions and all, we need you.”

“Did you ignore the part where I just told you that you’re insane? Besides, my visions are half-assed, at best.”

“They won’t be.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know.”

“You do realize my brother worked for the IPCI? A vampire killed my brother. I know it wasn’t IPCI’s fault and I realize all vampires aren’t like that, but….”

“I do know about your brother. And I’m very sorry for what happened.”

I couldn’t believe what he was asking me to do. But a part of me wanted the chance to make my brother proud. My parents wouldn’t go for the idea, though.

“Just think about it, okay?”

“What are you, anyway? You’re not a vampire and I’m pretty sure you’re not a werewolf.”

“I can’t believe you waited all this time to ask. You’re something else, Veronica Mason, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told. What that something is, I have no idea. But you didn’t answer my question. What are you?”

“I’m a witch. Just like you.”

“Well, let’s hope not just like me.” I laughed.

“So you’ll consider working with us?” He placed his arms around my waist. “It would be part-time, of course. Kind of like a consultant.”

“I’ll think about it.”

I kissed him again. After all, practice does make perfect.

About Rose Pressey:

Rose Pressey enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. She’s always found the paranormal interesting. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.

When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires, and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties. Yeah, she loves Elvis. She can’t help herself.

Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son, and two sassy Chihuahuas.

www.rosepressey.com

[email protected]

www.twitter.com/rosepressey

www.facebook.com/rose.pressey