Southwest Days (Semiautomatic Sorceress Book 2) by Kal Aaron (ebook reader for manga .txt) 📗

be vanilla. That would hurt too much. Not that it’s wrong for you to like vanilla.”

Lyssa grinned. “No, I think I can live with you picking strawberry. It’s my favorite.”

“Really?” Bill grinned. “That’s interesting. Sounds like we’re already compatible in a vital, important way.”

She said, “You seem nice, Bill. And for whatever reason, you can tolerate me even when I’m a frazzled mess. That’s an attractive quality.”

Bill frowned. “It sounds like a ‘but’ is coming.”

“Yeah, one is, but not the kind you think.” Lyssa shrugged. “I’ll be taking a lot of business trips over the next couple of weeks, maybe months. I’m willing to take a chance on seeing you again, but I can’t promise anything soon. I just want to be honest and not lead you on since you seem like a nice guy.”

Bill rubbed the back of his neck and looked away, his dimples again on display. “This is going to sound corny, but I’m willing to wait. You’re worth it.”

“You sure?” Lyssa was surprised by the doubt in her voice. “I’m not sure I am.”

“You know what they say,” Bill replied. “Sure, you’re a hot rich biker chick with a good sense of humor, but I have a feeling you’re really special, and good things come to those who wait. I got this second shot with you. I’m not going to mess it up now by being impatient.”

Lyssa nodded at his pocket. “You have my number. Don’t abuse it, and please don’t contact me for the next two weeks. I know that sounds like a lot of conditions, but it’s the way things have to be. I’ve got to be in the zone for my job right now. Just imagine me saying ‘crunch time’ and a lot of other buzzwords.”

“Fair enough.” Bill grinned. “I’m still going to brag to my buddies.”

Lyssa laughed. “You do what you want.”

Her compact mirror vibrated halfway back on her way home. She didn’t bother checking it until she’d arrived. Being distracted while driving and using an obvious shard in public were a bad combination.

Strolling into her living room, she ran her finger across the mirror and invoked the activation incantation. She tapped her foot, waiting for the glowing, swirling Lemurian words to form. She could get used to Samuel being helpful.

Your additional evidence suggesting a potential rogue is duly noted. Based on your previous report, the presence of additional monsters cannot be ruled out, and additional investigation should be carried out with support to maximize your chances of success.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue, rapid resolution of the incident is desired. To accomplish that, additional resources will be provided for another inspection of the mine and to confirm the elimination of the primary threat.

Proceed to site at 9:00 AM local time on the 27th to ensure resolution. The resources will be waiting for you or arrive shortly after.

The Shadow authorities, including the EAA and the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, have already been informed, and the necessary contracts have been coordinated. Confirm the arrival of the additional resources by invoking the passphrase pair angel and lighthouse in English, as necessary.

“Additional resources?” Lyssa asked. "Could you be any vaguer, Samuel? It’s a freaking shard communications mirror. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Elder Samuel might be providing shards,” Jofi said.

“That would be handy.” Lyssa nodded. “Okay, this works. I’ll swing by the EAA to drop off the shard and tell Damien to see what he can turn up, then we’ll go check out the mine again and see what’s up.”

Chapter Twenty

Waiting in front of the fence around the mine entrance, Lyssa drummed her fingers against her handlebars. She hated having to be on time, only to wait for something else. It was 9:20, and the promised additional resources hadn’t arrived.

Two different deputies were guarding the mine that morning, but they’d parked their cruiser farther down and were watching from a distance with obvious suspicion.

She didn’t care that much. Befriending Ortiz and Adams was a start to establishing a good relationship with the local sheriff’s department. She didn’t know the next time she’d need to do a job in Cochise County, but at least she wouldn’t start with zero allies. Networking was a slow, iterative process that didn’t always pay immediate dividends.

She wasn’t a child. She understood there would always be Shadows who distrusted her. Considering she was in the middle of hunting a rogue who’d created an army of monsters, she couldn’t claim she didn’t understand their fear.

The best thing she could do to improve people’s opinions of Sorcerers was to find the rogue and bring him to justice. Everything else was secondary, including her comfort.

A black car with tinted windows drove up the road. Light pressure filled her chest. Lyssa narrowed her eyes, reached for her guns, and looked at the deputies. They stepped out of their car and put their hands on their weapons. At least they were following her lead. There was no way she was going to let two cops get killed right in front of her.

Had Samuel somehow tricked the rogue into showing up? That would be convenient. Of course, it could also be her shard delivery.

“If it is the enemy, I would recommend rapid termination,” Jofi said. “A blatant engagement would suggest confidence in a technique that can overcome you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Lyssa replied. “But info’s good, too. I don’t know what’s going on yet, but I’m hoping our guy isn’t that arrogant. If he is, a couple of penetrators and we’ll call it a day.”

“And if you need more?”

“We both know I’ll use a showstopper if necessary,” Lyssa replied. “But let’s not go there unless we have to.”

The car slowed to a stop about ten yards away. The door opened, and a man stepped out in a dark ankle-length overcoat, arm-length black gloves, and a beaked mask with opaque black eyes—a plague doctor outfit. Two large black bandoliers ran over his body, each filled with black frosted-glass vials instead of bullets.

Lyssa had