Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(96)
Faradin crossed his arms as he looked at him. “Really?”
Salvatore breathed out a long puff of smoke. “Why not? It was sound reasoning to watch the spell performed twice. It’s not our job to assume all the channels embedded in his skin were functioning.”
“The things you’ll do to see Ragsdale’s cock and ass.” Reza stood as she tapped her watch. “I have to interview refugees from Gaulus in an hour, so try not to ruin our reputation in the meantime.” A vertical line of light streaked down to the floor to open into a portal to Savannah. After she walked through the portal, the line of light vanished.
“Why pursue him when he has a soul mate?” Faradin asked. “All you’re doing is antagonizing Desmond.”
Salvatore grinned. “Which can lead to two wonderful results: fucking Jeremy and fighting Desmond.”
Leo whipped his hair over his shoulder. “We wouldn’t be going through this shit if England would turn over what they have. Am I the only one who thinks they acted cagey the moment we mentioned Ragsdale?”
“No, and I’d love to find out why,” Salvatore said. He nodded in respect to Faradin. “On my free time, of course.” A pile of paperwork slapped onto the desk from out of nowhere. Salvatore picked up the first page and frowned at the autopsy report. “The energy vamps’ work?”
“A body I believe was killed in a similar manner to blame them,” Faradin said.
“A lone body or more?” Leo leaned forward to skim through the front half of the pile. “I’m guessing more.” His head sank down on the table, his hair curtaining his face. “We have two serial killers.”
“Georgia is becoming popular for that.” Salvatore stubbed out his cigar and began separating the papers into what were obvious energy vamp kills, and a second pile for their new organ thief.
CLIVE FLIPPED through the newspaper pages displaying movie times. Everyone always tells me to watch more, but there are so many. He understood most of the abbreviations, but 3-D was stumping him. “Does it mean I have to buy three tickets?” A gagging sound broke his concentration, and Clive sprang out of his chair. He picked up the border collie before her head lowered to the floor and rushed her to the kitchen where she threw up a liquid mess on the smooth floor. I drop one piece of jerk pork, and I’ve been paying the whole night. Clive sighed. Of all the stupid inventions in this world, who decided that unmovable rugs were a good idea? Serena looked at him with her long pitiful face. “It’s my fault, lass. I won’t bring any more spicy food into the house.” He stroked her back in long arcs until she settled down so he could clean.
FOR THE first time, Clive was running late to work. He didn’t feel too guilty because he couldn’t leave his dog until she was able to hold down food again and display her usual energetic self. On his way out the door, he groaned at his forgetfulness and rushed to his bedroom to grab his staff. As he sighted the object, he saw that next to it on the bedside table, an origami frog had unfolded. Clive took out his cell phone and called the office. “Expect me later this afternoon.”
CLIVE INCHED his car down the road, searching for any signs of Ben. An arm in the high grass waved to him. On the wrist was the watch he had seen Ben wearing during their first encounter. Clive looked at his staff. If I bring it and it’s not a trap, he might not be cooperative. No, Ben was taking a greater risk showing up than he was. Clive parked the car on the far side and got out weaponless. After shutting the door, he climbed up the hill.
On his back on a thick tuft of weeds was Ben, with an empty wrapper beside him. He pointed at the oblong package on his abdomen. “Chicken biscuit if you’re interested.”
“I’ve had no breakfast, so I eagerly accept.” Clive gingerly reached over and took the biscuit. Unwrapping it brought the smell of seasoned chicken with a hint of peppers. After one bite, he smiled at the still crunchy breading protecting juicy meat. Clive sat down and discreetly looked for the notebooks. They were nowhere in sight, so they must have been hidden close by. Paranoia wasn’t a bad idea given that more unscrupulous people would kill for them.
“Energy vamps almost hex Desmond forever, and you’re still investigating. What do you hope to accomplish that no one else has?” Ben asked.
Clive swallowed down his food. “No matter how powerful these enemies are, they are human enough to possess our faults and to eventually make a mistake that I will capitalize on.”
“Levi would have liked you.” Ben pushed himself to his feet. “Come on. I’ll show you where I stashed the notebooks.” He led Clive down a path packed down with the footprints of mostly only one shoe type.
“Is this a private sanctuary for you?”
“Something like that. It’s the easiest place to stash things from mages.” Ben jumped onto a smaller path where the sound of bubbling water traveled to them.
When they entered the clearing, Clive saw why the spot was ideal for storing secrets. Four streams crossed around a small patch of land. Even a person who possessed very little magic could create a powerful protection ward there. “I didn’t know you practiced.”
Ben leaped into the middle to the patch. He scooped handfuls of dirt away, unearthing a metal box. With the box clutched to his side, he quickly rejoined Clive’s side. “Levi taught me what I needed to survive in this town.” The lid popped open at the touch of his thumb. “It’ll be nice to not have these hanging around my neck anymore.” He pulled out three notebooks and handed them to Clive. “They have other case notes in them, but Levi was, well, a bit of a neat freak. Everything is tabbed and color-coded.”