Page 70 of Dead Heat

“I’ll have to think on that,” Cedric replied. He rubbed his goatee so many times in such a short span, I was beginning to think it was the source of his power.

Light sparked in Gun’s dark eyes. “What if you could watch and wait from the comfort of your own home? Or from anywhere else for that matter?”

Cedric’s brow rippled with curiosity. “How?”

“Think of it as a remote detonator with visuals,” Gun explained.

Monica was the first to catch on. “Yes! I did something similar for a job in Toronto. I couldn’t get a visual on the target, so I set up the equivalent of a crystal ball…”

“Scrying glass,” I corrected her.

Monica’s sigh was as dramatic as Gun’s eyeliner. “I was appealing to the laypeople among us, which I assumed was you. No need to be pedantic.”

Claude pinched her leg and scurried over to me.

Monica glowered at the revenant. “It’s like that, is it? And here I thought we had a connection.”

I patted Claude. “Who’s a good boy?”

“I think it’s best if no one needs eyes on the property,” Cedric said. “The traps should be designed to detect a genuine threat without help.”

“I’m all in favor of that,” I said.

Monica and Cedric locked eyes. “The Baltimore job,” they said in unison.

“Love their aquarium,” Gun interjected. “Getting a little pricey, though.”

“We worked a job together in Baltimore,” Cedricexplained. “It was a heavily warded house with extra layers of security.”

“How is that helpful toHome Alone: Castleedition?” Gun asked.

“They did an excellent job,” Monica chimed in. “Very few weak spots. I was so impressed, I took notes.”

“It took an age for us to get past the traps and reach our target,” Cedric said. “The arrogant son of a bitch was just sitting there watching football when we finally broke into his safe room.”

Monica laughed. “The look on his face… He was shocked as hell.”

I wouldn’t make that mistake, not even with all the magical triggers in the world.

“Kane stressed the urgency of the situation,” Cedric said, “so I guess that means we need to get started on a plan.”

“We’ll let you know when we’re ready to implement it,” Monica added.

“No dillydallying,” Gun said. “I have no doubt Homicidal Barbie will show her fully made-up face before the week is out.”

“Chill,” Cedric said. “We’re trained to work fast and under pressure, just like you, although it’ll take time away from paid work.” He let the sentence dangle between us.

“I have a bit of money,” I offered, although I’d been trying my best not to blow through the cash Aite had left behind.

“Kane will pay,” Cam said.

“Absolutely not,” I snapped. “Do not take one cent from him on my behalf.”

Gun’s eyes glistened with sympathy. “Honey, I say this with nothing but love and respect, but you can’t afford one mage of their skill level, let alone two.” He pivoted to the mages. “Cam will do your next job, Monica, and I’ll do Cedric’s.”

Cedric’s face brightened. “You’ll do the work and I’ll still accept the payment?”

“Exactly.”

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