“Nessa, breathe.”

“So, I’ve been thinking about this...” Nessa shrugged off her backpack and toed off her shoes. “I’ve ruined my shoes, by the way. I was thinking maybe we can charge them to Cliff as expenses, as this is all his fault. Do you have any antiseptic? I scratched myself coming through the woods. I don’t want to die of some vile disease, because you need me right now.”

Joanna’s head was spinning. “You—you came through the woods at the back of the house?”

“Yes. I remembered you telling me that’s why you picked this place. They can’t get to you from the back, only the front. That’s what you said. You only have to watch one direction. So I thought, Right, I’ll get to her from the back. But it’s not pedestrian-friendly. Do I have mud on my cheek? I bet I do.” She scrubbed randomly at her face. “I am not cut out for wilderness adventures. Give me California sunshine and beaches and I’m there. But a dark forest full of spiders, snakes, bears, coyotes and mass murderers... That’s me out. Can you check me for spiders?”

She turned and showed her back to Joanna, who dutifully checked.

“You’re spider-free. But even if you made it through the woods, how did you get over the wall?”

“I climbed. Don’t ask for details.” Nessa tugged at a twig that was tangled in her curls. “I grew up with two brothers. I have skills that would make your eyes pop. And don’t worry—no one followed me. No one is that stupid. Also, there were no humans in that wood. At least no live ones. Willing to bet there are a few dead ones, though. Bodies undiscovered...” She shuddered. “That place is scary.”

“Nessa.” Joanna brushed a leaf from Nessa’s shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m your assistant, and I figured you’d need assistance.”

“I—I’m not really thinking about work right now.”

“Of course you’re not. I’m here for more than work. I’m your right-hand woman. The dragon at your gate.” Nessa adjusted her glasses. “When you employed me, you said I had to be there for you in both calm and crisis—so here I am. I assume this is the crisis part? We’re in this together. Bring it on.”

Together.

Joanna felt pressure in her chest. Someone had thought of her. Someone wanted to help her. She wasn’t going to think about the fact that Nessa worked for her. She still didn’t have to be here.

“You don’t want to be exposed to this circus.”

Nessa tilted her head. “You are.”

“I have no choice. You do.”

“Well, I choose being here with you, so that’s decided.”

The strange feeling in Joanna’s chest spread to her throat. People generally distanced themselves from her, afraid of being tainted by association. They didn’t want to find themselves in that spotlight.

“Have you really thought this through?”

“What is there to think through? We’re a team. In my interview, you said I’d need to be versatile. I hope you’ll remember the whole climbing the wall thing when you give me a reference—not that I’m planning on leaving you anytime soon, because this is my dream job and you’re my dream boss. Now, what can I do? We can make a statement. Or I can call the cops and get them to move on that mob with cameras at the end of your drive.”