Page 29 of Black to Light

“Oh.” He sounded surprised. “Which part? The office?”

“All of it,” I said, as casually as I could. “The job part, too. All of it, really.”

A flicker of warmth slid through my chest. I knew at once it hadn’t come from me.

He felt pleased. He felt very, very pleased.

My cheeks warmed with just how pleased he felt.

“Oh. Well… good.” His tone shifted to one of careful, calm acceptance. “Well, everything’s still waiting for you, doc. You can start anytime. And we can do a walk-through with the remodelers whenever you want. In the meantime, we’ve got a lot of open offices.” I felt his curiosity, his wanting to ask. “You still want me to keep your old place there? On Fillmore? Just for a trial period, or––”

“Absolutely not.” I glanced around at the suddenly dingy-looking walls and shuddered. “No. Get rid of it. Please. Get rid of it for real this time. I think I understand now, why I needed to come, but I’m done. I won’t be back.”

“Oh?” he said again.

It struck me as deeply weird now, how polite we were being with one another.

I cleared my throat. “I get it now,” I repeated. “I think I understand my unconscious motives in coming back, even if…” I trailed. I’d fallen into my doc voice without meaning to. “Anyway, I’m done with all that. I’m ready to move forward.”

Hearing how cliché that sounded, I felt my cheeks flush.

“Well,” I mumbled. “You know what I mean.”

“I think so, yes.”

There was another silence.

“Soooo…?” I drew the word out questioningly. “I was about to head your way. To California Street. With Panther. If that’s all right.”

“Yes,” he said at once. “Of course it’s all right.”

He cleared his throat.

I could feel there was more.

“Also,” he said casually. “If you aren’t adverse to workingnow… for me, that is… today… I have something. Just came in this morning.”

My brow furrowed. “You have work for me? Already?”

“Yes. That’s actually why I called.”

“You were calling me for work?” My brow furrowed. “Really?”

“Yes,” he repeated, as if that were obvious. “We just got a new client, and there are…” He hesitated. “Well,youthings involved. I was hoping I could bring you in on this.”

“Methings involved?” I immediately felt wary. “You mean like psychology things? Or like you need another seer things?”

“Both.”

“And you’re being cagey about this because…?”

“I don’t know enough yet.” He hesitated at my silence. “I’d rather not talk about this on an open line, doc. Especially now that I know you’re going to be working for me. I’d rather wait until you get here. But this is a weird one. I’m not sure you’ll approve.”

I pursed my lips.

Huh.Thatnever boded well.

And why did he think the phones weren’t safe?

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