by C C Sommerly
“What happened?”
“There was a man here.”
Sterling gaped. He opened and closed his mouth several times, then took a deep breath.
“Are you telling me that you activated our emergency alert system because of a single man? Since when can’t you handle a single opponent?”
“Since it was a fae that was shaking down Rat on our sidewalk. The same one that glamoured Callie, who is currently sleeping off the effects from being in his presence for seconds. And the same one that is also hired to work the Julia Huntington case.”
“I think you have some things to explain. We’re closing for the day. We can chat in my office.”
We settled into Sterling’s office. He poured a shot of elven wine. I threw back the shot. Its fiery warmth worked its way through my body, leaving a pleasant tingling and a softening effect. I was already slouching in my chair. We rarely drank the stuff because you were pretty useless after even as small amount of it.
“Start talking. And, I expect a full rundown of today’s events, not just the mystery man.”
“Very well. I went to the Bolden’s residence to chat about their missing grimoire. Guess who showed up?”
“The Easter Bunny? Big Foot? Your soul mate?”
“Funny. It was the same Jasper that I had the encounter with at Julia Huntington’s cabin.”
Sterling leaned forward.
“Is that so?”
“Turns out not only is it the same Jasper, but he’s the one who stole it. And, he gave it to the mage that was solicitating the street people and scrappers to be on the lookout for a necklace.”
“So, we solved the case. Were you able to recover the grimoire?”
I squirmed. He wasn’t going to like this next part.
“No, and we are officially off the case and I kinda threatened Mr. Bolden with the enforcers.”
“You did what? Can you for once, do something by the book? And by that, I mean not alienating and harassing our clients.”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice. You choose the one you most wanted regardless of the consequences — just as you always have.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not. We both know that’s a lie. You are a loose cannon. One of these days, your mouth or street fighter skills won’t be enough to get you out of trouble.”
He didn’t have to be a jerk about it. I got a break in a case that had been unsolvable for weeks.
“So, Jasper gave the grimoire to the mage.”
“What mage?”
“The mage shaking down the street people. And, he also wants Julia Huntington’s necklace.”
“Do we know what is in the grimoire? Someone went through a lot trouble to steal it?”
I explained what Jasper had told me about the mage’s involvement in the theft. I also told him about Jasper’s sleaziness and his abuse of the brownie. Sterling got visibly mad over that tidbit. He was fiercely protective of weaker species.
“Here’s our fee.” I dropped the coin purse on the desk.
“And for the stranger, he was also hired to find Miss Huntington’s necklace.”
“It isn’t the first time a client had hired more than one PI to solve a case.”
“Except it wasn’t Miss Huntington that hired him. Her fiancé did and he hired the Wolf Agency.”
Sterling swore.
“That was who was on the sidewalk. The same man I activated the code for. I refused his offer of partnership.”
“Of course you did. Would it kill you to play nice for once? We could have learned what they knew.”
“I already got that information, but you really won’t like it.”
“I haven’t liked any of what you’ve told me so far. What’s one more thing?”
“The necklace is an amplifier.”
“Are you sure?”
He was right to question me. These were so rare that one hadn’t been heard, let alone seen in centuries.
“Yes, so whatever spell they want to use in that grimoire, they can magnify it tenfold. And, that’s a low estimate.”
We were interrupted by a pounding on the door. I waited to see if whoever it was went away, but they continued pounding.
“We might as well see who that is,” said Sterling.
“After you, Boss.”
“The day you treat me like a boss is the day hell freezes over.”
I snickered but didn’t comment. He really was mad. And, I knew when to avoid poking at him. Despite what he thought, I didn’t always go into every encounter half-cocked with guns blazing.
Sterling opened the door and revealed Mr. Bolden.
“What are you doing here? We aren’t returning your money,” I said.
“I’m not here for that. Jasper is meeting that mage at the Dirty Fix Bar in an hour.”
“I’ll be there.”
“I know I was hard on you earlier, girl. I was distraught to hear my own flesh and blood betrayed me. Please get my grimoire back. Eveline says there are some dangerous dark magic and blood magic spells in there. She said these spells scared her to read.”
“Did she give you more than that?”
“She just said that if we don’t recover it, the entire city may suffer.”
“After this is over, I’ll need to chat with her.”
“There will be no need if you recover it.”
“Is there anything else?” asked Sterling.
“No, that is all.” He was gone as suddenly as he arrived.
“Guess, I’m hitting the bar.”
“I’ll babysit Callie. And, try to behave.”
I winked.
“Don’t I always?”
I heard him muttering as I made my way up the stairs.
I quickly dug out a clean sparkly, red strapless top and f-me heels. They went well with my tight, black leather pants. I tucked my daggers into my boots. My thigh-high boots also hid my stakes and some spells. They also have silver heels. Silver was useful against shifters, vampires, and other supernaturals. I curled my hair and secured some of it with a silver hair comb. I lacquered on red lipstick and lined my eyes with liner and dusted on golden shadow.
I needed to blend in well with the other patrons at the Dirty Fix. Although, there was always an underlying smell of wet dog. Not that I’d ever tell Bra, the owner, or any other shifter that frequented the bar. That was a sure-fire ticket to a butt-kicking. And, even I wasn’t foolish enough to take on a bar-filled with shifters. They fought mean and dirty.
I stopped by the common room to check with Sterling and see Callie, who was out on the couch.
“I meant what I said earlier about behaving. You, alcohol, and a bunch of hormone-stricken shifters is a recipe for disaster.”
“I’m not that bad. How’s Callie?”
“Sleeping.”
“Still doubting me for considering Mr. Power Punch a threat?”
He hesitated to answer. “Not so much that. I think you showed some uncharacteristic caution. Go find that mage.”
“Sure thing, boss.” And I saluted him and vaulted down the stairs.
I hadn’t been out in a while. There never seemed to be time, especially with my heavy caseload these days. BAM burgers with Jennica the other evening didn’t count. Actually, I needed to pay her a visit. I’d been so busy with all of these cases, that I didn’t have the chance.
It was early evening, but the bar would still be busy. Shifters had an abnormally high alcohol tolerance. They drank the stuff like water, so day drinking was common among shifters.
The walk over went fairly quickly. The streets were quiet and it was a warm night and one of the few humid-free nights. As I passed the alley, I was grabbed and forced against a man’s chest. I threw back my head, earning a satisfying grunt. I reached my other hand back to hit his vulnerable bit and slammed my heel onto his foot. Magic flung me back against the alley wall hard enough to dent it.
I brushed the d
irt and debris off as I lay flopped over against the wall. I just barely whipped my head to the side to avoid my attacker’s fist.
“I’m not trying to hurt you,” he said.
“Our definitions of hurt are vastly different. What do you want Lochlan?”
“A partnership.”
“You have a weird way of showing it.”
“I’m sorry.”
Fae rarely said sorry or thank you. It could put them in your debt. Lochlan truly was apologetic.
“Actually, you owe me for that attack. You can be my date. It’ll keep the shifters off me.”
“You want a date?”
“Not a real one. I’m here because a certain man is meeting a mage. The same one inquiring about Julia Huntington’s necklace. Are you in or what?”
“I’m in.”
“Give me a minute. I need to get the dust and dirt out of my hair.”
“I can help with that since I got you in that condition.”
He muttered a spell and had me all cleaned up.
“Let’s go catch a mage,” I said.
Lochlan wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close enough to him to give the impression that we are a couple. I put enough space between us that I wasn’t completely pressed against him.
I could feel the heat coming off his body and his arm was like a steel band. There was no softness to this man. I could also feel a fizzy of his magic, it was buzzing just below the surface. My own rattled the box wanting to come out and play. I never fell under the effort to resist.
“Easy there,” said Lochlan, who graciously kept me from falling.
Get it together, Marty.
I’ll let him think it was clumsiness or nerves, instead of my magic trying to break out. Blocking my magic just moved to top of the list.
The bar was already crowded. Lochlan pushed between two men, who were both attempting to look down my shirt. Typical. This is a popular hook up location. And, I wasn’t dressed in a way that dissuaded that opinion, even with Lochlan by my side.
“What’ll you have?” Lochlan asked.
“Mojito.”
“Really?”
“You asked what I want. Do you have a something against ordering a mojito?”
He wisely ignored me and flagged down the bar tender with a long reddish-brown beard that was braided and a bald head. He more closely resembled the love child of an ogre and a giant. The man was huge. Despite his size, he worked the bar with an economy of movement that was at odds with his size. He probably doubled as a bouncer as with most staff employed at bars. It was cheaper to have an employee that could serve two different roles.
“A mojito for the lady. I’ll take a bourbon on the rocks.”
I tried not to look too awkward sitting on the stool with Lochlan behind me like a protective boyfriend. I played it off as chair dancing to a classic rock song about love gone wrong. It earned me several leers, but it was better than practically being on Lochlan’s lap. I’d say the patrons were seventy-five percent men. It would be in my favor if I was looking for a man.
A short time later, the bar tender put the drinks down. The guy was huge. His meaty hands were literally the size of dinner plates. I didn’t want to get on his bad side and threw down several dollars for a tip. It helped making friends with the staff. You never knew when you’d need their help.
I took a long draw on my drink. It was just the right mix of sweet with the lime. Nothing beat a well-made mojito. Lochlan leaned close to me.
“So, tell me a brief description of Jasper,” he whispered with bourbon-scented breath.
He knew about Jasper?
He is dark and swarthy man that is about five inches shorter than me.
“Okay, so we keep an eye out for him. And try to look like you’re enjoying yourself. You’re stiff as a board and that’s very unloverlike, Snookie.”
“Sure thing, Honey Bear Munchkin.”
He scowled, but sipped his drink while scanning the room. I set down my drink and faced him. We needed to check out the tables behind us. I leaned into him, and whispered, “Pretend you’re holding me or something. I want to see the tables and people behind us.”
He did more than that. Lochlan ducked his head down and nuzzled my neck, distracting me as tingles ran up and down my body. He brought his head up, a mischievous expression on his face.
“Too distracting?” he asked.
“Not at all.”
The look he shot me said that he didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t believe me either. I’m sure my pulse was racing.
I put my face on his shoulder and casually surveyed the area. I didn’t see Jasper or anyone that stood out.
Lochlan stiffened. “I’m sorry about this, but one of our agents just showed up. There’s no way she’d be here unless it was an emergency.”
“Are you bailing on me?”
“No such chance. You aren’t getting out of this date.”
“Fake date.”
He winked. “You keep telling yourself that, but you aren’t immune to me.”
He walked over to a back table that was poorly lit. I couldn’t make out the agent. Smart move. She was sitting with her back to the wall – always the best defense. No one could sneak up on you when your back was against the wall.
I waved the bar tender over for another mojito and a drink for Lochlan.
“Where’s your man?”
“He’s busy.”
“Shame, I’d never be busy with another woman if I was out with you.”
“It’s not like that.”
“I’ll have your drink right up. You might need it.”
I downed the rest of my drink.
True to his word, the bar tender came back with a mojito and a bourbon on the rocks. I smiled.
“Name is Lars. And what’s yours beautiful?” said the bartender.
“I am here with someone, but you can call me Marty.”
He smiled back and it was an unexpectedly nice smile. While it didn’t make him handsome, it did give him a certain appeal. His was a face that told a story.
“Gotta serve the people. Can’t neglect them.”
I sipped on the mojito. Lars had added blackberries to it. It was an interesting, but delicious combination. Then, I smelled someone’s faded cologne and alcohol laden breath. I hoped he was smart enough to bug off.
“Hey sexy, I can make you feel real good. What do you say?”
Nope, not smart enough to leave well enough alone. I swiveled around, jabbing my dagger at his mini me.
“Not interested. Keep your little guy to yourself and it will stay where it belongs.”
“No need to be a bitch.”
And he stormed away, throwing a frosty glare back at me.
“Jesus, can you draw any more attention to yourself.” asked Lochlan, who had come up as I was telling the guy off.
“He’s the asshole who hit me up for sex. What’s up with guys offering up orgasms like they are party favors.”
“Just chill Marty,” said Lochlan.
I didn’t need to be told what to do by anyone, especially a virtual stranger like Lochlan. I stood up.
“Any other dick wanna offer up an orgasm? Seems like they are free tonight.”
Several stupid, drunk, or brave men cheered and cat-called me. Along with some raunchy offers to bend me over and do me right. Classy place.
Lochlan slunk down on the bar stool next to me, a light blush gracing his cheeks. Gone was his previous warmth.
“You are the worst stakeout partner ever.”
I ignored him. I’m not sure why I was mad. I was feeling a tad tipsy too.
“At least try not to draw any more attention to us. It defeats the purpose of being undercover .”
I fixed him with a hard stare.
“You were never supposed to be part of the deal. You forced your way into my mission. And feel free to join your lady friend.”
He frowned, but only said, “I’ll be back,” as he headed over to th
e female agent.
My drink was empty and Lars was busy making drinks for other customers. I didn’t normally drink bourbon, but I was thirsty and willing to make an exception. I grabbed Lochlan’s drink and downed it in one swallow. It burned the whole way down, but left a pleasing heat behind.
“You okay over here?” asked Lars.
From anyone else, I’d find such attentiveness weird, but with the characteristic protective urges giants had, this was standard.
“Just a disagreement with me and the lady,” said Lochlan, who had come up behind me and caught me unaware – again.
“I’m sure most women disagreed with their male leaving them for another lady.”
I elbowed Lochlan.
“How was the drink?” asked Lars ignoring Lochlan. “I can get you another drink.”
“Actually, I just had his, so I’m good.”
“You drank both?”
“Yes.”
“Then, I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“I added a sleeping potion to his drink, so you could get away. I thought he was cheating on you or mistreating you.”
“You drugged me!”
“That explains a lot. And, while she can definitely use some loosening up, that is illegal.”
“Who are you, an enforcer?”
The hairs rose up on my neck and I blocked out the bickering between the two men. Someone was watching me and it wasn’t one of the patrons looking for a grope and poke.
I leaned on the bar and casually sipped my drink. In the back, I finally spotted a hooded figure. How cliché. Wearing a hood didn’t hide you, it drew attention to you. Everyone wanted to know who the freak behind the hood is. Rookie mistake.
“Sorry about that. I’m not normally so unprofessional,” said Lochlan.
“Nothing about this has been professional. Besides, rules are made to be broken.”
“Says someone who has no respect for them.”
“I respect them. I just choose which ones I abide by.”
He leaned in towards me.
“So what captured your attention?”
“The man in the hood.”
Lochlan moved me in front of him, so he was facing me and I was against the bar. He rested his forehead on the top of my head. Sneaky. This definitely wasn’t his first undercover mission.
