Page 14 of Ivory's Familiars

“Ivory …” Lee was behind her holding up the work phone, “… phone for you.”

He quickly passed the handset over with one hand, his other already reaching for a glass to pull a beer. He really was an efficient bartender. She leaned back against the counter, tucking the phone between her neck and shoulder, even as she reached for a glass to buff. Lee wasn’t the only one who could multitask, “Hello?”

“Bad Ivory. Make them leave.”

The handset fell to the floor with a clatter along with her stomach. The voice in her ear was robotic but the undercurrent of rage could still be easily heard. It was him. Her stalker. She had never received a phone call before. As sinister and frightening as the notes and parcels were, they still felt somewhat distanced. But hearing a voice made it feel like he was able to reach out and touch her. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself, and nearly screamed when she felt a muscular arm do the same.

“Seth …” She breathed out, recognising his scent almost immediately.

“It’s just me,” he confirmed, “What’s wrong?”

She tilted her head back, looking at him, “How did you know something was wrong?”

“I could smell, err, I could see the look on your face from across the room. Now tell me.”

She could have sworn he was about to say he could smell something before changing his mind. Thinking it an odd thing to say but with bigger worries at the moment, she merely gestured to the handset. Seth picked it up, cursing up a storm when all he heard was a dial tone.

“Come on,” he grabbed her hand and dragged her to her office. He pushed her into her chair and knelt in front of her, “Tell me everything.”

She shrugged, fiddling with her earrings in a nervous gesture, “It was my mystery admirer. He said I was bad again – must be a running theme of his. He also said,‘make them leave’.I assume he was referring to you three.”

Seth took her hand, likely saving her from ripping her ear off, “Did you recognise the voice?”

“No. It was robotic. I couldn’t even make out if it was male or female,” she admitted, realising she kept referring to her stalker as a man when they could just as easily be female.

“What about the tone, the syntax? Remind you of anyone? A jealous ex? A jilted lover?” he pushed, but she was already shaking her head;

“I already told you guys – multiple times. I don’t have any recent exes. Hell, the last person to ask me on a date was Lee. And that was months before all of this started.”

Seth froze, “Lee? Your bartender?”

She nodded, eyeing him quizzically. He looked pissed for some reason. It was a good look on the man who was always so chilled, she thought.

“Dammit, Ivory! Why didn’t you mention this before? A new employee, someone in your close proximity, asked you out and you rejected him. You didn’t think this was important for us to know?”

She laughed before realising Seth was serious, “It wasn’t a big deal. He asked me out once. I said no once. That’s it.”

“You are not really that naïve, are you?” he asked, angrily.

“I’m not naïve and I’m not stupid,” her feminine pride smarted over the lack of faith, “Of course I considered him. But he checked out. Besides, you saw him standing right next to me when the phone rang. It’s not Lee.”

“What do you mean ‘he checked out?’ What makes you so sure?” Seth had his arms crossed over his chest and was doing a damn fine imitation of Vaughn’s cranky face.

“Because I’ve received packages at times when he hasn’t left my sight. It can’t be him. Unless I have two stalkers?” her voice was full of sarcasm.

Seth didn’t seem to hear it – or he was ignoring it, for he answered; “No. Stalkers with this kind of pathology tend to work alone. Any kind of competition for your attention would not be tolerated – even from a partner.”

She huffed, “I think you’re missing the main point here, Seth.”

His green eyes widened, forcing his eyebrows up, “I am?”

“Yes,” she stood up, placing a hand on his arm, “That was a threat, directed more at your guys than me, I’m thinking. I’m so sorry. I’ve put you all in danger.”

He stared at her seriously for a moment before throwing his head back and laughing uproariously.What the hell?Maybe she had been wrong about him. Maybe he was unstable because that was not a normal reaction to learning a psychopath had their sight set on you, “Seth!”

“I’m sorry. You’re just so funny, sweetheart. This is what we do for a living. We’re supposed to draw out your stalker. If he focuses on us – all the better. We can look after ourselves, trust me,” he patted her on the head as if she were a small child or a good little doggie.

She pursed her lips, “Fine.”

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