“We got people. Your stuff has to be inspected for spells and tracking devices. The crew handles all that. We can’t take any chances.” He stopped long enough to look back at me and said, “Besides, it wasn’t like your apartment was Fort Knox. Don’t look so shocked, Isis. I’ve been around for a very long time. I can read people very well. Welcome home, Isis.”
Home? I had never been in one place long enough to call it home. Constantine was very sure of himself. What did that crazy cat know?
Chapter 10
It was afternoon by the time I dragged Bartholomew out of the building. Constantine was right—they had jeans and T-shirts in the room for me. I hadn’t been that sweaty since Iraq. My clothes were sticking to my body, and I stank. I ran to the room and took the longest shower I had in ages. It was hard to admit it, but I really liked the room. It was fully furnished, so all my old stuff was going to storage, according to Constantine. After checking out the room, with its own bathroom and walk-in closet, I wasn’t going to need anything besides my clothes. The bedroom was bigger than my old one.
By the time I dressed and combed my hair, I was starving. Unfortunately, the fridge at Reapers was in worse shape than my own. I made the fatal mistake of having some of Bartholomew’s cereal. No wonder the boy was so thin—that stuff was nasty. I didn’t know much about gluten issues, but my heart went out to all those who suffered. Food options were extremely limited; forget most processed foods—which translated to all the stuff that tasted good was out of the question.
Bartholomew hated going out. He had really good control of this third eye, but the idea that the creatures could see him terrified him. Not to mention his huge dislike for people in general. He believed stupid people in large masses were a force of disaster. Couldn’t argue with his logic. I guessed it was a good thing Texarkana was not a huge metropolis. At the same time, options for healthy foods were limited. We didn’t have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s, but we did have the Granary, a local health store that carried an eclectic collection of foods, vitamins, and oils for every hippie in town. If you shopped at the Granary, you were definitely a “tree-hugging hippie” or on your way to becoming one. I really loved that store.
Besides the selection, the Granary was a safer option than going to Walmart. I was sure Bartholomew would not handle Walmart well. I didn’t want him having a panic attack. It didn’t matter the state; somehow Walmart had a way of attracting some of the shadiest people in town. To some extent, Walmart was a great commentary on the makeup of America. I wasn’t sure I could handle the clientele of Walmart.
“OK, I think I have enough money to get us enough groceries for the week.” The awkward silence was driving me nuts. I had to say something, since Bartholomew looked a little pale staring out the windows.
He gave me a strange look. “Why are we not using the corporate card?”
OK, it was my turn to look dumbfounded. “What corporate card?” I had missed something.
“You haven’t read your manual.” It was a statement. He didn’t even bother asking me.
I was embarrassed to admit he was right. “I’ve been busy the last couple of days.”
Bartholomew shook his head in disapproval. “You are so behind the curve here.” He was looking a little smug as he spoke.
“Fine, boy genius. Give me the CliffsNotes. What am I missing it?” I tried not to glare as I drove down the street.
“You really need to read your manual. I won’t be able to do it justice. But we get a corporate card to cover all house expenses, which includes unlimited food.”
My jaw hit the ground. I was sure I looked like a cartoon character. “So rent, utilities, cable, Internet, and even food are all covered. Please tell me you’re not messing with me.” I waited patiently for the horrible truth.
“Those are the essentials. You also get your monthly stipend as well as a monthly clothing allowance. I guess it’s almost like the military.” Bartholomew looked as if he was comparing numbers in his head.
“How much is this clothing allowance?” I knew I was not hearing him right.
“Five hundred dollars, and you get it on the fifteenth.” He looked worried.
“Definitely not like the military. I got a clothing allowance only once a year.”
“Try not to spend it all. Requesting an increase is very time-consuming and requires lots of paperwork.” He made a face that looked highly annoyed.
“Why would anyone need that much money for clothes each month? That’s crazy.” I couldn’t remember spending that much in a year. Most of my clothes came from thrift shops. I thanked my godmother for passing down some of her shopping habits.
“Teck went through his in less than a week each month.” Now that was one piece of news that made my day.
“Ninja Alchemist was a fashionista? That is precious.” I started laughing. I couldn’t help it. I had a mental imagine of a metroninja in leather pants fighting the forces of evil with Gucci shoes.
“He liked his clothes. So he spent his stipend and allowance on clothes and accessories. New York was dangerous for him.” Bartholomew looked sad.
“That’s an understatement.” I felt guilty and needed to change the topic. “So how much is this stipend?” I had known some interns in college, and they never made any money.
“Your first year is $5,500 a month after taxes, and you get it on the first. If you’re really good, you can request an increase in six months. But you’ll get a raise of at least five percent each year.”
I was dumbfounded. I knew I wasn’t hearing right. “Are you serious?” I was using that phrase
