accuse me of using a shield of telekinetic energy as a makeshift umbrella.”
I hook my purse over my shoulder and open my door, holding up my left hand. Rain patters down on my invisible umbrella. Binx jumps into my lap and we get out, staying perfectly dry. I drop my hand, dispersing the energy as soon as I’m under Novel Ground’s awning.
The store is still dark when I come in, and the seating areas are all filled. People are talking and reading, using the flashlights on their phones for light. Both Betty and Danielle are behind the counter.
“Hey, guys.” I set Binx on the counter and he immediately starts purring, knowing Betty is going to gush all over him.
She does.
“Hello, handsome,” she coos and runs her hand over his back. He plops down, rolling over so she can scratch under his chin.
“Hi,” Danielle says. “You’re lucky you stayed dry.” She motions to her shirt. “I went to my car to get my phone to use as a calculator and got soaked!” She did. Her hair and shirt are pretty damn wet from the rain.
“I had an umbrella,” I say, and Danielle’s eyes go to my hands. I’m not holding it, and I wouldn’t have had a chance to set it down anywhere. “I left it right outside the door. I didn’t want to bring it in and get the carpet wet.”
“Good idea. So, um, Betty said we can run the system on an iPad?”
“Yes. I have one in the office, but I don’t know if it’s charged. I’ll go grab it.” I say hello to a few customers on my way. The iPad is in a cabinet above the desk. It’s one that’s kept locked, and I don’t have the key, which isn’t an issue for me. Using magic, I open it and pull out the iPad. The last time this was used would have been when we did inventory. I turn it on, surprised to see that the battery has some charge left. Setting it on the desk, I reach back into the dark cabinet, feeling around for the power cord.
“Betty said to give you—oh.” I turn, seeing Danielle standing in the office doorway holding a set of keys. “You already unlocked the cabinet.”
“Yeah. I have my own set of keys,” I say, which is a lie. I actually lost my keys to the cabinets in the office years ago and have been using magic to lock and unlock everything ever since.
“I figured so.”
“Ah, here it is.” I close my fingers around the power cord and close the cabinet door. “I’ll show you how to use this.” I tap my finger on the iPad screen and usher her out, closing the office door behind me before she has a chance to ask why I didn’t lock the cabinet back up. Because I’m using magic, that’s why.
“It’s a very simple program, thankfully,” I tell her, and plug the iPad in at the counter up front. “Shoot. I left the credit card scanner in the office. I’ll be right back.” I hurry back into the office, closing the door behind me, and conjure a string of magic to see into the cabinet. I find the little attachment, close the cabinet, and lock it using magic. I’m back at the counter before anyone notices.
I open the program and give Betty and Danielle a crash course. We get everyone rung up, and a few customers brave the rain and leave. A handful stay in, taking advantage of the new comfy chairs Kristy and I debated splurging on last winter.
“If the power isn't back on in like an hour, I think we should just close. Who’s coming in later?”
“Kristy and Vanessa,” Danielle tells me.
“Okay,” I say, nodding as I think. “I’ll text them now to let them know. But if the whole downtown block is out, it might be a while before anything is up and running.” I get my phone from my purse and lean against the counter. I quickly text Kristy and Vanessa, letting them know what’s going on. Kristy lives downtown. If the power is out at the store, it’s probably out at her house too.
Vanessa replies right away, but Kristy doesn’t. I’m going to go ahead and assume she’s at the Covenstead, hopefully with Evander.
“I had a bit of last-minute change of plans,” I tell Betty after another customer checks out. “And I’ll be here for Thorne Hill’s Halloween festival, so I can pass out candy with you guys.”
“Really? Yay!