Read Online Canyons Of Night by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Castle
Ads: Link
escape into the Underworld.”
“And vice versa,” Slade said. “It’s not uncommon for a bad actor who violates the law underground to try to hide in a city or town where he knows the Guild can’t easily track him.”
She raised her brows. “Or apply its own brand of justice if it does find him.”
Slade smiled his rare, fleeting smile. “I can see you’re not a great admirer of the Guilds.”
“They do have a certain reputation,” she allowed.
“Things are changing. You should know that. You’re from Frequency. That Guild had the most notorious reputation of all. It will be different now that Adam Winters is in charge, trust me.”
“You know Winters?” she asked.
“We’ve worked together a few times in the past. Good man.”
“Well, he’s certainly a local hero back in Frequency, I’ll give you that. If you can believe even half of the news reports, he and Marlowe Jones apparently saved the Underworld from certain destruction. Their wedding will be the biggest social event of the season.”
“One thing’s for sure, by marrying into the Jones family, Adam has forever linked the Guild to Arcane.”
“For better or worse,” Charlotte said dryly.
“I can see the Frequency Guild has some public relations work to do, at least in your case.”
“Yes, it does.” She lounged back in her chair. “If you liked your work with the FBPI and this Office you mentioned, why change your career path?”
He drank some more beer and got to his feet to check the salmon. “It was time for me to move on.”
Something bad had happened, she thought. But she knew she would not get the truth out of him that evening.
“You mentioned you had a project going,” she said. “What is it? Or is it a secret?”
“I’m keeping quiet about it here on the island.” He glanced over his shoulder. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything. I don’t want the word to get out that I’m a short-timer. Bad for morale at the station.”
“I understand. I won’t tell anyone. What’s the new career plan?”
“I’m going to set up a private security consulting business. Hire the talents I need. I’ve got some connections from my days with the Bureau. Figure those will help land the first clients.”
“How is the plan going?”
“Slowly, but it’s going.” He turned back toward the grill. “The fish will be ready soon.”
“I’ll get the salad.”
She went up the steps. Apparently sensing that dinner was fast approaching, Rex chortled excitedly at her as she went past him. She opened the screen door and moved into the small spare front room of the cabin. It was clear immediately that Slade was making no attempt to turn the place into a home. Everything was neat and orderly. That did not come as a surprise. But aside from the computer on the desk, there was almost nothing of Slade in the room. He was treating the place like the short-term rental he obviously intended it to be.
The cabin was typical of many of the small rentals on the island. The furniture was sturdy but battered. The well-worn couch and the pair of reading chairs set in front of the fireplace looked as if they had been around for several generations. The two framed pictures on the wall were faded generic landscapes of Amber Island scenes that had probably been in the house as long as the furniture. There was a bedroom and bath but the cabin also boasted a sleeping loft in the high-ceilinged front room designed to accommodate additional guests. The loft overlooked the main room and was accessed by a narrow wooden staircase.
She crossed the old braided rug and went into a vintage kitchen. Opening the elderly refrigerator, she took out the bowl that contained the cucumber, tomato, olive, and basil salad she had brought with her. She poured the dressing that she had made earlier over the salad and tossed everything together. When she was ready she picked up the bowl of salad and the loaf of zucchini bread she had brought and
“And vice versa,” Slade said. “It’s not uncommon for a bad actor who violates the law underground to try to hide in a city or town where he knows the Guild can’t easily track him.”
She raised her brows. “Or apply its own brand of justice if it does find him.”
Slade smiled his rare, fleeting smile. “I can see you’re not a great admirer of the Guilds.”
“They do have a certain reputation,” she allowed.
“Things are changing. You should know that. You’re from Frequency. That Guild had the most notorious reputation of all. It will be different now that Adam Winters is in charge, trust me.”
“You know Winters?” she asked.
“We’ve worked together a few times in the past. Good man.”
“Well, he’s certainly a local hero back in Frequency, I’ll give you that. If you can believe even half of the news reports, he and Marlowe Jones apparently saved the Underworld from certain destruction. Their wedding will be the biggest social event of the season.”
“One thing’s for sure, by marrying into the Jones family, Adam has forever linked the Guild to Arcane.”
“For better or worse,” Charlotte said dryly.
“I can see the Frequency Guild has some public relations work to do, at least in your case.”
“Yes, it does.” She lounged back in her chair. “If you liked your work with the FBPI and this Office you mentioned, why change your career path?”
He drank some more beer and got to his feet to check the salmon. “It was time for me to move on.”
Something bad had happened, she thought. But she knew she would not get the truth out of him that evening.
“You mentioned you had a project going,” she said. “What is it? Or is it a secret?”
“I’m keeping quiet about it here on the island.” He glanced over his shoulder. “And I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything. I don’t want the word to get out that I’m a short-timer. Bad for morale at the station.”
“I understand. I won’t tell anyone. What’s the new career plan?”
“I’m going to set up a private security consulting business. Hire the talents I need. I’ve got some connections from my days with the Bureau. Figure those will help land the first clients.”
“How is the plan going?”
“Slowly, but it’s going.” He turned back toward the grill. “The fish will be ready soon.”
“I’ll get the salad.”
She went up the steps. Apparently sensing that dinner was fast approaching, Rex chortled excitedly at her as she went past him. She opened the screen door and moved into the small spare front room of the cabin. It was clear immediately that Slade was making no attempt to turn the place into a home. Everything was neat and orderly. That did not come as a surprise. But aside from the computer on the desk, there was almost nothing of Slade in the room. He was treating the place like the short-term rental he obviously intended it to be.
The cabin was typical of many of the small rentals on the island. The furniture was sturdy but battered. The well-worn couch and the pair of reading chairs set in front of the fireplace looked as if they had been around for several generations. The two framed pictures on the wall were faded generic landscapes of Amber Island scenes that had probably been in the house as long as the furniture. There was a bedroom and bath but the cabin also boasted a sleeping loft in the high-ceilinged front room designed to accommodate additional guests. The loft overlooked the main room and was accessed by a narrow wooden staircase.
She crossed the old braided rug and went into a vintage kitchen. Opening the elderly refrigerator, she took out the bowl that contained the cucumber, tomato, olive, and basil salad she had brought with her. She poured the dressing that she had made earlier over the salad and tossed everything together. When she was ready she picked up the bowl of salad and the loaf of zucchini bread she had brought and
Similar Books
