Read Online Dark Studies (Arcaneology) by C. P. Foster - Free Book Online

federal government. I tried reaching out to congressmen and senators who have supported elven causes, but I couldn’t find anyone who would negotiate on my behalf. I got the impression they would only consider it worth their while if I was someone well known, or at least a published author in the field.”
    “You’ll have to do corporate fieldwork, then.”
    Corporate fieldwork did not require living among the subjects. It involved interviews and possibly shadowing someone for a short period in order to observe their day-to-day life. There were a few elves who spent a lot of time among humans. If she was lucky, she might be able to convince one to give her a day or two. Angie nodded in agreement. “I’ll try the senators and congressmen again. Maybe they’d be more willing to help set up interviews.”
    “Good. It won’t be easy, but it won’t be as difficult as finding some of the Fallen. There are far fewer of them, and most manage to pass for human. And interviewing them will be tricky. It’s hard for them…er, I mean, they get too distracted for prolonged interviews.” Benotti blushed. The Fallen’s constant hunger for pleasure made it difficult for them to focus on anything else, and they spread that hunger to anyone who got near them. Talking to one at length was almost impossible.
    “Finding one may be easier than you think. A friend of mine has contacts among the Fallen. Also, I’ve heard one of them left some journals behind when he passed on.” This phrase, “passed on,” was not exactly a euphemism for death. The Fallen passed out of what humans understood as reality into another one they would not, or could not, explain. It took them thousands of years to reach the point at which they were ready to move on, and it was not a conscious choice. “Rumor has it the journals showed up at a private auction a couple of years ago. If I can track them down…”
    “If.” He closed the computer file and leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his chest. “Let’s see what luck you have setting up interviews and getting other source material, and choose whichever species provides the most opportunities.”
    “I’ll work on it,” she promised.
    “All right, get out of here.” Benotti waved a hand. “Unless you want to read a pile of sophomore term papers and grade them for me.”
    “Hah!” She hopped out of the seat so fast a stack of books teetered. Angie managed to catch them before they fell. “Consider me gone.”
     
     
     
    “I had a call from Evan Samuels, the human companion to the Monarch of the Great Basin Territory,” Lynette said.
    Angie had booked a room for the weekend at a boutique hotel on the Seattle waterfront. Tonight, she and Lynette looked out across Puget Sound while sharing a bottle of Bordeaux and going over business matters. Scheduling didn’t take long since she only worked a few nights a month, but planning what was needed for each session was another matter. Once Angie had researched everything down to the last detail, it was up to her manager to arrange for props, costumes, and any number of other things that might be required, depending upon the fantasy.
    Angie frowned. “What did he want?”
    “Her Majesty wants to give the Monarch of the Rocky Mountain Territory something special for his nine hundred and fiftieth birthday.”
    “Me?”
    “Mm-hmm.”
    “You know I don’t work that way. The client has to do his or her own negotiation, and I can’t promise in advance I’ll agree to a session.”
    “Mr. Samuels says she is…insistent.”
    “How insistent?”
    “Very.”
    “Who referred her?”
    Angie’s business spread by word of mouth only. If a client thought someone might meet her criteria, and would enjoy her services, that client discreetly gave the person Lynette’s number.
    “Hope Ashworth.”
    The second in command to the Monarch of the Great Lakes Territory, Ashworth had employed her three times, and Angie was inclined to trust her