Page 18 of Just One Little Bargain

“Summoned him,” Lucas adds, delighted. “Okay. This is officially my favorite call of the month.”

“It’s not your favorite anything,” Daniel snaps. “It’s worrying.” He looks at me with an expression uncomfortably close to pity. “Evie, have you been under a lot of stress lately? Working long hours? Skipping meals?”

“I’m not hallucinating!”

“That’s not what I—”

“The dude was here! In my living room! Talking to Marmalade about demon contracts and Hell’s bureaucracy!”

Lucas is trying his best to hold back a laugh. “Hell has bureaucracy?”

“Vaughan.” Daniel sighs. “Go check the perimeter.”

“But—”

“Now.”

Lucas pushes off the doorframe with a laugh. “Fine. But for the record, I believe you.” He glances back at me as he passes. “Don’t worry. We’ll track down your mystery man.”

Daniel pauses until Lucas is out of earshot before speaking again. “Walk me through what happened.”

“I was in the bath. I came out. He was in my living room, crouched on the floor, talking to Marmalade.”

“And your cat participated in this conversation.”

“He mostly just sat there looking smug.”

Daniel scribbles a few words. I read wellness check advised before he shifts the notebook out of view.

Cool. Great. Exactly what I needed tonight.

Lucas reappears around the corner. “No forced entry. Doors are fine. Windows are locked. Also, your herb garden looks incredible. That rosemary is seriously impressive.”

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, of course.” He leans against the wall, smiling.

A light flicks on in the Honeysuckle Room. The Johnsons are awake. They’re going to have so many questions at breakfast.

“This will be all over town by morning.” Another light flicks on in the inn.

Daniel glances up from his notes. “Maureen drives past here after bingo on Fridays. I’d say you’ve got about twenty minutes before the entire neighborhood knows.”

The beginnings of a headache pulse behind my temples.

“Did this man threaten you in any way?” Daniel asks, pen hovering over the page.

“No, he was very polite. Apologetic, even. I threatened him. With a rolling pin.”

Daniel’s head snaps up. “You what?”

“I grabbed a rolling pin and told him to leave. It was the closest thing I could reach.”

He looks almost impressed. “Did you hit him?”

“No. Just waved it around until he left.” I wince. “He complimented my spice rack on his way out.”

The impressed look vanishes. “Your spice rack?”