“Elaine has additional information she recently came into that might narrow it down more.”
“And when is she going to share the rest of the information?”
“She already did after she sent the fifty-k non-refundable deposit.”
Shay laughed. “You buried the lead. You managed to get a non-refundable deposit out of the woman? Not bad.”
“It’s our new company policy. Only way to do it. Makes the client have some skin in the game. That way, Elaine won’t hire six different hunters to up her chances. All or nothing kind of deal.”
It wasn’t the first time Shay had looked at Peyton with a budding admiration. Still, there was a small piece of doubt that kept her on guard, ready for a sign of betrayal. It was all too common and ended in a permanent layoff. Maybe not this time. “What’s got her motivated enough to part with that much money?”
“The key that will allow the ciphers to be broken. She’s passed along the five clues in decoded form.”
Shay blinked, her eyes wide. “Now, that’s interesting. Wonder how she got her hands on that.”
“Don’t know. Didn’t ask. She didn’t tell. Look, from what I can tell this shit is straightforward. No one else is currently seeking the owl, so all we have to do is crunch through some clues.”
“If she’s willing to part with fifty thousand euros just to take a chance, there’s more to this story. What about the guys who died trying to locate it? What exactly did them in?” Don’t say icicles. Shay tried to hide the involuntary shudder that passed down her spine.
“Several died of unknown causes.”
“How in this day and age could the cause be unknown?”
“When the pieces don’t add up. They were hit by lightning on a clear, sunny day in the middle of an empty parking lot. In another attempt, a guy froze to death in the middle of a chapel in the middle of the summer.”
Fuck me, he said ice.
“Uh…” Peyton winced.
“Spit it out.”
Peyton shrugged. “One operative was reduced to a gooey puddle and the liquid was identified as human matter. They used DNA to figure out who he was. That has got to be painful.”
Shay worked her jaw a little. “Sounds like magic.”
“Do you still want the job?”
“My business model is all about retrieving magic artifacts. Can’t back out because one of them belongs in a horror film.”
Peyton smiled. “Did I mention I’ll provide backup for this one from here?”
“That’s one way to get you to stay put. Threaten you with flash freezing or melting.” Peyton shook his head, his stomach lurching. “Seeing that could put me off pizza. Getting this back to the owner will solidify your rep as a reliable delivery system.”
“I’m a tomb raider, not a delivery girl.”
“Still, we’re reliable as the post office. Neither wind or rain, or dark of night will keep you from your paid rounds. Has a sentimental ring to it.”
Shay snorted. “They’re not all that reliable anymore. Postal drones are the worst and the occasional rogue gargoyle isn’t any better.”
"You know what I mean.” Peyton shrugged. “You’re the one who had a rep for never failing as a hitman. A one hundred percent kill rate. You take a job, you get it done.”
“If you’re going to survive as an entrepreneur you make sure your word is trusted even by the untrustworthy, especially them.” Shay narrowed her eyes. “You did good, Peyton, but next time check with me before you take someone’s money.” Frozen to death. What is in Paris?
Peyton grimaced and nodded quickly. He was fidgeting, all over the place. Shay marked it up to getting his hand slapped. He has to learn I’m in charge.
Despite Shay’s harsh tone, she felt something approaching gratitude for Peyton’s initiative. She liked the idea of having a clever assistant who could take some of the workload off her shoulders. It was a bonus that he saw the angles before they hit him in the face.
Shay hopped to her feet, already walking to the Spider. “I should go get some equipment ready, get a plan outlined. Send me the information on the clues that you’ve already gathered, along with the other client communications. I can study it all on the plane.”
Peyton got up and followed her to the car. “You know, if you set me up with access to all your warehouses, I could have what you need set up ahead of time.”
Shay stopped in her tracks and pivoted, placing her hands on his shoulders and squeezing enough to cause a little pain. “You don’t have the skill set to know what is needed and you don’t need to know those places yet. We’re becoming friends and coworkers but don’t forget who I am.”
Peyton looked into her dark eyes and forced himself to smile as Shay gradually let go, dropping her arms.
“I understand.”
“Company meeting over.” Shay’s voice was calm and slow. A warning. She turned to walk the rest of the way to her car.
Peyton tapped something into his phone and tossed it to her. Shay snatched it out of the air with a frown.
“What the hell is this?”
“Just look at it.”
Shay pressed her lips together in a straight line as she looked at the image on screen. It was a satellite image of a warehouse with the address for Warehouse Three.
“Just tap the screen once,” Peyton said.
Shay tapped, holding her finger steady despite the rush of anger. She saw an image of the warehouse from the street level, confirming it was Warehouse Three.
“See? That one’s not secret anymore, so there’s no reason to hide it from me, right?” Peyton smiled nervously, proud of his accomplishment. He was playing a dangerous game. “From the power usage, I’m guessing that one is an equipment warehouse, weapons storage.”
Shay calmly tossed his phone back to him, her face a blank
