Page 33 of Bargain with Fate
He bit back a smile. “No half numbers on your scale?”
I clutched my chest. “Ouch. You wanted to round me down to a seven and a half?”
“Maybe I was going to round you up to an eight and a half. Ever think of that?”
“Step into my office,” I said, yanking open the door to the main entrance. “I have nothing to offer you except an empty chair.”
“How disappointing that I won’t need to sit on your lap.” He didn’t sound disappointed. He sounded like he was mocking me and enjoying the hell out of it.
I was acutely aware of Vale’s close proximity as the demigod waited behind me while I unlocked the door to the security office. I ignored the quickening of my pulse as I switched on the light. We were having a professional exchange of information, nothing more.
There could be nothing more, I reminded myself like a mantra.
Vale stopped in the doorway to survey the room. “This is your office?”
Granted, the space wasn’t even close to the grandeur of Vale’s headquarters, but it served its purpose.
“I’d offer you coffee, but I haven’t restocked it.” I motioned to the chair at the desk that used to belong to Judd. “Your empty chair, Protector.”
Vale sat and the chair immediately rolled to the left.
“Oh, I forgot to mention the wheels are wonky on that one.” I’d swapped chairs after Judd died.
Vale put his foot flat on the floor to stop from rolling. “You mentioned potential criminal activity in your email.”
“That’s right.”
“As it happens, my team has been investigating a handful of incidents in the Savannah area involving fraudulent transactions.”
“Counterfeit money?”
“Sort of. Someone lists a valuable item for sale. A buyer comes along and offers over the asking price to secure the item. The transaction occurs, and within forty-eight hours, the money transforms.”
“Transforms?”
“It doesn’t seem to have been genuine currency. One man’s stack of hundred-dollar bills turned into one of those waving Chinese cats they have in barbershop windows.”
“A lucky cat? I love those.”
“Missing the point, August.”
I wasn’t. “I think Stella is a victim of the same crime.” The vampire’s report indicated that she’d sold an heirloom to a buyer on the mainland for a hefty sum, the money hit her bank account, but when she noticed her balance the next day, it was gone. I’d assumed it was a glitch—Neighbors weren’t the best with technology—which was why I hadn’t pursued it harder.
“Some of the amounts are small, but not all. They prey on the wrong person and there could be a bloodbath.”
“Could be wizardry. Sorcery. Witchcraft. A random magician.”
Vale motioned to my hand. “Would you mind not doing that?”
I looked at the pen in my hand. “Doing what? This?” I started tapping again.
“It’s distracting.”
“It’s rhythmically soothing.”
“If you’re interested in rhythmically soothing, I can think of much more enjoyable options.”
I swore he made these comments simply to get a rise out of me. I refused to take the bait. “Is there any connection between the items?”
