Bounty Hunter Inc_An Urban Fantasy Action Adventure Read online

  Bounty Hunter Inc

  Rewriting Justice Book Three

  Martha Carr

  Michael Anderle

  Bounty Hunter Inc (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2018 Martha Carr and Michael Anderle

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, July 2018

  The Oriceran Universe (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2017-18 by Martha Carr and LMBPN Publishing.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Other Revelation of Oriceran Universe Books

  Other Books by Michael Anderle

  Connect with The Authors

  Bounty Hunter Inc Team

  Thanks to the JIT Readers

  John Ashmore

  James Caplan

  Tim Bischoff

  Mary Morris

  Daniel Weigert

  Peter Manis

  Larry Omans

  Micky Cocker

  If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know!

  Editor

  Lynne Stiegler

  From Martha

  To everyone who still believes in magic

  and all the possibilities that holds.

  To all the readers who make this

  entire ride so much fun.

  And to my son, Louie and so many wonderful friends who remind me all the time of what

  really matters and how wonderful

  life can be in any given moment.

  From Michael

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  1

  The comfortably-lit pizzeria in Cathedral Heights was loud with laughter and chatter. The plain brown tables were filled with people who knew the secret of the long-standing Amy’s Neapolitan Pizzeria. The décor might be simple,, but the pizza was far from it—delicious, handmade, and a favorite of Correk’s and Leira’s. Toward the back, two tables had been pushed together to accommodate the group. Brittany, Leira, Jackson, Correk, and the Professor sat, talking loudly over one another, four pies spread out across the tables.

  “This has been one of my favorite places since I was a kid. My mom would bring me here as a special treat after a test at school or a summer softball game,” Brittany told Leira. “I think Dad ate here once with us.”

  Jackson was shoveling a piece of mozzarella and mushroom pie into his mouth as he listened to Correk talk about his last call as a Fixer. While he respected Correk for doing the work, he would never be interested in the gig, since he enjoyed what he did. Still, he found his daughters’ lives to be so interesting; so full of mystery and appeal. He glanced at Brittany and Leira, feeling their eyes on him, and smiled with sauce on his teeth.

  Leira and Brittany looked at each other and burst into the same boisterous laugh. Leira had been shocked when she’d found out she had a sister just hours earlier, but as she listened to her talk about her life—growing up, her interests, and life experiences—all the awkwardness faded. The only real difference between them was the way they had grown up.

  “So, what did you do before you became this badass rogue mercenary?” Brittany chuckled, taking a bite of their shared pie.

  “I was a detective in Austin, which is where I grew up. When I found out who I really was, I shifted my focus to the magic stuff.” Leira shrugged. “It definitely fits my life now. As much as I loved being a detective, I don’t know if I could have continued the charade of catching criminals with my magic and making it look like luck.”

  “Yeah, I can see how that would be difficult. I’ve always known, because of our dad, and my mom put me in positions where I wouldn’t have to hide it so much. She’s a really great teacher.”

  Leira smiled. “How did you meet the Professor?”

  “Chance, I guess,” she replied, not getting into it.

  Leira could see she held back, but it was a trait she shared, so she understood. She’d let her sister tell her story in her own time. It never did any good to push women like them; it only made them clam up tighter.

  “I know a couple of people with the Silver Griffins. Um…Lois and Patsy.”

  “Yes, I love those two.” Leira nodded. “They’ve fought with us before against the dark families.”

  “That’s so funny. The world is a small place.”

  “It is. I am surprised we haven’t accidentally crossed paths before.”

  “I know, right?” Brittany nodded. “Those two seem to know everything, even before the parties involved do.”

  They enjoyed the food and discussed the other places in New York where Brittany liked to eat. When Leira picked up her glass of tea, Brittany reached over and ran her finger over the bracelet on Leira’s arm. She shivered at the pulse of energy it gave off.

  “An artifact.” She studied Leira’s face. “It’s a Jasper elf thing, right?”

  “Kind of. I have a hard time not floating off into a sea of beautiful bliss.” Leira chuckled.

  “I love being a Jasper Elf. It’s unique and powerful, but in a good way, you know? But I don’t have the special human gene, so my power has limits.”

  “That’s not a bad thing.” Leira nudged her. “You are powerful in your own right, Correk and I have seen it. There is only so much power one person can handle, which makes what’s left over kind of useless—thus the bracelet.”

  Brittany smiled, glad Leira felt that way. Not everyone in the magical community was the same, which meant she’d spent most of her life pretending to be a Light Elf.

  “What was it like?” Leira asked, glancing at Jackson. “Having Dad around?”

  “He was great. Not like other dads of course, but he came around all the time, and was really there for me. I’m sorry he didn’t know about you. I would have loved a sister growing up.”

  Leira chuckled. “We probably would have gotten ourselves into a lot of trouble.”

  “Yeah.” Brittany laughed. “It would have been awesome. But hey, better late than never, right?”

  “Right.”

  Across the table, Correk
leaned back in his chair. He was sitting between the Professor and Jackson, and all three of them watched the sisters talk and laugh. Their mannerisms were almost identical, and their laugh so similar it was hard to distinguish between the two.

  “It’s strange. It’s like the universe produced another Leira.”

  “I know.” Jackson watched his daughters. “I love having them both, but it’s definitely an adjustment.”

  “I think it’s perfect.” The Professor chuckled. “I always wished I had two Brittanies around. The world would be a much tighter ship.”

  He lifted his pint glass and took a sip, his eyes shifting to Correk. Correk shrugged, figuring the Professor was an adult and knew the risks of his drinking. He seemed like a good man, albeit one who liked to push the limits and test the waters…and was maybe still a bit too curious.

  Outside, people milled up and down the street, visiting the shops, talking, laughing, and enjoying the afternoon sun. It felt like any other day in Cathedral Heights. The old row buildings gave the town that historical ambiance that made northwest DC what it was. However, as the sun began to shift and clouds moved overhead, a rumble began below the street.

  At first, no one noticed, but when the pavement swirled, people stopped and stared at the black hole that appeared. Leira, laughing inside the pizzeria, shifted her eyes to the hordes of panicked people outside and frowned. Correk watched her curiously as, without a word, she stood and walked to the window.

  A wizard materialized in the hole. His eyes were black orbs, and there was a thick swirl of dark mist circling his lower legs. He rose and hovered above the street, rolling his shoulders and watching the people run past.

  “Leira, face me,” he shouted, his deep voice echoing through the pizzeria.

  “Fuck me.” Leira turned as the others came up behind her. “Why did I think he was gone for good? It would have been too perfect.”

  “This time we’ll all face him,” Brittany stated.

  “Like our own Justice League,” Correk added with a straight face.

  “Personally, I’m more of a Marvel guy, but it works.” The Professor shrugged.

  Jackson nodded as the five left the restaurant to face the returning challenge.

  They lined up, Leira in the middle. The dark wizard sneered, the hole beneath him closing as he gently descended to the pavement.

  “I see you brought friends.” He cackled. “Good, I thought it might be too easy.”

  “In your dreams, asshole,” Brittany shouted, her eyes glowing brightly and symbols rippling across her skin.

  The group started to pull magic from the ground. Leira felt the tingle in her bracelet, but for some reason, it wasn’t as strong as usual. She guessed the presence of her father and her sister grounded her better. Leira and Brittany brought their palms up at the same time, white light swirling around them. Leira fired a bolt of magic at the wizard, but he deflected it with a wave of his hand. Before he could retaliate a large fireball soared from Brittany’s palms, striking him in the knees.

  He wobbled and snickered as he regained his footing. Correk and Jackson joined the fight, all four of them shooting wildly colored sprays of magic. They circled the wizard, their hands wide. The wizard growled and swirled his wand at his side, sending dark magic toward Leira.

  “Watch out,” the Professor shouted, pointing at the mist.

  Leira felt the pull of the darkness, so she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She inched dangerously close to the purity of the light as she brought more into her chest. The flood of magic from her palms intertwined with the dark mist as it struggled to defeat it. Brittany watched Leira as her feet lifted off the ground, an aura of light encircling her body.

  Brittany tossed a giant fireball, ducking as a dark arrow barely missed her scalp. She ran to Leira’s side and grasped her arm, jolting slightly from the intensity of the magic roiling through her. Leira could feel the grounding Brittany provided, and slowly she lowered.

  “Thank you.”

  “Take it easy,” Brittany admonished. “We can all put in on this one.”

  Brittany was right. Leira didn’t have to fight this battle alone.

  Once again, the wizard opened a swirling black hole. He looked at the sisters and smiled malevolently.

  “Leira, Brittany, look out!” the Professor shouted

  Leira’s head whipped up just as the wizard released the black hole, which crackled and hissed as it spun toward them. Leira created a thick shield of white light and the dark mist hit the barrier, pushing it back. Brittany sheltered behind the shield. The bracelet on Leira’s wrist visibly vibrated as she struggled to hold the dark mist at bay.

  Brittany rose, shrugging off her need to hide, and added her magic to the shield. Their combined magic pushed the dark hole farther and farther back. Correk and Jackson continued to throw balls of light at the wizard to break his concentration.

  “On three, we blow this magic outward,” Brittany suggested. “I don’t know what will happen, but it’s worth a shot.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  “One, two, three!”

  The two women shoved their magic forward, and the shield pulsated wildly before exploding in a burst of light. The ring of magic knocked the wizard off his feet and sent him sliding across the asphalt, and the dark hole dissipated as dark mist surrounding it faded. The wizard jumped to his feet, opened a portal, and dove inside. The portal clapped shut, sparks cascading to the street.

  “Well, that was unexpected,” Correk remarked as the five regrouped.

  Leira shook her head as the symbols slowly faded from her skin. “It’s like the horror that keeps on giving.”

  “Did it seem stronger to anyone?” Brittany asked.

  “Yeah,” Jackson replied. “Like it’s feeding off the growing chaos.”

  Leira nodded. “It’s feeding off all the dark magic that’s been set loose in the world.”

  “The artifacts from the Silver Griffins’ vault,” the Professor mused, his beer glass firmly in his hand—not a drop spilled. “Leira, I have an assignment for you.”

  2

  Yumfuck sat in his chair wearing an old green celluloid visor he had seen in a movie and excitedly acquired. He held his magical cards and peeked over the tops at the others. His eyes shifted right and left, waiting for someone to drop their poker face. Without fail, Marcy was always the first. By the time they laid out their cards, she’d either look pleased or disappointed.

  He snatched a handful of Cheetos and shoved them in his mouth. Specks of orange flew as he chewed and he raised a furry eyebrow, carefully wiping them off the Oriceran symbols. Marcy tilted her head, holding her cards against her chest.

  “All right, sharks, one last bet, then everyone has to show ‘em.”

  “I’ll bet three yellows,” Elijah offered, the back of his hand transforming from the dark tone of his glamoured skin to mirror images of the cards he held.

  “I’ll see that, and raise a pink.” Lily nodded and tossed in the candy.

  Yumfuck lifted his furry little butt just slightly, letting out a few silent orange farts. They squeezed out from under him and floated up toward the ceiling. Emmett created several small bubbles that encapsulated the orange puffs for safety. He waved his hand at the open window and the bubbles raced out to float off into the sky.

  “Appreciate that. They can be deadly.”

  “I know. My sister was obsessed with you furry little devils when we were kids. My mom stopped letting her visit relatives in Oriceran.” Emmett smirked.

  Yumfuck giggled and popped another Cheeto in his mouth, watching as Marcy matched the bet. Emmett sighed, stacked his cards, and plopped them down on the stack.

  “Fold.”

  “Yumfuck? It’s on you.” Lily smiled.

  “Hmmm,” he grumbled, looking down at the huge pile of Starbursts in front of him. “I’ll match, and check.”

  He slid the colors to the pile in the center and waited for the others
to make their moves. Slowly everyone laid their hands down, one by one, and Lily cackled loudly.

  “Well, wouldn’t you know? Yumfuck wins again. Now, who has the worst hand? That’s where the true fun comes in.”

  “I guess I lost,” Emmett pointed out. “I folded.”

  “No, no,” Marcy chimed in. “That’s a failsafe. You get out of the show of magic.”

  “It’s Elijah,” Yumfuck reported. “Tough luck.”

  “All right.” Elijah stood and sighed, pushing up his sleeves. “A little magic for the lot of you.”

  The rules of the game were simple. The loser—the one with the worst hand—had to perform some small feat of magic to entertain the others. Yumfuck was excited and kept his eyes glued to Elijah as he pulled the pile of Starbursts over to him. The others were less enthused, having been down that road more than once.

  “You ready for this, Yumfuck? It’s a good one.”

  “Always ready!”

  Elijah held out his hands, palms up. His skin started to glow, and one or two symbols slid slowly across the skin of his arms. Yumfuck watched in awe as a light mist swirled out, moving around the table before arranging itself underneath each person. He flipped his palms back quickly, and everyone levitated about six inches.

  “Woooow,” Yumfuck trilled. “I’m flying.”