“If he decides to go after the Warlocks, that’s not my problem. I’m there to get the artifact, not save his ass.”
“I wouldn’t worry. He has a lot of field experience dealing with threats like the Brujos Rojos, and he doesn’t shrink from the extreme and necessary application of violence when it’s warranted, Miss Carson. I’m sure you’ll find him amenable to your style.”
The waiter delivered another beer to Smite-Williams even though he didn’t ask for a refill.
He took a sip, drumming his fingers on the table. “He’s a man who is very good at what he does. Feel free to check into his background. He’s not nearly as secretive as you. Do we have a deal, Miss Carson? If not, I need to move on to other options.”
Shay observed the professor as he drank his beer, the faintest of smiles on his face.
“We have a deal. What’s the name of this bounty hunter?”
“Brownstone. James Brownstone.”
The next morning, Shay pulled the Spider into Warehouse Two and got out, making a direct line for the office.
Peyton sat at the desk, staring at his computer screen. He was wearing a plaid shirt and plaid shorts – nothing matched. He was going for irony.
“Were you able to check into Brownstone?”
Peyton nodded, still looking at the information on the screen. “The guy checks out. Licensed class six bounty hunter. Like all high-end bounty hunters he specializes in bringing in enhanced threats, primarily magical in nature. This guy kicks serious ass, Shay. He’s put a lot of nasty guys into ultramaxes.” He looked over her. “People talk about not wanting to meet bad guys in dark alleys. This is the guy that bad people in dark alleys are afraid of.”
Shay rolled her eyes and scoffed. “He can’t be all that.”
“This is all public records shit. As far as I can tell, he’s been a bounty hunter most of his life. He was an orphan, grew up being raised in a Catholic orphanage.”
“Great, so he’s a do-gooder. He’ll probably beg me not to shoot the assholes coming after us.”
Peyton laughed. “This guy has killed more people than you. Look, I know you like the lone huntress thing, but I think this Brownstone could be a good match for you. You can be the brains and beauty. He can be the murderous brawn. He’s got a good reputation for getting the job done, and if you can concentrate on retrieving artifacts while he concentrates on taking down mercs or Witches, it’s win-win.”
Shay pursed her lips, one hip jutting out as she crossed her arms. “Smite-Williams didn’t leave me much of a choice.”
“Five million is a nice pay day.”
“I already agreed to terms. You can relax. I’m heading over to Warehouse Four to do my own research. Head over to Warehouse Three and start prepping gear for me.”
“Um, question about that.”
“What?”
“Can I get a cooler car than the van?”
Shay lowered her chin. “Make a list of everything you want. This death by a thousand papercuts....” She turned and headed to the car before Peyton could answer.
Several loud beeps sounded from Peyton’s computer. Shay halted and spun on her heel.
“What the hell was that? And why isn’t it going to my phone?”
“Job offers. I’m trying to prefilter some of them for you. You got a guy in England who wants you to help him find an old druidic necklace. Some woman over in Connecticut who wants you to find… an old family photo? Says it’s the key to something.” He laughed. “That’s probably under some split-level three bedroom.” A few more beeps sounded. “The word’s spreading.”
Shay gave a wicked smile, her hands on her hips standing in the middle of Warehouse Two. “Of course, it has. I’m a complete badass.”
“Business is booming, tomb raider.”
FINIS
Author Notes - Martha Carr
Written May 1st, 2018
The past nine months have gone by in a blur of typing. The grey on part of my laptop has rubbed off from all the hours of building out the Oriceran Universe. Some of the keys are worn down and a little bent.
It’s moved so fast that I haven’t had time to really take in how much things have changed. Five series later – Midwest Witch Chronicles, The Leira Chronicles, The Soul Stone Mage, The Kacy Chronicles and the Fairhaven Chronicles – plus maps, art work, a web site, fan groups – Hey FANS! And lots of you guys too! Open house at a local Vet Center in Austin (two Vietnam vets reunited after 50+ years – that was wild), lunch with Fans at the Jackalope (who knew that place has a lot of photos of topless women on the wall in the backroom…), speeches at writer’s conferences, a trip across the pond to England, tons of mugs and stickers and signed books.
And a swearing troll started it all off. Yumfuck Tiberius Troll. New mug out there with him as Batfuck.
Here we go into PART 2 of the Oriceran Universe with a badass new logo. It started with Michael Anderle and his second series as a solo – The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone. (You know that other series he has by himself – Kurtherian Gambit…). Now there’s a spinoff he and I are doing with the main character, Shay Carson in I Fear No Evil series and Book 1 - Kill the Willing. It’s going to keep going with Alison in a YA spinoff from Michael and myself later this month – The School of Necessary Magic and Book 1 – Dark is Her Nature.
And of course, Leira, Correk and THE TROLL return in a new series, Rewriting Justice and Book 1 coming in May is Justice Served Cold. Leira’s not taking orders anymore. Time for her to figure out what justice means in a world with magic. It’s Leira 2.0 with Correk by her side and the troll set loose on the nation’s capital. What could go wrong?
I’ve done all this while maintaining a corporate day job (got a promotion!) and I decided to
