The Undead Pool (The Hollows #12)(33)
Author: Kim Harrison

“Ivy Tamwood,” Ivy breathed, and Ellasbeth blanched. “If you wake up my girlfriend, I’ll let her eat you.”

Ellasbeth’s lips parted. Then she thought some more, presumptions visibly tumbling through her head as she looked at Ivy, then me, then back at Ivy. I would’ve said something, but it really wasn’t any of her business.

Maybe the phone is under Ivy’s mess. “Ellasbeth, I don’t know where the girls are. Hold on a sec. Let me call Trent.”

“He won’t take my calls,” she said, still by the door and now holding her purse before her like a little shield. “Those girls are mine!”

“Not for the next three months they aren’t,” I said, giving up on the landline and getting my cell phone from my bag on the table.

Jenks finally got his kids out—through the hole in the kitchen window screen since they were too afraid to go past Ellasbeth. I hit Trent’s number and put the phone to my ear, noting Ellasbeth’s annoyance that I had him on speed dial. I could sympathize, and it probably didn’t help that she was cranky from having been in the air the last six hours or so, but she shouldn’t have threatened to keep the girls.

Ellasbeth glanced at my scrying mirror nervously, and the line clicked open on the third ring.

“Rachel. Get your car back?” Trent asked cheerfully. “How did the FIB meeting go? Did Edden tell you the undead are asleep? No wonder it’s a mess out there.”

His voice had been loud enough for Jenks to hear, way over by the fridge, and by Ellasbeth’s thinly hidden anger, I figured she could hear it too. “Car is in the carport, thanks. Edden told me about the undead. I’m waiting to hear back from David about those Free Vampires, but I need to talk to you about something Ivy pieced together if you have the time.”

“Now’s good,” he said, and I glanced at Ellasbeth as she flipped her strawlike hair from her face. It looked fake next to Trent’s and Lucy’s transparent blond, and I knew it bothered her.

“I’d rather tell you in person,” I said, holding the woman’s eyes. “Ah, Ellasbeth is standing in my kitchen.”

Ellasbeth lurched into motion, her thin hand reaching. “Give me the phone.”

Jenks darted down and away, coming to a sword-swinging halt by my ear. My pulse jumped, and Ivy jerked at the sudden smack of adrenaline. “Excuse me! I am not your employee,” I said, and she dropped back, shocked when she realized Jenks had scored on her and her knuckle was bleeding from a small scratch.

I backed up to put more space between us, phone at my ear. Lucy’s voice was in the background, her words simple but clear, but on the chance Trent didn’t want Ellasbeth to know where they were, I simply said, “She wants to know where the girls are.”

His sigh was a long exhalation. “I’m sorry. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

I glanced at the clock on the stove. It took longer than that for me to get out to his estate. “Really?”

“Quen didn’t pack anything when she threatened to keep them, and they outgrew everything I have. We went shopping. The Hollows has had fewer misfires.”

My smile was unstoppable as I imagined the two of them handling the girls with grace, both of them proficient daddies. “Fifteen. See you then.”

Pleased at the chance to see the girls, I clicked off and shoved my phone into my back pocket. My smile faded as I realized everyone was staring at me. My finger was wound around a strand of hair. I didn’t remember having done that, and I untangled it, embarrassed. “What?”

Jenks hummed his wings, and I didn’t like that knowing look he and Ivy were sharing.

Ellasbeth shifted her shoulders, clearly uncomfortable for having crashed our church, but not willing to sit down until invited. “I wanted to talk to him,” she said, temper frayed.

“Well, he didn’t want to talk to you.” I barely breathed the words, but I knew she heard me. “And lower your voice. Not everyone sleeps in four-hour naps. You want to sit down? He’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

Ellasbeth looked at my chair pulled up to Ivy’s, then edged around it to sit at the far end of the table by the fridge. No one ever sat there, and she looked stiff. “I’m sorry for bursting in on you. I was understandably distressed.”

Distressed? I glanced at the mostly full coffeepot. And that makes it okay? I thought, and Ivy shook her head, bringing up her computer’s screen now that Ellasbeth couldn’t see it. “No doubt,” I said, getting a mug from the cupboard.

“Yes, but if you don’t start treating me with respect—”

I set the empty cup beside her, leaning in to cut her words off. That big honking engagement ring was still on her finger, catching the light like Jenks’s wings. Who in hell does she think she is? “I’ll start treating you with respect as soon as you give it, missy.”

“She called her missy,” Jenks said, and Ivy raised a finger to high-five him.

I pushed back, letting her breathe again. “You walked into my house uninvited. Threatened my roommate.”

“I did not!” she huffed, indignant as she looked at Ivy.

“I was talking about Jenks. You reneged on your agreement with Trent, and if he wanted to talk to you, he would’ve answered your calls. He’s on his way here, and you’re welcome to stay until he gets here because I heard the cabdriver dump your luggage and drive off right after you got out.”

Long face becoming longer, she sat stiffly, making me wonder if she was going to cry. I was trying to be calm, not only because it looked good but because an easily unbalanced vampire was sleeping in the next room over and Ellasbeth was kicking out enough anger to wake the dead.

“Now, would you like some coffee while you wait?”

“Yes, thank you.” Her voice was softer, not subdued, but it had lost that I-sneeze-sunshine lilt she had. “I’ve been up for hours.”

“Welcome to the club.” I took the pot to her and filled her mug. She made sure I saw that ring again, and Ivy quietly went back to work.

“Actually, I’m glad to have this time with you,” Ellasbeth said, and I leaned back against the counter. “May I be frank?”

You can be Frank, Paul, or Simon, I don’t care, I thought, and Jenks snickered as he sat at the window where he could watch his kids as he sharpened his sword. He knew the joke. “I wish you would.”

Ellasbeth eyed Ivy across the table. “Alone?”