Free Modern Sorcery: A Jonathan Shade Novel by Gary Jonas Page B

I stored that information and nodded.   “In that case, is option number one still open?”
     
    He nodded.   “Sure.   Let’s go but leave the gun.”
     
    “I’d rather take it with me.   I may want to shoot you again later.”
     
    “It won’t do you any good.”
     
    “Might make me feel better.”
     
    He laughed.   “Suit yourself.   Let’s go.”
     
    I stood and tucked the gun into the waist of my jeans.   “I trust we’re taking my car?”
     
    “Works for me.”
     
    “Can you spot me ten spot for gas?”
     
    “Maybe I’ll just take your car after I kill you.”
     
    “But option one included me not being harmed, remember?”
     
    “That was before you shot me.”
     
    “All right but I’ve got dibs on killing you first.”
     
    He smiled.   “I like you, Shade.   You’ve got balls.”
     
    I winked at him.   “I had to have a reduction.”
     
    “Take me with you,” Esther said.
     
    I grabbed the typewriter from the filing cabinet.
     
    “What’s with the typewriter?”
     
    “It’s my security blanket.”
     
    He rolled his eyes.   “Can we go now?”
     
    “After you, sir.”   I bowed and made a sweeping gesture with my free hand toward the door.
     
    Esther stayed by my side, telling me to scram all the way down to the car.   She stepped through the car into the backseat.   I set the typewriter on the seat beside her and climbed in.
     
    “Don’t let him in,” Esther said.   “Step on the gas!”
     
    I unlocked the passenger side, and the warrior got in.   He placed his sword between himself and the passenger door then fastened his seat belt.
     
    “Don’t trust my driving?”
     
    “Right-o, daddy-o,” the warrior said.
     
    “Dude, you’re spending way too much time watching reruns of Happy Days . ”
     
    “Just drive.”
     
    I started the car and pulled out into traffic.   “Let me ask you something.”
     
    The warrior looked over at me.   “Ask away.”
     
    “Doesn’t the leather trench coat get kinda hot in June?   Is this one of those gotta-suffer-to-look-cool things?”
     
    “You think you’re funny, but I understand you’re afraid and your feeble attempts at humor are simply your coping mechanism.”
     
    In the rearview, I noticed a black Lincoln Town Car keeping pace with us.   “You my shrink now?”
     
    He grinned.   If he wasn’t careful, I might think he was actually enjoying my company.
     
    “Seriously, then, let me ask you this.   If I give you the crystal, will you leave Naomi out of this?”
     
    “You don’t have the Alyshian.”
     
    “Sure I do.   It’s back at my place.”
     
    “No, it’s not.”
     
    “Let’s swing by there; I’ll prove it to you.”
     
    “Just take me to Naomi Miller.”
     
    “Okay, but if I take you to her, I’ll have to kill you.”
     
    “You’re welcome to try.”
     
    “I’m looking forward to it.”
     
    I drove the warrior over to Kelly’s dojo.   The Town Car stayed a few cars back but kept pace without any trouble.   I didn’t even have to slow down.   As I drove, I made it a point to see if I could spot the driver, but the windows were tinted.   I wondered if it was another Sekutar or if it was one of the wizards.   Al or Frank, perhaps?   I parked at the dojo behind Kelly’s SUV and took the typewriter from the backseat so Esther could come with us.
     
    “Attaboy!   You had a plan,” Esther said, smiling.
     
    I winked at her.
     
    The warrior got out of the car and tucked his sword into his trench coat.
     
    I led him into the dojo.   There weren’t any classes in session this early, and the main floor was empty.   Kelly lived in the apartment above the dojo, so I knew they were up there.   I also knew I didn’t want the warrior going up to her place because he might damage some of her lighthouses.   Kelly loved lighthouses and had a collection of pictures and models and such.   There was something about being a lone sentry and a beacon