Page 67 of Demons and Debts
‘The new girl has agreed to contract with the Club,’ he says, not making us wait.
I know my own eyes are lighting up in anticipation and I see the same look in Paris'.
Sie just looks annoyed by the whole thing, and Korban, the one I expected to crow the loudest as we have three humans living in the house already, stays silent. Considering where I just caught him, it’s telling that he’s not saying anything.
‘How'd you get her to do that?’ I chuckle, and Vic shrugs, not giving anything away as usual.
‘Should have everything in place in a few hours. I called you here because Maddox invited us to the Circle tonight.’ He pauses. ‘We’re going to take the new girl.’
‘Why?’ Sie growls. ‘We never bring any of the others.’
‘A distraction, so we can take a look around. You know how he covets what’s ours and he’s already interested in her. Kor found the hole in the perimeter last night, but Paris can’t plug it until the full moon tomorrow. If Maddox is making a move, I want to know what it is, and what it has to do with some human.’ He leans back. ‘And, anyway, she should see what supes are really like when the humans aren’t watching. Maybe then she'll be a little bit more grateful that we’ve allowed her into the Club.’
Sie walks to the window and looks out. ‘I don’t like it. Something’s off about this whole thing.’
He looks at Korban for back up, but Kor just shrugs.
‘She’s just a pretty human. Dime a dozen. Bring her if Maddox wants to see our new house whore. I don't give a shit.’
I frown. Korban has his own agenda, but I’m fucked if I can see what it is.
‘She’ll need some clothes. Can’t show up there representing the Iron I’s dressed like we picked her up in a shelter.’
Vic waves a hand at Paris. ‘Make sure she has something expensive to wear.’
He and Kor turn towards the door.
‘Wait,’ I say. ‘Did you get the info on her yet?’
Vic nods. ‘I skimmed it. Jane Mercy. Twenty-five. Parents gone. Other than the stalkers thing, there's not much out of the ordinary about her.’
‘Can I see it?’ I ask.
Vic takes an envelope out of a drawer and frisbees it over to me. I open it and slide out the folder of documents. It's thin.
‘Not much on her,’ I comment.
‘There's not much to know. Her mother died when she was young, father disappeared when she was ten. She was in foster until she was fourteen and she’s been moving around ever since.’
I start perusing the documents. ‘Unmarried. No children and no relatives. Couldn't find a more perfect girl if we tried,’ I mutter.
And then I get to the last page and find a medical report on there from a child psychologist.
I scan the title. ‘Signs of Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.’ I take a look at the date. It’s from over ten years ago, which explains the outdated terminology because Asperger’s as a diagnosis has been mostly phased out these days.
‘She’s Autistic!’ I facepalm, so much clicking into place. ‘How did I miss it?’
‘She’s what?’ Vic and the others are frowning at me.
‘Autistic,’ I say again.
They all look at me with blank expressions on their faces.
‘She was diagnosed with Autism when she was a teenager.’
Paris grimaces. ‘What the hell does that mean? She’s a retar—’
I cast such an angry look at Paris that he shuts his mouth before he says the rest ofthatword, but it’s only a second before he continues.
