He rolls his eyes. “A solid-state drive.”
“Go to school, and we’ll talk about saving up for the scooter if you help more around the café.”
He beams at me. “Thanks, jiejie. See you tonight!”
I wave him off and start my own coffee. While the espresso drips, I text Amherst.
Jade:What’s going to happen to my parents after the trial?
Armhurts:Good morning to you too. I’ll be there for coffee and paperwork in twenty minutes.
I huff at not getting an answer but keep myself busy until she arrives. I serve a few customers as she comes in, and then Nai Nai takes over, tottering behind the bar with her sweets display while the detective and I chat.
“Since their passports expired while they were being detained, there are going to be some hoops to jump through, but we’re starting the process now,” she says, then takes a sip of her black drip coffee.
“Is there anything I can do?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Not right now, but if you can find their citizenship paperwork, it’ll go faster once we get to that step.”
I pull out my phone and make a note.
“Okay, so I’ve got some stuff here for you to sign that just says you’re not going to discuss magical activities with people whom you know are not already familiar with the paranormal, etcetera, etcetera,” she says, holding out a tablet to me.
The contract is amillionfreaking pages. Okay, it’s one hundred and three, but might as well be.
“I need to read all this,” I say.
She nods. “I wouldn’t expect otherwise. I’ll leave that with you, but if you could try to get it done this week, that would be helpful. I don’t want to move my flight.”
“You’re leaving Saturday?” I ask.
She nods. “Back to the grind.”
I tuck the tablet against my side and sit back. “So do you do, like, normal human police work, too?”
She pulls a face. “As if there’s time. I’m strictly in the paranormal unit.”
“Are there a lot of magic-sensitive cops?”
“Just me and my partner in Boston. Our chief is aware of the situation, but he’s the only one,” she says. “Thinking about joining the force?”
I bark a laugh. “With my track record? Yeah, right. Plus, I think maybe we’re going to stay here a while, at least until Ace is done with school.”
She nods. “That sounds like a good plan. It’s a nice café. Nice town.”
“It is, but the living situation leaves a bit to be desired. I might move my room to the other side, if you know what I mean.”
She chuffs. “You guys are pretty involved then?”
“We’re mates,” I say, smiling at the idea that I was made for him, and he for me.
“Sounds serious,” she says. “Nai Nai approves?”
I glance at my grandma. “Excessively approves. But my parents, I don’t know.”
“Well, all in good time,” she says as she stands. “You read over that, let me know if you spot anything you don’t like. Not as if we can change it, but we can at least talk it through.”
I grimace. “Great, no choice, I see.”
