Then again, Crash was no doubt going to be at that auction for my gran’s house so maybe I didn’t need to be so generous with him. I folded the paper. “Okay. So, I go out there and then what?”

“Do some perimeter checks, take this handbook with you—the Basic Bodyguarding section will walk you through it. Your main function will be to talk him down, basically.” Eammon tapped the desk. “Don’t stay more than four days.”

I frowned and took a handbook that would have been mighty nice to have from the beginning of the week. “The contract is four days, why would I—”

“He’ll try to talk you into it.” Eammon sighed. “He’s like a hypochondriac always going to the doctor. But we’re the doctor. I’m about sick of seeing his face around here, and if not for the fact that he’s got some cash squirreled away and he always pays, I wouldn’t bother.”

“But a good first job for the newbies.” I nodded. “Smart. You should keep him on the client list for sure. Use him with all the trainees.”

Eammon gave me an appreciative look. “Good business sense in you, lass.”

I shrugged. “I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ll see if Sarge can give me a ride out.”

He waved both hands at me. “Ah, no, don’t do that. It’s going to be bad enough that I’m sending you. No cell service, and Eric doesn’t like Sarge. Them shifters can be weird around each other.”

“What about Corb?” I wasn’t sure Corb would take me, but he was an option.

“No good there either,” Eammon said.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Does Eric hate all of you?”

Eammon snort-laughed. “Not hate, no. But he’s scared of those two.”

I pushed to my feet. “Fine, I’ll find my way out there. I should go now?”

“Yeah, off you get. You’re ahead of the others in all the written work, so I’m not worried. The physical stuff will come to you, lass.” He winked. “Here, take this phone. Anything comes up, you call me. I don’t expect anything, but still good to be prepared.” Then he shooed me out of his office.

“Out there” turned out to be an hour drive easily, if I’d had a car. Walking would take all night. I grimaced, my legs hurting already.

Eammon saw me out, and I felt the others’ eyes on me. They probably thought I’d been kicked out.

“I’ll be back! Don’t get killed without me!” I gave them a cheery wave that struggled not to turn into a one-fingered salute. Up the stairs, I went into the still-drizzling night. Robert sat across from the tombstone stairwell, swaying next to a tree. I lifted a hand to him. “Hey, Rob, how’s it hanging?”