Temping is Hell Read Online Free Page B

internationally—and inter-dimensionally—acknowledged sanctuary is no simple feat, as you well know, Aloysius,” Yagi said, in his lightly accented English. “Neither is building a military-grade, and paranormally protected, fortress such as this headquarters. If you didn’t have such powerful enemies in the Underworld, the precautions might not have been necessary.”
    Al frowned, making the mass of wrinkles on his face shift like a Slinky. “Well, pulling soul contracts from Hell’s archives and ‘relocating’ fifty Ammonite demons isn’t exactly a picnic either, Kato.”
    Yagi didn’t respond, but Thomas bristled at the old man’s insolence. “You’re valuable. You’re not irreplaceable.”
    “Aren’t I?” Al’s responding look was smug. “You really want fifty demons on the loose in your pretty new headquarters?”
    Now Yagi took a step forward, his small smile lethal. “I feel confident I could return them to their homes fairly easily.”
    Al tried to stare down Yagi but blanched when Yagi didn’t blink. He shifted his focus back to Thomas, licking his lips nervously. “Yeah, but I’m the only one who can get more demons here if I need to. And they’re the only ones who can look through the contracts and find the signatories you need.”
    Thomas gritted his teeth. “So again… What’s the hold up?”
    “They’re Ammonite demons.”
    Thomas waited. “So?”
    Al rolled his eyes. “Ammonites are the lowest class of demons. They’re not affiliated with the hierarchy. They aren’t subject to any demon lords. That means that they’re rogues, running scared… or useless, and nobody wants ’em. They’re dregs.”
    “So why do we have them?” Thomas snapped.
    “Boy, do you really think you want a demon foot soldier in here? Or a spy?” Al snapped back. “Ammonites are runty and vicious, stupid and weak. But we’re not looking for fighters. We’re looking for…” He searched for a word. “Clerks.”
    “Can they read?” Yagi asked.
    “Enough.” Al shrugged. “Don’t worry about my end, shinobi . They know what to look for.”
    Thomas noticed that Yagi made the barest grimace when Al used the Japanese word— shinobi. It meant covert agent, mercenary.
    Apparently, it also meant ninja.
    Demon wranglers and ninjas. Thomas sighed, covering his eyes for a moment. Ever since he’d started handling his little soul contract predicament, his payroll had gotten weirder and weirder.
    “I need those names, Al,” Thomas repeated, feeling weary.
    “Don’t sweat it. The demons will get ’em.”
    “You don’t understand,” Thomas emphasized, his voice cold and hard as an Arctic ice floe. “I need them now .”
    Al huffed, but there was a little flicker of fear in his dust-gray eyes. “Like I said, they’re stupid. Lazy, too. They’re going as fast as they can.”
    “You’d better hope not.” Thomas rested his hands on the desk surface. “You’ve got one month.”
    Al looked startled. Then his expression turned crafty. “One month, or what? We’ve got a contract. You promised me a place to live in the Havens—and sanctuary—for as long as I’m working for you. And it’s not like there’s any other way you can find the names.”
    “One month, Al.” Thomas’s voice was quiet, and the mildness of his tone only underlined the deathly seriousness of his statement. “Or, not only will I kick you out of the Havens… I’ll make sure all your old employers know exactly where you are—and what you’ve been up to.”
    Al turned white, then purple. He scrambled to his feet, hanging onto his cane like a life preserver. “You c-can’t—” he spluttered.
    “Don’t fuck with me.” Thomas nodded at the door. “Just get the names.”
    With one last murderous glance, Al turned and hobbled out of the room.
    When the door closed, Yagi sighed. “We can’t trust him. You know that.”
    “You’re the one who hired him.” Thomas walked to his credenza and poured himself a