Mike opened the front door of the house he was staying at and came face to face with the guy from the bar. \u201cGood evening to you,\u201d Mike said. Tomas had an entourage. \u201cWanna come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you just going out?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen why did you open the door?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA feeling.\u201d Mike had put wards on the dirt mat at the door, to notify him if anyone was out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. We\u2019ll come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mike looked at the entourage, consisting of three burly men and the traitorous woman, Lacey. \u201cNot her. And you don\u2019t need all the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomas looked back at the group. He said, \u201cRocky,\u201d and a man stepped forward into the foyer. Mike slammed the door in the woman\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
Tomas put his hands in his pockets and looking around the foyer. \u201cNice house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot mine. AirBnB.\u201d Mike walked through the foyer to the airy kitchen. \u201cDrink?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d said Tomas.<\/p>\n
Mike shrugged. Steel, without a shirt, was standing at the counter, making a smoothie. He turned to see Tomas walk in, and immediately focused on him.<\/p>\n
Tomas said, \u201cWhat is it that you want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry, what do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not here to see the sights.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here to see Hamilton.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomas shook his head. \u201cYou want a ring, yes? A questionite ring?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomas pulled his hands out of his pockets. In one hand glittered the questionite ring. Teddy\u2019s ring. \u201cThis is what you are looking for?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Now where\u2019s Lazarus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOn a business trip. He should be home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou hope?\u201d Mike held out his hand and Tomas dropped the ring into it. Mike could tell that someone had tried to break through his spells. It was like the remnants of a hack. He could follow the trail, but he needed more implements, and those were back at home. \u201cThings getting a little out of control?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tomas stood up to his full height, which was shorter than Mike. \u201cYou will leave now. Tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAw, before the fireworks?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, okay. Hear that, Steel? We\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got it,\u201d said Steel, putting back the items from the smoothie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll drive you to the airport,\u201d said Tomas.<\/p>\n
Mike grinned. \u201cAnd taxi service, to boot. Give us a minute to pack.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mike opened the front door of the house he was staying at and came face to face with the guy from the bar. \u201cGood evening to you,\u201d Mike said. Tomas had an entourage. \u201cWanna come in?\u201d \u201cWere you just going out?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cThen why did you open the door?\u201d \u201cA… Continue reading