Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(16)

She growled as the marble cooled in her hand. Gulley knew he was still being followed. He is not escaping me! Edarra dodged a group of women and other increasing foot traffic. Around the next corner, she spotted her target again. The short man got into another car, and Edarra cursed. She kept an eye out for the car’s general direction while running to a large condominium under construction.

When she reached a side away from the street, she ducked under the heavy clear tarp surrounding the building. The only signs of other people were voices at the other end. Edarra slinked up the stairs to the roof, walking in a crouch as she reached the edge. Traffic had eased off during those few minutes, so she easily spotted her target turning down a side street and into a parking garage. Her stomach rumbled for more chips as she waited for Gulley to either walk or drive out. The marble’s warmth flared anew when a man with a different hair color and clothes than her target exited onto the sidewalk. I take back thinking Jeremy was useless on this trip. The disguised Gulley kept walking until he reached a store called Kitty Purr. The building’s windows were blocked by white fabric. Flashing lights displayed Adult Store. Edarra’s eyebrow rose. That’s unexpected.

After several minutes, Gulley didn’t reappear. Edarra’s options were go inside and drag Gulley out or report to Clive. This world’s stupid rules. Edarra trekked back to her car, where Jeremy was sprawled out with multiple food packages. This human’s metabolism was almost a match for hers. “Does the sex shop Kitty Purr mean anything to you?”

Jeremy blinked with a bite of sandwich in his mouth. He swallowed and shook his head. “I’ve seen it, but I don’t know who runs it. We should ask Simone to look it up.”




“UH-HUH.” Simone held up her finger because Jeremy wouldn’t stop making that stupid rushing movement with his hands. “You’re sure the owner is close to Phaedran?” Multiple calls led to a werewolf she barely remembered from one of the meetings she had been forced to attend, so she called Rudy for more information.

“They went to a survival school in Florida together,” Rudy said in her ear. “You think this deadbeat witch, Gulley, is the one who’s helping him cheat during his fights?”

“It’s the best we’ve got.” Who knew that werewolves could be crazy preppers too?

“This could be enough to convince the elders to step in.” She heard him inhale loudly and let out his breath in one long drag. “I know you hate this shit, but for something this important, I need you guys to tell the pack elders what you saw personally.”

Yay for meeting giant fur beasts. “What time?”

“Midnight tonight.”

“Will they let Clive and the others come?”

“They’ll have to wait outside.”

“Okay. Go lay your ass back down and rest until we pick you up.”

“I’ll try. See you later, babe.”

“Bye and get some sleep.” Simone turned to Clive and Edarra, who had listened to their conversation less annoyingly. “Kitty Purr is run by one of Phaedran’s old friends.”

“Who is he?” Clive asked.

“A werewolf starting drama in my pack.”

“Is Desmond the Great part of this drama?” Clive rolled up his sleeves. “A friend warned me about him.”

Inclining her chair back, Simone kicked her feet onto her desk. “Let me guess. Black aura, hot evilness, yadda yadda?” She snorted. “He’s unaffiliated, which is like a black mark all by itself in this town.”

“I’ve never heard about him working with werewolves,” Jeremy said.

“He still might not be,” Edarra said. “That killing was a message to an enemy.” She frowned. “That man’s chest looked strange. I could swear that the bones looked decayed.”

Simone snapped her chair to its proper setting, looking sharply at Jeremy. “You didn’t mention that.”

“It’s not good to jump to conclusions,” Jeremy said while adjusting his tie.

“Am I missing something?” Clive asked.

“Aging of the bones like that is a sign of an energy vamp,” Simone said without taking her eyes off Jeremy.

“I’m not familiar with them,” Edarra said.

“They’re witches who at some point drained too much energy from a victim and now that’s the only way they can feed,” Jeremy explained. “I see it as karma.”

“I don’t care what you see it as, you shouldn’t have kept quiet.” Simone faced Clive. I trust him. He hasn’t let me down yet, and swallowing my pride won’t kill me. “I wasn’t considering coming to you, but since there are too many players, I’ll give you a shot.” She pointed at the knight. “We’re obviously dropping the previous client for lying her ass off about her baby daddy being an energy vamp, and I won’t accept charity. I’ll bug Rudy to force his friend who’s responsible for getting his leg banged up to pay you.”

Clive bent his head low. “I’m honored you think I’m worthy.”

“Thanks for not making this hard. Desmond has a lot of followers. If they find out werewolves are fucking around with him, this could get uglier than just our pack.”

“When is the meeting?” Clive asked.