Antique Absconding Arsonist: Jas Bond, #4

By Gretchen S.B.

Fire, thieves, and magic oh my…

 

The semiannual supernatural auction is a great way to get rid of valuable items, fast. I'm grateful I can use this opportunity to get rid of not only the Geysers volume eight, but the weird vortex compact I still haven't been able to open. My luck runs out when before the auction starts someone sets fire to the building. This isn't some random teenage prank but in fact someone uses that fire as a cover to steal some of the more expensive antiques being sold at the auction. Luckily, he isn't terribly good at this whole theft thing. By the time Blake and several other officers arrive, it becomes clear that our thief might not be the only one stealing artifacts from the auction. Because after he's searched my luck strikes again when both the compact and my volume eight aren't on his person and he has no idea how they went missing.

 

Will I finally be free of Geysers Journal or is it going to boomerang back yet again? Or is there something much more sinister slithering its way around the outskirts of my life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gretchen S.B.
• Release date: Jul 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201033545

Gretchen S.B.

Gretchen is a Seattleite that loves her home. She has a day job as a Program Coordinator a local university. She is a struggling Indie Author, struggling as in she is trying to make her living writing books. She loves to read, write and create characters. As well as knit and binge watch Netflix. She is also on a sporadic book blog and internet radio show with some of her college friends. She currently lives with her husband and their mischievous Rotti mix, who always seems to find something new she shouldn't be chewing on. Gretchen loves to hear from her readers.

Book preview

Works by Gretchen S.B.

NIGHT WORLD SERIES:

Lady of the Dead

Viking Sensitivity

A Wolf in Cop's Clothing

Visions Across the Veil

Hidden Shifter 

Berman's Wolves Trilogy:

Berman's Wolves

Berman's Chosen

Berman's Secrets

Berman’s Origin 

Anthony Hollownton Series:

Hollownton Homicide

Hollownton Outsiders

Hollownton Legacy

Hollownton Case File 

Lantern Lake Series:

Pizza Pockets & Puppy Love

A Flurry of Feelings

Teacher’s Crush

Pugs & Peppermint Sticks

Moving Home for Christmas

Mayor May Not

Building a Holiday Miracle

Jas Bond Series:

Green Goo Goblin

Spectacle Stealing Supernatural

Book Burgling Blood-Magic

Antique Absconding Arsonist

Stand Alone Stories:

The Tongue-Tied Hunter

Poker in Portland

Big City Bachelor

Lone Wolf (Early 2022)

Acknowledgments

THANK YOU TO MY EDITOR Lacie at Pelican Proofing and proofreader Rose David. You ladies made this book readable for everyone.

Thank you to Get Covers for giving this book such a beautiful cover. I want to add a thanks to my beta readers for letting me know this story is worth reading.

As always, thank you to my friends and family who cheer me on as I work toward my dream of being a full-time author.

Last of all, but not least, is the Hubster. Although he hates to be mentioned, he deserves credit for all his support.

Chapter 1

I UNDERSTAND THAT, but I've been on hold for forty-five minutes, I bite out through gritted teeth to the woman on the phone as I rap my fingers faster on the counter.

I apologize for the inconvenience, but Billy's gone home for the day. Can I leave a message?

As much as I want to scream and curse the woman out because I have been on hold waiting for the curator for the semiannual supernatural auction for forty-five minutes only to now be told he's gone home, I don't. Instead, I take a deep breath and am quite proud of myself when my voice comes out only slightly aggressive.

Please tell Billy that Jas Bond from Fix 'n' Find has an item he wants to add to the auction. And before you say anything, yes, I’m aware we are less than a week away and that this is short notice. Please tell him the item I wish to add he will very much want to sell, as it will fetch a good price, getting us both good margins.

I hear typing in the background before she makes a humming sound in the back of her throat. Mr. Bond, I have that you are already putting an enchanted compact up for sale at the auction. Is this request regarding the compact or is it an additional item?

I fight not to grind my teeth again. It's an additional item.

Can you tell me what that item is? Agitation lines her voice.

I'd rather not; I only want to tell Billy. I don't want a lot of information about this item floating around.

I can sense her seething, as the supernatural auction house is known for its discretion. But before she can respond and we can get into some ridiculous argument that won't help anyone, I jump in.

Will you please pass on that he needs to call me back ASAP?

There is silence for several beats before she sighs. Yes, Mr. Bond. I will relay your message and tell Billy to call you back ASAP.

Thank you, have a nice evening. I hang up the shop's phone before the woman can continue to probe me about the item I want to add to the auction.

A week ago, I came into possession of not one but two of Geyser’s Journals, Volume Eight. A book so ridiculously rare I’ve never had one before, let alone two. I lined up a buyer for one copy and although there was some initial trouble, she and I made a deal. The second copy is proving to be a bit harder to place. There is no doubt in my mind that if I put it up on the website, it will snatch a buyer in seconds, even with a hefty price tag. But Geyser’s eighth journal is all about necromancy magic. It is the sort of item that is conspicuous to buy, and the purchaser should have at least a background check if not permission to buy more dangerous items from one of the supernatural governments.

The woman I sold the first copy to has such permissions. I don't know anybody else who will buy it who fits that bill. But Billy at the auction house can and does routinely verify permissions to buy objects so it wouldn't be any extra steps on his part. Plus, getting it in the auction this weekend will get it out of my hands a heck of a lot sooner than if I had my own bidding war on the shop website.

Blake, a werewolf supernatural detective and my best friend released the second book to me just this morning. The book was covered in blood when we found it, so the crime scene technicians, the supernatural equivalent that is, scraped it clean in search of any clues about the murdered skin walker who had the book on him when he died. No one had a better place to send it. Since it seems the skin walker stole his copy from me, they gave it to me.

The bell above the door to my shop jingles and I plaster on my customer service smile only to let it drop when my ex-fiancée Violetta Harker comes through the door in a figure-hugging black dress, clearly heading somewhere much fancier than the places I frequent.

She glances around the shop and spots an older couple going through the books on the back shelf. They seem to be far enough away to satisfy her because she steps up to the counter and leans over, putting her hands on the glass, ignoring Bailey, who had leapt off her bed upon