Property Pilfering Pariah: Jas Bond, #5

By Gretchen S.B.

What to do with a big pile of stolen property…

 

It's a good question, one I don't have an answer to, mainly because I'm stuck behind bars. With my friend Blake booted off the case, attention turns to me. Apparently, I'm a pilfering mastermind. One who calls the cops to tattle on themselves, after the fact. Just ignore the guy who broke into the shop to steal those items. So not only am I stuck with multiple copies of Geyser's eighth journal, again, but the blame for who knows how many stolen supernatural items.

 

Oh, and apparently not all those around me can be trusted. Because I needed more on my plate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gretchen S.B.
• Release date: Oct 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201601423

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

Property Pilfering Pariah

Stand Alone Stories:

The Tongue-Tied Hunter

Poker in Portland

Big City Bachelor

Lone Wolf

Fair Weather Authors

Witchy Inheritance

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

OH CRAP, IT'S MULTIPLYING, I exclaim when I open the door to the back room after I help Reggie close the shop.

What had been a few items, sword included, is now a pile of random knickknacks and books. I don't know at what rate the compact is burping things up or how full wherever it's pulling these items from is, but if it continues like this overnight, there won’t be much room to maneuver around back here.

Woah, you're not kidding. That's a lot of weird stuff. Is that a monkey's paw? Reggie asks curiously as he steps forward into the room, reaching down to grab an item in the pile on the side closest to us.

I grab him before he can get much farther and not-so-gently pull him back toward me. Let's not touch the random objects when we don't know what they do. I try to keep the wary, chastising teacher tone from my voice, but I definitely don't succeed.

Luckily, Reggie shrugs and steps back toward me. As the two of us stand there watching, Bailey comes up beside me and leans heavily against my leg, panting as she stares into the room and gives those three quick barks.

I shift my eyes down at her and frown. Yes, Bailey, we know active magic is happening. It's been happening for hours. Nice of you to join us.

She looks up at me with a doggie grin before looking back at the pile and giving those three barks again. This time I just sigh.

What the hell am I supposed to do with all this stuff? I don't expect anyone to answer as I pull out my phone and start dialing Blake.

Bailey starts barking frenziedly, spinning around and snarling. As Blake picks up, I eye her, see her hackle standing fully as she charges behind me. Whirling around, adrenaline shooting through my system, I watch as she tackles a tall, thin man in a trench coat standing at the other end of the back hallway.

There was no one in the shop, man. Jas, I promise I cleared the shop! Reggie's voice is all panic as the two of us stride toward the man trying to roll away from my snarling and snapping dog.

What the hell's happening, Jas? Blake's clearly agitated.

Uh, hold on. Call you back. I don’t know what’s happening, I respond before hanging up. Cast something to hold him in place, Reggie. I continue moving as I speak.

Reggie stops, raising his arms and begins muttering behind me.

Bailey latched onto his arm with her huge, strong jaw. She is trying to rip the sleeve off. From the ground, he's trying to flail her off and I watch as he raises his other hand toward her, sparks at his fingertips.

You hurt my dog and you and I will have bigger problems than you have ever had in your life, I snarl loudly to be heard over Bailey's rumbling growl.

It's enough to make the man pause, and he looks up at me and I see Bailey has yet to rip through the leather of his jacket. The momentary distraction is enough and Reggie shouts before the tall man on the ground straightens as if he's made of wood. The only thing moving is his face. Everything else is still, his hands by his side.

Bailey, release, I bark at my still-snarling companion, whose grip isn't as strong as it was before Reggie's spell hit.

Bailey, come, I yell more aggressively.

She looks up at me, mouth still open, and starts panting. She snarls at the man on the ground, but begrudgingly comes to stand next to me. When she does so, she's leaning against me heavily as she hunkers down, positioning herself so she's ready to leap upon the man if I let her. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure she'll wait for my command to do it. If this guy does anything she deems even remotely threatening, she'll be on him again. We're all lucky she tackled him and went for his arm instead of something like his face or his chest or attacked where stitches would be involved.

I let her continue to rumble her chest as she stands next to me, every inch the vicious creature people are always afraid rottweilers are.