by Cat Adams
I am such a sucker.
I reflected on that as I got the litter box. That and the presence of John Creede. Damn. I don’t like the notion of working for anybody and I would never have fit in with Miller & Creede with their buttoned-down image and “team” attitudes.
But the thought of partnering with John Creede. Again, I say, damn. Of course it would piss off Miller to no end. But did I really care? The reputation would follow both men and Creede might bring along some of the talent. He could also cover for me with my own clients right now, while I was on my enforced leave of absence. Because if somebody didn’t, those clients would go elsewhere. And if they wound up happy elsewhere, I’d lose them for good.
The empty litter pan and two bags of litter were right where Dottie had said they’d be, along with a box containing ceramic food and water dishes, hard and soft food, a cat bed, one of those carpet-covered cat condos, and a wider variety of cat toys than you’ll find at your average discount store. Apparently Minnie the Mouser knew how to live.
I needed three trips to bring it all inside. As I brought in the last of it, I saw Dottie making desperate hand signals as she chatted on the phone. I dropped my burdens and walked over.
“No, dear. It’s all right. Really. They haven’t replaced you. I’ve just been hired as your assistant.” Sweet little old lady she might be, but she lied like a trooper. “I really can’t work full-time. If I do, it’ll mess up my benefits. But I can cover for you for a day or so until you get back on your feet. You don’t need to worry.”
Dawna? I mouthed. Dottie nodded. Is she okay? She shook her head no, sadly. I winced.
“Here, why don’t you talk to Celia, dear.” She passed me the phone.
“Hey, Dawna. What’s up?”
I spent the next half hour reassuring Dawna that I hadn’t stabbed her in the back, she wasn’t fired, and her job would be waiting for her when she got out of the hospital. She’d decided to check herself into St. Mary’s for a one-week evaluation. Because if she didn’t, she was going to kill herself. She didn’t say that, but I could hear it in her voice. It broke my heart. It wasn’t her fault. I’d met the vampire that “did” her. Nobody but nobody, could’ve faced Lilith down for long. I’d done it, but I’d had the help of a very holy man armed with the words of banishment and a cross shining with his faith . Dawna hadn’t been so lucky. And she felt guilty because she’d given Lilith the address where I was staying.
As I was talking to Dawna, Dottie began, very slowly, putting things to rights. She opened the cat carrier to let Minnie roam around, gathered up the packages I’d dropped, and generally made herself useful. Bless her.
When I finally got through to Dawna that I wasn’t angry, didn’t blame her, and would visit her in person when I got out of Birchwoods for more than a day pass, she calmed down a bit. When I convinced her that her job was safe she took a shaky breath and said, “You hired me an assistant? And everyone agreed?”
There was an incredulity in her voice that I could fully understand. I interrupted her before she could get wound up again. “Dawna, I am not going to let anyone fire you just because you’re having a reaction to being . . . injured. You need to go easy. So I hired you some help. If the group doesn’t agree, it’s on my dime. Dottie needed a way to pick up a little extra money that wouldn’t be too physically strenuous, so I figured it might be the perfect fit.” Okay, I was lying. But it was what Dawna needed to hear. Besides, it was a good idea. We’d needed a backup for vacations and sick time anyway, and most temps couldn’t deal with Ron for very long. I had a feeling Dottie would be able to handle him. Minnie would be the bait; she could live at the office until I was out of Birchwoods.
It wasn’t a bad plan really. Since many of our businesses run on twenty-four-hour workdays, there’s nearly always at least one person in the building. Minnie could live in my office and Dottie could watch over her until I was released. Then we’d see how people had warmed to her. Maybe she could be a permanent office cat. I knew Bubba liked cats and Ron . . . well, he doesn’t like anything, so who cared what he thought?
“You’re sure you’re not giving away my job?”
“Nope. In fact, since you’re going to be a supervisor now, I thought about giving you a raise.” I winced the moment the words left my mouth. That really was a group decision. I hoped I could convince them it was overdue.
She perked up at that. “How much?”
Better judgment took over and I stalled. “We’ll talk about it when you get back. I’ve gotta go.” I handed Dottie the phone before I could get myself in any more trouble. If I wasn’t very careful how I presented things at our next tenant meeting, I was liable to be stuck paying for Dottie’s salary and Dawna’s raise. And if anybody was allergic to cats— I shook my head. It would work out. It would. I was not going to think about it right now. Because I’d just glanced at the clock and somehow, during the course of things, it had become 10:00! I was already due to eat again and I hadn’t even made it upstairs!
I was about to climb the first step when Dottie stopped me.
“Don’t forget your Wadjeti.” She gestured to where I’d left the box sitting next to the phone. “It feels quite powerful and looks as if it’s very valuable. Such a shame it’s missing the death scarab.”
She could tell that without even opening the box? Impressive. Then it sank in. “It’s missing a piece?” Oh, crap. I couldn’t know for sure, but I was betting the sirens hadn’t given me a defective gift. Which meant that there was probably a thumb-sized piece of ceramic somewhere on the floor at Birchwoods. Unless it had already been gotten rid of by Housekeeping. Which would be bad. Very bad. Nobody likes to think you are careless with their gifts. Of course, they might not ever find out. But, knowing my luck—
“Which one is the death scarab?”
“It’s the red one.”
That brought me up short. “There’s only one red piece?”
She nodded. Well, now, wasn’t that interesting? I distinctly remembered handing Ren the red piece. Of course she’d hustled off right after that. It might just have been an accident. Or not.
“You’re sure? I mean, not too many people seem to know about these Wadjeti things.”
Dottie smiled sweetly, but her voice had that same scolding tone you get when you put your elbows on the table at Grandma’s house. “I am a clairvoyant, dear. It’s a tool for divination. Karl was planning on giving me a set for my next birthday. He was hoping it’d be easier for me to use than my bowl. I found it and the card, when I was cleaning out his house after his funeral. It came with an instruction book. I read most of it in one sitting. It isn’t hard to learn. I can bring the instructions in tomorrow if you’d like.” She looked at me slyly. “Should I presume I’ll be here tomorrow? Or was what you said to Dawna just to make her feel better?”
“You’d actually be willing?”
“Of course. And it will give me a chance to see Minnie regularly.” She smiled sweetly.
“Cool.” I was relieved. The temp situation was solved and, I hoped, the cat issues as well. “I won’t be here tomorrow, so just leave a copy for me here at the front desk.” I gave her my best smile and grabbed the Wadjeti box. “Now I have got to get upstairs, or I’m not going to get anything done. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“I’ll be fine.” She winked at me. “We can talk about my salary later.”
I just bet we would.
It was a relief to finally get out of the lobby and up the stairs. My office takes up a large portion of the third floor. There is no elevator, only a steep staircase. But if Dottie was going to work here . . . was there somewhere to put an elevator? Or maybe one of those electric stair lift things? It was a historic building. We technically didn’t need to be ADA compliant. But still—
As I rounded the second-floor landing, passing the stained-glass window, I heard Creede chatting amiably with Bubba about boats and deep-sea fishing. Creede was admiring one of the photos of Bubba’s boat di
splayed on the office wall. Technically, it’s a good-sized yacht, and he bought it at a government auction. But he calls it a boat, because “I ain’t that fancy.”
As I came closer, the subject switched back to Creede’s situation and what he was doing here. “I woulda thought you’d have had a binding oath set up to keep him from backstabbing you,” Bubba chided.
Creede’s small chuckle showed his dark side. There was evil under that laugh, mixed with the anger. “Oh, we did. He just decided that there’d be enough money left after the medical bills to make it worth it.”
I shook my head. To my mind, Miller was stupid. That’s all there was to it. Yeah, he’d get the money, but he’d made a bad enemy. Still, greed can make most people stupid.
“So, you gonna rent this place?” Bubba asked.
“I think so. Do you know if Celia had to get the floor reinforced to hold her safe? I’m going to want to put one in, too. Hers is just on the other side of this wall, right?”
“Yep. But you’ll have to ask her, or the safe guy. He’s due in a half hour. Comes in same time every week to reinforce the spells. If Celia’s not here, Dawna lets him in.”
A raw, jagged edge of paranoia rushed through me and I suddenly knew why Creede’s being here had me on edge. Bubba was being too friendly. Creede now knew the layout of the office, knew how often my wards were reinforced and all the tenant names. Future tenant, or future burglar? I tried to think of some way to limit the damage in case this was all a very simple and therefore very elaborate trap. So obvious it was overlooked. I decided to make a blunt, direct accusation and see how he responded.
I hurried to the doorway into Bubba’s office, just as he was saying, “We’re a pretty boring bunch here. Same schedule every week.”
“But, of course, that schedule will be changing . . . the moment you’re out of earshot.” They both turned and simultaneously gave me an odd look. My answering expression showed a lot of fang and as much distrust as was clawing at the pit of my stomach. “Tell me something, John.”
I paused long enough that he frowned. It was a better look on him. He crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Maybe.”
My nod was automatic. “Perfect. That’s just the mind-set I’d like you in for this. Let’s reverse our positions for a moment. You’re a sole proprietor, in business for a handful of years, comfortable but not wildly successful. Clients are attracted to you because you have a slew of magical gadgets and the skill to use them. With me so far?”
He nodded but didn’t comment.
“In walks me,” I went on. “I’m a partner in a multinational company that is so far above your level I can’t be considered competition. I only personally guard the most exclusive people, the richest of the rich.”
His brow was furrowing even further, if that was possible. At this point, Bubba had also started to frown and his eyes kept flicking to Creede to watch his reaction.
“I made a deliberate point of coming to your office in the company of a client—a client who has a personal grudge against you. Yet now . . .” I held up my hands as though a revival preacher in front of the faithful. “I appear before you with the—you have to admit—slightly outlandish claim that I’ve broken up with my partner of more than a decade and want to partner with you. I inspect a vacant office which just happens to be right next door to where you keep your gadgets. I learn the schedule from the other tenants.” I looked at him and smiled, showing as much fang as I could. “Tell me, John. What would you do, right this minute?”
His voice came out in a rumble that vibrated his arms on his chest while Bubba started muttering self-berations at himself. “Are you accusing me of spying?”
I shrugged, unwilling to react to his growl. “Spying, infiltrating . . . hell, maybe hexing. Or, you’re completely innocent and I’m just paranoid. I ask again, what would you, a professional security consultant, do in my place?”
He glared. I just raised my brows. I could feel magic now, and while he wasn’t casting anything, his emotional turmoil was causing energy to whip through the room like errant mosquitoes. You wanted to slap at them, but they were too quick and too small to be seen. Then the wheels started clicking. I watched as his eyes lowered to a place somewhere near but not quite on the floor. After a long moment, he let out a sound like a snort; his chest rose with the force of it. When he met my eyes again, he was actually blushing. “I’d put you in a full-body binding until I could call around to check out your story.” He shrugged uncomfortably. “Either that, or I’d kick your butt to the curb and then”—now a smile appeared—“call my safe company and have all the combinations changed and add a few special hexes for anyone cutting through the adjoining wall or ceiling.”
Actually, I hadn’t thought of that and gave the idea the credit it deserved. “Good idea. I’ll mention that. I’d only planned on waiting until you left, but then, I’m not a mage. I like the full-body binding, though. Do those come in a charm disk?”
He pursed his lips. “Dunno. I’d imagine I could come up with something.” He grinned again. “But it’ll cost you.”
The muscles in my stomach were loosening a little as I let out a small chuckle. Either he was a consummate actor or his story was true. I was going with my gut. I hoped I wouldn’t regret it. Bubba still looked embarrassed at being so effusive, but he was easing down a little, too. “Just make sure you’re not the first person I’ll have to use it on.” Creede didn’t respond, but his eyes were twinkling. “Obviously, I’ll need to talk to the others and will have to find out from Dawna where she keeps the sample leases with the terms and house rules.”
“Dawna’s your secretary? I think I met her at the wake.”
Bubba said, “Yeah, that’s her,” and shook his head. “Poor kid.” Dawna wasn’t exactly a kid, but his sympathy was well placed. He paused for a moment, then grinned and said, “My vote is to let him take it.”
I gave Bubba a return smile. “I could use the rent to pay for Dottie’s salary and Dawna’s raise.”
“You’re givin’ her a raise?” Bubba was obviously shocked. He’d probably expected me to vote for firing her for not showing up.
“Guilt money,” I admitted. “The bat that got her was after me. I’d do more if she’d let me, but she’s too damned proud.”
Bubba nodded. He was a tenant in the building before any of the rest of us ever got here. He’d known Dawna a long time.
“That’s nice.” Creede sounded shocked and gave me a startled look.
“I can be nice,” I answered, more than a little insulted by the implication.
He raised both hands in surrender and started to apologize. “Sorry. I’d just heard you were a stone-cold bitch. It’s sort of one of the reasons I considered you for the business. I need someone tough.”
I could just bet where he’d heard that from: Vicki’s mom. Damn it.
“Celia’s all right,” Bubba rose to my defense. “She’s only a bitch if you really deserve it. Act decent and she’s cool. But don’t make the mistake of thinking she can’t be a bitch.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Do.” The growl that escaped me along with the word surprised us all. Apparently, Creede had dug deeper than I realized. I’d get over my annoyance faster if I wasn’t in the same room with him, so I turned my back on them and walked to my office.
I unlocked the door and stepped over the threshold, feeling the buzz of power. Last time Bruno visited, he’d put a new set of wards on the doorway. He hadn’t bothered to ask if I wanted them. He’s sweet like that—he knows I’m always in favor of more security. But it was a damned good thing the vampire bite hadn’t affected me to the point where I set them off. That would be so embarrassing. And painful. Judging from the amount of buzz I was getting, very painful.
I set the box with the Wadjeti on the desk and opened the safe. I got less of a buzz from it than from the doorway. Not because these wards were less powerful but because the safe had been made for me and was keye
d to my DNA. I’d had to reset it postattack, but now that it “knew” the vampire and siren me, it was good. I was just hoping it wouldn’t weird out again eight months from now. The safe thinks I’m pregnant. That’s how we got it to accept my altered DNA.
I set the Wadjeti onto the shelf next to the box with my knives. They both started to glow, each reacting to the magic of the other. A soft, gentle hum filled the metal enclosure. I stared in pleased awe at the beautiful rainbow of colors—my own private aurora borealis that pulsed and danced inches away. How pretty.
That emotion lasted for about a second and a half before it occurred to me to shut the safe door in case I was in for more than a light show. Eek. I slammed it closed with a little more force than was probably necessary, just as I heard the gentle tap of knuckles against my office door.
“Yes?”
“It’s John Creede. Can I come in?”
I didn’t really want him to. But if he was going to be a tenant and on the same floor, I should probably be nice. “Sure.”
He opened the door, then reached out a hand to touch the invisible line of power with a smile. He glanced over at me. “DeLuca?”
I nodded.
“He does damned fine work.” Creede’s expression darkened to a scowl as he visibly “swam” through the ward on the door. When he emerged inside the room, he rubbed his arms like they stung. “It just kills me that I may have recruited him to work for George.”
“He hasn’t said yes yet, has he?” I honestly didn’t know, since I hadn’t talked to him.
Creede sighed, as if I were being a fool and he was losing patience with it. “He might not have signed the contract yet, but you haven’t seen the package we negotiated. For some reason he really wants to move to this coast, but he’s a tough one to please.” Creede said it drily and raised one brow. We both knew why Bruno wanted to move. I couldn’t wait until he got out here and wished he’d call me back. I was going to be annoyed if he didn’t get my message until after I was locked up again.