No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong Read Free Book Online

really," I said with a laugh. "I'll pay for it when I can't do up my skirt later."
    I took a big bite and chewed with relish. Angelique tried not to drool.
    "I'm a sucker for comfort food," I said. "And after last night, I need it. I'm used to getting a lot more advance warning than that. My nerves are still recovering."
    Grady thawed enough to speak. "It was rather more sudden than I like."
    "I hope to God there won't be any more. No one mentioned warm-up seances to me."
    "Nor to me." Claudia cut a muffin in half and took one piece. "I'm going to have a talk with Becky."
    "Good. I'm not used to working that way. I felt awful about interrupting Angelique." I turned to her. "I'm very sorry. My nerves were just frazzled."
    She studied my face, as if looking for a catch, then slowly nodded. "I might have been a little jumpy myself. I'm not used to being on camera."
    "You specialize in live shows too, don't you? TV is a whole different medium, and I don't do a lot of it yet." I grinned over at Grady. "But we have a pro on the set. Maybe if we're nice, he'll pass some tips our way."
    "Oh, good, everyone's here," Becky said as she swung through the door. "Did you all get breakfast? I'm so sorry I'm late."
    She collapsed into the chair beside mine. I filled her coffee cup.
    "Thank you. You have no idea how much I need this. I've been up half the night. First, calling Mr. Simon, who insisted on hearing the results of the Tansy Laneseance. Then he had me get the researchers to work confirming Jaime's facts."
    "And how does it look?" Grady asked.
    Becky slid a worried glance my way. "Well, I hate to be the bearer of ill news but—"
    She reached over to a telephone on the side table. The top line was flashing. A press of the buttons and…
    "They're all here, Mr. Simon."
    Shit. Becky had no problem chewing out Angelique last night, but apparently I deserved different treatment—a direct reprimand from the producer himself. I braced myself.
    "Only got a minute, folks." Simon spoke so fast I had to concentrate to keep up. "First, let me say how absolutely devastated I was that I couldn't be there last night. I was dying to meet you all. Heh, heh, that's probably not the best phrase to use with you folks, is it? Jaime. Jaime, hon?"
    "Uh, here, Mr. Simon."
    "Todd. Call me Todd. I hear you struck a home run last night. Hit the ball out of the park."
    Becky grinned at me.
    Simon continued. "Every question right, our researchers tell me. That is fucking amazing, pardon my French, folks."
    As Grady and Angelique's faces hardened, I chastised myself. I had to be careful when I really did contact ghosts as part of a show— getting enough answers correct to maintain credibility, but not so many that colleagues would accuse me of rigging things.
    Simon continued, "So I just wanted to call and say 'atta girl.' You're the real deal, Jaime Vegas. Soon the whole world will know it and believe me, no one is more thrilled about that than I am. You ever been in Vanity Fair , Jaime?"
    "Urn, no."
    "Well, I'm lining something up for you right now. Know some people. Making some calls. My gift to you."
    "Uh, thank you."
    "Angel? Brad?"
    "Yes, Todd?" Grady said.
    "That's Mr. Simon to you, sir." Simon gave a laugh that could be interpreted as "I'm kidding," but suggested he wasn't. "Angel, sweetie, I gave you this big chance to get your pretty little ass out of the corn fields, and you aren't showing me the love."
    "I—" she began.
    "Brad, you're going to get your chance soon, and I expect results. That salary of yours is killing the budget. Don't make me regret it. Comprendes, amigo?"
    "We understand," Claudia said.
    "Good, good. Just so we're all on the same page, folks. Now, gotta run, gotta run, but I will be watching. Do me proud."
    The line went dead. It took sixty seconds for Angelique, Grady and Claudia to remember previous engagements and clear the room. So much for smoothing things over.

    I HAD a magazine interview at nine sharp—barely enough