Don’t worry, bitch. I’m gonna find you and take you down for me and Lily’s father.
Chapter Five
The tall bay door of Warehouse Two rumbled and groaned as it closed behind Shay’s Fiat. It was time to start her workday morning.
Shay might have an evening lecture at the university, but her morning routine still included her visiting Warehouse Two to chat with Peyton. Whatever she decided about her future plans, for the moment, she was still a tomb raider, and the more money she earned, the more options she’d have.
The occasional magical club meeting might be okay to discuss business, but her warehouses were some of the few places where she felt completely secure.
That’s probably gonna screw me someday, but got to go with what I have for now.
She threw open the door of her car and stepped out. The mouth-watering scent of scrambled eggs, sausage, and cheese ambushed her, and her stomach rumbled.
Guess I should have grabbed a bigger breakfast.
A few more steps brought Shay around the corner. Peyton stood in front of a table with a breakfast pizza on his paddle. An unexpected but familiar gray-haired teenager sat close by.
Shay was smiling before she realized it. She didn’t know when or if Lily might decide she wasn’t interested in being a tomb raider, but Shay was more than happy to continue to train the girl in the meantime.
A dark, cynical part of Shay’s mind almost wanted to laugh. She still remembered the times she’d pulled a gun and threatened to shoot Peyton because she couldn’t trust him, and now she was happy to see him and Lily first thing in the morning.
Friends. Maybe even a little bit family.
Osiris padded underneath the table and purred as he rubbed against Lily’s leg.
Hell, Shay was even happy to see the damned cat.
I’m getting soft. I wouldn’t last a week anymore as a killer. Just need to make sure I’m the most badass tomb raider ever to make up for it.
Peyton slid the pizza onto a tray. After putting his paddle down, he waved to Shay. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Shay walked over to the table. “Good to see everyone here bright and early.” She shot Peyton a glance. “Especially since some of us had time management issues.”
He grinned. “It’s been a while since I’ve been late.”
Lily swallowed a bite of her pizza and shrugged.
Peyton clapped his hands together. “Oh, good thing you’re here. I was going to send you a text, but I figured you’d be here soon. I’ve got a job lined up for you.”
“A job?” Shay asked. “Where? And does it involve catacombs or some frozen lake? I’m not fond of frozen lakes.”
“No catacombs, and no frozen lake. It’s in Switzerland. It’s in a forest, and well, you know it’s not that cold in Switzerland in late spring.” Peyton shrugged.
“A Swiss forest? Now you’ve got me interested.”
Peyton nodded. “Yes. Now, a little background first.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen, bringing up an image of a small golden coin decorated with an image of a man wearing a laurel wreath crown. “Recognize this?”
“Ancient Roman coin.” Shay frowned. Common treasure hunts were rarely worth it, especially since moving the items forced her into legitimate channels with middlemen who asked too many questions.
“Yeah, this coin was part of a trove of ancient Roman coins found by a farmer a few decades back in Switzerland.”
Shay nodded. “And why do I care about some ancient coins that someone already found? I can’t easily steal a trove of coins even if there’s a good reason for it.”
Lily continued to gobble down her pizza. Her face was impassive as she listened.
Peyton slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Our client has already acquired that coin collection, and he found in his audit that it was missing a particular coin he wants. A coin enchanted by Apollonius of Tyana. It turns out he was a wizard.”
Shay nodded. “Not a huge surprise, even before Oriceran. A lot of people associated him with magic. So what’s the big deal with this coin? Does it hypnotize people or some shit?”
“With the proper rituals, the coin can be used for divination. Allegedly, Apollonius used it to help predict a plague. That actually got him into trouble with the Roman authorities and the emperor.”
Shay glanced at Lily, who shrugged.
I guess just because she has divination powers doesn’t mean she’s an expert on all forms of it.
Shay nodded. “So, divination coin, got it. How come the client’s so certain it’s still there? It could be in the ground, or in the ocean, or underneath some dragon in Oriceran for all we know.”
Peyton shook his head. “The client has received new information with the help of a wizard. They know it’s in Switzerland. They even have decent coordinates to narrow down the location.”
“Why do they need me, then? Why not just go with the wizard and pick it up?”
Peyton sighed. “That’s where things get complicated.”
“Complicated?” Shay frowned.
Lily finished her pizza and pushed her plate forward. “Wouldn’t get paid a lot if this stuff was simple, right?”
Shay snorted. “You got me there. But the question is, how complicated? A few idiots I can deal with, but it could be as annoying as being dropped into some anti-technology zone where I have to ride a horse and fight a bunyip with a sword.”
Lily eyed Shay. “I’m pretty sure they don’t have those in Switzerland.”
“Who the hell knows anymore? A wizard could have teleported one from Australia.”
Peyton shook his head. “No bunyips. At least, I think no bunyips. A team of Japanese treasure hunters is on the move. Not a big official firm or anything, and not even real tomb raiders, just a few guys and some guys
