Jim Butcher - Side Jobs: Stories From the Dresden Files

Table of Contents

ALSO BY JIM BUTCHER

THE DRESDEN FILES

STORM FRONT
FOOL MOON
GRAVE PERIL
SUMMER KNIGHT
DEATH MASKS
BLOOD RITES
DEAD BEAT
PROVEN GUILTY
WHITE NIGHT
SMALL FAVOR
TURN COAT
CHANGES

THE CODEX ALERA

FURIES OF CALDERON
ACADEMS FURY
CURSORS FURY
CAPTAINS FURY
PRINCEPS FURY
FIRST LORDS FURY

ROC
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First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, November 2010

Copyright Jim Butcher, 2010

For additional copyright information, refer to p. 419 All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARKMARCA REGISTRADA

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Butcher, Jim, 1971-
Side jobs: stories from the Dresden files/Jim Butcher.
p. cm.

eISBN : 978-1-101-46453-3

1. Dresden, Harry (Fictitious character)Fiction. 2. WizardsFiction.
3. Chicago (Ill.)Fiction. I. Title.
PS3602.U85S53 2010
813.6dc22 2010028768

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHERS NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors rights is appreciated.

A Restoration of Faith copyright Jim Butcher, 2002. First published on www.jim-butcher.com .

Vignette copyright Jim Butcher, 2002. First published on www.jim-butcher.com .

Something Borrowed copyright Jim Butcher, 2006. First published in My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding , edited by P. N. Elrod (St. Martins Griffin).

Its My Birthday, Too copyright Jim Butcher, 2007. First published in Many Bloody Returns , edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner (Ace Books).

Heorot copyright Jim Butcher, 2007. First published in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon , edited by P. N. Elrod (St. Martins Griffin).

Day Off copyright Jim Butcher, 2008. First published in Blood Lite , edited by Kevin J. A nderson (Pocket/Simon & Schuster).

The Warrior copyright Jim Butcher, 2009. First published in Mean Streets (Roc).

Last Call copyright Jim Butcher, 2009. First published in Strange Brew , edited by P. N. Elrod (St. Martins Griffin).

Love Hurts copyright Jim Butcher, 2010. First published in Songs of Love and Death, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois (Gallery/Simon & Schuster).

Aftermath copyright Jim Butcher, 2010. Published here for the first time in any form by permission of the author.

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A RESTORATION OF FAITH

Takes place before Storm Front

This is the first of the Dresden Files stories, chronologically, and it was the first time I tried to write short fiction for the professional market. I originally put it together as a class assignment at the University of Oklahomas Professional Writing program, more than two years before Storm Front found a home at Roc.

This one wont win any awards, because it is, quite frankly, a novice effort. It was perhaps the third or fourth short story Id ever written, if you include projects in grade school. I had barely learned to keep my feet under me as a writer, and to some degree that shows in this piece. Certainly, the editors to whom I submitted this story seemed to think it wasnt up to par for professional publication, and I think that was a perfectly fair assessment.

Read this story for what it isan anxious beginners first effort, meant to be simple, straightforward fun.

I struggled to hold on to the yowling child while fumbling a quarter into the pay phone and jamming down the buttons to dial Nicks mobile.

Ragged Angel Investigations, Nick answered. His voice was tense, I thought, anxious.

Its Harry, I said. You can relax, man. I found her.

You did? Nick asked. He let out a long exhalation. Oh, Jesus, Harry.

The kid lifted up one of her oxford shoes and mule-kicked her leg back at my shin. She connected, hard enough to make me jump. She looked like a parents dream at eight or nine years old, with her dimples and dark pigtailseven in her street-stained schoolgirls uniform. And she had strong legs.

I got a better hold on the girl and lifted her up off the ground again while she twisted and wriggled. Ow. Hold still.

Let me go, beanpole, she responded, turning to glower back at me before starting to kick again.

Listen to me, Harry, Nick said. Youve got to let the kid go right this minute and walk away.

What? I said. Nick, the Astors are going to give us twenty-five grand to return her before nine p.m.

I got some bad news, Harry. They arent going to pay us the money.

I winced. Ouch. Maybe I should just drop her off at the nearest precinct house, then.

The news gets worse. The parents reported the girl kidnapped. The police band is sending two descriptions around town to Chicago PD, and they match guess who.

Mickey and Donald?

Heh, Nick said. I heard him flick his Bic and take a drag. We should be so lucky.

I guess its more embarrassing for Mr. and Mrs. High-and-Mighty to have their kid run away than it is to have her kidnapped.

Hell. Kidnapped girl gives them something to talk about at their parties for months. Makes them look richer and more famous than their friends, too. Of course, well be in jail, but what the hell?

They came to us, I protested.

That wont be the way they tell it.

Dammit, I said.

If you get caught with her, it could be trouble for both of us. The Astors got connections. Ditch the girl and get back home. You were there all night.

No, Nick, I said. I cant do that.

Let the boys in blue bring her in. Thatll clear you and me both.

Im up on North Avenue, and its after dark. Im not leaving a nine-year-old girl out here by herself.