“I got lucky my old boss sent Clay after me.” I didn’t want to get into the details, but Colby was smart. “It could have gotten ugly otherwise.” I hesitated. “We’re safer with me working for the Bureau again, but…we’ll always have to be careful.”
“Because you made a lot of powerful enemies.”
“Yes.”
“And because I’m special.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t mind being a moth,” she said after a moment. “Flying is awesome.”
A bolt of regret struck me right in the heart, cracking it open for her to see. “I’m glad.”
“It will be even cooler once you let me actually be your familiar.”
“Um…”
“You’re back at work, which means you need a partner.” She thumbed her chest. “That’s me.”
“I have Clay and Asa.”
“They’re partners, though. You don’t have one. You’re a third wheel. I would balance the team.”
“You make a compelling argument.” Smart kids, man. “Let me get through this first assignment, okay?”
Hell would freeze over, thaw out, then freeze again before I let her work this particular case.
“That’s not a no, so deal.”
“Why do I feel like I was just played?”
A weird chime noise plus a cat yowl poured from her monitor. “Hey, the guys are awake.”
“I’m guessing that means you need to go.”
“I really need this golden Anubis statue, and Jane promised to help me steal one.”
“Have fun storming the castle.” I blew her a kiss. “Call if you have trouble sleeping, okay?”
A furry hand blew me a kiss in return. “I will.”
I ended the call knowing Colby would be up until dawn and not minding one bit if she bent the rules. The last thing I wanted was for her to be lonely and paranoid while I was too far away to comfort her. Moths were nocturnal, anyway. That’s why she had a generous bedtime for her age in the first place. Better she played all night and slept all day while I was traveling than hide in her bedroom, jumping at every noise.
Holding on to the warm glow that came from talking to Colby, I attempted to fall asleep on a high note.
Ten minutes later, I gave up, rolled out of bed, and padded into the kitchen to peek in the fridge.
A carton of blueberries and a produce bag with two lemons caught my eye.
Hmm.
Guess it was going to be a blueberry scone with lemon glaze kind of morning.