Page 20 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

Raising one eyebrow, Jeff said, “What do you mean by temporary?”

“Either of you could break the link any time you choose.”

“Might you be agreeable to that, Chief?” Esme asked.

Bulent jerked his head up like a startled horse then settled. “Agreed.”

“How about you?” she asked Jeff. Jeff hesitated. “Look, I don’t want to apply undue pressure, but we don’t know how long Rita’s got. She’s human. Mostly. And not able to withstandanything.”

“Okay. Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Good. Stay right there.”

Esme withdrew a cell phone from her tunic pocket and dialed a contact. “Yes. It is I. Come to this location. Payment as agreed.”

Within seconds a fae witch with stunning copper-colored hair appeared near the gargoyle. She was dressed in a white toga with bare shoulders, but didn’t exhibit any reaction to the cold.

“These two?” she asked Esme.

“This is Clairith,” Esme told Jeff and Bulent. “She’s not well-mannered, but she is good at her job.”

“Where’s my fee?” Clairith asked.

“I don’t have it with me.” Clairith scoffed and raised her hand as a prelude to departure. “The magistrate’s daughter is queen of Irish fae. She’s good for it.”

Clairith paused before giving Esme a hard look. “She’d better be.”

“Honest to gods.”

“You.” Clairith pointed at Jeff. “Over here.” She pointed to a spot near Bulent.

Jeff dutifully stood where he was told. She placed one hand on Jeff’s forehead and the other on Bulent’s, closed her eyes, then said, “Done. Bring me my fee before Samhain.”

“I will,” Esme said and Clairith disappeared.

“That’s it?” Jeff asked, but at the same time heard a second voice in his head say,“That’s all?”He decided to give the new equipment a test drive.“Testing. Testing,”he said to himself.

“Is that Lorcan humor?”Bulent asked.

“Just humor,”Jeff replied.

To Esme, Jeff said, “It works. Good thing I have nothing to hide.” He heard the gargoyle laughing in his head which was disconcerting to say the least. “I guess I should thank you. New experiences are hard to come by.”

“You’re welcome.” Esme never missed an opportunity for recognition, no matter how small or how undeserved.