The Shifty Champion

Leveling up is dangerous in the Trade. Promotions create jealous rivals and alienates allies. Shelton "Shifty" Sharpe thought that was only true for dark siders. His newest case proves it's true for all members of the Trade.

A young enchantress already has a protector eager to help a lady in distress. However, what she needs is an advocate skilled at creative negotiations. She needs to hire Shifty to break a bad contract for her.

The contract binds her to an embittered former mentor. She's risen from a club hostess at the Hellfire Club to a Diamond of the First Water at the Diamond Palace. There's no way she's going back.

Unfortunately, the Hellfire Club is the front for a coven. It's run by a powerful coven master who resents her for trading up. But none of this puppet master's proteges were former con artists.

Shifty will earn every penny of his consultation fee in this novelette.