Read Online Siren's Call (A Rainshadow Novel) by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online
Authors: Jayne Castle
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occurred.
“Why don’t you tell me a little more about RainshadowIsland and why you think you need a dream counselor,” she said, employing her best professional tone.
Dark amusement came and went in Rafe’s eyes. She knew then that as long as she pretended nothing had happened, he would play the same game—at least for now.
He reached inside his leather jacket and removed a small sapphire-blue crystal. He offered the stone to Lorelei, who accepted it with her usual enthusiasm for anything sparkly. She retrieved her veil and bounded off the chair with her prize. Vaulting up onto Ella’s desk, she carefully placed the blue crystal in the cigar box.
“I hope that rock wasn’t valuable,” Ella said. “Might not be easy getting it back.”
“It’s a gift,” Rafe said. “Plenty more where that came from. Let’s get down to business. I’m not looking for a private dream counselor. I’m representing Coppersmith Mining today.”
“What happened to your FBPI consulting gig? Still doing odd jobs for the Bureau?”
“I’ve been a little busy with other things since I saw you last.”
Something in his voice told her that he did not want to discuss the other things. She wasn’t going to get an excuse or an explanation for the three months of silence.
“I see,” she said. “Please continue.”
“Like I said, I’m here today because of a Coppersmith venture. I’ve been tasked with troubleshooting a big project on Rainshadow. We can usually fill our field operation’s manpower requirements from the ranks of our employees.But something has come up in the jobsite that requires a strong music talent. We don’t have one in-house.”
“So you immediately thought of me.”
For the first time in three months, no doubt,
she added silently. Another flash of anger sparked through her. She suppressed it with Siren control.
“I immediately thought of you,” Rafe agreed. But he looked a little wary now.
“I’m sure you’re aware that music talents aren’t particularly rare,” she said. “There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of them available throughout the city-states.”
“Sure. Anyone who can play air-rez-guitar thinks he’s a music talent. But I need someone who can handle paranormal music,” Rafe said. “That type of ability is rare, at least at the high end.”
She unfolded her hands, picked up a pen, and absently tapped the tip against the small crystal figurine of a dust bunny that sat on her desk. She listened to the faint, melodic
ping
ring gently out across the spectrum from the normal into the paranormal.
So Rafe Coppersmith wanted her help. Now, wasn’t that interesting? And just exactly how did she feel about the situation? she wondered. It was not as if he had finally remembered their coffee date. All the evidence indicated that he would not be sitting here in her office today if not for the fact that he wanted to hire her.
Face it, when it comes to relationships, Sirens never catch a break. You know that
.
“I’m a dream counselor,” she said finally. “It’s true Ican hear Alien music, but I really don’t see how I can help a company like Coppersmith.”
“Coppersmith signed a contract with the Rainshadow Preserve Foundation, which controls a recently discovered sector of the Underworld on Rainshadow Island. We’ve got the exploration and mining rights but first we have to secure the sector.”
“The Guilds secure the various territories of the Underworld.”
“The Rainshadow Guild lacks the in-house expertise needed so they’ve contracted out that work to Coppersmith.”
“In other words you’ve got a contract for the mining rights and another one for security,” Ella said. “Sounds complicated.”
“
Complicated
pretty much describes business as usual in the Underworld,” Rafe said. “The first priority is securing Wonderland.”
“Wonderland?”
“That’s the nickname the locals on Rainshadow have given the new sector.” Rafe paused.
“Why don’t you tell me a little more about RainshadowIsland and why you think you need a dream counselor,” she said, employing her best professional tone.
Dark amusement came and went in Rafe’s eyes. She knew then that as long as she pretended nothing had happened, he would play the same game—at least for now.
He reached inside his leather jacket and removed a small sapphire-blue crystal. He offered the stone to Lorelei, who accepted it with her usual enthusiasm for anything sparkly. She retrieved her veil and bounded off the chair with her prize. Vaulting up onto Ella’s desk, she carefully placed the blue crystal in the cigar box.
“I hope that rock wasn’t valuable,” Ella said. “Might not be easy getting it back.”
“It’s a gift,” Rafe said. “Plenty more where that came from. Let’s get down to business. I’m not looking for a private dream counselor. I’m representing Coppersmith Mining today.”
“What happened to your FBPI consulting gig? Still doing odd jobs for the Bureau?”
“I’ve been a little busy with other things since I saw you last.”
Something in his voice told her that he did not want to discuss the other things. She wasn’t going to get an excuse or an explanation for the three months of silence.
“I see,” she said. “Please continue.”
“Like I said, I’m here today because of a Coppersmith venture. I’ve been tasked with troubleshooting a big project on Rainshadow. We can usually fill our field operation’s manpower requirements from the ranks of our employees.But something has come up in the jobsite that requires a strong music talent. We don’t have one in-house.”
“So you immediately thought of me.”
For the first time in three months, no doubt,
she added silently. Another flash of anger sparked through her. She suppressed it with Siren control.
“I immediately thought of you,” Rafe agreed. But he looked a little wary now.
“I’m sure you’re aware that music talents aren’t particularly rare,” she said. “There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of them available throughout the city-states.”
“Sure. Anyone who can play air-rez-guitar thinks he’s a music talent. But I need someone who can handle paranormal music,” Rafe said. “That type of ability is rare, at least at the high end.”
She unfolded her hands, picked up a pen, and absently tapped the tip against the small crystal figurine of a dust bunny that sat on her desk. She listened to the faint, melodic
ping
ring gently out across the spectrum from the normal into the paranormal.
So Rafe Coppersmith wanted her help. Now, wasn’t that interesting? And just exactly how did she feel about the situation? she wondered. It was not as if he had finally remembered their coffee date. All the evidence indicated that he would not be sitting here in her office today if not for the fact that he wanted to hire her.
Face it, when it comes to relationships, Sirens never catch a break. You know that
.
“I’m a dream counselor,” she said finally. “It’s true Ican hear Alien music, but I really don’t see how I can help a company like Coppersmith.”
“Coppersmith signed a contract with the Rainshadow Preserve Foundation, which controls a recently discovered sector of the Underworld on Rainshadow Island. We’ve got the exploration and mining rights but first we have to secure the sector.”
“The Guilds secure the various territories of the Underworld.”
“The Rainshadow Guild lacks the in-house expertise needed so they’ve contracted out that work to Coppersmith.”
“In other words you’ve got a contract for the mining rights and another one for security,” Ella said. “Sounds complicated.”
“
Complicated
pretty much describes business as usual in the Underworld,” Rafe said. “The first priority is securing Wonderland.”
“Wonderland?”
“That’s the nickname the locals on Rainshadow have given the new sector.” Rafe paused.
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