Read Online Wicked City by Alaya Johnson - Free Book Online Page A

have enough evidence to arrest me, so I’m just hoping it will go away.”
    With a little help from the Mayor .
    Harry pursed his lips, looking, for a moment, much older than his nineteen years. I could not believe that the same brother who once dropped part of a hornet’s nest down my knickers was now helping me avoid police investigation two thousand miles from home. How times change.
    â€œYou should steer clear of those two, Zeph. There’s something about ’em I don’t trust.”
    â€œDon’t be daft, Harry,” Troy said. “They’re officers, even if one is a sucker. Our Zephyr can take care of herself, as she always tells me.” Troy patted his dirty-blond hair in a vain attempt to reinvigorate the pomade, which seemed to have given up in the heat. Stray strands resolutely insisted on curling and sticking out in a fashion I had not seen since we were much younger.
    I sucked down the dregs of Harry’s lemonade and contemplated emulating Troy’s idea for the ice. “Did you hear anything else about those deaths yesterday?”
    Harry shrugged and sprawled on the grass beside my chair. “The bodies are at the morgue, but we’d have a better chance of getting into Grant’s Tomb.”
    Troy nodded. “I’ve tried to call in favors with some friends in the Sixth Precinct. Professional curiosity. But the bodies are in a warded room and even the top brass can’t get in. Zephyr, are you really meeting with the mayor this afternoon?”
    â€œI think she means picketing in front of City Hall.”
    I glared at them both. “I’ll have you know I will be meeting with him—at his personal invitation—at four o’clock.”
    Harry whistled. “I heard you were a little famous down here. Daddy said so.”
    â€œDaddy thinks famous is your picture in the paper. People knew who I was for a week, and I’m grateful for my return to obscurity.”
    It was getting hotter in the garden. Would the ice ruin Lily’s dress? I settled for removing my hat and rubbing the ice along my hairline.
    â€œWell, if you really are meeting Beau James,” Troy said, with a curled lip that clearly said which I doubt, “then you might ask him about the bodies yourself. Rumor has it he’s visited the morgue.”
    â€œIf they’re in a morgue,” I said, “do you think that means they didn’t pop?”
    Harry chewed his lip. “Could be.”
    â€œThey bring poppers for autopsies sometimes, too,” Troy said. “As you should know, Zephyr. The police spent a week cleaning out Rinaldo’s lair.”
    Considering that Troy knew I had spent most of that week huddled in my bed, I thought this was unfair. But I didn’t want to tarnish Harry’s image of his daring big sister, so I let it pass.
    â€œI’ll ask,” I said, “but if none of your contacts have learned anything, I rather doubt he’ll tell me.” I stood. “Anyway, I must be going. Harry, would you walk me out?”
    Harry scrambled up obligingly enough while Troy frowned after us like he wasn’t quite sure what had just happened.
    â€œZephyr,” Harry said, as soon as we were out of earshot, “what’s all this about the mayor?”
    I sighed. “I’m not sure. I got a visit from those two officers yesterday and before I can say striped pajamas I have a note from the mayor requesting my presence. He hinted he might be able to help me with my legal difficulties.”
    â€œAre you and Jimmy Walker that friendly with each other?”
    I gave Harry a long look. “I really don’t think he’s my type,” I said.
    Harry blushed. “Zeph, you know, with his reputation…”
    I laughed and kissed him on the cheek. “I will let you know of any startling developments, I promise. That one, however, is vanishingly unlikely.”
    I shook my head in disbelief as I