Read spies and spells 02 - betting off dead for Free Online

smiles that knotted my stomach. It was a fake smile that alerted me that the snide spy was back. “We need you to play my wife so I can get in there and do some looking around. Maybe you can get us into the circle by befriending the wealthy wives.”
    “It would help if you had knowledge of horses.” Sherry’s nose snarled along with one corner of her lip.
    “We need you to start tomorrow morning.” Burt grabbed a file off of his desk and held it out to me.
    “Oh, sir, I’d love to but I can’t do that. Now that Lilith, that’s my sister, got her Wit. . .”  I corrected myself, “Um. . .new job and so I’ve been working two shifts. Hers and mine until Auntie Meme hires a new employee.”
    “Auntie Meme?” Burt questioned.
    “Oh yes, sir. She’s the patriarch of our family, sir. And no one, not even SKUL is a match for Auntie Meme.” I shrugged.
    Sherry rolled her eyes and chirped a chuckle.
    “It’s true, sir.” Mick finally came to my defense. “I’ve met and seen Auntie Meme in action.”
    Burt looked between us before he paced back and forth as we all stood in silence waiting for his reply.
    He rubbed his chin. He looked up to the ceiling. He tapped his temple and spoke, “Sherry can work your shift. She’s worked undercover in diners many times. She’s an old pro.”
    “Oh, I don’t think so, sir.” Sherry stepped up to the plate to give her best bat at getting out of this. “I have plenty of paperwork to catch up on and I’m just. . .”
    Burt put his hand up to stop her from talking.
    “Sherry will take over your shift first thing in the morning,” Burt’s voice was stern and non-wavering.
    I swear Sherry looked as if she was going to throw a big hissy fit right there. I even prayed for it. I’d given anything to see her cry, in hopes she had one of those ugly cry faces. It would’ve been the best way to make my day, other than playing Mick Jasper’s wife! My insides jumped with glee.
    “Well.” One thing popped up in my head when my pendant warmed my chest. “I’m not sure how well Auntie Meme will take this news and all. She doesn’t know Sherry and I just can’t leave my family high and dry.”
    “That’s easy. Mick had mentioned that your family eats supper every night at 5 o’clock on the dot.” He pointed to Sherry. “Sherry will be your guest and you can introduce her then.”
    “But, sir,” Sherry protested. I swear the water works were on the way. I bit my lip in anticipation. Somehow she recovered and fast. She shrugged her shoulders back and her body was straight as a line drawn with a ruler. “I’ll be over at your house at five.”
    “That does it then.” Burt handed me the file. “Here are the particulars you need to know on the case. We look forward to working again with you, Ms. Parks.”
    He ushered me out of the office, but kept Mick and Sherry in there. I took the elevator up to the undercover dental office.
    “Here you go,” Patsy’s hand flung toward me when I walked back into the lobby, my new badge in her grip.
    “Thank you, Patsy. I’m looking forward to seeing your smiling face every day.” I flicked my finger at her as if I was flinging off a booger.
    Instantly her mouth widened into the widest smile you’d ever seen. It sort of reminded me of the Joker from the Batman movies. It was an instant smile spell that would happen to her every time she saw me.
    “Goodbye.” Patsy’s lips tried to jerk down. Her teeth gritted, her jaw tensed, her brows formed a V as she used her hand to try to pull the now slightly deranged smile down.
    I walked out of the office with the file tucked in my arms.
    “Well?” Vinnie asked when I got inside my familiar and he drove out of the parking lot.
    “What can you tell me about Churchill Downs, horse doping, and pretending to be a wife?” I put the file down on the seat.
    I nearly went head first through the windshield as Vinnie skidded to a stop.

Chapter Four
     
    Living in Old Historic