Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(91)
Jeremy rolled his eyes at the phone he had on speaker. His superb mood from fucking day and night for a week wasn’t supposed to be ruined by nearly a dozen requests to find Desmond’s soul mate. The calls started innocently enough every time. Some plea to appeal to his soft heart.
“Have you ever been in love?” the lying bastard continued.
“No, Mr. Sheffield. What would you like Witches for Hire to do for you?” Here it comes.
The man sighed. “I know it will cost a lot of money, but… is there any way you could do a locating spell for a true love. I swear, she was the one.”
Jeremy’s finger stroked down his cheek. “Do you have strands of her hair?”
“No, I was hoping we could work around that.”
“A more general spell?” Jeremy asked. He scooted the black tablet resting on his desk into his hand.
“Yes, that sounds perfect! We went to a magic show, so maybe a ticket stub will do?”
“I’ll see what I can do and call you back later,” Jeremy said. “When is the best time?” He closed his eyes and pictured himself and Desmond. If his intentions are foul, do him harm as he would inflict. Jeremy opened his eyes as the man kept rambling.
“Thank you again,” the man said when he finished.
Jeremy grinned. “You’re welcome.” He hung up.
“I hope that was with the aim of self-defense.” A tall man stood in front of him wearing a cream suit that made his skin strikingly darker against it.
How the hell did he sneak up on me? Jeremy glared at the man. He had no hair and, just like Salvatore, was at an indeterminate age that Jeremy couldn’t tell if it was by choice or nature. Across from him on the shelf, a teddy bear angel statue’s eyes had gone from black to red. “It was part of a job.” Jeremy leaned back in his chair calmly, even though he wanted to reach inside his jacket for his wand. Maybe he didn’t figure out too much of what that conversation was about from just my end.
“There has been a great deal of chatter since the incident with Desmond, and I came to request that if any specific details about that event become clarified for this agency, the Council would like to be informed,” the stranger said with his hands folded over his stomach.
Oh that’s brilliant. A fucking Council member is trying to track down Desmond’s soul mate. Does this whole fucking city want a way to control Desmond? Jeremy smiled like no one was trying to use him like a damned leash. “That decision is Clive’s to make, Faradin.” Jeremy knew the physical description of all members except him. He waved his hand at the otherwise empty office as Faradin’s brow rose at his guess. “As you can see, I’m the only one here.”
“Then please deliver my message to the knight.” Faradin didn’t deny the accusation and folded his arms behind his back. “Good day, Mr. Ragsdale, and be careful with those curses so we don’t have to pay you a more official visit.”
“Yes, yes, we wouldn’t want that.” Asshole, Jeremy thought. When the door closed behind the Council member, Jeremy jimmied the food drawer Simone had forbidden him from going inside of. The drawer popped open, but Jeremy didn’t reach down immediately for the bag of chips. He hovered his hand over them, sending the tiniest shock of magic below his fingers. The air crackled, and he sighed. “What kind of mean person puts hexes on snacks?” He growled and dialed Simone’s phone.
After three rings, Simone picked up. “What part of ‘we really have to be quiet when approaching a salamander’s lair’ do you not fucking understand?”
“Faradin came by to say some cryptic shit, and I want to stress eat.”
“And?”
“You have chips,” Jeremy whined.
“All you have to do is go to the damn….” Simone sighed.
“That’s right. I’m not allowed to leave since I’m answering the phone.”
“Oh my God, fine, just stop fucking calling.” The line clicked off.
Jeremy put his phone down and eagerly grabbed the chips without a reaction from whatever spell Simone had on the thing. He ripped open the bag and filled his mouth with nacho cheese goodness. At least munching would stop him from being dumb and calling Desmond. Who knew what eavesdropping spells that fucker Faradin might have left behind. Jeremy groaned. I should probably do a couple seeking and cleansing spells so I’m sure. All because I’m stuck here since Simone is registered to handle dangerous flame animals. Who gets weird licenses like that, anyway?
“YOU WORKED in a pet shop?” Clive asked Simone as she left out food treats for the mini fire beast.
Simone nodded. “It was good money when I was planning a wedding. It just made sense to keep up my license in case it ever came in handy.” She laid down her last piece of raw cod. “Trapping some jackhole’s illegal pet wasn’t what I had in mind, but it’s kind of fun.”
Clive held up the long whistle she had given him. “Are you sure it will come at me?”
“It’s gonna want something a lot more substantial than sewer rats.” Simone stepped back and hurried behind a wall. She stuck her thumb up, and then Clive blew the whistle. Orange flared down the alley, and she thanked every deity she served that she wasn’t the one luring it out. She flexed her hand from a remembered sting that had burned and itched for days. A nearby trash can rattled, and red streamed past the building Simone hid behind as the serpentine figure flew to the bait… which was really bad, because salamanders didn’t fly. Oh shit. She waved her hands frantically at Edarra to bag it right then.