Page 111 of A Light in the Dark
I wrinkled my nose at that, claimed the front passenger seat as mine, and buckled in before closing the door. I waited for both to get into the vehicle before saying, “I’m honestly afraid of what sort of messes I’m going to find now. If the border crossings have over two years of backlog, what does the rest of the city-state look like?”
“It’s barely getting by,” Coraline muttered. “If you have a huge mess on your hands, lean on Allasandro. We have more than a few Hunters around who like a challenge and won’t mind a vacation on our dime to help you get everything organized. Once organized, you’ll have to do authorizations but everything should run itself. Your job will mostly be to rain hell down on anyone who is breaking the rules and behaving in an unbecoming fashion. You’re going to have to cut out a great deal of corruption, though.”
“Hopefully, that asshole’s arrest will send some messages,” I grumbled.
“I wouldn’t hold your breath. People will be trying to hide their activities to prevent their arrests.”
Of course. Most people couldn’t figure out how to be ethical if they were smacked in the face with a manual on the subject. “Joel, this is your fault. Console me.”
My hostage laughed. “While I’m a little sorry for what I said while under the influence of drugs and suffering from a headache from hell, I’m only a little sorry. I’ll see about what I can do to console you. How about I foot the grocery bill for tonight’s rabbit? Next weekend, I’ll have Humphrey drive us around so we can play with our cameras if I’m not cleared to drive by then.”
“I could drive,” I replied. “I’m capable of driving.”
“You can drive me to a secondary location if you’d like.”
“I am temporarily consoled,” I announced. “Coraline, if anyone questions you about my mysterious disappearance next weekend, I’m driving Joel to a secondary location.”
She laughed at me. “Just tell your assistants that you’ll be unavailable, and if you need to be available, they need to provide the satellite phone. Calden’s father has to keep his on him at all times. If they require that, demand he gets the model that is a slightly thicker version of a cell phone. That way, it won’t cost you your sanity carrying it around. When we’re camping, I carry the phone around and growl at people if theydareto call. It has to be a true emergency to get through me. So far, there’s been one instance that counted as an actual emergency. The other times? The caller got an earful on the virtues of independence.”
“Hell better be freezing over if they’re interrupting my time off,” I muttered.
“I think you’ll be fine. That you’re willing to push back and not let them step all over you is a good start. I’m still working at training Calden’s father, but I’m confident I’ll have his work and home life balanced a little better soon.”
“I wish you the best of luck with that,” Joel said in his most amused tone. “You’re going to need it.”
“I can dream!”
Upon drivingup the street near my house, Coraline erupted into vehement curses. I spotted the source of her fury.
Her husband and father-in-law stood on the steps of my house and waved at us, both rather pleased with themselves.
Joel snickered. “I believe you’ve been suckered, Coraline.”
“Those cretins are going to pay for this.” The woman pulled over in front of my home, rolled down the windows, and kept on cursing.
I got out of the vehicle, laughing all the while. As I had some mercy, I grabbed the bags loaded with rabbit to spare them from having to carry it in. “Joel, make sure she gets parked in your garage safely. I’ll contain the wolves.”
Joel held up his keys, which had the clicker for his garage. “Don’t get into any trouble while we’re gone.”
“I think I’ll be safe enough with two wolves standing guard.”
Once I was safely on the sidewalk, following a few extracurses, Coraline headed up the street to go around the corner so she could park in Joel’s garage. “It’s nice to see you both again, but what are you doing here?”
“Coraline’s birthday is in a few days, so we’re throwing her a surprise party in your house,” Calden explained, winked at me, and opened the door. Sure enough, the entire place had been decorated in a happy birthday motif. As it was something I’d absolutely do if I had anyone to throw a party for, I loved it—and I suspected their informant on such things was my boss, as I’d expressed such wistful thinking to him in the past. “She is convinced there’s nothing happening for her birthday because of the Stonecreek drama. As such, her birthday is being hosted here, her family is here, her favorite Hunters are also here, as are her favorite people. We figured you wouldn’t mind us imposing, especially as we’ve been taking care of your garden and working on your basement. We will be staying at a hotel up the hill, and we’ll clean up everything. We also filled your fridge with things, and will cook your rabbit, as we were aware you were bringing some.”
“Wait. Someone’s been working on my basement?” I hurried into my house, headed for my basement door, and opened it. A new addition, a light over the steps, informed me that someone had been busy while I’d been gone. With wide eyes, I hurried down the steps to discover a proper doorframe had been installed and the stairs had been contained within freshly painted walls. There wasn’t a door in place yet, but the hinges had already been installed.
A light switch near the door proved somebody had been doing more than installing walls and painting, and one switch was marked for the plant lights and had a timer. Ipeeked through to discover my basement had undergone a complete transformation. The hardwood flooring gleamed under the bright hanging plant lights, and there were more roses than I remembered having in massive pots with cone-shaped trellises so they could climb at will. Bookshelves dominated most of the walls, a crafting area with my new workstation waited for my use, and the bar promised good things to come, occupying a hefty chunk of wall. Best of all, the armchairs I’d selected for myself had been positioned near the corner fireplace. As I’d desired, there were two guest bedrooms, both spacious and ready to welcome friends and family.
The beds and dressers I’d picked out for myself but hadn’t purchased yet filled each of the spaces, and there were desks the match of what I had upstairs along with fancy computer chairs for visitors to be able to use their laptops with ease—or craft in comfort.
“What the fuck?” I blurted, turning to face the stairwell. “This was concrete last week!”
Upstairs, the Stephans men laughed at me.
I hurried up, closed the basement door behind me, and planted my hands on my hips. “Which one of you naughty men are responsible for this?”
Calden pointed at his father. “He became overwhelmed with guilt over essentially railroading you into becoming the mayor, so he got together with your boss, learned of your wishes for the space, and made the arrangements. You get to argue with him over the money being spent on the renovations. He loves a good argument.”
