Promise: Caulborn #2 by Nicholas Olivo Read Free Book Online Page A

part. You can think of it as a token of appreciation for all the times you’ve helped me.”
    “I don’t believe I can accept such a gift, but thanks,” I said flatly. “I’m on my way to return the coin, and I’m bringing someone who knows something about dealing with offenders of a spectral nature.”
    “Excellent, I look forward to your company, Vincent.”
    I ended the call and moved back over to Herb and Megan.
    “Maybe we could try again?” Herb was saying. “You up for dinner? Say Legal Seafood at seven?”
    “I’ll be there with bells on,” Megan grinned. Her face became serious. “Not literally. That would be uncomfortable and probably annoying.” She blushed. “Yes. I mean, dinner sounds lovely.”
    They looked at their shoes for a moment, then at me. I got the hint. “You know what? I’ll pick up these hot chocolate cups off the ground and throw them into that trashcan over there. Then I’ll just walk down the street. By myself.” I snatched the cups, walked away and waited to a count of five before stealing a glance over my shoulder. Megan and Herb were hugging. There was no mad, passionate face smashing or groping or anything like that. This was just a real, honest hug. It was just… wholesome.
    I leaned against a wall and waited for them to catch up. They did after a moment and we headed toward the train station. I moved up to Megan and whispered, “I’m sorry I interrupted your date.”
    “It wasn’t a date, silly,” Megan said. She was still smiling from the hug. Her dimple seemed a permanent fixture in her cheek. “I called Herb to talk about the ghost question you mentioned, and we were comparing notes over hot cocoa. I’m just glad we were in the area. Herb said he sensed something malevolent from the spirit world nearby and wanted to check it out. We came around the corner and there you were.” Her smile widened. “Besides, it just gives us an excuse to see each other again tonight.”
    Something told me that they’d have seen each other again tonight regardless of my unintentional interruption, but I chose not to share that.
    We caught the Gray Line back to Cather’s abode. Herb didn’t seem to be a stranger to the Undercity, or if he was, his attention was so focused on Megan that he wasn’t aware of his surroundings. We got to Cather’s place and I let us in. Herb finally seemed to snap out of his Megan-fog and whistled as we walked inside. “Wow, this is neat.” He looked around. “He’s got sheet music from the early baroque period.”
    “And over here, this is an original copy of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff .” Megan said, a hint of awe in her voice.
    “Should I know what that is?” I asked.
    “It’s an incredible opera,” Herb said distractedly, his eyes fixed on Megan. “You like Verdi?”
    “Yes, this is one of my favorites,” she said, gesturing to the copy of Falstaff .
    “Mine, too.” They took a step toward one another, goofy grins quirking up the corners of their mouths.
    I cleared my throat as politely as I could. “Let’s give the dragon his coin back and clear out some ghosts.”
    Cather appeared from a side chamber a few moments later. He was dressed in a rich red smoking jacket and blue silk pajama pants. His leather slippers made no noise as he strode across the plush purple carpet.
    “You raid Hugh Heffner’s wardrobe?” I asked, after introducing Megan and Herb.
    Cather held up a hand. “That man has more style in his little finger than most humans have in their entire bodies, Vincent.” He clapped his hands together. “Now then, which of you is the necromancer?” Herb held up a hand and Cather’s grin split his face. “Splendid. Right this way, my good man,” he said, taking Herb by the arm. “I have no doubt that a man of your talents will have absolutely no difficulty sending these spirits on to their rest.”
    Megan and I followed Cather and Herb down a hall and into Cather’s hoard room. The rotted wooden chests