Read Maggie for Hire for Free Online

my hand off the wheel and shook on it, “Partners.”
    He smiled, “So, where are you taking me, partner?”
    “My sister’s place.”
    “Sister?”
    “Twin sister.”
    “I did not know that you had family on Earth.”
    “Yah.  The super human powers and ability to jump reality lines were all eaten up by my embryo.  Mindy’s a run-of-the-mill human.  The Other Side can be deadly for her type.”
    I exited the freeway and drove down the tree-lined street to a well-kept Victorian home with a tidy garden and ancient trees.  I pulled up the driveway and parked in front of the garage.
    Killian had picked up all of the bags before I could even ask him for help.  I gave him a grin and practically ran up the stairs to the porch.  I knocked on the wooden screen door and heard footsteps come closer.
    It opened up and there was my sister.  She squealed like a little girl and jumped up and down, planting a great big kiss on my cheek.  Then out came her husband, Austin, and it was a blur of introductions as they shook Killian’s hand and eyed up his tunic.
    “Nice outfit,” Austin remarked.
    “I am an elf.”
    “Got it,” Austin punched me in the shoulder with a knowing glance, “Nicely played, Maggie.”
    “We’re just working together,” I insisted.  “One case.  That’s it.”
    Killian draped his arm around my waist, “We are very happy in our new partnership together.”
    Austin winked at me and motioned for Killian to follow him to the back guest room.  Guess they needed some private guy-to-guy time to discuss monster trucks and farting.
    Mindy led me upstairs to the room she kept just for me.  Her great big Irish setter placed his wet nose in the palm of my hand and danced around in excitement.
    My room was covered in pink, cabbage rose wallpaper with shabby chic flair, which was so my sister.  The bed was piled high with feather comforters and deep pillows.  It was a softness I didn’t feel I could justify in my own life, with its harsh edges and realities.  But here... here it was like a vacation.
    I felt absolutely filthy and started stripping down right then and there, starting with my neck protection.  There was nothing to fear here.  Mindy had garlic tucked into every dried wreath and every window had a cross worked into the stained glass.  She took no chances.
    She sat down on the bed and grimaced, “Ick.  Just watching you take that off gives me the creeps.  I don’t know how you can live over there, Maggie.”
    I laughed as I sat on the window seat and started removing all the knives and pointy things hidden on my person, “I wonder that myself every single frickin’ day.”
    “Guess it can’t be too bad with a hunk-a-hunk of burning elf there to ease your sorrows...”
    I looked at her, “You realize I’m still armed, right?”
    “What?” she asked, batting her eyes.  “He’s cute.”
    “He’s a fucking elf,” I said, tossing a couple throwing stars onto the mirrored dressing table.
    “Well, at least I know why I haven’t seen you for so long.”
    “You’re starting to sound like Mom,” I warned, pointing a stake at her.
    “How is she doing?” Mindy asked with such warmth and love.  Evidently, absence makes the heart grow forgetful of all the passive aggressive guilt or something.
    I sighed, “Crazy as ever.  Don’t you two talk on the phone, like, every day?”
    “But I just wonder how she’s doing, for real.”
    I gave a shrug, “She seems to be holding up well.  Barely mentions Dad anymore, so at least she’s stopped pretending he’s coming back.”
    Mindy shook her head, “She knew better...”
    So, here’s the deal.  You can’t read your own future.  Everyone knows that, but Mom decided she was an exception to the rule.  For almost three years, she had tried gazing into her own fortune and believing in the signs she thought she was seeing.  I wanted Dad magically alive again as bad as anyone.  Hell, I was at ground zero when it