Gifted Thief (Highland Magic #1)(14)

‘Can you think of anything?’

My gaze fell on the sheet of paper on top of the letter opener. There was always Bob. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. Was it merely a coincidence that I’d come across the genie now – when desperation might lead to me using him? I nibbled my lip and decided his appearance was too far-fetched to be anything more than serendipity. Serendipity that I’d be a fool to make use of. Going down the wishing road could cause more problems than it solved.

I held off making a decision for now. It wasn’t like the genie was going anywhere. ‘It won’t do any harm to ask Boon for terms,’ I said finally. ‘Don’t commit yourself to anything. Just see what he says.’

Relieved to have something to do, Taylor nodded. I passed him my phone, then gave him some privacy to speak. In the bathroom I splashed cold water on my face, then leaned against the sink and pressed my forehead against the cool mirror. If only the damn Lia Saifir had been where it was supposed to be, we wouldn’t be in this mess. So much for my big move to Oban. I couldn’t leave until things were straight with Taylor. I owed him too much.

When I went back to check on him, he was even paler than before ? if that were possible. ‘Let me guess,’ I said drily, ‘the terms are too steep?’ I wasn’t particularly surprised. Boon was a bloody charlatan.

Taylor shook his head slowly. ‘He won’t do it,’ he croaked.

I blinked. I hadn’t been expecting that. ‘What do you mean?’

‘He won’t give me the loan. He said he knows who’s bought it and he doesn’t want to piss them off. I got the impression they’d already been in touch with him. He refused point blank to tell me who it was.’

‘That doesn’t make any sense.’ I sank down into my chair. Except it did. This wasn’t about money at all; this was about someone wanting to destroy Taylor. No wonder they knew my name. ‘Who is it? Who really took the loan?’

He looked me in the eye. ‘I don’t know. I was telling the truth, Tegs. I really don’t know.’

‘You must have pissed off someone.’

‘Not that I can think of. The last time I really did that was before you came along. I’ve been keeping my nose clean.’

Other than arranging for a series of high-profile thefts, I thought. Apparently reading my mind, Taylor sighed. ‘You know what I mean. I’ve not upset anyone in the underworld.’

‘Could it be someone we’ve stolen from in the past? Someone wanting serious revenge?’

A spark flared in his eyes. ‘I might not be much of a gambler, Tegs, but I am good at my job. No one knows who we are.’

I had no idea what we were going to do. ‘Okay,’ I said. I’d have to make this up as I went along. ‘This is what we’re going to do. Um…’

There was a sudden thump at the front door that made us both jump. I looked at Taylor. ‘Stay there,’ I told him, every muscle in my body tensing up.

It was nothing more than the morning paper. I cursed myself for being as jumpy as a kitten and picked it up. ‘It’s alright,’ I called out to Taylor, picking it up from the doormat. ‘It’s just the newspaper.’ I tossed it down onto the kitchen table with the rest of the detritus.

‘I’m sorry,’ Taylor said miserably. ‘I’ve screwed everything up. Here you are trying to pack, trying to make a new life yourself and…’

‘Stop.’ I mustered my sternest look. ‘Yes, you’ve messed up. But we’ll deal with it.’

His head drooped. ‘How?’

I straightened my shoulders. Sneaky was my middle name. But when sneaky didn’t work… ‘I’ll find this courier and talk some sense into him. If we can get the name of the guy who bought the loan, we can find out what he really wants. Because I’m betting it ain’t money.’

Taylor jerked his head up in alarm. ‘The Wild Man will squash you, Integrity! This isn’t someone you want to mess with.’

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. ‘Maybe he’ll find out that I’m someone he doesn’t want to mess with.’

Besides, at this moment we were out of damn options.

‘I should come with you then.’

‘No. Right now you’re the target. It makes more sense for you to stay here. It’ll be easier for me to talk my way out of things if I’m alone.’

He sighed. ‘Once upon a time, it was me giving the orders.’

‘Once upon a time, you weren’t a decrepit old man.’ I winked. ‘Don’t worry. We’ll sort all this out.’





Chapter Four




From where I was standing, Taylor’s little house looked empty. The door was closed, the curtains were drawn and there were no signs of life. A few people scurried along the street, one or two of them with faces I recognised. Wanting to avoid getting drawn into a chat about the weather, I stayed in the shadows. I couldn’t afford to get distracted. You’re tough, I told myself. I nodded at the tiny voice inside my head that chirped: ‘And when the going gets tough, the tough get going.’

I could do this. I had to do this.

As soon as the street was clear of pedestrians, I darted forward. It was possible that the hulking brute had vanished when he realised Taylor wasn’t around. That wouldn’t help my cause; I needed to confront him. He knew who I was and that meant he probably also knew I was Sidhe. I would bet, however, that he didn’t know that I had no Sidhe Gifts to work with. I could play with that. Assuming he showed up again.