“What do you mean?” Mandy raised an eyebrow at me.
“We found Clarissa, saved the day, and arrested the bad guy. I get paid now, right?” I rubbed my thumb and fingers together. “Mama needs some scratch.”
Mandy laughed. “Yeah, you’ll get paid, but probably not for a few days.” She lowered her voice, but even that wasn’t enough to mask the glee in her eyes. “I also think you need to fill out some more paperwork.” She let the words hang in the air while I tried to decide how much I liked money just then, especially when I wouldn’t even be getting paid today. “I’m going to get a ride back with one of the officers. You’re free to come along,” she added unhelpfully.
I grimaced. I’d had about enough excitement for one day. I just wanted to spend the rest of my day off in my own house. Preferably with a bottle of wine and binge watching my favorite show. Doing paperwork definitely wasn’t in that equation.
“Can you just drop me off at Dr. Marshall’s?”
“You don’t want to do paperwork?” Mandy practically exploded with laughter.
“That’s a hard pass.” I shook my head. “Helping out has been fun, but I need a little me time.”
Mandy gave me a sly grin. “Don’t you mean you need a little angel time?”
My face heated, and I shoved her shoulder. “No, I don’t.”
“Fine, I’ll let you have your day off.” She glanced up at the darkening sky. “Or what’s left of it.”
I sighed. “If there’s another emergency, just leave me out of it. At least for today.” A worn-out feeling sunk into my bones. “Or make that for the rest of the year.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Mandy smiled at me.
“I don’t know. I tempted to leave the crime solving to the professionals. Right now, I’d rather be serving alcohol to the drunkards of Blessed Falls than listening to irate parents.”
Mandy laughed. “Just wait until you have a kid of your own.”
“Oh god no,” I groaned. “That’s not going to happen for a very long time.” If ever. The guys were immortal, I didn’t see how I would ever want to give them up for a normal life. After all, who was going to be able to compare once you’ve had mind-blowing orgasms with a real-life archangel?
20
Three days later, I signed the final form in front of me and handed it back to the policewoman behind the desk. The policewoman handed me an envelope that would have my very first paycheck as a consultant in it.
“Thank you very much.” I grinned at her.
She waved me off and turned back to her computer.
Greedily, I ripped open the envelope and held my paycheck in my hand. The numbers on it made my eyes widen. This was more than I made at the bar in a week by far. Even with tips!
“That didn’t take you long.” I turned toward the sound of Mandy’s voice and smiled.
“Had to see if it was worth it.” I shrugged. I’d taken three days before I finally showed up at the precinct to collect my check. If I was honest, I needed a little space. I liked helping people, but combine that with horny angels, and it would wear on any person.
“And was it?” Mandy nodded toward my check.
Folding the paper over, I tucked it in my back pocket. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Mandy cocked her head to the side. “So, you wouldn’t do it again?”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“Good, because we have another case.” Mandy gestured toward the back with her head. “You in?”
I pretended to think about it for a minute, tapping my chin and everything and then said, “Sure, I guess I could help out.”
Mandy laughed. “So nice of you to fit us into your busy schedule.”
I shrugged and followed Mandy to the back. “What can I say, I’m a giver.”
I spent the next few hours getting debriefed on the next case. A diamond had been stolen from a vault. I was pretty sure it was an inside job. I didn’t need the angels to tell me that. It was too neat, but it was sure damned funny when Gabriel clued me into where the diamond was stashed. Take that pasty-faced manager.
“What do you have planned now?” Mandy asked me afterward.
Grinning like a fiend, I jerked my head toward the exit. “Come on, I’ve got something to show you.”
Mandy followed me to my car, a curious look in her eyes.
“Where are we going?” she asked but I shook my head not answering her.
We drove down the street and toward the place I had in mind. I parked the car in front of the shop with a large window in the front. I’d found it online. It had office space and even a bathroom and kitchenette.
One call to my dad and it had been mine. I tried not to bother my parents for money often. I wanted to be my own person, get by on my own. But this place? I couldn’t let it go because of a lack of collateral or credit.
I brought Mandy to the front of the shop and swept an arm toward the window, a proud smile on my lips.
“Gotcha?” Mandy arched a brow as she took in the green and white letters on the window. “Why didn’t you just say, ‘I’m pretending to be a psychic but really, I see angels, so let me help you out?’”
I sighed and waved her off. “First, that name is way too big. These letters are like ten bucks a pop. Besides, what better way to get people to trust you than to tell them you’re lying?”
“You are a crazy person.” Mandy shook her head. “What are you going to do? Tell fortunes?”
“No,” I scoffed. “I’m going to be a private detective.”
Mandy’s brow furrowed her hands on her hips. “Don’t you need a license for that?”
“Nope,” I said with a pop of my lips. “Psychics are excluded from that little rule.”
“But don’t you think people will figure out that you’re a fake?” Mandy said incredulously.
“Nah, people believe what they want to believe.” I headed into the office, showing my new place off. “Plus, I’ve already got a few calls from people wanting my help.”
“Really?” Mandy asked, taking in the desk and chair set up I had already put in. “So, how are you going to do this, the bar, and help with the cops?”
“I’ll figure it out, and if it comes down to it, I’ll just quit the bar,” I smirked. Bill was just gonna love that.
Mandy wandered around the office, opening and closing doors. Nodding her head, she seemed to approve. “You’ll need a coffee maker and business cards.”
“Already ordered.” I plopped down into my chair and swiveled around.
Sighing, Mandy sat on the edge of my desk. “Well, it seems like you’ve thought of everything.”
“I still need a secretary.” I wagged my eyebrows at her.
“Uh, no.” Mandy held a finger up. “I’m happy where I am, thank you very much. Besides, you can just make your guys take turns. They can turn corporeal, now, can’t they?”
“Pfft.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not opening a vein every time I need something filed. Also, when they go solid, they aren’t really thinking with their heads.”
“Ugh.” Mandy made a face. “Just promise me you won’t do it in the office.”
I held my hands up. “Can’t promise that.”
“Fine, then I’m not coming to visit you.” She stood from the desk and headed for the door. I jumped up from my seat to head her off.
“Hey now, don’t be like that. I’m sure we can work something out. I’ll buy one of those things of disinfectant wipes and keep it by the desk. You know one of those with the little holes in the top?” I gestured like I was pulling one of them out of their container.
Mandy shook her head. “Nope, I’m not doing it. I’ll just see you at the precinct.”
“Oh, come on, now. You can’t expect me to go down there all the time. I’ve got a business to run.” I put my hands on my hips and blocked the doorway.
Mandy smiled. “That you do.” Patting me on the shoulder, she pushed me aside to leave.
My cheeks starting to ache from smiling, I turned back to my office. I couldn’t believe it was really mine. I’d taken the first step into real adulthood, and I couldn’t be happier.
“What are you so happy about?” Gabriel asked, appearing in my chair.