by Elsa, Sandra
Sorenson’s face hardened. He shored up the walls Tomkins’s kindness had nearly brought down. “I’m positive. I was thinking about it before you called to once again tell me how stupid and worthless I was. That was just the final straw.” A smile curved his lips. “That, plus the fact that a gorgeous woman saw me for what I truly am, and had a very positive reaction. Frankie can’t possibly be the only one who will think I’m awesome. Working the schedule I’ve kept for the last eight years, I never even got a chance to meet anybody.”
One of the other young members of the team nodded his head. Looked like Jordan better be hiring some female security, or at least have women in other positions where the men stood a chance of interacting with them.
I still wasn’t a hundred percent certain I believed in Sorenson, but I’d give him a chance to prove himself, or hang himself. I had after all caused the final upheaval that caused him to quit. Or which gave him the opportunity to look like he quit, I reminded myself.
The security team remained professional. There was no doubt they were listening to the conversation, but they were alert to our surroundings. On more than one occasion one of them would stand, thrust a hand inside his coat to the butt of a pistol, and stare at some hapless gawker who slowed down too much while passing. There was always the tingle of magic as well as the threat of violence. In my opinion none of the gawkers were threats, but the team probably had protocol to follow. Even if it was obvious none of the touristy types meant harm.
At long last the meal ended, the president’s salad being the last to disappear as he prolonged the torture. Finally he stood and walked around behind Harrison and myself. Harrison stood and moved away from his chair. His father wrapped him in a hug and said, “If you get tired of being on your own, you’re always welcome to return of your own free will.”
Harrison returned the hug and said, “Not likely to happen, and I’m not on my own.”
Jordan Drover released his son, then aimed his attention to me. I steadfastly chewed ice, ignoring his wish that I stand and take my turn at hugging him farewell. He dropped a hand on each of my shoulders and squeezed hard. “Like it or not, Francesca, we are family. You could at least pretend toward civility.”
“I don’t do well at playing make-believe. You’ve been here long enough to strain every last nerve I have. After your little trick in the hospital, I think I’ll keep my distance, Sir. Have a safe trip.”
“You sell yourself short. You do an excellent job of playing make-believe and we all know that.”
“I do a credible job when necessary. Now is not necessary. I think we also all know how much love I have for you. I hug friends, and someone who’s just made it known he expects my husband to come crawling back to him, is not my friend.”
I froze as he leaned down and kissed the top of my head, his fingers digging in to my shoulders as he did so. “One way or the other, Francesca, we’ll be working together. Everybody at both these tables knows you’re a mage. I’ll be creating a record for you in the registry.”
“And what will you add as my energy signature? Clear? Like every untalented human.”
“You let me worry about that.”
“Do that, and we won’t call you in six months. As Harrison pointed out, you’ve already violated our agreement. You definitely won’t have my signature with an entry in the registry. If you want your enemies to know exactly why they’re having so much difficulty getting at me and your son, you go ahead and put it in there.”
His hands released my shoulders and his arms wrapped around me. He didn’t even complete the motion when he flung his arms wide and stamped his foot. “Damn it, Harrison.”
“Get your hands off my wife, old man.” Energy crackled from his fingertips. “I won’t allow her to defend herself to give you a reason to arrest her. You’re not going to intimidate her, so get over it and go home.”
The security team remained at ease, so I guessed they didn’t see a real threat in Harrison’s warning. Jordan did back away from me. I stood and went to the next table and extended my hand to Roy Jamison. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you. Do me a favor and don’t send anymore of your spells my way. My hearing is just now returning to normal.”
He stood and grasped my hand. “It’s been interesting, Mrs. Kendrel. Take care of Harrison.”
“He doesn’t need me, but we’ll be taking care of each other.”
“Help Sorenson make the transition to civilian life too. He’s a good man.”
“Already figured that out. Don’t worry about him.”
“Good. I regret I had anything to do with his decision to quit. I’m glad he’s already found a niche.” He paused and turned to stare at Sorenson who dropped his gaze. “And you better watch their backs.”
“I will.” He raised his eyes again to return Jamison’s stare. “Thank you for all you’ve taught me, Sir.” He leaned over and took his weapon, coat and shoes out of our beachbag, then pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “These are yours. The shirt is Harrison’s, mine was bloody. And if you want the pants, you’re going to have to wait until I buy a swimsuit.”
Jamison handed back the empty holster, the coat and shoes. “The clothes were taken from your pay, and I know that’s not the holster I issued you. It was a pleasure to teach someone with your skill. If you don’t find you fit with civilians, your job will be waiting for you.”
“That won’t be necessary, Sir.” He finally stood and came around to shake Jamison’s hand, “but I appreciate the offer. I’m kinda glad I screwed up last night. This feels like the right move for me at this point in time.” He turned to the rest of the team and shook hands with all of them.
Tomkins drew him into a back thumping hug. “You take care of yourself, and Mrs. Frankie and Harrison, youngster.”
“They don’t need me. But as long as I draw breath, nothing will happen to either of them.”
Jamison extended a hand to Harrison. “You’ve done well for yourself, son. Your wife’s spectacular, take care of each other, and watch out for my boy.”
Harrison took the waiting hand. “Don’t worry about us. Where we plan to go, there won’t be many people to be cautious about.”
“Good luck with that. Maybe we’ll all work together in the future then.”
The security team moved to surround the president then he nodded to Father and Nan. “Mr. and Mrs. Jallahan, enjoy your vacation. I look forward to speaking with you when you return, Harold.”
My father bowed his head and said, “As you wish, Jordan. Though I’m afraid the changes I’ve made in my life since finding my daughter will leave you dissatisfied with the outcome of any meeting.”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. We shall see. I may not be able to persuade you. But maybe I can make you see common sense.”
“I’m afraid our opinions of what is right and sensible have varied considerably in the last thirty-two years, Jordan. But you’re welcome to visit.”
Jordan nodded, then strode away without another backward glance. When he was out of hearing, Nan said, “I’m crushed. He didn’t ask if he could visit me.”
Harrison laughed. “He’s never acted like he felt the need to make arrangements to drop by your house.”
Nan’s voice turned serious. “Since I’ll be moving into Harold’s home when we return, your father had better change that song.”
“Our home, my love,” my father said.
Nan turned to Harrison. “My house is paid for and I plan to keep it. If you have anymore young mages dropping at your feet and eager to help in your project, but in need of a home in District Seven without paying a monthly rental fee, they’re welcome to use that address.”
We all moved away from the café back towards an empty spot on the beach. “Thanks, Mom. I may have a couple names for you by this afternoon. I hope Greg and Ryan will stay. Ryan may not want to quit teaching. He does love his job and it will be awhile before we have any children in need of his qualifications.”
“He’s v
ery good at it too. Maybe you should put off inviting him until his skills are needed.”
“We’ll see. I’m going to mention it to him tonight. Greg can set up his charm manufactory any place he lives, so I’m hopeful he’ll stay. There’s really not too much to do at this point in time. We’re not set up anyplace we plan to remain, but a few extra brains plucking at problems we encounter, would be nice to have.”
Sorenson tapped my shoulder. When I looked over at him, he asked, “Will you come to the kiosk with me?”
I looked over at Harrison who smiled, “Go ahead. I’ll meet you in the water.”
Chapter 25
I turned away with Sorenson and he immediately lost the confident air he’d adopted throughout lunch. “Will I be included in your project or do you not trust me?”
“I don’t trust you wholeheartedly. You had to already know that. I want very much to trust you. My instincts are saying you’re on the up and up, and my instincts are rarely wrong. The last time I didn’t trust them was with Harrison and you see how that turned out. I was serious about the Detective Agency. Harrison and I were speaking earlier about the need to earn money if we plan to build much at all. Neither of us are paupers but we will be if we spend without income. Can you live with that position until I make up my mind about the other?”
“It sounds like fun, Frankie. Hope I don’t disappoint you.”
“You won’t. First thing we need to do is find out how many other PIs are in the District. There’s a fairly low population if there are already ten agencies we may have to rethink this plan.” We entered the kiosk and my hand went immediately to a tiger striped swimsuit designed to fit snugly and cover no more than was absolutely necessary to avoid being accosted by an irate parent. I glanced around to see if any leopard spotted suits hung on the racks, but if they were there, they were buried.
I held the suit up and he stared at it. “I’ve never been outside in less than a three piece suit—“
“Saw you naked.”
Pink stole across his cheeks. “You and Handly were the only ones there. Usually I don’t change in front of anybody.”
“Hope you’re not embarrassed by your body, because there damn sure isn’t anything to be embarrassed by. Didn’t figure a cat would be uncomfortable with his natural form.” I ran my eyes over his bare chest. “Except maybe that pasty white skin. What’d you do, wear that suit even off duty?”
“Anytime I wasn’t in the gym or sleeping, yes, I wore the suit.”
“Bet you look sexy in jeans and a t-shirt. But first things first,” I twirled the swimsuit on my index finger. “Let’s get you some sun. If I do decide to take you out to the site, there’s no hiding from the sun unless you enjoy dripping sweat. Though I suppose that lovely spotted fur probably works for cooling as well as warmth.”
He grinned. “It does.”
“Got a question for you.”
“As long as you’re not going to ask me if I can bleed for you and throw something at me, I might have an answer.”
“This one’s easy. What’s your first name?”
He laughed, “Yeah, that one’s easy. I’m Leo.”
“And will it bother you if I call you Leo?”
“Might not always respond. Only my mother calls me that, but yeah, if I’m going to actually have friends instead of coworkers, I guess it would be right.”
“Cool. Well, Leo, I think you should buy this swimsuit right here.” I put my hand to my mouth to cover the laughter that nearly burst out.
He looked offended. “You’re telling me to buy it, but going to laugh at the idea of me in it?”
“Oh no. I very much want you to improve the scenery on the beach, by wearing this swimsuit. I was laughing at Leo the leopard.”
“Unfortunately you just hit on the name on my birth certificate. Mom wasn’t always sensible.”
“So not Leonard or anything normal.”
“Nope, Leopard I am, and leopard I shall always be.”
“That’s actually kinda cool. I’d like to meet your mother one of these days. I take it she’s proud of what she is?”
“Definitely.”
“So are you going to buy this suit or chicken out and get the baggy shorts with a drawstring.”
He looked over at the type of suit I described. They had them in Floral prints and stripes in nearly every imaginable shade or color. “I’ll buy the one you’re holding You sure about the color?”
“Of course. It may not be exactly you, but you‘re closer than anybody else on this beach. Besides, I like the pattern.”
“Good enough.” He took the suit from me and walked to the register. Once he purchased it I turned to look for Harrison. “We’ll be right down there.” I pointed out Harrison and Nan still laying out the blankets. “You can join us. Or you can try your luck with the women on the beach.”
“If you don’t mind my company, I think I’d prefer to stay with you until I get used to my new life.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
He trucked off for the change house while I went to join Harrison. He watched me approach and grabbed my hands to race into the water. “It’s such a relief to know Father’s leaving.”
As my toes touched the water I said, “Gotta agree with that.”
“So what do you think about Sorenson.” Harrison betrayed some of the jealousy he wouldn’t let his father see.
“I think he’s an absolutely gorgeous man. Almost as handsome as my husband. My instincts say we can trust him but I’m not sure just yet. As far as the detective agency goes, I think we have a plan that will work there, even if he is still working for your father. We go with that for now and hopefully I’ll get a firm indication one way or the other in the near future.”
Poppy surfaced twenty feet away and I dove through a wave to swim out to her with Harrison on my heels. The moment we stood beside her she put her dorsal fin under my hand and I swung a leg over her back. She stayed still while I kissed Harrison. “Be right back.”
Other beachgoers stared as Poppy turned to the deeper water and took off. Water sprayed in my face and she dove under, resurfacing before I could panic. I wrapped my legs around her and she dove under again. This time when she surfaced, Paul was beside us. Poppy stopped the wild ride, slowing down enough that Paul drew up to my leg. “He’s gone then?”
“Claimed he was leaving.”
“Fantastic. Great-grandfather’s waiting for your father.”
“I met him and Jesse while I was jogging in the park.”
A smile crossed Paul’s face. “He must have recognized you from your father’s appearance. Doesn’t usually talk to strangers.”
“Don’t think he recognized me. He introduced himself by pointing a shotgun at me. I’m glad Jesse was there, she seems nice.”
Paul’s smile broadened. “Sorry about Great-grandfather, and Jesse is nice.”
Poppy wriggled back and forth underneath me and started to pick up speed. Paul paced us and I realized he was wearing a fin. I stretched out a finger and touched the scales.
He turned to look back at me. “Did you need something?”
“Sorry, I’ve never been so close to you when you were in this form. Just wanted to know what it felt like.”
“You do realize that what you’re touching is my rear.”
I laughed, “Guess I didn’t think of it that way. My oops.”
“I don’t mind, but Harrison might.”
“Jesse might too,” I added.
“She might at that.” His grin didn’t fade though.
I pulled my hand off his ass and grabbed a firm hold of Poppy’s dorsal fin again.
“Who’s the guy swimming with Harrison?”
“Leo Sorenson. Until this morning he was a part of Jordan Drover’s security team. I’m not a hundred percent sure I trust him, so you might not want to be wearing fins when we get in closer.”
“I never go close enough for the tourists to see without changing. Guess that also means
watch what I say around him?”
I clamped my lips tight in frustration. “I don’t know. I want to trust him.”
Poppy leaped out of the water then dove under, resurfacing in an excited circle around Paul, chattering excitedly. “Poppy thinks he’s all right.”
“Has she ever been wrong?”
“Nope.”
“Good, then I’m going to take her word for it, because I want to trust him. He’s Were, but his animal form is cat. And he’s able to use magic.”
“Cat?”
“A leopard, to be precise.”
“Hope he doesn’t like fish, or we might have some problems.”
I laughed. “Never thought of that.” I watched Leo for a bit, then said, “He swims pretty well. Most cats don’t like water.”
“You know a lot of cats do you?”
“Owned one growing up. But no, never even knew they existed in Were form except for old fantasy books, until I hit him with some silver this morning.”
“Wait. You poisoned him this morning, and this afternoon he’s playing on the beach with you?”
“It was only a little slice and impure silver. Just wanted to make sure I was guessing correctly, because he never would have told me.”
Nearly two-thirds of the people on the shore were staring out at Paul and me and Poppy.
The rest of the pod of dolphins arrived and we all headed toward shore. Halfway between the dome and the beach, Paul slowed and changed to legs. A second dolphin came close to him and he swung a leg over its back and grasped its dorsal fin. “This is Jebby.” He introduced me. “Jebby this is Frankie. Be nice to her.”
The dolphin clacked a greeting and I laid a hand on her back, taking care to stay away from Paul’s well-muscled rear as she started toward shore. Poppy and Jebby leaped from the water as though they were one, the entire pod trailed along behind. Poppy swam right up to Harrison and I slid into his arms, but Jebby stayed a bit further back and Paul swam in to stand beside Harrison.
Leo swam closer, but stopped, staring at Paul. “Dolphin steal your swimsuit?”
“Didn’t have one. My people aren’t big on clothing.”