The sky
drizzled out my window, the afternoon sun hidden by thick, grey clouds. It was
a typical summer day in Belport. Business had been slow, so I gave Jessie and
Jen the afternoon off. Not for the first time, I thought about closing the
office for the day. No one needed my services on a day like today.
Well, more on today than on a bright, sunny
day.
My phone
rang, the cell instead of the office. I expected Nikki, but it wasn’t her ring
tone.
“Kate?” I
answered.
“Hi, Matt.”
Her voice sounded strained.
“Hi.”
“Listen,
can we talk?” Static crackled on the line.
“If this is
about our date, I just, well, y’know—”
“No, it’s
not about that. I need help.”
“You in
trouble? What can I possibly do. You’re a Storm Rider, you’ve got more power
than—”
“Not for a
fight, more like a case. I need information.”
“Oh, well,
okay, I guess.” I sat at my desk and pulled up my pad and pen. “So, what’s the
case?”
“Not over
the phone.”
“Well, then
when do you want to come by the office? Where are you, anyway?”
I heard a
loud crack of thunder through the speaker, but at the same time I felt the
thunder rumble through the building and echo outside.
“Look out
your window.”
I did one
better, opening my window and leaning out to look. There on the ground was Kate
with half a dozen other people, looking like something the cat dragged in. Kate
waved.
“Oh, this
can’t be good. I’m going to charge extra for this case.”