by Mel Todd
Hired Luck
Twisted LUck Book 2
Ternion Universe
Mel Todd
Copyright © 2020 by Melisa Todd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
Bad Ash Publishing
86 Desmond Court
Powder Springs, GA 30127
www.badashpublishing.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Book Layout © 2015 BookDesignTemplates.com
Hired Luck/ Mel Todd -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-1-950287-06-2
Roll with the punches, or the punches will crush you.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Epilogue
Chapter 1
The job outlook for those who choose not to give in to the seduction of magic is poor. While people were once discriminated against because of their skin color, now it is your ability to use magic. Stop the bias now. Treat all people equally. ~ Freedom from Magic
I really miss the Rockway 911 operators.
My thought turned wry as I leaned against the faded brick wall, the heat of the day soaking into my skin, and gazed at the scene in front of me. Even after so many dead and almost-dead bodies, this one made my skin crawl. I didn't want to get any closer. Normally I wanted to investigate, figure out how they were killed, make sure there was nothing I could have done to help. But this one—I didn't even want to be as close as I was. I swallowed again, really wishing I had a soda. Carbonation might scour the fear out of my throat.
"You're reporting a dead body?" the person, woman I thought, asked on the other end.
"Yes."
"Location?"
I rattled that off, even as I tried to shake off the chills washing through my body. It was ninety-five degrees with eighty-three percent humidity. Chills should not have been part of my being. Instead, I wanted to back up further into the sunshine and bake the cold out of my soul. I pressed back harder against the wall, a lizard seeking heat. "Is the death by natural causes?"
"Not even remotely." My tone bleak as I said that. Part of me wanted to run away, but I stayed, my mind projecting the image of the young woman nailed to a white pine with strange circles drawn on the ground surrounding her. I couldn't get it to go away now even if I looked at the park from an angle where you couldn't see anything.
The way she had been killed screamed ritual magic, but that was all I knew. Ritual magic, possible. I didn't know another damn thing. I really needed more hours in the day to dig deeper but right now medical stuff was still my focus. If I didn't get a job soon, my savings would start dwindling and every day that passed caused my stress to ramp up.
"Have you performed lifesaving activities?" The operator had no personality, but right now my uneasiness didn't even allow for snark. Though I suspected I'd be lashing out when the cops showed up and treated me like an idiot.
"No." My voice flat. "And I will not. You don't want an ambulance. You need investigators, forensics, and a coroner."
And maybe the FBI or some other group. OMO?
The operator's voice got frostier. "And who are you to say what is needed?"
That got through my apathy and shock and I snapped back. "The person looking at a twenty-something-year-old young woman nailed to a tree with her heart and eyes missing. Her face cut up and peeled off, and I'm pretty sure her fingerprints were removed based on the amount of blood that dripped from the tips of her hands. So yes, I'm sure an ambulance won't help her."
There was a long pause on the other end, then in a much nicer voice, "Please provide your name and contact number for the officers that are arriving."
I could hear the sirens in the distance as I provided that. Over her protests, I hung up. I needed a few minutes to gather myself before dealing with the circus that was about to begin. It felt like the sightless face stared at me, but I knew it wasn't. She couldn't see me on the other side of the tree. Right?
I'd been out walking around the area of our MageTech Atlanta apartment and got a bit lost. I wasn't that worried about it, figuring getting lost now and then was part of the fun. I'd gone down an alley, and it opened up into a tiny park that reminded me of the ones I'd seen in Savannah when I visited a long time ago.
Smiling, I'd headed in when the scent of blood hit me - that coppery sweet scent that etches across your soul, or at least had across mine. I'd frozen, then turned and saw her on the tree not twenty feet from me. You would never see her until you walked into the park. From the outside, nothing gave away what the trees hid. Nothing to let you know a woman had died there.
Her hands were lifted above her head and nailed to the tree, holding her body in place, while her feet were on the ground, knees sagging. The killer had peeled her skin away from her face, leaving torn and bleeding flesh, plus two holes where her eyes should have been. Her button-up shirt was open, revealing the hole in her chest. Her hands were a bloody mess, as if they had been peeled also. She looked like something out of a horror movie, but this was all too real.
I'd backed out to the safety of the walls of the buildings, leaning against them for a long time until I could hold the phone without my hand shaking. None of the other deaths I’d seen had this level of darkness, of horror to them.
And here I thought that part of my life was done. Stupid for thinking that I guess.
I didn't have time for much more as I heard sirens, the squeal of tires, and slamming of doors behind me.
They don't know you: be calm, no attitude. Getting thrown in jail your second week in Atlanta would not be a good thing.
"Did you call in the report? There's a dead body?" a youngish cop asked. I saw his partner—older, black, with a definite Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon vibe. He wasn't doing anything to risk his retirement.
The idea made my lips twitch; I needed the humor but I kept my hands at my side and nodded. "Yes. In there, against the tree."
The young man looked around, jumping at the rustle of the leaves in the trees. I don't know if my being so calm helped or hurt. "Stay right there." He snapped out the order, moving sideways into the small park, his gun aimed low. I knew the second he saw her. He started to retch and sprinted back towards me, hitting the opposite wall and losing everything he'd eaten. Unfortunately, I now knew he'd had a sandwich for lunch. What little appetite I'd had fled completely.
After he managed to stand up, his partner, who must have gone back to the car while the younger cop avoided contaminating the evidence, handed him a bottle of water. After rinsing his mouth, he looked at me, eyes hard.
"Why don't I see your stomach contents anywhere?" His voice accusatory. I wanted to sigh. If I'd killed her, I would not have called it in nor would I have left the body anyplace so obvious, or at least so public.
"I've seen worse," I said, my voice noncommittal. Going into my weird life, not to mention I wasn't sure if this was body number fourteen or eighteen, (it depended on if you counted the dead people I'd seen while working,) would not make them feel any better. I hadn't seen worse, not really, but death didn't make me throw up. So I left it at that. Besides, the guy with his bones turned to mush really had been worse. He'd still been alive.
"Oh? And how's that?" His hand had tightened on his gun, and his partner, who still hadn't said a damn word was looking around the scene but hadn't stepped in far enough get the full the impact of her presentation. That word surprised me. It was a presentation, but to who or what? The people that found her, or did it mean something for whatever ritual she'd been used in?
Again, this isn't something I want to get in the middle of.
The glare of the officer reminded me I hadn't answered him, so I told him the truth. "I'm a paramedic."
Something flickered in his face, suspicion maybe, but he relaxed. "Okay. You got ID?" That started the whole ball rolling. Two hours later, after answering what seemed like a million questions, all my personal information taken, they let me go
I headed back to the apartment, glad Jo was out doing orientation today. She might not notice I'd been gone all day. Even though the thought of food made my stomach churn, I swung by the Kroger, a local grocery store, to grab something for a simple dinner. While cooking quesadillas insured I would burn them to a crisp or they would not cook at all, Jo could get them perfect in a few minutes. Loaded down with bags, I climbed the three flights to our apartment. Maybe by this evening I'd be able to eat. I really didn't need to lose any more weight.
"Well, hello there," a voice drawled. I'd been focusing on trying to get the door open without letting any of the bags slip, so his words startled me. By some miracle, when the door popped open I stumbled in, not backwards. Straightening up, I turned to see a man, probably about five ten as he looked taller than Jo, leaning against the doorframe of the apartment opposite us.
"Uh, hi." Both hands were full, I had to pee, and I wanted to get some caffeine. The questioning had worn me out, but I still wasn't used to wasting money on drinks when I could make my own better iced coffee at home.
"So, you must be my new neighbors? I'd heard there were two sexy women who had moved into our little building. Nice to see my options are looking up."
I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Whatever I was into, he wasn't it. "Thanks, I think. Look, I have to get these put away. I'll see you around?"
I felt rude as all get-out but my bladder was threatening to rupture right there. I shut the door on his surprised look. I dumped the grocery bags on the table and all but sprinted to the bathroom. Ten minutes later, feeling mostly human and with all the groceries put away without spilling or breaking anything, I looked around the apartment.
It still felt odd and like I was visiting but the two-bath, two-bedroom apartment was nice. Marisol and Henri had helped us move. There were two desks in the living room and a tv against one wall with a futon couch. Jo's idea. She enjoyed cuddling and I loved being held by her. Besides, it made falling asleep on the couch easier. Each bedroom was small but with decent closets, and the bathroom had a tub and a separate shower, which had been major selling points for both of us. Long baths were a major luxury and one I hadn't been able to indulge in for years.
But I still felt like I needed to keep it neat. Henri, knowing my life, had double secured everything we put in. Bookcases, pictures, the desks, and made sure there were anti-static mats under the chairs. All in all, they had Cori-proofed it as much as possible.
The desire to go research ritual magic and try to figure out what that poor girl died for dragged me to the computer, but my need to check my current job applications and then apply for more ranked higher on my must do list.
I was trying very hard not to let my lack of a job get to me. It was July 24th. Jo started school August 5th and I really didn't want to destroy what savings I had before I got started. Granted, it had only been two weeks. After graduating with honors, acing the paramedics exam, and getting my certification to drive ambulances, I didn't know what else to do to make myself employable. I started considering getting a job at the local coffee chain but that felt too much like accepting defeat.
The court date with my parents had been anticlimactic. They hadn't shown, just sent a lawyer. I agreed I would not instigate communication with them until Kris was over eighteen, but I didn't say I wouldn't communicate. It gave me an opening, and someday I'd hear from him again.
With a deep breath and a forced positive attitude, I logged onto my email and started going through it. One of them was from Ruby EMS. I clicked on it, expecting another form rejection letter. I'd seen enough of those lately that it was getting depressing. I was about to click the delete button when the words on the email registered.
"We would like you to come in for an interview about the open position we have at Ruby EMS for a paramedic on July 26th at 9:00 am. Please confirm if you will make this interview."
Merlin's balls, yes!
I leaned back and tried to center myself. Then I slowly responded, indicating my acceptance and that I would enjoy meeting with them on Friday. Hitting send had me up and dancing across the room, then flopping backwards on the couch with a grin.
I gave myself a whole ten minutes of glee. Then I reminded myself an interview was not a job offer. With a groan, and pushing down a spurt of worry, I got back up and went through the rest of my email. There were no other interview requests, but no rejections either. I'd take that as a win. The next hour I applied for three more jobs, carefully attaching my scores, my internship, and my letters of recommendation to all of them. It had only been a week, but I'd find something. I had to.
The blast of chimes from my phone startled me and at the same time I saw the lock to the door turning. I smiled at Jo as she walked in. She looked pumped but tired, dressed in jeans and a tank top that hugged her curves.
Waving at her, my eyes lingering on the bright blue and green of the tattoo that proclaimed her a Transformation mage, as I answered the phone.
"Hello?" I didn't recognize the number, but when you were job hunting, you answered every call and checked your voice mail obsessively.
"Cori Munroe?" It was a male voice, officious with nothing about it to imply anything. I suspected it was a cop.
"Yes?"
"This is Detective Leon Stone, APD. We would like for you to come down to the station tomorrow and give us an official statement. Are you available at nine-thirty in the morning?"
Tomorrow I could do. Friday would have been problematic.
"Yes, I can come in then. Address?"
A minute later I hung up to see Jo looking at me with a funny expression on her face. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, making her dark brown eyes and her tattoo unmissable. "Cori, why do I think that was the police?"
A wave of guilt hit me and I pushed it down. I didn't exactly ask for weird stuff to happen to me. It just did, and I dealt with it the best I could.
"Because it was?" I responded, unsure. Her expression had me worried.
"Yes!" A huge grin split her face. "I knew you'd find trouble in a place like Atlanta." She settled onto the futon, looking at me expectantly. "You tell me your story and I'll tell you about the campus."
I laughed. Leaning back, we exchanged stories of the day. It felt good and when she heard about my job interview, I'm pretty sure the whoop she gave out would have gotten people complaining at us if they were
n't all still at work.
While it didn't wash away what I'd seen that day, I felt myself center, with her as one half of the grounding force. I had this. I just knew it.
Chapter 2
The OMO announced today it would petition the UN to remove sanctions against mages serving at the highest levels in many governments. They point out that mages are some of the most educated people in the world. Why hurt your own country by preventing their service? ~ Magicial Politics
Why do they keep asking me the same questions?
I had shown up willing to help and answer what I could, not that I knew anything. However, by this point I wanted to beat my head on the table, wishing I could just call Laurel or Sam and have them talk to the cops.
Detective Stone, an older man with dark coffee-colored skin but a slim nose which implied multiple genotypes, met me as soon as I gave them my name. I had a sinking feeling when he just sneered at me. But the girl deserved my best, so I worked to keep my smart mouth to myself. At least that was my intention. After two hours I struggled to keep that idea in mind. It didn't matter what I said. He kept insinuating that I had some ulterior purpose for being there and surely I had something to do with the body.
He annoyed me so much if I'd been a mage I would have done something creative, like turned his clothes into paper. Besides, how stupid would you have to be to commit such a gruesome murder and then just call the police? I thought it would take longer than I'd been alive to grow balls that size. But they had managed to make my desire to be helpful and polite crumble into ashes. And I needed more coffee.
"What I don't understand is why you were in that park. It is all but abandoned. Why would a pretty girl like you be walking around such a place?" His voice carried an innuendo that I'd been there for illicit activities. I'd tried to be polite but now I just wanted to stab him. At that last comment my temper snapped with an audible sound. That or I had started to crack. Could have been either one.