Grimoires and Where to Find Them by Raconteur, Honor (ebook reader for laptop .txt) 📕

need to put a tracking spell on the book just in case we do lose sight of it. A backup plan so we can still follow the thief out, you understand. There’s no way to do that to a Reaper’s grimoire. It’s designed so no one can tamper with the pages, make additions to it, etc. I have Jere Mortimer working even now on a fake copy for us to use. If there’s anyone who can craft a lookalike, it’s him.”

Her worry eased, shoulders relaxing. “Oh, good. I did worry about that. Plans do go awry, after all. Now, what all would you need me to do?”

“Throw the party,” Jamie answered readily. “I have no idea what all would go into that. But I need you to throw the party itself, to organize it as if it’s the real deal. If you can think of people to invite who also have good poker faces, maybe five or six, to lend more credence to this, that would be good, too.”

“We want to salt the audience with enough recognizable people that the thief doesn’t catch wind of our true intention,” I explained. “But we’ll need to be selective about who to invite. My parents might be a good addition.”

“Oh, yes, that’s a splendid idea. I called your mother the other day. We had lunch together, and it was delightful to catch up. I’m sure she’ll be happy to help.” Lips pursed in thought, she added, “I can think of a few others as well. One of my nephews is military, no one will think it odd if he’s here. I’ll make up a list of possible people for you, shall I? You can pick whoever you think will be best, and how many.”

“Sounds great, thank you. Will the rest of your family try to join in?”

“Don’t worry about them.” She got a glint in her eye that promised pain. “I’ve got them handled in situations like this.”

So, shady cousins wouldn’t try to give us grief. Got it.

The tea arrived, the maid pouring and handing out cups to all of us.

As Lady Radman accepted hers, she asked Jameson, “And I assume you’re here to tell me how a thief might get in?”

“Yes, and to look the place over, figure out the best place to put the fake. It’s a delicate balance. Gotta have enough vantage points that we can keep an eye on it but make it look deserted enough that a thief feels comfortable going after it.”

Jamie inclined her head towards him. “Something that’s not natural for me to consider, hence why I brought him along. I’d only be guessing. He can tell me precisely where to put it. We want to catch the thief sooner rather than later, as things have gotten…dicey recently. It’s become very clear he doesn’t know how to handle a grimoire properly, and it’s leaving destruction in his wake. That said, can we put this together in a week?”

Knowing very well what these parties involve, a week was an absolutely absurd timeline. At least a month generally went into the planning and preparation. Not to mention, inviting people took time, as it meant checking with everyone’s schedule. I fully expected a refusal.

A light of challenge sparked in Lady Radman’s eyes. “I’ll make it happen.”

Jamie grinned back at her like a co-conspirator. “I knew you were the right woman to ask. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

“Don’t help too much,” Lady Radman cautioned. “We don’t want to give the game away. Give me your instructions for what needs to happen, then keep your distance. I’ve got this handled.”

I didn’t doubt her. She probably could organize this all in a week’s time and do it swimmingly, to boot. And it was just as well, in that sense. We had other things demanding our time and attention.

Jamie clapped her hands together before rising. “On that note, let’s get started.”

After spending two hours planning it all out, we finally left. Jamie drove (I’m not quite sure how that happened), and we headed back to the station at a good clip. I was of half a mind to allow myself to be carted back to the station, but there was something else I felt needed my attention.

As we neared a street corner, I turned to her and inquired, “Do you mind if I take off?”

“No? But where are you going?”

“I feel terrible about dumping the project on Jere, and I feel like trying to come up with a good fake in a week’s time is a bit of a tall order. I want to go help him this afternoon.”

“Fair.” She flipped a hand before returning it to the steering wheel. “I mean, we’ve dumped a lot on Jere, and I know he’s getting paid for it, but it’s still a lot. I don’t know if you can really help me all that much this afternoon, anyway. I’ll just be running around, talking to everyone, trying to get people in motion.”

Yes, let me avoid that, please. It sounded distinctly unpleasant. And peopley.

“Then drop me off at the corner. I’ll take a taxi up to his workshop.”

Jamie obligingly did so, then leaned across the middle seat to give me a quick kiss. “Have fun storming the castle!”

Having now seen The Princess Bride, I knew the reference and snorted. “Thank you, my dear. Phil, would you accompany me?”

Phil hopped out of the basket in the back seat and was into my lap in a blink, tail already twitching happily. I gathered him up to ride in the crook of my elbow as I exited the vehicle.

It was a thriving afternoon, coming closer to evening, and I knew Jere and I wouldn’t have a great deal of time to work on matters today. But the work always went faster with two hands, and I might be able to squeeze out some time tomorrow to assist him again. We’d often paired up on projects in school, and I knew we made a good