help others if she could. Helping others made her happy. It was a totally selfish motivation, really.
And if she could get paid for it, too, then all the better.
“You seem chipper this morning,” Darrak commented as she pulled into her parking spot outside the office and shifted into park.
She pulled down her visor mirror to double-check her makeup. “I’m feeling strangely optimistic today. We came close last night.”
“Closer than you even realize.”
“Do you think it’s safe to go back tonight, or will your friend still be there?”
Darrak hesitated. “I think it’ll be fine.”
He didn’t sound completely certain about that. “Do we have to worry about him?”
That earned a smile. “We?”
“What you’re worried about, I’m worried about.”
“Then no. We don’t have to worry.”
She nodded and pulled her purse onto her lap so she could drop her car keys into it. “So we’ll find this wizard’s assistant . . . does he have a name?”
“Stanley. And he’ll be there. He’s there every night, apparently.”
“Why does he hang out at a singles’ club so much?”
“Because he’s horny and alone. Does he need more of a reason?”
“I guess not.”
“Were you planning on getting out of the car today?” he asked.
“It’s a distinct possibility.” She didn’t move for another few moments, though. Andy had been very adamant that they talk this morning, but he wouldn’t say what about. That worried her.
Worry seemed to be her default setting lately.
It was probably nothing.
“Eden,” Andy greeted them as they entered the office. “We need to talk.”
Maybe it wasn’t nothing.
The brisk statement made Eden’s back stiffen. She was hiding so much from Andy that it was about time he naturally clued in on something. In fact, he shouldn’t have to clue in. She should just go ahead and tell him the truth.
Like Darrak, for instance. Andy was under the mistaken impression that he was Eden’s brother. It might have something to do with the fact that Eden had introduced him that way. Andy was sharp, though. A former FBI-agent pushing fifty, with a fit, compact body, thinning blond hair, and keen eyes, he’d single-handedly run the agency by himself for years.
When Eden realized she was possessed by a demon, the shock of this gave her enough concentrated energy to eject Darrak from her body, forcing him to take form for the first time in this office. That much psychic power helped create a “hot spot,” which helped to draw supernatural beings there like a magnet. Triple-A was now their private investigation agency of choice. Since even Others’ problems skewed toward the normal—cheating spouses, insurance fraud, missing persons—Andy wasn’t any the wiser about all the weird stuff going on there.
Andy stood up from his chair and flattened his hands on the top of his desk as he stared at her for a long moment.
“There’s weird stuff going on here, Eden,” he said.
She gulped. “Weird stuff?”
He nodded. “I don’t think it’s just my imagination. Look, I need to get this out and I need you to listen to me. Tell me if I’m crazy, okay?”
Eden and Darrak exchanged a glance. “Uh . . . okay,” she said. “I really need some coffee, though. I’m desperate.”
“Nancy’s bringing over a tray shortly from next door.” Andy also owned Hot Stuff, so one thing Triple-A never lacked was caffeine or high-caloric pastries.
“Is she bringing over some of those chocolate donuts I love?” Darrak asked.
Great , Eden thought. Way to concentrate on the problem at hand.
“I’d be surprised if she didn’t,” Andy replied. “That girl has a big old crush on you.”
“On me ?” Darrak looked pleased.
As if he didn’t already know that. The Hot Stuff assistant manager, Nancy, drooled uncontrollably whenever she was in Darrak’s presence. It was kind of pathetic.
Also, why were they discussing donuts when there were more important subjects on the table
And if she could get paid for it, too, then all the better.
“You seem chipper this morning,” Darrak commented as she pulled into her parking spot outside the office and shifted into park.
She pulled down her visor mirror to double-check her makeup. “I’m feeling strangely optimistic today. We came close last night.”
“Closer than you even realize.”
“Do you think it’s safe to go back tonight, or will your friend still be there?”
Darrak hesitated. “I think it’ll be fine.”
He didn’t sound completely certain about that. “Do we have to worry about him?”
That earned a smile. “We?”
“What you’re worried about, I’m worried about.”
“Then no. We don’t have to worry.”
She nodded and pulled her purse onto her lap so she could drop her car keys into it. “So we’ll find this wizard’s assistant . . . does he have a name?”
“Stanley. And he’ll be there. He’s there every night, apparently.”
“Why does he hang out at a singles’ club so much?”
“Because he’s horny and alone. Does he need more of a reason?”
“I guess not.”
“Were you planning on getting out of the car today?” he asked.
“It’s a distinct possibility.” She didn’t move for another few moments, though. Andy had been very adamant that they talk this morning, but he wouldn’t say what about. That worried her.
Worry seemed to be her default setting lately.
It was probably nothing.
“Eden,” Andy greeted them as they entered the office. “We need to talk.”
Maybe it wasn’t nothing.
The brisk statement made Eden’s back stiffen. She was hiding so much from Andy that it was about time he naturally clued in on something. In fact, he shouldn’t have to clue in. She should just go ahead and tell him the truth.
Like Darrak, for instance. Andy was under the mistaken impression that he was Eden’s brother. It might have something to do with the fact that Eden had introduced him that way. Andy was sharp, though. A former FBI-agent pushing fifty, with a fit, compact body, thinning blond hair, and keen eyes, he’d single-handedly run the agency by himself for years.
When Eden realized she was possessed by a demon, the shock of this gave her enough concentrated energy to eject Darrak from her body, forcing him to take form for the first time in this office. That much psychic power helped create a “hot spot,” which helped to draw supernatural beings there like a magnet. Triple-A was now their private investigation agency of choice. Since even Others’ problems skewed toward the normal—cheating spouses, insurance fraud, missing persons—Andy wasn’t any the wiser about all the weird stuff going on there.
Andy stood up from his chair and flattened his hands on the top of his desk as he stared at her for a long moment.
“There’s weird stuff going on here, Eden,” he said.
She gulped. “Weird stuff?”
He nodded. “I don’t think it’s just my imagination. Look, I need to get this out and I need you to listen to me. Tell me if I’m crazy, okay?”
Eden and Darrak exchanged a glance. “Uh . . . okay,” she said. “I really need some coffee, though. I’m desperate.”
“Nancy’s bringing over a tray shortly from next door.” Andy also owned Hot Stuff, so one thing Triple-A never lacked was caffeine or high-caloric pastries.
“Is she bringing over some of those chocolate donuts I love?” Darrak asked.
Great , Eden thought. Way to concentrate on the problem at hand.
“I’d be surprised if she didn’t,” Andy replied. “That girl has a big old crush on you.”
“On me ?” Darrak looked pleased.
As if he didn’t already know that. The Hot Stuff assistant manager, Nancy, drooled uncontrollably whenever she was in Darrak’s presence. It was kind of pathetic.
Also, why were they discussing donuts when there were more important subjects on the table
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