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Living together is going to be b-a-d.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

I slip backinto my bedroom, pulling out the phone I remembered to pack earlier when I left my place with Des. I scroll down to Temper’s number.

Considering that I now temporarily live on an island, I have to get my affairs in order—namely, I have to warn Temper that I’ll be out of the office for a bit.

I don’t think too closely on how longa bitmight actually be.

You knew that one day this was going to come, I admonish myself.

I’d been prepared for the possibility that I would have to leave West Coast Investigations while I paid off my debt to the Bargainer. It doesn’t make me any less sad.

“Hey, bitch,” she answers. “How you doin’?” she asks.

We’ve been texting each other back and forth all day, so she knows I’m alive and well and free of the Politia’s clutches. But she doesn’t yet know I now live with Des, largely because I’m a chicken, and I didn’t know how to break the news to her.

“Hey Temper.” I rub my forehead, trying to keep my voice light.

“Girl, you missed a good day. That hundred-thou client that called in asking for you? Well today he came in, and hoooo-we, that fucker is alooker. No wedding ring, so the dude’s game.”

I bite my thumbnail. It’s the perfect segue, and yet I don’t interrupt her.

“You need to get yourself off that Wanted List,” she continues, “because the way this guy keeps asking about you, I’m starting to think he’s interested in mixing a little business with pleasure. And girl, you have to be dead to not want this one.”

“You should take him,” I say, and then I wince.

She snorts. “Bitch, if he was open to it, the agreement would be signed, sealed, and delivered. He was adamant about working with you.”

“About that …” I take a deep breath. “I’m going to have to take a leave of absence.”

“And this is news how?” Temper says.

I pull the phone away and stare at it for a moment. That was not the response I’d imagined.

“Girl, you’re on the Wanted List,” she continues. “I understand. I’ve taken on your cases until you can come back.”

I sag against the nearby wall. The Wanted List. Of course.

“Temper, I love you.”

“Of course you do. I love you too, sexy lady. Now,” I can hear her shuffling in her office, “I still think you should get ahold of this client. Want me to give you his number—?”

“No,” I hurry to say. I didn’t want to worry about clients on top of everything else.

“You’re right,” I can almost see her nodding to herself, “too dangerous. He could narc on you.”

I don’t bother mentioning that this call can also be traced. These are all things that both Temper and I are well aware of. The thing is, when you have powers like ours, dealing with pesky things like phone records is child’s play.

“Temper,” I say, my voice going low and a little hoarse, “I might be gone for a long time.”

“You won’t. I’m already working on removing your name, and once Eli gets back, I’ll make sure that whatever strings he’s pulled,he un-pulls them.”

I wince at the threat in her voice.

“Temper, it’s not just the Wanted List. I wish it was just that …” I gather together my courage. Now for the hard part. “You might have to find a replacement.”

The line goes quiet for several seconds.