“I hope you don’t become one of them.”

I couldn’t help a grin as I reached Mia in her usual alcove, picking at a large button on her ratty blue sweater, her large eyes solemn.

“Hey,” I said, stopping.

“A spirit has been wandering around,” she said. “One I don’t know. She looked like a spy.”

I repeated what she said for Red’s benefit.

“How can you tell?” I asked.

“The living try not to act suspicious. The dead don’t think anyone can see them, so they peer in closets, in desks, watch people…”

I repeated that as well.

“Appearance?” Red asked.

“Middle-aged white woman with short hair. She looks pretty athletic, but she kinda stoops when she’s creeping around,” Mia said. “Reminds me of the Hamburglar in that way.”

“Who?” I asked, getting out of the way of someone coming up the stairs.

“An old McDonald’s character,” Red replied. “Stole burgers, that sort of thing. I like weird retro stuff. That qualifies.”

“Strange detail, but okay. Is she still here?”

Mia shrugged and glanced around. “She disappeared on this spot. She’d just finished looking around Demigod Kieran’s assistants’ desks, but didn’t go in his office.”

Red stiffened when I relayed that bit.

“She’s not a shadow?” I asked. “You could make out her appearance and everything?”

Mia nodded slowly. “But I’ve seen those shadow types around here lately. They dart around me. They burst into view and dart away a second before I can get a good look at them. I think they’re taunting me. Telling me it is time to retire from the living world.”

A chill ran down my back. The same thing had happened to me leading up to our battle with Valens. I’d seen strange, shadowy creatures from the corner of my eye. I hadn’t had a chance to really think about it at that time—it had always happened at some crucial moment—but Mia was describing my experience exactly. It was like the creatures didn’t mind if we knew they were watching us, but were great at not getting caught.

“Keep an eye out, if you don’t mind. In the meantime, I need more people watching things,” I said, finishing the climb of stairs and heading toward Kieran’s office. Someone was getting intel through the spirit world. With enough energy, a spirit could open drawers. Maybe lift files. No energy and they could still monitor conversations and comings and goings. Kieran could see most spirits, thanks to our soul connection, but he still couldn’t see the Demigods. One of them could park in his office and he’d never be the wiser. He needed a spirit bodyguard like I needed a living one.

“John,” I said, standing in front of the receptionist’s desk. The desk was familiar, but the person behind it was not.

“Sorry, what’s that?” the middle-aged woman asked me, her round face turned up with a somewhat strained smile. I noticed she didn’t acknowledge Red’s presence.

“That’s Rena. She’s the new help,” Red said, probably reading my confused expression. “Hopefully she’ll know to patch through an important call during a non-important meeting.”

“I know my job just fine, thank you.” Rena pursed her lips. Apparently, she wasn’t one of Red’s few or nonexistent friends. That had to be an awkward working arrangement. If the job hadn’t been working for Kieran, for a Demigod, I would’ve wondered why she’d taken it.

“I should contact John.” I cocked a hip, thinking of all the spirits that had helped me take down Valens. Many of them had said they owed me one for freeing them. Maybe they still wanted to help. “Oh”—I snapped—“and what’s-his-face. The experienced guy I summoned with the locket. Chad! Maybe he got a taste of the action and wants another go, this time without a gross body to maneuver.”

“You want”—Rena’s hand hovered over the phone—“me to call…John?”

“Jesus Christ, if you were any worse at your job, they’d take away your participation ribbon.” Red steered me past the desk and toward Kieran’s closed door.

“A little harsh, huh? It’s her first day.”

“I’m helping her. If she hates me, she won’t want to talk to me, and then she won’t have to pretend we’re friends. She can focus solely on her job.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Wait, wait.” Aubri hurried to my side as Red turned the handle. Aubri peered at my face, ducking this way and that. She stepped back with an “mhm!” and a smile. “Still perfect.”

Red thrust open the door, glanced back to make sure I was on her heels, and led me inside. She paused for a moment, as if gauging the situation, then peeled off to the side.

Kieran looked up from the couch. He sat across from an unremarkable, aging man who nonetheless had a sharp stare and a lithe body. I got the feeling the man wanted everyone to know they were in plain sight. None of the Six were in the office.

“Alexis, please, come in.” If Kieran was mad that I was late, he didn’t show it.

It didn’t make me feel any less awkward. I barely kept myself from apologizing and throwing Bria under the bus.

He smoothly stood and put out his hand, welcoming me closer. “This is Nester, the Defalcator that Demigod Nancy sent to help you explore some more facets of your magic. Nester, this is the infamous Alexis Price, not quite so scary as everyone would think.”