AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I noticed the moment Eli decided to make use of the camera.
“Ms. Crowe,” Eli said for the camera, “I know you would dislike doing such a thing, but if the client does not settle her account, your particular magic would enable the deceased to rise.”
I frowned.
With his back to the camera, Eli mouthed, “Agree.”
“It seems wrong.”
Eli smiled. The camera wouldn’t know that I was referring tolyingbeing wrong. He did, though.
Momentarily, the door flung open to reveal the grieving widow. Mrs. Chaddock was, at most, thirty. Her late husband was in his seventies. Such matches resulting from love were not impossible, but I had a suspicion that Mrs. Chaddock might have had other more motivating interests.
“Geneviève, dear, was it . . . did he, youknow,crawl out of his vault?” The widow reached out for my hands and asked breathily, “Was it horrible? Did he smell?”
I’d met more disagreeable women, but it had been a while. Her shoes, jeans, and blouse were all high-end designers. I might not know the brands, but I did notice material and cut. The gems on her ears, wrists, and throat would pay for severaldraugrcontainments. The ring alone would pay for at least a year’s worth of my work.
“It was painless,” I said politely.
“So, my sweetness didn’t suffer?”
Eli clearly had no patience for the show that the widow seemed determined to put on. He bluntly said, “Mrs. Chaddock, the deceased wasalreadydead. Ms. Crowe simply guaranteed that he would stay that way rather than gnaw on your throat.”
I shot him a scowl and mouthed “charm!” at him.
Eli forced a smile, and then he added, “And Ms. Crowe underestimates the difficulty of her work, due to her mastery of weapons and unique magic. I can assure you that she was in peril. I can further attest to the truth that had any other person been dispatched there, your late husband would have killed them. He was uncommonly agile for a newly turneddraugr.”
I couldn’t decide if I was more flattered or irritated. I didn’t like my oddity being noticed. On the other hand, I liked the way I looked in his eyes. Not a killer. Not a monster. A woman who was a warrior. It made me feel all mushy in my heart space.
But then the widow gave him an appraisingly look. “Isthatwhat she told you?”
“It is what I saw,” Eli corrected. “I was there to assist. Your husband was uncommonly violent. The newly risen are usually less aggressive, but he moved with speed and hostility.”
“Truly?” the widow prompted.
“He was more agile than normal,” I allowed. I tried again to muzzle my irritation, and I reminded myself thatIdidn’t want to wake as adraugr. But the fact was that the widow was only fake mourning. It made me dislike her.
“I see. Violent. Fast. And we are all saved by the incredible Miss Crowe.” The widow Chaddock was far from appreciative in her tone.
“You weren’t in peril,” I reminded her. “You were here in your gated secure home.”
“And it’sMs. Crowe,” Eli corrected with a smile. “Now . . . I believe you owe my employer compensation for her services. Do you have a check drafted to Crowe Enterprises? For the agreed amount?”
Mrs. Chaddock made a disgruntled noise, but she withdrew a check from her pocket and extended it to me. I hated this part. I didn’t necessarilylovethe violence inherent in the service I offered, but itwasa service. I did what I did because I was uniquely qualified to do so.
Eli stepped in and plucked it from her hand. “Let me handle this, ma’am.”
He immediately pulled out a phone and pen, electronically deposited the funds into to my account. I’d agreed to the process because I hated accounting. Letting Eli sort payments out was far more efficient than my magnets-on-the-fridge system until I got around to visiting a bank machine.
“All done,” Eli said, pocketing the already-deposited check.
“I had no idea you had a . . . what are you?” She stared at Eli, as if he was an insect that had crept into her mansion.
“I’m her associate.” Eli smiled as warmly as he could. “I assist her in handling the parts that I am able to.”
The widow sat. “But whatareyou?”
“Excuse me?”
