The Last Adventure of Constance Verity Read Online Free PDF Page A

you’re just as likely to have something weird happen. I don’t think your friend Dolores has ever forgiven me for ruining her baby shower.”
    â€œRuining? If you hadn’t been there, we’d all be brains in jars right now.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s the way she sees it,” said Connie.
    It was a complicated question. Did Connie cause strange adventures to happen by her mere presence, or did the universe compel her to stumble across them? She hadn’t ever figured it out, but she couldn’t blame Tia’s friends for being paranoid. If she showed up with Tia, half of them would probably make excuses to leave. The other half would politely pretend not to be expecting disaster to strike while jumping at every sudden noise.
    â€œHave it your way,” said Tia, “but you better not start your adventure without me.”
    â€œWouldn’t dream of it,” said Connie, though she had considered it.
    They parted ways, and Connie went back to her apartment in the better part of town.
    Mr. Prado was there to greet her. He usually was. He ownedthe building and spent much of his time in the lobby, reading books, waiting for someone to walk by so that he could start up a conversation. Connie suspected he only owned the building to be able to corner people on their way to the elevators.
    He perked up at the sight of Connie. “If it isn’t my favorite tenant. Tell me about the wonderful new job you found today?”
    â€œNo job today,” she replied.
    â€œOh, I’m certain you’ll find something soon. Unless you end up getting involved in one of your digressions. I wouldn’t be too concerned. I’m sure something will pop up soon enough.”
    Connie stepped into the elevator.
    â€œYou had a package delivered earlier,” said Prado. “Don’t worry. Refused delivery, as you requested. It was a most peculiar shape though, and it was singing. I do wonder what was in it.”
    Connie had stopped wondering years ago. She was always getting mysterious packages. Two or three a week. In her youth, she’d opened them with zeal, ready to dive into whatever strange exploit they’d begin. She’d since soured on those little enigmatic gifts.
    â€œThanks, Mr. Prado. You’re a lifesaver.”
    â€œAnytime,” he said as the elevator doors closed.
    Connie’s place was a jumble of boxes, packed with the treasures of an extraordinary life. Some might mistakenly believe her to be a hoarder, but she had room for all the stuff if she could find the time to unpack it. Adventuring was time-intensive, and there weren’t enough hours in the day tofight dragons and settle into any kind of routine. That was why Grandmother Willow’s blessing had been a curse. Being a part of both worlds meant something had to suffer, and as much as Connie tried to avoid it, it was the ordinary world that usually fell by the wayside.
    She unwound with a long bath and a beer. She sat on her couch, surrounded by her souvenirs, and tried zoning out by watching TV.
    It didn’t work.
    She was more wound up than she’d thought. The idea that this could be her last hurrah made her eager to get on with it. She’d never been terribly patient. She was a woman of action, and when she set her mind on something, she usually did it. But she’d promised Tia that she’d wait.
    But she wouldn’t wait in her apartment. She decided to go out. She had no solid plans, but she’d figure something out.
    While she was locking the door to her apartment, the door across the hall opened and a woman exited.
    Connie nodded to her. “Hello.”
    â€œHello,” said the woman. “Did you just move in?”
    â€œNo, I’ve lived here for a while,” said Connie.
    Suspicion crossed the woman’s face. “Huh. I thought they just used that place for storage.”
    It wasn’t far from the truth.
    â€œI guess we