Read Online Secrets and High Spirits: Secrets, Book 4 by Lou Harper - Free Book Online
Authors: Lou Harper
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long time ago, had scrawled a few lines underneath in chalk: Bar but no lounge .
“Hah.” Dylan cocked his head and voiced their collective reaction. “Interesting. So this place was a bar once before.”
“We’re keeping the painting,” Teag declared.
“I think it’s a good sign,” Dylan added cheerfully.
Jem was the only one not sharing the overall jubilation. He frowned, turning from the painting to take in the whole space. “There’s something creepy down here. You should have the whole building cleansed.”
Even Bruce was baffled by this. “We’ll be cleaning up several times before—”
“No. I mean to cleanse it from bad energies. I know a witch,” he added with the matter-of-fact self-possession of a crazy person.
Teag glared at Olly—Jem was Olly’s friend, after all, Teag barely knew the guy—but to his disbelief, Olly knowingly nudged Jem. “Mme. Layla, right? She’s good,” he added for the benefit of the rest of them. And Teag had thought Olly was the sensible one.
Teag stifled a groan and an urge to roll his eyes. “We won’t hire a witch to do some overpriced mumbo jumbo. It’s not in the budget,” he said swiftly, to preempt possible objections. He smelled the spirit of mutiny rising, so he added, “I think we’re done for today. You guys are free. Thanks for the help. Anyone need a ride?”
“Nah, we’re good,” Dylan replied, grabbing Olly by the arm and dragging him toward the door. The boys waved good-bye and left, conferring in hushed tones as they filed out the rear exit.
“They’re up to something,” Bruce commented.
Teag shook his head, looking after the departing bunch. “Imagine living with them.” He turned back to the painting. “It’s in pretty good shape. Lucky it was paneled over and not painted.”
Bruce tapped the wood with the curved part of the crowbar. It made a dull sound. “Seems to me the panels were screwed straight onto the brick. No wires, no pipes behind. Which means we can leave the whole thing as it is, as long as we cover it up to protect it while the rest of the work is going on.”
Teag stared at the painting with a rapturous expression. “The Blue Parrot,” he said slowly, rolling the words on his tongue, tasting them. “We should name this place the Blue Parrot. Don’t you think?” He turned to Bruce and caught the guy staring at him with an odd expression. Unlike Teag, Bruce appeared to have mastered the power stare, guessing from the flare of heat over Teag’s face.
“As you wish,” Bruce rasped.
Teag realized they were alone for the first time since that night in Bruce’s office, when he made his crazy and possibly ill-advised offer. He took a step backward. “Uhm, I should go. See you tomorrow.” He spun around and beat a retreat as hasty as he could manage without losing his dignity.
The next day started much the same as the one before. Bruce got there first and finished prying up the rest of the old tiles by the time Teag arrived. He hoped to have a moment alone with Teag, before the Boys swept in, though for no other reason than to torture himself. It was a sweet torture.
To his great dismay, Teag didn’t come alone. That real estate doofus, Leo, was tagging along, God knows why—the guy was as useful as a case of beer at an AA meeting. And about as welcome, by Bruce, at any rate. He didn’t care for Leo’s casually smart suit or superficially handsome face.
“I rented a floor sander,” Teag announced. “Leo helped me to get it here.”
Bruce knew Teag only had a moped for transportation, but he could’ve just called Bruce for help, or simply had Bruce take care of the matter. They were partners, after all. Bruce was about to make a comment along those lines, but Teag was already off, escorting pretty boy upstairs for a guided tour.
Bruce was left alone to wrestle the rented sander out of the trunk of Leo’s BMW and into the building. A few minutes later, Teag and Leo reappeared. Bruce was
“Hah.” Dylan cocked his head and voiced their collective reaction. “Interesting. So this place was a bar once before.”
“We’re keeping the painting,” Teag declared.
“I think it’s a good sign,” Dylan added cheerfully.
Jem was the only one not sharing the overall jubilation. He frowned, turning from the painting to take in the whole space. “There’s something creepy down here. You should have the whole building cleansed.”
Even Bruce was baffled by this. “We’ll be cleaning up several times before—”
“No. I mean to cleanse it from bad energies. I know a witch,” he added with the matter-of-fact self-possession of a crazy person.
Teag glared at Olly—Jem was Olly’s friend, after all, Teag barely knew the guy—but to his disbelief, Olly knowingly nudged Jem. “Mme. Layla, right? She’s good,” he added for the benefit of the rest of them. And Teag had thought Olly was the sensible one.
Teag stifled a groan and an urge to roll his eyes. “We won’t hire a witch to do some overpriced mumbo jumbo. It’s not in the budget,” he said swiftly, to preempt possible objections. He smelled the spirit of mutiny rising, so he added, “I think we’re done for today. You guys are free. Thanks for the help. Anyone need a ride?”
“Nah, we’re good,” Dylan replied, grabbing Olly by the arm and dragging him toward the door. The boys waved good-bye and left, conferring in hushed tones as they filed out the rear exit.
“They’re up to something,” Bruce commented.
Teag shook his head, looking after the departing bunch. “Imagine living with them.” He turned back to the painting. “It’s in pretty good shape. Lucky it was paneled over and not painted.”
Bruce tapped the wood with the curved part of the crowbar. It made a dull sound. “Seems to me the panels were screwed straight onto the brick. No wires, no pipes behind. Which means we can leave the whole thing as it is, as long as we cover it up to protect it while the rest of the work is going on.”
Teag stared at the painting with a rapturous expression. “The Blue Parrot,” he said slowly, rolling the words on his tongue, tasting them. “We should name this place the Blue Parrot. Don’t you think?” He turned to Bruce and caught the guy staring at him with an odd expression. Unlike Teag, Bruce appeared to have mastered the power stare, guessing from the flare of heat over Teag’s face.
“As you wish,” Bruce rasped.
Teag realized they were alone for the first time since that night in Bruce’s office, when he made his crazy and possibly ill-advised offer. He took a step backward. “Uhm, I should go. See you tomorrow.” He spun around and beat a retreat as hasty as he could manage without losing his dignity.
The next day started much the same as the one before. Bruce got there first and finished prying up the rest of the old tiles by the time Teag arrived. He hoped to have a moment alone with Teag, before the Boys swept in, though for no other reason than to torture himself. It was a sweet torture.
To his great dismay, Teag didn’t come alone. That real estate doofus, Leo, was tagging along, God knows why—the guy was as useful as a case of beer at an AA meeting. And about as welcome, by Bruce, at any rate. He didn’t care for Leo’s casually smart suit or superficially handsome face.
“I rented a floor sander,” Teag announced. “Leo helped me to get it here.”
Bruce knew Teag only had a moped for transportation, but he could’ve just called Bruce for help, or simply had Bruce take care of the matter. They were partners, after all. Bruce was about to make a comment along those lines, but Teag was already off, escorting pretty boy upstairs for a guided tour.
Bruce was left alone to wrestle the rented sander out of the trunk of Leo’s BMW and into the building. A few minutes later, Teag and Leo reappeared. Bruce was
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