Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(75)
“Curiosity.” Jeremy poked at the folder. “If this man’s complaints are legitimate, I honestly have no idea how he’s still alive.”
“I thought that myself, which is why I bumped his meeting up sooner than usual. I don’t see many poltergeists in my world.”
“Who gets to pay a visit to the murder house?” Jeremy practically batted his lashes at him.
Clive sighed. If only he showed as much eagerness for all of our cases instead of only the strangest ones. “Since I can tell you want to stick around to meet the client, would you please let me do the talking?”
Jeremy threw his hands up. “I’ll stand in the corner like a good little Jack Horner, and you’ll forget I’m there.”
“Care to wager a few of your hundred dollar bills?”
Jeremy shook his head adamantly. “Why bet when we both know I’m lying.”
“As incentive to exhibit good behavior.”
“The satisfaction of being right should be your only reward. Yeesh,” Jeremy said as he put the folder down. “Mr. Haunted has a child. I’ll definitely let you break the worst news to him.”
“I’m thrilled that you leave the dirty work to me.”
“That’s what bosses are for,” Jeremy said as he left Clive’s office.
Clive stared at the paperwork on his desk. “How do I tell a father that his haunted house carries bigger influence with children, and their son might kill the whole family while they sleep?” The City Watch in his old world handled domestic problems, so he didn’t know how to approach this. He looked at his door. “I’ll have to ask Jeremy for advice.” He didn’t dislike his irascible employee, but there was a tension about him that increased every day. Clive opened his bottom drawer and removed a decanter of plum wine. It was one of the few treasures he had taken with him. He took out two of the matching glass cups and filled them. After swirling it and allowing the drink to capture the sunlight, Clive rose from his desk and headed to the stubborn man’s office. He knocked on the open door. I swear this thing is only open when he wants something.
“Murder houses are probably more prevalent here because less people have magic. They don’t have wards to sense these kind of monsters, and killers can go on for decades murdering in peace.” Jeremy applied a sticker label to a small jar and crossed his arms. “Normally, I’d give you hell for appearing at my door like an orphan begging for more porridge, but this family is fucked.” He raised his fist and ticked off on each of his fingers as he spoke. “Vomiting, dizziness, his kid talking to imaginary people, dead pet, and finding knives around the house.” Jeremy lowered his hand. “Someone is dying in that house soon.”
“Will destroying the house work?” Clive asked as he offered the second glass to Jeremy.
Jeremy shook his head. “Homeowners usually aren’t too thrilled about that option, especially when it doesn’t always work. Poltergeists this dangerous are like viruses. They attach to people and can move wherever the family goes. They can send offshoots of themselves to thrive off terrorizing other houses, so destroying them completely might never be a possibility.”
“You’re right about them not being so bad in my world. Thank you for educating me.”
“It’s the best I can do with what little time we’ll have left,” Jeremy muttered.
“Is working for me so horrible? Sometimes you don’t seem to mind me.”
“Fundamentally, we’re never going to see eye to eye. It’s better that I move on when another not-so-shitty job appears.”
“I’m not asking you to share my views or beliefs.”
“Can you work with Desmond after what he did to Perry?”
Clive blinked. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
“It is. You see, my only problem with how Desmond handled the situation is that I wouldn’t have agreed to any truce. If anyone wants to kill me with equal fervor, that person dies.” Jeremy smiled. “I have no honor because it only gets people killed.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Clive said softly. “But it’s true, neither one of us will back down.”
“That’s why I’ll take myself out of your hair when the time comes.”
“Any chance you’ll change your mind?”
“No,” Jeremy said without hesitation. “Not when I’ve only seen the worst in people make a difference.”
“You really didn’t have a charmed youth, did you?”
“I didn’t, and that’s the end of that conversation.” Jeremy pointed at the bottle. “This will be the starting point of a powerful spell that can release the family from the poltergeist’s power.”
I guess our pleasant conversation has to end. Clive picked up the bottle. “How does it work?”
“It summons the fears of every ghost that poltergeist has encountered. Even if it’s not one solid spirit, something will click in its memories and cause it fear,” Jeremy explained.
“Won’t that piss it off too?”
“Yep. That’s why you should bring your staff and any other protection items you have.”
“Try not to get us killed.”
“It’s more me than us, but Edarra might break me in half if you die.”