Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(22)
“Phaedran isn’t that stupid,” Bethany insisted, returning the conversation to its main topic, not confirming whether they ate off the floor when company wasn’t around.
“He might have been an accomplice in the death of Desmond’s assistant,” Simone said now that her head was free of the fuzzies. “That’s not a sign of clear thinking.”
“Only Perry’s man was by the body. The assistant could have been the target,” Dennis pointed out.
“So Phaedran will get away with it,” Rudy said.
“Not in private.” Bethany smiled widely, displaying her growing fangs. “We will have a chat with him about his indiscretions.”
“There’s also you to consider, Simone,” Dennis said. “Our pack is feeling sensitive about witches, and we don’t want any enmity aimed at you for investigating this. You’re a benefit to our pack.”
At least they make a girl feel wanted, Simone thought. “Regardless of what we do, sooner or later the Council will take harsher steps.”
“There was no way to hide the assistant’s body until we figured out what’s going on?” Bethany asked.
“Clive can’t afford to piss off the Council when his legalization isn’t solid yet.”
Dennis looked at her. “How do you think Desmond will respond to the killing?”
“He’s not the kind of man who will tolerate a threat to himself, but I have no idea how hard he’ll retaliate.”
Rudy apologetically pulled his hand back after it knocked against Dennis’s going for pastries at the same time. “If he kills Perry or Gulley, he’ll be doing us a favor.”
“What if Desmond isn’t just a victim?” Simone asked. She didn’t think so, but she did have to consider the possibility. “Perry is one thing, but Desmond the Great is a whole other can of worms.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Dennis said. “We have proof of Phaedran’s ties to an energy vamp, and we think that should settle our problems.”
Simone bowed her head. “We accept your response as satisfactory.” She wanted to say more, but she silently admitted that her motives to press the issue were more personal than for the greater good of the pack.
AUTUMN ISN’T a myth, Clive thought in the SUV, the yellow lines in the road guiding their way in the darkness as far as the eye could see. Outside, leaves were finally falling, and there was a definite chilly bite in the air. Beside him, Edarra adjusted the heat controls so they were comfortable. “The meeting went reasonably well.” Which was true, but the night held the mood of a show just as flashy as Desmond’s. If someone possessed sensitive information in my old world, my king—dammit, why do I keep thinking of him that way? Clive closed his eyes. Ruth is no longer my anything. Ruth would have received them in private, not publically, where practically everyone in the pack knew the location of this cabin. But why? It’s not for our benefit, and elders such as them fear nothing from energy vamps.
“I wonder why they weren’t surprised about the threat toward Desmond.” Jeremy’s eyes barely showed under his suit jacket, which he was using as a blanket.
Simone turned to Rudy, massaging his bad leg above the bulge of the bandage. “You think they already knew?”
Rudy’s lips moved from side to side as he thought about it. “They have long ears in the supe world.”
But if they didn’t hear it from us or the energy vamps first, that leaves Desmond, Clive thought. As beings in power, it made sense they would have open communications with each other if their followers came into conflict. In the rearview mirror, Simone wrapped her arm around her husband’s shoulder so he could lean against her. Vulnerability without shame when eyes were upon them. It hurt to see reminders of what he lied to himself for years about having. To retain confidentiality, Clive’s options were lie to Simone, ask her to lie to Rudy, or remain silent about his suspicions.
“Are you all right?” Simone asked her husband.
“A fair match is what we needed, and they’re giving it to us,” Rudy answered. “I’ll settle for what keeps our family safe. I want to beat the shit out of Phaedran now that I know he won’t have help, but I’ll stay cool.”
Simone smiled. “He attacks you again, and we’ll flip for kicking his ass.”
Edarra’s gaze met Clive’s. Dissatisfaction twisted her mouth. Do the murders going unanswered not sit well with her either? But if I take on a mission, Mia will never let me hear the end of it. He came to this world so he could have a job like everyone else and not live serving others. Why couldn’t he serve himself? Clive kept his face passive while contemplating ruining his chances of a normal life in a second world. “I’m happy your pack troubles came to a peaceful conclusion.”
Edarra’s eyes went back to the road.
“Edarra’s rather quiet,” Jeremy said. “Don’t tell me you want to play hero.”
“I’m thinking about which route to take back to the office. Your deer run into the road like suicidal sheep.”
“Other than a few strange word choices, you sound like you were born here.” Jeremy’s dark blond head turned in Clive’s direction. “Unlike the knight who almost got us killed changing lanes the other day.”