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As we finally calmed down, his expression turned grim. ‘It’s time to be proactive, but I won’t pretend it won’t bedangerous. I propose we go to that hatch in the ground that you found then we go down the rabbit hole to see what we can find. I won’t order you to come with me.’

Sidnee folded her arms and glared. ‘Try and stop me.’

‘Ditto,’ I agreed.

Gunnar smiled. ‘I’m so proud of you both, you know that, right?’

Sigrid sniffed a little. ‘We both are.’

‘Group hug?’ I suggested.

Sigrid pushed me and snickered. ‘Nothing says professional officers of the law like a group hug before we go hunting.’

I grinned. ‘I bet the MIB hug it out all the time.’

Gunnar sighed. ‘Can we focus? I’m calling a council meeting.’

My eyebrows shot up. ‘Shouldn’t we explore first?’

He answered by standing up. ‘Yes, it’ll take the councillors a while to gather. We’ll call it, go explore then report back. But first we’re going to the gun safe and loading up.’

Sidnee and I smiled at each other. She held out her hand for a fist bump, and of course I couldn’t leave her hanging. Gunnar ignored our antics. ‘Vest up, ladies. The shit is going to hit the fan in the worst possible way.’ He was such an optimist.

We pulled on vests and loaded the SUV with shotguns and rifles. We all had service pistols, and Gunnar and Sidnee had matching magical bulletproof vests the same as mine. Even Fluffy was decked out in his.

Gunnar had called for an emergency council meeting at 3am, giving us a good six hours to check the situation below the hatch before we reported back; better to ask for forgiveness than permission just in case the councillors didn’t agree with our course of action.

Connor called me as we were getting in the SUV. ‘I’m coming too,’ he said, without preamble.

I looked at Gunnar. ‘Connor wants to come.’ He nodded tersely. ‘We’re on our way now,’ I confirmed.

‘Do you have your vest?’ Connor asked.

‘We’ve all got them.’

‘I’m going to call Thomas.’

‘You don’t want to wait for the council meeting?’

‘Fuck the council. We only have three Nomo officers – we can’t afford to lose one. Thomas and I will be backup.’

‘Doyouhave a vest?’ I demanded.

‘I don’t need one.’ He’d been shot in Sitka but, unlike me, he hadn’t nearly bled out; he’d drunk from someone and healed instantly. When I’d been shot, I’d nearly died and it had taken a lot of blood for me to heal.

‘Connor…’ I started. Even though he was more bullet safe than me, it had nearly killed me to see him get shot.

He gave a short laugh. ‘Don’t worry, I have a vest.’

I let out a relieved breath. ‘Good.’ We hung up. ‘Connor’s bringing Thomas.’

Gunnar gave a grunt of acknowledgement, but Sidnee looked worried. ‘I wish Thomas didn’t risk himself so much. He’s only human,’ she muttered mostly to herself.

I met her eyes. ‘He is also incredibly deadly and totally capable,’ I pointed out.

She nodded, but I could see she was still worrying for him. I suspected I looked the same at the thought of Connor joining us.

Sigrid stayed at the office to man the fort while April slept, and the rest of us set off. We were quiet on the journey to the mine. We drove past the wreckage and debris, dodging wood and twisted steel in the road and chunks of rock and pavement. The worst damage wasn’t so visible from the road.