the presence of water and other energies. They had also proven to be helpful in tracking the natural flow of magic beneath the ground.
I wasn’t close enough to see, but I bet those rods were glyphed up the wazoo, and it was magic, not water, she was searching for.
“You can see for yourself where the spell was located,” Stotts said as we climbed the stairs to the gazebo.
Julian whistled. “What was it?”
“Might be Conversion,” Stotts said.
“Might?”
“It dissolved before Allie could get a strong read on it,” Stotts said.
Julian arched an eyebrow and looked up at me. “Is that so?”
“Fell apart when I touched it.” That was almost the whole truth.
“Do you need anything else?” Stotts asked.
“Nope.” Julian slipped off his backpack and pulled out a pair of leather gloves and a spray can.
“Then keep the spell use to a minimum,” Stotts said. “We’re already up against the wall with Proxy costs this month and I don’t want to fight with the suits to justify an overage.”
“Tell them to cut us a bigger budget.” Julian shook the can and began marking a circle around the entire inside parameter of the gazebo.
Stotts just grunted. “I’d rather not lose any more men.”
Julian shook his head. “Speaking of which.” He held up the spray can. “You might want to step back.”
Stotts nodded at me and we both walked out of the gazebo, passing Garnet and Richards on their way up the stairs.
The three of them recited a mantra, and the air suddenly felt a lot heavier.
I paused, but Stotts pulled me forward so I couldn’t watch anymore. I could still feel the magic they were using. The air was heavy with it, the rain so thick that for a second I wasn’t sure there was enough air between drops for me to inhale. Then they cast the spell—a spell I’d never experienced—and the rain broke free, a cloudburst, colder than natural rain, with a disinfectant smell to it.
“They clean up after magic by using more magic? That’s a smart idea.” I could not keep the sarcasm out of my tone. Probably because I didn’t try to.
“Funny,” Stotts said, “you don’t seem like the kind of person who should tell me how to do my job.”
“Don’t I?” I blinked innocently. “If that’s a problem, you might want to reconsider that job you offered me.”
We’d made it to the car by now. “I might. Get in.” He didn’t even wait for my reply before opening his door and sliding in out of the rain.
I took another sniff of the air, sneezed at the soapy chemical stink that filled my nostrils. No fireworks, no flash or sound came from the gazebo. I hesitated a moment more, heard what sounded an awful lot like a handheld vacuum cleaner whir to life. A vacuum cleaner? To clean up unquantified and possibly dangerous magical residue? Seriously?
Today was just full of surprises.
I pulled the door open and got in out of the rain.
Chapter Seven
Instead of taking me to the station, Stotts let me give him my statement in the car while he drove me home. Which was good. Because it hadn’t stopped raining, I hadn’t eaten since this morning, and the coffee at the police station wasn’t fit for human consumption. Using magic always made me hungry, and I was tired. Plus, that Disbursement I’d set to pay for Hounding the spell—a nice juicy headache—was in full force.
Stotts dropped me off in front of the building with a promise to contact me if he needed further information. I promised him I’d think about the job offer and let him know soon.
I trudged up the three flights of stairs to my apartment and paused at the top of the third-floor landing. A whiff of onions and beef and bacon made my mouth water. I didn’t know which of my neighbors was cooking, but I seriously considered tracking them down and inviting myself in for a bite.
I stopped at my apartment door, put one hand on the smooth surface, and without drawing on magic, listened for movement. It was a habit I picked up thanks to my less-than-calm last few months in the city with a variety of magic users trying to kill me.
More than movement. I heard singing. A woman’s voice. Nola.
Duh. I had company.
I unlocked the door, feeling like I’d jumped on the idiot train a day early, and walked into my home.
The delicious smell was stronger here, and my heart did a happy little leap in my chest, even though