I gathered my bearings and started walking toward the tallest office building in the city. I needed to call Lila and check on her. I found a payphone and typed in the number for the Hideout.

She picked up on the second ring.

"Hideout, Lila speaking."

"Hey."

"Katherine! You were supposed to call sooner. I went by Mr. han's and he said you left hours ago."

"I met the girl's mom. I'm going to do my best to find out what happened. Her family deserves to know why she didn't come back to them"

"Kat, I'm sure your family knows you didn't leave them on purpose."

She always knew when I was thinking about them.

"I'm headed to the Council building to see what I can find."

"You weren't too rude to Damon this morning were you?"

I scoffed. "Me rude? Never. Be safe sis."

"You too."

I replaced the phone and stuck my hands in my pockets. Probably should have brought some money with me. Would be nice to get a ride. The walk would do me good, clear my head and maybe the ache in my heart would calm down to a dull throb.

The creatures avoided me. One looking like a big blue floating jelly fish came a little close and then turned and flew the other way. seventeen years ago I would have screamed. Now, nothing fazed me.

Sometimes a girl needs to know when to find alternate means to gain the advantage. Obviously my past tactics didn't have the effect I wanted them too. Seeing as how Damon never seemed to enjoy my company or agree to get coffee with me. I mean who wouldn't want a free coffee.

"Holy Titans, what reeks?"

A few eyes skated to my person as i entered into the reception area of the council officers. I did the causal sniff test and decided maybe the mermen rubbed off on me a bit. Didn't matter. Ever the professional, I continued my lines of questioning to the defenseless desk clerk keeping me from going to Damon's office.

"I'm sorry..." I paused and picked up the name plate of the man or woman -did they have a gender, probably rude to assume-in front of me. I could read it but the language dated a few thousand years back and I don't like everyone knowing my skills unless needed.

"K, may I call you K?"

A grunt sounded, they didn't seem displeased.

"Cool." I grinned. I slayed the whole nickname thing.

"I know Damon is here despite him having you tell me he isn't. I can see him through the glass."

I waved grinning like my life depended on it. He didn't seem so exited and rolled his eyes. I could definitely see that clearly. At least I got a reaction.

"Look, I'm going to sit here all day until he agrees to see me. Can you imagine what this place will smell like by the end of the day if I hang out? It's going to get bad. Plus I'm a talker. I love chatting. It's a hobby of mine. I'm really good at it you know. Some people say..."

K grunted and motioned to Damon's office.

Score one for the good guys. I probably wouldn't have stayed there to bug K all day but they didn't know that.

I didn't bother knocking, if he could be rude so can I. Pretty sure the saying is you catch more flies with vinegar than honey. And boy I felt tangy.

"Damon."

"Katherine."

We were off to a good start. I could feel it in my bones.

"I need informat-"

"No." He crossed his arms over his chest and sat back.

Two could play this game. I leaned closer hoping the Ode to Merman hadn't lost its effect in such a snug space.

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

"No."

I gritted my teeth and decided to try again. "Listen," I locked his surprisingly soft lips between my fingers. "It's rude to interrupt. Mary's mom asked me for help. She said the council wasn't looking into it. I just want to know what you guys have then I'm out of your hair and clean air space."

I threw the last bit in to sweeten the deal. I searched his eyes and he seemed to search mine too.

"Please." I whispered. The word was hard for me to say, but I used it on the important stuff.

The familiar stiffness of his body left. The strong man I semi-admired looked tired for the first time in the five years I'd known him.

"Kat this isn't easy. I'm getting push back from the higher ups. They don't want this publicized. They only made a big show because of the paper. I'm doing everything I can."

"Just let me take a quick peek at the files, I need to see why you guys think it's a sacrifice. I can take it from there and promise to keep you informed on what I find. You know I can go more places than you with your badge."

He seemed to mull it over. So I took the time to appreciate the items in his office. A rock collection decorated a book shelf behind him. Some bottles with swirly potions emitting lights and sparkles. Some darker with smoke swirling inside. I never knew how to win with him. Even as teens he was always closed off to me. I didn't even know what he was. Besides trustworthy and a big pain in my peach.

"No kitty poster telling you to hang in there? I'm disappointed."

"I could lose my job." He completely ignored me.

"I won't let that happen."

"Fine, but you can't see the whole fill just the pictures of the symbols and the name of the club she was at two nights before she died. That's all I got from her chip. Something messed with the magic."

"She was at a club? The impression I got from her mother didn't seem like the party type."

"You know parents, kids aren't always honest and parents can't always see the truth or want to for that matter. Mine never did."

"Yeah those darn parents." I shrugged.

He cleared his throat. "Here, these are the shots I took. I tried to capture them as clear as I could. It was hard with the blood."

"Can I have some paper?"

"Yeah." He shuffled through a few drawers and handed me a note pad.

I recognized a few right away. others I'd never seen. I did my best to copy them accurately. The ones I saw were not a good sign. Like any of this could be good.

"What was the name of the club?"

"Toxic Ozone."

My nose screwed up. "What's she doing in a place like that? The roaches won't go there and they like dark places."

"I don't know. We can't even get in."

That didn't surprise me. Beefy body guards and magic barriers kept out the good and let in the undesirables. It was a good thing to be human if you wanted to get in.

"Be careful Kat. You know what they sell there."

"Cookies?" I quipped.

"Yeah crumbled, dead cookies."

"I haven't worn skin tight leather for awhile. This could be fun."

His face hardened and the good old Damon was back in full force.

"Thanks, I really appreciate it."

He motioned to the door.

"Yeah, yeah I'm leaving." The chair screeched as I slid it back. I folded the paper and tucked it in my pocket. I didn't want to lose it or for others to see what I wrote down. The wrong person and the council would be locking me up for good. It's no wonder they wanted to keep it quiet.

"Katherine?"

I paused before opening the door. "What's up?

"Take a shower."