training, and I was guessing she knew her way around a sword. High carbon steel blades can rust, so they are routinely kept lightly oiled with clove oil.
“What’s your style,” I asked.
“Katori Shinto Ryu, sorta.”
“Sorta?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never actually stepped foot in a dojo. I’m self-taught. Started off with lightsabers when I was a kid.”
I took a guess. “You do a lot of Power Rangers cosplay?”
“Yeah, and YouTube tutorial videos are helpful too.”
I grinned at this untrained swordswoman, imagining her lithe curves in a skintight pink Power Ranger suit and a visored helmet, throwing high-energy punches and kicks around. She probably knew just enough to be dangerous due to her unperfected style. Novices can be deadly to real professionals, but she had me interested. “You’ll have to show me some time, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
“I know you guys are recording in places you shouldn’t be. I know you’ve got video of my bedroom encounter with Lillian.”
She tensed up. “You’ll need to talk to Teresa about that.”
“Eventually. Don’t get the wrong idea; I’m not going to sue or file criminal charges.”
“Criminal charges?” Her eyes got huge. Her glasses slid down nose. She used a single finger to push them back into place. “Wait a minute now—”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hold you responsible. In fact, you have an opportunity to earn my gratitude—and a big chunk of cash.”
She glanced at the camera behind me, and lowered her voice. “How big, and what am I supposed to do for it?”
I countered with a question of my own. “How good are the microphones installed around this place?”
She touched a box hanging on her belt. A green LED light came on. “This area is now offline. I have a remote control system override. My privacy is important to me.”
“Then you’ll understand my desire not to have footage of me fall into the hands of the show. If my recreational activity with Lillian were put on the internet, I’d acquire way too many stalkers.”
“Yeah, I can see where that might be embarrassing.” Her face warmed with a blush, telling me she seen the recording in question.
“When I’m done here, I’m going to want you to erase me from the system and destroy all hardcopy—except for those you’ll make for me.”
“That could cost me my job.”
“Not if you don’t get caught. Oh, and I want a jamming box like yours.” I could do the same thing with my Demon Wings tattoo, but flicking a switch was better than burning up magic unnecessarily.
“I’m sorry I can’t—”
“Ten thousand dollars. And if you lose your job, I’ll get you a better one. I have unbelievable contacts.” Meaning none at all. I smiled with deep sincerity. “Trust me.”
Her flush deepened. She stepped closer, peering into my eyes. Despite her shy demeanor, there was a fierce hunger in her eyes. “I’m going to want something else, as a bonus.”
I let the smile drop, offering her a predator’s stare—my negotiating face.
A shudder went through her.
“What?” I asked.
“I want to scream…”
“Huh?”
“Like Lillian. I’ve never screamed in my life—in bed, I mean.” Her whispery voice went husky with need. “I need you to fuck me. Make me your slutty bitch.” Her gaze slanted away. “I don’t want to live my life without ever having … that. I’m sorry, but it’s a deal-breaker.”
I kept my face straight while laughing on the inside. “You’ve got me over a barrel, so fine. Ten thousand dollars, and five hours of soul-withering passion, and you’re my agent on the inside. Deal?”
She didn’t look me in the face, but nodded agreement. “Deal. For another thousand, I’ll tell you where the bodies are buried.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You’ve got dirt on
“What’s your style,” I asked.
“Katori Shinto Ryu, sorta.”
“Sorta?”
She shrugged. “I’ve never actually stepped foot in a dojo. I’m self-taught. Started off with lightsabers when I was a kid.”
I took a guess. “You do a lot of Power Rangers cosplay?”
“Yeah, and YouTube tutorial videos are helpful too.”
I grinned at this untrained swordswoman, imagining her lithe curves in a skintight pink Power Ranger suit and a visored helmet, throwing high-energy punches and kicks around. She probably knew just enough to be dangerous due to her unperfected style. Novices can be deadly to real professionals, but she had me interested. “You’ll have to show me some time, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
“I know you guys are recording in places you shouldn’t be. I know you’ve got video of my bedroom encounter with Lillian.”
She tensed up. “You’ll need to talk to Teresa about that.”
“Eventually. Don’t get the wrong idea; I’m not going to sue or file criminal charges.”
“Criminal charges?” Her eyes got huge. Her glasses slid down nose. She used a single finger to push them back into place. “Wait a minute now—”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hold you responsible. In fact, you have an opportunity to earn my gratitude—and a big chunk of cash.”
She glanced at the camera behind me, and lowered her voice. “How big, and what am I supposed to do for it?”
I countered with a question of my own. “How good are the microphones installed around this place?”
She touched a box hanging on her belt. A green LED light came on. “This area is now offline. I have a remote control system override. My privacy is important to me.”
“Then you’ll understand my desire not to have footage of me fall into the hands of the show. If my recreational activity with Lillian were put on the internet, I’d acquire way too many stalkers.”
“Yeah, I can see where that might be embarrassing.” Her face warmed with a blush, telling me she seen the recording in question.
“When I’m done here, I’m going to want you to erase me from the system and destroy all hardcopy—except for those you’ll make for me.”
“That could cost me my job.”
“Not if you don’t get caught. Oh, and I want a jamming box like yours.” I could do the same thing with my Demon Wings tattoo, but flicking a switch was better than burning up magic unnecessarily.
“I’m sorry I can’t—”
“Ten thousand dollars. And if you lose your job, I’ll get you a better one. I have unbelievable contacts.” Meaning none at all. I smiled with deep sincerity. “Trust me.”
Her flush deepened. She stepped closer, peering into my eyes. Despite her shy demeanor, there was a fierce hunger in her eyes. “I’m going to want something else, as a bonus.”
I let the smile drop, offering her a predator’s stare—my negotiating face.
A shudder went through her.
“What?” I asked.
“I want to scream…”
“Huh?”
“Like Lillian. I’ve never screamed in my life—in bed, I mean.” Her whispery voice went husky with need. “I need you to fuck me. Make me your slutty bitch.” Her gaze slanted away. “I don’t want to live my life without ever having … that. I’m sorry, but it’s a deal-breaker.”
I kept my face straight while laughing on the inside. “You’ve got me over a barrel, so fine. Ten thousand dollars, and five hours of soul-withering passion, and you’re my agent on the inside. Deal?”
She didn’t look me in the face, but nodded agreement. “Deal. For another thousand, I’ll tell you where the bodies are buried.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You’ve got dirt on
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