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Think, girl … think You need the barrier back up, at least long enough to call in a ic left froet the barrier partway back up if I could reseal the break It wouldn’t be as strong, but it would be better than nothing Of course, if I sealed the barrier Ithe demon in

I debated the pros and cons for a few seconds, and decided it was better to get the barrier up If I sealed the demon in, we’d have it in a contained area when the priests arrived If I sealed it out, more the better

I slid remote and manual into my jacket pocket and drew out one of uns I really didn’t want to use both Ione if the demon was still around Ever so carefully, I drew out the refilling plug and began dribbling holy water in a delicate line As every drop hit the ground, the little scannera little hiccup before restarting Still, when the last drop fell and ap snapped shut I knew this because the little silver car went silent and shot along the reraised barrier, around the corner, and out of sight

I jogged after it, across the asphalt and sprinkler-soaked grass, all the while keeping alert for anything out of the ordinary My head was throbbing fro whistle

I would like to say I was surprised that no one came to aor door to check out the racket Sadly, I wasn’t Alarms mean trouble People don’t like trouble On the whole, most of them will cower behind char that whatever’s out there will pass them by

I came around the corner just a few feet from where I’d started, to find a blocky man dressed in the kind of nice clothes that wouldn’t look out of place in the better clubs but would still hide the sa He stood on the peri it with a rapt expression on his face

I carass "Johnson?" I stared in disbelief It was Bob It really was Seeing hi there made me feel better Because Bob Johnson is an experienced professional Hell, he’s the ot out of college Everyone else had told ic or psychic abilities had no business fighting the monsters Bob said that no human was a s that were ood equip to pay for top-of-the-line weaponry

I randfather hired him to work up the security for her estate It had been the oldup He’d been patient enough to explain the how and why of everything he did--let me follow him around for days It was obvious he knew his stuff With an alet to play with, he’d done one hell of a job I’d been impressed at the tihted sy hair the color of warm honey "Celia Graves, as I live and breathe Don’t tell uard the prince?"

I nodded rin widened "Is this yours?" He held out his hand to me The little scanner looked ale palht it this afternoon Works like a champ"

"I heard But why didn’t you put it on stealth ood is the deluxe model if you don’t use all the bells?"

"There’s a stealth rin--nearly identical to the one Bob had on his face

He snorted and rolled his eyes but proceeded to flip the little car over and show me a switch I hadn’t noticed before "So ith the alarm?"

I told him about the break in the perimeter His expression sobered instantly He handed me my car without any fuss and said, "Show ical talent--al down and using what little he did have to test the area around my little "fix it" job

He looked up atto hold up for et upstairs, warn the client, and call in the cavalry"

"Agreed"

I let him take lead Neither of us had a weapon drawn, but our jackets were open, our hands loose, so that we could react in a hurry if need be Wethe area for any sign of trouble

Nothing Not a da It should’ve reassured hten another notch Why would a demon break a barrier and then just leave?

I turned to the side, providing cover as Bob took the wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a key card I’d been provided a similar card when I’d been hired Froh the black security box A series of sreen When the last one lit, I heard the lock on the door click open