Read Golem in My Glovebox for Free Online Page B

from his flimsy chair and paced around the campfire. “You have no idea what you’re asking me to do.”
    I raised one eyebrow and titled my head. “Then maybe you could explain it to me. Why’d you two break up, Maurice?”
    He glared at me. “I told you. People grow apart.”
    “That’s it?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Okay, then.” I couldn’t help him if he didn’t help me. But I could certainly make things more uncomfortable for him. “She can sleep under the bed in the spare room. You might as well go get her settled so she can start helping around here.”
    “That’s my room!”
    “Technically, it’s the room with your closet in it. I’m not sleeping with a monster under my bed. Don’t be crazy.”
    Maurice scowled. “Fine. I’ll take care of it.” He marched off, muttering to himself in a low voice, fists clenched at his sides. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and lightning will strike me dead.”
    I shook my head and grinned. Maurice could make all the noise he wanted. He could complain and stomp off. He could even yell at Stacy and make her work off his anxiety. But I could read the truth on him. He was relieved. And he was excited.
    You can’t lie to an empath.
    When we got inside, Riley had Stacy sitting in a chair in the living room while he stood nearby, looking tough with his arms folded. When she saw us, relief spread across her tense face.
    Reapers. Scaring the crap out of the Hidden since 200 BC. Or something.
    “It’s settled,” I said. “Stacy, you’ll now report to Maurice. He’ll give you jobs to do throughout the day. You will do whatever he says.”
    Stacy’s monstrous face wrinkled into a scowl. “That’s ridiculous. You can’t put me in servitude. You’re not a judge. Plus, you’re not even telling me how long I’d have to stay here. What kind of Aegis are you? I thought you were all nice and helpful. You solve people’s problems. That’s your job.”
    Maurice stalked toward her, sucking air into his chest to make ready for the whoopass can he was about to pop open in her face.
    I stuck my arm out and stopped him on his way past. “I’ve got this.”
    He looked into my eyes and read what was there, then nodded and stepped back. “Okay.”
    I smiled at Stacy and took a seat on the couch across from her. It probably wasn’t an especially nice smile. More like the kind of smile a cop gives you right before he slaps you with a speeding ticket after telling you that your taillight is out. Stacy might have been better off dealing with the reaper she was so terrified of being alone with.
    “You’re right. I solve problems. I help people.” I leaned toward her. “Right now, you are the problem that needs solving. And I’m going to help you, too.”
    “I’m not a problem. And I don’t need help. Just let me go home and I’ll stay out of sight.” She lifted her chin in a stubborn show that was negated by her quivering lower lip.
    I shook my head. “The Board has a team coming out here to renew the local O.G.R.E. squad. You took advantage of the interruption in police activity and jeopardized the entire community. I don’t imagine a judge would look well on that.”
    Her green skin paled to an off-white. “We don’t need to involve them.”
    I shrugged. “Well, I can’t let you go home. Those are your choices. You stay here and work for Maurice, or I hand you over to the Board’s team so they can take you back to headquarters for a trial.” As far as I knew, it wasn’t much of a threat. There weren’t any active judges for a trial.
    Stacy flicked her gaze around the room from face to face, then to the door. She might have been calculating whether she could bolt and make it outside before we could catch her, or she might have been worried about someone from the Board coming in to get her. Either way, I gave her time to think it all through. Finally, she nodded her head in agreement.
    “Alright,” she said, shoulders slumped. “I’ll stay here and work it off.”
    I