Free Priceless by Shannon Mayer

certain meal that consisted of mystery meat which turned out to be — ”
    “ Ah yes, I remember. Let ’ s not discuss that. It didn ’ t turn out well for anyone. ” He grimaced and I smiled around the brownie. Goblin meat is not very tasty, no matter how many spices you add to it. And when the process reverses and the meat comes out the way it went in, it burns. I ’ d eaten nothing for the next week that didn ’ t hurt all the way down.
    “ So, you here needing help? ”
    I nodded, my mouth full . He handed me a glass of milk. After a chug of moo juice, I answered him. “ There ’ s a kid I can ’ t track and there was no evidence of her eve n being taken. Figured a shaman was my best bet. I was hoping Louisa would help me out. ”
    Dox frowned and sat down across from me. “ You haven ’ t heard then? ”
    I frowned right back at him. “ Haven ’ t heard what? ”
    He let out a sigh and folded his hands on the table. “ All the shamans, all except one , have left. Gone. Pfft. ” He made a flapping gesture with one big mitt.
    “ What? Louisa would never leave, this is her home! ”
    “ I know, but she ’ s gone. Not a word about it either until someone went looking and found only this Doran fellow. ”
    My eyes widened. “ A male shaman? That ’ s taboo ‘ round here, isn ’ t it? ”
    Dox nodded and pushed another brownie toward Alex , who took the square eagerly. “ Yup. But he ’ s all we ’ ve got now. Suppose you want to know where to go looking for the new guy ? ”
    I stood up and brushed crumbs off my lap. “ Yes, doubl y so now. ”
    Dox looked up at me, his eyes solem n . “ Thought you didn ’ t Track adults. ”
    “ Not going to Track them , Dox, just going to ask a few questions. If I have to work with this Doran, th e n fine. But I ’ d rather work with someone I know and can trust like Louisa. ”
    “ Well then . ” Dox stood and led me out of hi s kitchen, Alex right behind us . “ Here ’ s his address. ” He handed me a business card.
    My eyebrows climbed near into my hairline. “ He ’ s handing out business cards? ”
    Dox smiled down at me and patted my head. “ Wait till you meet him , Rylee . I ’ m betting you two are going to just ” — he clapped his hands together — “ hit it off. ” It was the twinkle in his eye that told me this Doran would be trouble. But I went anyway. I needed him to help me find India, no matter how much trouble he was going to be.

12
     
    Alex was not happy I left him with Dox while I went on without him to meet with Doran. He whined and cried, whimpered , and finally started howling . I felt awful, knowing how submissive and downright needy he was. That is , until Dox pulled out another pan of boggart brownies, and Alex suddenly forgot all about me.
    I pulled out of the driveway. I was headed to Shawnee road, on the far east side of town. Dusk fell and shadows darken ed the road as I pulled up to where Doran was supposed to be. Sitting in my Jeep , I looked out over the empty lot. At first glance , it was nothing more than an overgrown weed garden, one lone attempt at a cactus in the far right corner, miserable excuses for houses on either side of the mid - sized lot , and no actual house of any sort. I glanced at the realtor posting out front and checked it against what Dox had given me. It matched up. Which could only mean one thing.
    I focused on my second sight, narrowing my eyes , and saw the flicker of the veil cross my vision. When I opened my eyes fully, there was a massive adobe house with a beautiful herb garden , two small fountains in the shape of fish spouting water out their mouths and into a pond with koi swimming lazily about. Swanky for this part of town, even if it was on the other side of the veil.
    “ How the hell did you manage this? ” I asked no one in particular. Which is why I was startled to get an answer.
    “ Hard work. A little luck. Good timing. ”
    I started as a body materialized behind the