Page 15 (1/2)

Chapter One

To the man who invariably says, "Really? Okay," instead of, "You want to do what?"

Chapter One

The solid thud of David's car door shutting echoed off the stone face of the eight-story building we had parked beside Leaning against the gray sports car, I shaded ed and architecturally beautiful coluolden in the setting sun, but here at street level ere in a chill shadow Cincinnati had a handful of such lands, most abandoned, as this one appeared to be

"Are you sure this is the place?" I asked, then dragged the flat of my arms off the roof of his car The river was close; I could sas h the streets were clean, the area was clearly depressed But with a little attention - and a lot of money - I could see it as one of the city's newest residential hot spots

David set his worn leather briefcase down and reached into the inner pocket of his suit coat Pulling out a sheaf of papers, he flipped to the back, then glanced at the distant corner and the street sign "Yes," he said, his soft voice tense but not worried

Tugging her onI'd like to say I earinga run, but in reality I just liked them They ith the blue jeans and black T-shirt I had on; and with thecap, I looked and felt sassy

David frowned at the chunking - orhis features to bland acceptance when he sawat hi off the th, wavy black hair held back in a subdued clip I'd seen hihts that showed off his excellently th duster and cowboy hat - Van Helsing, eat your heart out - but his somewhat small stature lost none of its presence when he dressed like the insurance claims adjuster he was David was kind of complex for a Were

I hesitated when I ca Three streets over I could hear the shush of traffic, but here, nothing ainst the chill of the

Brown eyes pinched, David ran a hand over his clean-shaven cheeks "It's the right address, Rachel," he said, peering at the top floor "I can call to check if you want"

"No, this is cool" I s the extra weight of un This was David's run, notthe claim of an earth witch whose wall had cracked I wouldn't need the sleepy-tiun with, but I just grabbedwhen David asked me to co the back roo

David pushed into o first He was older than I by about ten years, but it was hard to tell unless you looked at his eyes "She's probably living in one of those new flats they'refor the ornate stoop

I snickered, and David looked at me

"What?" he said, dark eyebrows rising

I entered the building before hiht onif you lived in one, it would still be a warehouse Were house? Get it?"

He sighed, and I frowned Jenks, hed Guilt hitout in some Were's base hiize and get him to return

The front lobby was spacious, full of gray marble and little else My heels sounded loud in the tall-ceilinged space Creeped out, I stopped chunking and started walking to ed elevators were across the lobby, and we headed for them David pushed the up button and rocked back

I eyed hi to hide it, I could see he was getting excited about his run Being a field insurance adjustor wasn't the desk job one ht think it was Most of his company's clients were Inderlanders - witches, Weres, and the occasional va the truth as to why a client's car was totaled was harder than it sounded Was it froe wall, or did the witch down the street finally get tired of hearing him beep every time he left the drive? One was covered, the other wasn't, and soet the truth

David noticed I was s at him, and the rims of his ears went red under his dark co forward as the elevator dinged and the doors opened "I owe you dinner, okay?"

"No problem" I joined him in the murky, ht as the doors closed I'd had to move an interview for a possible client, but David had helped me in the past, and that was far more important

The trim Were winced "The last time I adjusted the claim of an earth witch, I later found she had scanorance cost the e with a ic"

I tucked a loosely curling lock of red hair that had escaped my French braid behind an ear, then adjusted my leather cap The lift was old and slow "Like I said, no problem"

David watched the nuet me fired," he said softly "This is the third clairip on his briefcase shifted "He's waiting forfor it"

I leaned against the back mirror and smiled weakly at him "Sorry I kno that feels" I had quit o to go independent Though it had been rough - and still was, occasionally - it was the best decision I'd ever made

"Still," he persisted, the not unpleasant scent ofas he turned to me in the confined space "This isn't your job I owe you"

"David, let it go," I said, exasperated "I'm happy to co you It's no big deal I do this stuff every day In the dark Usually alone And if I', and ut"

The Were smiled to show his flat, blocky teeth "You like your job, don't you?"

I sht back "You bet I do"

The floor lurched, and the doors opened David waited for -sized roo-to-floor s, shining on the scattered construction ray sheen When finished, this would be an excellent apartment My nose tickled at the scent of two-by-fours and sanded plaster, and I sneezed

David's eyes went everywhere "Hello? Mrs Bryant?" he said, his deep voice echoing "I'ht an assistant with ht jeans, T-shirt, and red leather jacket a disparaging look "Mrs Bryant?"

I followed hi "I think the crack in her wallmembers," I said softly "Like I said, no problem"

"Mrs Bryant?" David called again

My thoughts went to the empty street and how far ere from the casual observer Behind me, the elevator doors slid shut and the lift descended A small scuff froh me, and I spun

David was on edge too, and together we laughed at ourselves when a slight figure rose from the couch set adjacent to aroom, the cupboards still wrapped in plastic

"Mrs Bryant? I'm David Hue"

"As prompt as your last yearly review clai through the darkening air "And very thoughtful to bring a witch with you to check your customer's claim with Tell me, do you take that off your end-of-the-year taxes, or do you claim it as a business expense?"

David's eyes ide "It's a business expense, sir"