The tomb raider shrugged. “Unlike that cave in Argentina, no one knows where I keep my things. You can go ahead and try to track it down if you want to see the kind of precautions I’ve taken.”
The human and the elf locked eyes, with the Professor looking on. No one spoke for a good thirty seconds before the Fixer looked away, sighed, and shook his head.
Correk stood. “You remind me of another stubborn woman I know.” He shrugged. “If you ever change your mind, let me know. I will come and immediately take it off your hands and do my best to handle it.”
Shay snorted. “That’s just the thing. My hands will never touch it. Have a good night, Correk.”
He shook his head. “After this conversation, I don’t think I can.”
Chapter Seven
Shay paced back and forth in her living room, frowning. It’d been a calm few days, so of course, something had to happen. She could kick herself for not anticipating it. It wasn’t like the risk wasn’t there before, but now that the threat was on its way to her home, her stomach knotted.
I have to get ready. What if they do something I’m not ready for?
She shook her head. “This is a disaster waiting to happen. A big disaster.”
Alison smiled at her from the couch. “Seriously, Aunt Shay? You really think that? With all the stuff you deal with, it doesn’t seem like this would be a big deal. It’s just your friends coming to visit your place for the first time.” She chuckled. “Some of Dad’s OCD is wearing off on you.”
The tomb raider stopped pacing and shook her head. “Look, I haven’t exactly been forthcoming on all the details of my life with these women. They’ve been badgering me for a while about coming over, and I always found excuses, but I guess I was just too tired or something. The next thing I knew I had agreed to this little visit.”
“But they’re your friends. I know you told a few lies, but you like them, right?”
Shay sighed and nodded. “You have to understand that things work better when they’re compartmentalized. That’s how I’ve been living my life. It’s why I’ve been able to have normal friends but still do tomb raiding and help James and all that.”
“But you have Dad now, and it’s not like you’re in the same position you were before. If you’re going to picnics with cops and guys from Camp Brownstone, things just aren’t that separate. Besides, what could possibly go wrong with a few of your friends stopping by to check out your place?”
Shay shrugged. “I learned a long time ago that the answer to that question is almost always ‘a lot.’ For now, don’t do any magic in front of them.”
Alison sighed. “You think it would scare them?”
The tomb raider shook her head. “No. The opposite. I think they’ll get excited and start acting like this is a magical theme park, and they’ll want to see you do stunts. I wouldn’t be half surprised if they don’t recognize you from all the news coverage of the adoption hearing, but fortunately, they aren’t the kind of women who pay a lot of attention to the news. It’s one of the reasons I like hanging out with them. It’s all light and breezy.”
“I don’t get it.”
Shay shrugged. “Sometimes it’s just nice to relax and not have to worry about anything after having to worry about so much on a job.”
“I can understand that.” Alison smiled. “Then you should do just that—relax and not worry so much. It’ll be fine. You’re acting like this is a tomb raid, but it’s just your friends stopping by.”
Shay chuckled, some of the tension draining from her face. “When did you get so wise, Alison?”
“This year at school.” The teen grinned.
“You’re right, though. This isn’t one of the warehouses, and my gear is hidden. If I can handle tomb raids, I can handle a few women coming over to my place who just want to chat and have a good time.”
Or are those famous last words?
A light knock sounded from the door, and Shay walked over to open it. Kara, Bella, and Janelle stood on the other side. Kara held a long metal tube connected to a wide, enclosed base.
Okay, this is starting out a little weird.
Shay blinked. She had no clue what the item was, but she motioned them inside, and her friends rushed into the living room.
“Welcome.” The tomb raider pointed to Alison. “This is Alison. She’s my boyfriend’s kid. She’s home for the summer from boarding school. Alison, these are my friends Janelle, Kara, and Bella.”
Alison offered them a bright smile. “It’s nice to meet all of you.”
Janelle tilted her head, a slight frown on her face. “I feel like I’ve seen you before. I was about to ask what high school you go to, but you go to boarding school?”
“Yes, in Virginia.”
“Huh. Maybe it’s déjà vu.”
Alison shrugged. “Maybe I just have that kind of face. It’s nice to meet you all.” She rose to give them all gentle handshakes.
Bella winked at Shay. “Boarding school, huh? That can’t be cheap. Nobody poor sends their kid to boarding school. Didn’t know your new guy was rich, but you do seem to have a habit of landing rich boyfriends. Lucky you.”
Shay let out a slight chuckle. She’d told them more than a few lies to cover for some of her expensive electronics and vehicles. She half-wondered if they thought she was some sort of academic gold digger.
Better that than an ex-killer.
Kara set her strange contraption in the middle of Shay’s living room. Something sloshed inside it.
