CHAPTER 1

I should have known my day was only going to get worse. I hate cold showers. I really should be used to them, but I'm not. Wizards, we don't go well with technology. Electricity was a total bust and well, I'm somewhat afraid of the whole natural gas thing as I like my limbs to remain attached to my trunk. So, that leaves me with cold water and none too happy about it. I was out of coffee, and in spite of the cold shower, still barely awake. I had forgotten to feed Mouse before I fell into bed last night, so he happily helped himself to the remains of the twenty-five pound bag of kibble in the kitchen while I slept. Of course, I didn't realize this until I walked barefoot over what he left on the kitchen floor as I was on my way to answer the phone.

I managed to get to the phone before the machine picked up by hopping and cursing the man who created the "six tasty shapes" in Canine Crunchy Kibble. Leaning on the desk, I picked the offending "bone and drumstick" clinging to my feet then stood rubbing my left foot I answered, "Yeah." Murphy's voice greeted me sweetly on the other end.

"Harry, I need you out at Brookfield Zoo, now." No request, just a simple demand, "and I mean now, Dresden."

"Well good morning to you too. Murph, you know I'm not yours to order around. You ever think I might have plans." I squinted at my foot, and then gingerly set it down on the floor.

I heard the sigh, "Look Harry, I don't have time for this and I really need your help, besides you owe me and last week you were all but begging me for work, and come on Dresden do you really have plans?" I could hear the smirk in her voice.

I smirked back, "Well actually I do," I didn't but she didn't need to know that, "but I think I can manage to meet you there within the hour. Mind telling me what's going on?"

"Just get here Dresden."

I heard the click as she hung up. I sighed. She was right I did need the work, as evidenced by my lack of coffee. Wizardry wasn't an easy way to make a living, even if you were the only one in the Chicago phone book. Most wizards I knew had some kind of so-called 'real job' to keep a roof over their heads. I, on the other hand wouldn't know what to do with a nine to five.

I finished dressing, shoved my wand into my pocket and took Mouse out for his morning walk, though it was more like a run as he all but drug me down the street. We had just returned and I shoved Mouse's monstrous butt back through the front door. He didn't want to stay behind. He kept staring at me with that "please, let me come" look, and to press his point he levered his big head under my hand just as I was closing the door. This made me drop my keys, so I shoved my half-eaten bagel in between my teeth and bent over to pick up them up. I stood, and somehow managed to slam my head into the door jam, causing me to fumble the keys as I attempted to locate the one key that locked my door. All of which pissed me off. I stood there for a second rubbing the side of my head and cursing under my breath, which probably explains why I didn't noticed her.

She stood almost directly behind me, dressed in jeans and a blue peasant blouse that, dipped low across her ample breasts, and flowed loosely to her well-rounded hips. Being more than a foot shorter than I am, she looked up at me with a sudden, "Oh!" as I turned around and all but ran her over in my haste to get out to Murphy.

I gave her a sort of half smile, and took in her face. She wasn't what I would call beautiful, or even pretty, but she oozed confidence and sexiness and it surrounded her like the humidity just starting to hang heavy in the late July air. I cleared my throat and swallowed. I started to talk with my lips still around the bagel, before I remembered it was there, "Ivs air summin I cam oo foor oo?"

I hurriedly pulled the bagel from my mouth, "Ok, let's try that again. Is there something I can do for you?" She smiled, and I felt myself smile back. Damn, she was really cute when she smiled. I really like this woman and she hasn't said a word to me yet. The negative Harry in my head responded with, yeah, but once she gets to know you she isn't going to like you…just keep on talking and she'll run.

Her smile widened, "I'm looking for Harry Dresden. My guess would be that's you, but I see you are on your way out, so maybe I can just schedule an appointment for later." She looked up at me over the rims of her sunglasses, with her head cocked to the side like Mouse did when I talked to him.

I nodded, and smiled, then realized I probably looked like the village idiot, so I added actual words. "I'm Harry and yes I am on way out. I can meet with you later; I should be back around noon if that works for you?" I managed to offer my hand, after brushing the bagel crumbs on my thigh.

She started to reach for my hand, but stopped pushing her hands into the pockets of her jeans. I stood there looking even more like an idiot with my hand held out in front of me so I shrugged and dropped it to my side, maybe there was still something on it. She nodded and added, "Sure, noon is good for me. I'll see you then." She turned to her left, took about three steps then stopped. Glancing over her shoulder, she pulled her glasses down the bridge of her nose and caught my eyes, which hadn't left her since I'd first noticed her arrival. "Are you really a wizard?"

"It's what my business card says, so it must be true." I answered then whispered a quick spell under my breath, as my card materialized in front of her. She didn't jump, just grabbed it out of the air and palmed it into her pocket.

"Good." She pushed her glasses back into place and went on her way.

Well wasn't that odd, humph. I watched her walk away, enjoying the sway of her hips, until she turned the corner out of sight, then I headed to the blue beetle.