Discord Jones: Black Magic Shadows Part 22

"Maybe. If they do, we'll search for it."

"Argh." I glared at him.

"Better safe than sorry."

"Oh, alright. Let's go to the office and update the boss." I let my arms drop to my sides. "Thanks, David. You're the bomb."

He took a bow. "You're welcome."

NINETEEN.

"We found the mirror."

Mr. Whitehaven smiled. "Excellent. Where is it?"

"Demon realm. Don't worry. We took David and Copernicus with us. The mirror was warded, but David took care of that." I dropped into a chair. "We had a tiny miscommunication issue, because Copernicus whisked David out before we were certain he'd finished."

"Someone was coming. We left," Dane clarified. "Giving it a few minutes before going back to grab the mirror."

"I see."

"I think just Leglin and I should go. We'll blink right back if someone's there, or the mirror's been moved." I frowned. "Where's the dust cloth? I want to cover him. The mirror."

"I'll get it." Dane left the boss's office.

"Any new cases in line?" I kept talking to keep Mr. Whitehaven from protesting the plan we'd made.

"Nothing yet."

"Cool."

Dane returned, tossing the sheet to me. "Here you go."

"Thanks. Think it's been long enough?"

"Probably."

"Good." I stood, sheet in one hand. "Come on, Leglin. Let's steal ourselves a mirror."

My hound shoved his head under my other hand, and my fingers slid down to his collar. "We'll be back in a minute, in the reception area."

"Be careful."

"We will. Okay, Leglin." No more office. We were in the cell and alone. The mirror stood in its spot. "Great. Just a sec."

I shook out the dust cloth and covered the mirror, with Leglin staying close. Done, I grabbed hold of the mirror and the hound. "Take us out, bub."

My hound took us back to the office, and I let go of both, smiling at those waiting for us. "Easy, peasy."

"I'll inform the client," Mr. Whitehaven said. "Excellent work."

He left for his office. Dane walked over. "Let's take off the cloth."

"So Creepy McCreeperson can talk c.r.a.p to Tabitha and me? No, thanks." I'd had my fill of Mr. Mouthbreather Spirit Jerk. "But if Kate comes in, I bet twenty she'll shut him down in less than a minute."

"I'm not taking that bet." He grinned. "And I think you're overestimating. I give her ten seconds."

"I was adding in time for her to make Percy be quiet. He would think Creepy is a hoot." I hadn't forgotten the parrot's X-rated suggestions the one time he'd visited the New Age center where my mom worked.

Recalling that event, I wondered what elves would think of humans' attempts to infuse crystals with positive vibes. Which reminded me that I had a large, embarra.s.singly shaped crystal hidden in a s...o...b..x in my closet.

That had been loads of fun, retrieving the crystal after Logan had found it under the seat of my car. He'd barely begun working on the car, and h.e.l.lo! How about a big honking, pink phallic crystal in your face, Mr. Sayer?

As though conjured by the memory, Logan's dark green, cla.s.sic Challenger slowed to pull into the parking lot. Heat warmed my face, which was silly, because no one knew what I'd just been thinking. "Hey, Logan's here."

"And your face is pink," Dane said. "Coincidence? I think not."

"Shut up."

He laughed. "Blushing is usually the result of embarra.s.sment. Why would Logan showing up embarra.s.s you? Unless you two have done more than snuggle lately."

"Nope, we haven't, Nosey Man. Hush." Logan was on his way to the door. "I was thinking about something else, not him."

"Sure you were."

"Grrr."

Logan opened the door and came inside. He glanced at the covered mirror while saying h.e.l.lo. "You retrieved it."

"Yep. The boss is calling the client to come get it."

"Any problems?"

I laughed. "Leglin and I make an awesome cat-burgling team. We were in and out in less than three seconds, no demons the wiser."

"We're all grateful you use your powers for good."

"And hope you don't have an evil twin," Dane added.

"I'm a one-of-a-kind model. My mom says so." I looked at Logan. "Are you here to talk to the boss? He's in his office."

"I am. Talk to you after?"

I nodded and he left the reception area. Dane stopped poking at the dust cloth. "I guess I'll go finish the report. Case closed."

"Okay." I plopped down onto the couch and smiled at Tabitha. "So, has Damian asked you out yet?"

She folded her arms on the desk's edge. "He has."

"And you said?"

"Yes."

"Awesome. He's a good guy."

Tabitha smiled. "I think so, too."

I patted Leglin, who'd sat close enough to lay his head across my knees. "What are you going to do? Dinner and a movie, or something else?"

"Dinner and bowling."

"Bowling," I repeated. "My parents used to take me when I was a kid. We always had fun."

"I've never done it, so he'll have to teach me."

"I'm sure he won't mind."

Tabitha glanced down the hallway before asking, "Is it difficult to learn?"

"Not really. Takes some practice to learn how to keep score and play, but the main point of it is to use a ball to knock down pins." Maybe Logan and I could go bowling this weekend. I made a mental note to ask him.

We chit-chatted a bit longer, before Logan returned. "Sorry to interrupt."

"No problem. Well?"

He grinned. "I start tomorrow."

"Yay." I jumped to my feet to hug him. "This calls for a celebration. Dinner, my treat?"

"Sounds good."

We bade Tabitha goodbye, and walked out to Logan's car, Leglin trailing behind us. "I'd better send him home."

"I don't mind, if he doesn't. He'll fit in the back seat."

"Up to you, Leglin."

"I will go home. Please thank him for the offer."

"Sure. He said thanks, but he's going home." I waved my hand right after Leglin disappeared. "And ta-dah!"

Chuckling, Logan opened the pa.s.senger door. "Where do you want to go?"

"Your choice."

He chose Chinese, buffet style. We filled our plates with fried rice, black pepper chicken for me, and General Tsao's for him.

Once we were seated at our table, Logan asked, "Any headway on your curse problem?"

"Haven't had time to concentrate on it, but I plan to work on it tonight." I crunched a fried wonton. "Have you ever bowled?"

"Bo... oh. No, can't say I have. Why?"

"Thought we could do that this weekend. I haven't been to a bowling alley in ages."

Logan smiled. "I'm game."

"Cool."

TWENTY.

One of the best things about working for Arcane Solutions was not having to punch a clock on a daily basis.

Mr. Whitehaven wanted to retain his employees, so he paid us a comfortable base salary, which meant we didn't have to look for second jobs to make ends meet when business was slow.

It also meant we were always on call, and we seldom had any lengthy slow periods. The past six months had been busy enough that I was glad he'd hired Dane, and now Logan.

More cases equaled more money for everyone. Since we all got along well, and had no cooperation issues, no one ever got stuck working a case alone, if they needed help.

All of which meant, with no new cases currently in the pipeline, I was free to concentrate on my personal case.

Once home, I sat and made a list of suspects who had grudges against me. Apep, Eater of Souls, made the top of the chart. Hesitation struck as I began to write "vampires," because while I knew there were a few who probably wanted some revenge, the vampire Council currently liked me. At least enough to not want me permanently dead for now. "Better add them anyway. Dark elves, if Dalsarin wasn't really the last one?"

Yep. I wrote that down. "Demons?"

s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up their plans had put me on their naughty list, even if they didn't yet know about Strike Two: stealing the mirror back.

"Who else?" I thought it over and sighed. "Nick?"

My delusions had begun not long after I'd broken things off with him. Of course, they had started after the fight with Merriven, too.

Nick had said he loved me, and was serious enough to buy a ring. Love could cause people to do crazy things.