Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(42)
“I want you to lie to my face while acting as his standin. I doubt you care about your reputation. His on the other hand….” She waved her hand, jolting turquoise bracelets on her wrist.
“I can’t imagine why I’d lie to someone as gracious as you.”
Dark blue eyes flared with magic in the darkness. “I’m not in the mood to be mocked!”
The roundabout stopped spinning, and the dolls’ legs all bent at once. At the first hint of magic used in violence, they would subdue the instigator.
“The Council wouldn’t let me at you, but we’re adults,” the Great Mother said. “We can work it out ourselves.”
“What I have isn’t cheap.”
“I also require your agency’s service to act as proxy between myself and Desmond.”
“We already asked him to cooperate, and as much as he dislikes you, I doubt he’ll find your offer any more enticing.”
The Great Mother’s bracelets clacked as she waved her hand with more annoyance. “Desmond is a man of ego, so a knight begging on their knees would sway him. Unfortunately, Mia and Raj are too apathetic to politics for their begging to interest him, but your boss wears his pride like a shield.”
So that answered Jeremy’s question of who hired the other knights, but it left him uneasy how well the Great Mother knew how to manipulate Desmond. “Why would he say yes to helping you when it would likely give you an advantage?”
“Circumstances dictate I can’t be choosey who gets the kill. To show proof of my goodwill, I’ll provide an equal footing by handing you Gulley’s body.”
This scavenger must have been following us and scooped up the body before the Council arrived, Jeremy thought. It suddenly dawned on him that the Council hadn’t said a word about a missing body after Clive reported finding it. He glanced at the unmoving doll. Bollocks. The Council is using Gulley’s body as bait, and now the Great Mother is foisting it on us. “Your offer might satisfy Desmond, but murdering the energy vamp isn’t in Clive’s business ethics.”
“I don’t think she’ll allow herself to be brought to justice quietly, so that’s a moot point.” The Great Mother crossed her legs and adjusted her scarf, the rage smoothing off her face. “What is your price, Mr. Ragsdale?”
“It’s come to my attention that two years ago, an otherworlder entered our realm with a sclera plant. I’ve also heard he sold you a cutting, and it flourishes in your garden.” Jeremy smiled. “I’m not greedy, so three blossoms will do.” Its bulbous white blooms formed a sphere shape with black pollen standing straight, resembling pupils from a distance. He’d have access to rarer powerful spells with just one bud, but he aimed to make good on bleeding her financially.
“That’s worth a hundred and fifty thousand dollars!”
“It’s a shame I don’t like you. Anyone else would have received it for free.”
“You speak as if I can’t reach you before those toys can.” She glanced at Faradin’s dolls.
“I’m simply following your example. Who cares about basic humanity when you can profit from it?”
Slowly, the Great Mother stretched her hand out. “We have a deal.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” He wasn’t going to let her lay a finger on him. Jeremy reached for the bouquet of wilted roses that had been the last of Walmart’s scant selection. He snapped off a bud and then broke its stem in half. Beside the Great Mother, he slapped down the rosebud. Next, he aligned the stems so their top points touched with a leaf connecting their middles. Lastly, he took a piece of twine out of his pocket. He flattened it out horizontally, so the items spelled out: Rosaline. “This is the proper spelling.” Jeremy removed the stems and twine so the bud lay by itself. “That is what her closest allies call her.” Jeremy turned his back on the Great Mother. “A pleasure doing business.” May they do the world a favor by killing each other, he prayed.
AS SOON as Jeremy left the park, he spotted Raj’s garish orange Dodge Charger trailing him. The unwanted chaperone was probably courtesy of the Great Mother, who didn’t want her treatment of Senator Ragsdale’s son questioned. When he reached his flat, the sensation of numerous needlelike claws trying to escape his skin made him whimper, but he ground his teeth so little sound escaped his mouth. He was long past using potions or other remedies to control his magic. One foot in front of the other, and Jeremy could walk away from the car without Raj seeing a hint of weakness. All he had to do was get inside without making him suspicious.
Jeremy stepped carefully up the steps and stood in front of the main door so his back hid his trembling hands. It took three tries for the key to enter the hole, and he sighed with relief when it went in. Two twists and it opened. Raj pulled away, and Jeremy went into the hallway, where he stumbled to his home in peace. The walls blurred, and everything took on a green cast. Opening his door was easier because he wasted no energy hiding his weakness. He closed and locked the door behind him, then fell on his knees. Using what little strength he could muster, Jeremy crawled to the phone and yanked the cord so the base fell to his level, taking the phone with it. He clicked the On button and dialed a number he’d hoped would never be necessary again.
After three rings, a sleepy but deep voice answered. “Hello?”