Starlight Web (Moonshadow Bay #1) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,20

monitors the reports that come in. And he keeps in touch with a number of the other companies. We’re part of an umbrella organization I started, that offers membership to around ten other sites. It’s called Urban Legends, Inc. But we have no say over the other companies who belong to it, although we all share information.”

I frowned. “Conjure Ink is a pretty complex company, isn’t it?” I was beginning to get the feeling it was far larger and more far-reaching than I had first thought.

“Yep. We actually have ties with the government. Now that they’ve opened up about UFOs, we’re digging into those reports because a number of the sightings were located in the Pacific Northwest,” Hank explained. “Urban Legends runs a database that we all contribute to, and we all have access to.”

Tad motioned to the empty desk in the corner. “You’ll work there. I’ll have a key made for you today. The key opens the front door, and then the door to this office. Wren usually mans the front desk, by the way. You’ll need to learn the security code. We have tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment here, and while we back up all our info to both the main server and to a backup database, we really don’t want to have to replace fifty thousand dollars’ worth of tech. So we keep a tight watch on the place. I will be running a background check, but from what you told me, I doubt if there will be a problem.”

I grinned. “Depending on how petty my ex is, you might find a report that I torched his tuxedo and did a number on his convertible before I left. Given that he bilked me out of the company, well…I felt it was a fitting parting gift.”

Tad snorted. “I’m not worried about domestic disputes, so no worries there.” He glanced at the clock. “I have a meeting coming up. Be here tomorrow, eight a.m. Wear comfortable clothes. I plan to have you out in the field by noon.”

As I left, I couldn’t help but smile. The job still sounded a bit odd, but I was excited. I had loved the magazine, but this was something new. From what Tad had said, I didn’t expect to be bored, and I hadn’t expected decent perks like vacation time and insurance. Also, from what I had seen of them, I liked Tad, Caitlin, and Hank.

Leaving the building, I glanced back at the modest sign on the door that read, conjure ink. Yeah, I could probably get used to working here.

Chapter Five

By the time I got home, it was five. I stood inside my door, suddenly realizing I had no clue what to do. I hadn’t formed a routine yet, I wasn’t acclimated to being back in Moonshadow Bay, and everything still seemed alien. I wasn’t hungry, given I had stopped on the way home to buy a caramel latte and a brownie to celebrate, and we had unpacked all my things, except for what I had bought today.

“I’m not used to an empty house,” I said to myself, my voice echoing in the foyer. Even though I had come to loathe the sight of Ellison, having somebody else in the house made everything feel—different. I pulled out my phone and called Ari.

“Hey, what are you up to?”

“Just getting off work. How was your day?” I could hear her teeth chattering.

“Are you outside?”

“Trudging to my car. It’s going to snow again.”

“I got the job. Conjure Ink hired me. I start tomorrow!” I wanted to celebrate something. It had been a long time since I’d had reason to celebrate. “Come over for dinner?”

“Congrats! And sure, I’ll come over. I have to make one stop, though. What are we having?”

“I haven’t a clue. I bought food this morning but I have no idea what I want.”

“I’ll bring dinner and wine. See you in about half an hour.”

As she hung up, it occurred to me that I needed to reacquaint myself with old friends. I couldn’t just lean on Ari all the time. While I had met Millie at the store, there were other people I knew from growing up, people who had never left. And I remembered some of them fondly.

While I waited for Ari, I put the new sheets in the washer. Then I busied myself washing the new goblets and kitchen gadgets and tucking them away. Finally, I made a pot of coffee in case Ari wanted some, and pulled