“Heads up, woman!” Jenks shouted, but it was too late. Someone brushed against me. Instinct alone kept me standing as a foot slipped between my feet to trip me up. Panicked, I spun around into a crouch. My face went cold as I landed, ready for anything.

It was Francis. What the Turn was he doing here? I thought, rising to a stand as he held a hand to his stomach and laughed at me. I should have ditched my bag. But I hadn’t expected to see anyone who knew me under my disguise charm.

“Nice hat, Rachel,” Francis all but whined as he flicked the collar of his loud shirt back up. His tone was a disgusting mix of bravado and fading fright at me having nearly attacked him. “Hey, I bought six squares in the office pool yesterday. Is there any way you could die tomorrow between seven and midnight?”

“Why don’t you tag me yourself?” I said with a sneer. Either the man had no pride or he didn’t realize how ridiculous he looked, standing with one of his boat shoes untied and his stringy hair falling out of the spell-enhanced wave. And how could he have a stubble that thick this early in the day? He must have spray-painted it on.

“If I tagged you myself, I’d lose.” Francis adopted his more usual air of superiority, a look entirely wasted on me. “I don’t have time to talk with a dead witch,” he said. “I have an appointment with Councilman Trenton Kalamack and need to do some research. You know, research? Ever done any of that?” He sniffed through his thin nose. “Not that I’ve heard.”

“Go stuff a tomato, Francis,” I said softly.

He glanced down the hall that led to the vault. “Ooooh,” he drawled. “I’m scared. You’d better leave now if you want any chance of getting back to your church alive. If Meg didn’t trip the alarm that you’re here, I will.”

“Quit screaming into my jazz,” I said. “You’re really starting to tick me off.”

“See you later, Rachel-me-gal. Like in the obituaries.” His laugh was too high-pitched.

I gave him a withering look, and he signed the log-in book before Megan with a flourish. He turned and mouthed, “Run, witch. Run.” Pulling out his cell phone, he punched a few buttons and strutted past the VIP’s dark offices to the vault. Megan winced apologetically as she buzzed him through the gate.

My eyes closed in a long blink. When I opened them, I gave Megan a wave to say, “Just a minute,” and sat in one of the lobby’s chairs to dig in my bag as if looking for something. Jenks landed on my earring. “Let’s go,” he said, sounding worried. “We’ll come back tonight.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. Denon spelling my apartment had been simple harassment. Sending an assassin team would be too expensive. I wasn’t worth it. But why take chances?

“Jenks,” I whispered. “Can you get in the vault without the cameras seeing you?”