Ever After (The Hollows #11)(90)
Author: Kim Harrison

Frank took the chai tea, a smile on his face. "Thank God . . . ," he drawled, running an eye up and down my outfit. "That swill they serve in the cafeteria sucks. Honestly, I don’t know why you don’t wear black more often. It’s classic, and with that figure of yours, you can get away with it. Go on now. You’d better make with the busywork. He’s on the warpath. Some tight-ass is jerking his chain, and we peons get the horns."

My smile took on an honest warmth as he took a sip, waving me off. "Thanks," I said, guessing they had a good friendship, and he smiled right back and sipped his drink.

"Damn, girl!" he exclaimed dramatically. "How did you get it here so hot!"

Larry was opening the doors to the public as I hustled to the last woman. Her polyester navy-blue suit with a white blouse screamed tour guide, and her eyebrows were high at my black outfit. "Susan," I blurted before she could say anything. "Oh my God! You wouldn’t believe the morning I’ve had." Nervous, I slid behind the counter, praying I was doing this right. "How’s the Bull?"

Susan took the pumpkin latte, and I exhaled in relief, glad I got to keep the straight-up black. "He’s on fire," she said, making an mmm of appreciation and wiping the foam from her lips. "Something about that new elf exhibit. Thanks, this is good this morning. Black is a new look for you. What’s up?"

I shrugged, not wanting to sit down and claim the space until I knew it was mine. "A witch dumped her coffee on me. You like the purse?" I lifted my shoulder bag for her inspection. "It doesn’t match, but I was in a hurry." Susan shrugged, and I set my bag on the counter beside my coffee. "Elf exhibit?" I prompted, scanning the security cameras at the ceiling for Jenks’s dust. We’d had zero time to plan this, and though I liked working by the seat of my pants, I didn’t want everything to come tumbling down because of new security.

Coffee in hand, Susan eyed the first people coming in. "Something about the security not being adequate. Here they come. Is it Friday yet?"

"Don’t push it," I whispered. Hand to my middle, I fell back, not wanting to do a tour. Just inside the door were two moms and three kids. They were getting their strollers and diaper bags arranged as the kids hooted, listening to their voices echo. Behind them, Larry gave Ivy’s sketch bag a cursory glance. She got the all-clear, and the stately woman strode by the young moms with their kids with a tight-jawed stance at the lack of planning, but under it was a wistful need.

"I don’t feel so good," I said, still standing behind the information counter as if I belonged. Susan seemed to think I did, and I was going to go with it.

"You look awful," Susan said, eyeing me in concern. "Sit, will you? You’re making me nervous. I’ll take the first tour."

"Thanks," I whispered, sinking down.

"And while you’re there, organize the brochures, will you?" she added cheerfully, grabbing a map and going out to meet the moms, now trying to get their kids and move forward.

I gave her a sour look when she simpered at me over her shoulder. It was the right thing to do, apparently. Ivy was gone, and I looked to the hallway that led to the stairs and employee break room. I was anxious for Jenks to get back. The less I had to play tour guide Barbie, the better.

"Good morning!" Susan said, maps in hand as she approached the two women. "We’re gathering a tour up in the Great Hall if you’re interested. It takes about forty minutes and is free. I’ll be along in about five minutes if you want to wait."

Jenks dropped down, scaring the crap out of me, and I coughed to hide my surprise. "Ivy is setting up beside the elevator that will take her down to the basement," he said, grinning because he had made me jump. "I’m going to trip an alarm in the courtyard. Don’t go until it trips the second time. Got it?"

"Second alarm, got it," I said, waving his dust away before Susan turned and saw it.

"Soon as you’re downstairs, I’ll do a flyby for your ID and take the elevator up for Ivy."

It wasn’t a bad plan, but I knew the maybes were driving Ivy crazy. "Got it. Second alarm. Go!" I hissed as Susan gave up on the two women and started back, maps smacking her thigh.

Giving me a thumbs-up, Jenks dropped down below the level of the counter and flew off at ankle height, his sparkles making a brief flash against the marble floor.

"Any bets?" Susan leaned against the counter like a tired tourist. I stared at her blankly, and she looked at her watch and added, "If I get out of here before Bull shows up?"

"Ahh . . ." I hedged, and she leaned to look down the hallway and into the Great Hall.

"Damn, they aren’t going to wait," she said, dropping back a step. "Barb, I’m going to go snag them. I do not want to be sitting here for the next hour. If anyone else comes in, send them down. I’ll keep them in the Great Hall until the tour is supposed to start."

I made a face as if I was going to protest, and then an irritating whine of an alarm shrilled into existence. My pulse quickened, and I spun the fake rings on my fingers. "Go," I said, wanting to be out of here. "It’s probably nothing." She hesitated, and I added, "You’re going to lose them."

Her breath a quick exhale, she reached over the counter and grabbed a tour guide flag. "Thanks. I owe you."

Her heels click-clacked away, just as the alarm cut out. "No, thank you," I said dryly, then waved to Frank standing at the opening to the gift shop. He abruptly ducked inside, and I spun my chair to see three men striding importantly through the lobby and toward the cafe. One was in a suit and tie, one in a security uniform, and the third was maintenance. Way to go, Jenks!

"Barb!" the man in the suit exclaimed when we made eye contact, his pace never slowing. "I want to talk to you. Where’s Sue?"

I spun my chair nonchalantly. "Tour," I said, scanning the ceiling for pixy dust.

"Don’t go anywhere." His head dropped and he barked into a handheld radio, "I want an answer now, not in five minutes!"

Just as they vanished into the corridor, the alarm began again. I smiled at the masculine, PG-13 swearing. Frank was laughing. I could see him shaking through the glass walls.

It was time to go, and I grabbed my shoulder bag and dropped the BACK IN FIVE MINUTES sign on the counter. "Bathroom!" I mouthed to Frank when he noticed, and he nodded and went back to testing out the headphones for the "soothing sounds" display.

Alarm still shrieking, I angled to the employees’ restroom, waving to Larry and heading down the cold stairwell to run Barb’s card through the reader at the bottom.