Page 21 of Booked for Murder

“The contract says she’s mine for life,” Bradley explained.

“You’re married to him?” Beatrice blurted.

For fuck’s sake. How the hell had she come to that conclusion? “No, I am not married to him or anyone at all. Why would you think that?” I lifted my hand and rubbed my temple, my gesture to ward away my incoming headache doing zero good. As I couldn’t see any way of handling the situation delicately, I’d abandon my efforts at being polite to make certain there were no misunderstandings. “As for you, you need to return to school for remedial reading lessons. That contract has numerous limitations, and you yourself stated you have no use for me unless I was in prime condition. Prime condition is never happening again, so kindly get the hell out of my house and go choke on a fish.”

Bradley snorted. “Choke on a fish? That’s new for you, and I have to say, I think I like it. I’ll pass, however. I’ve no interest in getting the hell out of your house right now or choking on a fish. If your current condition is your prime, then that is what it is, and I’m willing to discuss the situation. I’ll admit that was poorly phrased on my part, and I apologize for that. Obviously, I should have stated I expected you back where you belong the instant you were capable. But no, I made several errors in judgment. I’m even willing to have this discussion in argument format if you’d like, as it’s been awhile since I’ve had a half-decent argument with someone. It turns out the person I argue best with decided to leave the hospital and vanish from the face of the Earth, tricking everyone into believing she was dead. If it weren’t for my abilities, I never would have presumed you were alive. I about had a heart attack when I used my magic and discovered your very fresh imprint at the library. You tricked me.”

Yes, I had, and I took pride in that. Rather than answer him, I shrugged.

“Janette?” Beatrice regarded me as though I’d become a fire-breathing dragon ready and willing to eat her. “What is he talking about?”

Why couldn’t I just go back to bed? With how much my foot hurt, how much my damned past hurt, and all the other problems I faced, hiding under the covers for the rest of eternity seemed wise. “He’s talking about how I left a rather dangerous job for a much nicer one, one that doesn’t involve flirting with death every couple of hours,” I replied, allowing my tone to turn sour. “I like being a librarian, Bradley. And on second thought, don’t choke on a fish, because I’d rather feed it to my cat.”

Ajani, as though sensing life was about to take a rather unpleasant turn, hissed and ran for the safety of the bedroom.

Bradley raised a brow, leaning over for a better view into my bedroom. “I see I’ve made even more errors in judgment than I thought. You like cats. I had no idea you liked cats.”

“I like my cat. Her name is Ajani, and if you even think about doing anything to her, the world will get a demonstration of how a man can be brutally murdered without the benefit of magic.”

He dared to laugh at me. “Your cat is fine, Janette. I wouldn’t hurt your pet. I just hadn’t known you liked them. Had I known, I would have handled a few things better.”

As I suspected the devil would offer ice water in hell along with air conditioning long before Bradley put anyone other than himself first, I settled with raising a brow and waiting.

The trick had worked years ago, and while Bradley shot a glare my way, he said, “As it seems you’re going to do your best to invalidate your contract, it happens that I have use for a librarian. Two of them, in fact—and your friend is in the position I need for the job I have in mind. If you won’t cooperate with me that way, I’m happy to stoop to coercion for a good cause.”

For fuck’s sake. While I’d recognized my day was getting worse by the minute while on the phone with Beatrice, my day had gone from worse to living nightmare territory. “Can you repeat that in a way that doesn’t make me want to throw up? Better yet, could you just go away?”

“You’re stuck with me, Janette. I’ll tell you why. You know you didn’t kill Alec. I know you didn’t kill Alec. Anyone who knows of your skills and reputation knows you didn’t do it, as you would not have done nearly as sloppy of a job. An unskilled exsanguinator couldn’t have done it. A skilled one wouldn’t have done it that specific way—and may not even have the abilities to have committed the murder the way it was done. Blunt-force trauma isn’t one of your strengths. I need to know who killed him, why they picked your library to kill him at, and who else might be on the hit list. And yes, I believe his murder won’t be the last. It certainly wasn’t the first. Working with me, you’ll benefit, as you can clear your fellow librarians of wrongdoing. That’s where the coercion part comes in. Without me, clearing them will be difficult, probably impossible. I benefit from this arrangement, as I keep you precisely where I want you without anyone except your friend here knowing the truth about the situation.”

“How did I get brought into this?” Beatrice demanded. “What’s even going on? What situation?”

“Janette’s last name isn’t Asurella,” Bradley explained. “Her rating is also not a measly 17.2%. I’m the reason you were called this morning, and I pulled some strings with some associates to make certain you had reason to see Janette in person. When I received word you were on the way here, I made a point of showing up at the same time you did, as what I want involves you both. Janette has the skills needed for this job, you have the correct placement in the library system to get intel I need—and reach people I need. You have a bunch of librarians at high risk of being booked for murder, so you have the motivation to do what I need. Janette will cooperate because she hates nothing more than failing at a challenge. You will cooperate because you don’t want to see innocent people jailed or executed for murder. The system isn’t working in my favor for this investigation, so I need someone to do the exterior work for me. I’ve picked you two. That about sums it up.”

“People change their last names all of the time. That isn’t a crime,” Beatrice replied. “Interfering with a criminal investigation will do more than get us tossed into prison.”

“Falsifying her rating is a crime, but it suits my purposes. You won’t be interfering with a criminal investigation. You’ll be investigating the murder independently, and you will give the police the appropriate tips anonymously. It benefits you, as you have a card up your sleeve nobody except you, her, and me know about. Worried about security? Make sure she’s present and your security problems will be resolved.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible.” Beatrice frowned. “What am I missing?”

“Do you want to tell her, or should I?” Bradley asked, his tone amused.

I could tell when I had no hope of winning. “Fine. While my name is Janette, I’m an adept exsanguinator, and until I’d spent time in a coma, I’d been his bodyguard, because unlike him, my parents weren’t adepts. I did it so they’d be able to have a decent life and retirement. Maybe I can’t walk right anymore, but I like having freedom, something I certainly didn’t enjoy while in his employ.”

“You signed a for life contract. You’re alive. The contract terms still stand,” Bradley announced in the tone I hated the most, the one brimming with confidence he would emerge the victor. Worse, he spoke the truth.

I’d only gotten away with so much because he had claimed I wasn’t of any use to him until I fully recovered, which likely wouldn’t happen. I’d already defied the odds rehabilitating my foot as much as I had. “Except I can’t complete any of my hired duties. Do you know what standing around for an entire day would do to me?”

“I’m sure you’d cripple yourself further trying,” he replied in a rueful tone.

I really would. “You don’t like useless things.”

“If I wanted you for your ability to stand patiently while I did equally tedious tasks, you might be useless for my purposes. Unfortunately for you, I want you for your other skills. You’re observant, which is a must for any sort of investigation, you’re a quick thinker, as evidenced by just why we’re in this current situation, and you understand how adepts think. More importantly, you understand how the less ethical adepts think, as you’ve turned defending me against them into an art.”

“You were a bodyguard, Janette?”

“I was.”

“An idiot with a fast car wanted to race with her, and as she does not play those sort of games, she declined. Unfortunately, the other driver lost control of his vehicle trying to show off. He crashed into us, and Janette maneuvered the vehicle so she took the brunt of the injuries from the collision. I walked away with a broken wrist and a minor concussion. She was in a coma for several months, and I was warned she’d never walk again. I made new plans for our household, but she, foolishly, presumed I would not move forward with her despite her new limitations.”