Page 38 of A Skirl of Sorcery (The Cat Lady Chronicles #3)

Chapter

Thirty-One

Isuspected Captain Montgomery was standing stiffly to one side because he was worried about getting cat hair on his smart clothes. I didn’t take offence; I simply signed my statement and handed it to him.

‘The sphere,’ I said. ‘The … thing that Leighton used to extract magic. Where is it?’

‘It’s been destroyed,’ Montgomery said. ‘It’s too dangerous to keep around even as evidence.

We’re looking into how he created it in the first place.

We can find nothing to suggest there are any other such spheres in existence and we don’t expect any further occurrences of magic soul theft now he’s gone. ’

‘I certainly hope not,’ I murmured. ‘I suppose it helps that Jimmy Leighton has taken the secret of the sphere with him to his grave.’

Montgomery eyed me. ‘Indeed. Although it’s interesting that dead bodies seem to accrue when you are around, Ms McCafferty.’

I tried – and probably failed – to look innocent.

‘If you want to arrest me for my actions, Captain, I understand.’ I held out my hands to indicate I was ready for his handcuffs.

Both Thane and Keres stared at me. Fortunately they were too sensible to say anything, although their expressions spoke volumes.

‘That will not be necessary, Ms McCafferty.’ He paused. ‘This time.’

I blinked in mock disbelief at the implication that there would be another time when our paths would cross. Then I thought of something else. ‘Captain,’ I said, ‘if someone were to seriously consider becoming an adjunct to the MET, would any training programmes be available?’

Thane’s eyebrows shot upwards though Montgomery only looked mildly amused.

‘An adjunct? One is either in the MET or is not. There is no such thing as an adjunct.’ He folded his arms. ‘Certainly not an official adjunct. The Magical Enforcement Team must abide by very strict rules, you know that. There are limits to what we are allowed to do and many areas where we cannot tread.’

I held up my hands in mock surrender. ‘I was only curious.’

His eyes gleamed. ‘Of course, there are many reasons as to why an unofficial adjunct might be useful. I’ll look into training programmes.

It might not be a bad idea.’ He produced a sheet of paper.

‘To illustrate my point, this is a list of recent burglaries and home invasions in Coldstream. I’ve cross-checked it against those who have also reported the violent sundering of their magic souls. ’

‘Let me guess,’ Thane said. ‘No matches, no connections, No links.’

I grimaced. In my previous career mistakes were never an option, but as far as Bin was concerned I’d made several, and I’d probably done the same with Tobias Hollow. Only time would tell with that ornery bastard.

‘Nary a one.’ Montgomery pursed his lips then his eyes crinkled kindly.

‘In my experience, investigative failures and mistakes narrow down possibilities and help lead to eventual success.’ He waved the list of names.

‘You have a way of looking at situations that can shed new light on old problems, Ms McCafferty.’

I tilted my head. ‘Was that a compliment, Captain?’ From the kitchen table, He Who Crunches Bird Bones purred loudly.

Montgomery sniffed. ‘Don’t let it go to your head.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll take my leave. For now.’

I walked him to the door and smiled as he veered around She Who Loves Sunbeams, who had elected to take advantage of the morning sunshine and plonk herself in the middle of the garden path. Then I turned to Keres. ‘Are you ready to go?’

She shouldered her bulging bag. Thane gave her a tight hug. ‘Stay safe,’ he murmured. ‘And stay in touch.’

‘You’re not coming?’ she asked.

He sent me a brief sideways glance and shook his head. ‘No. I’ve got to find a new place to stay. My old flat is … unavailable. I need to find somewhere new that will suit Tiddles and me.’

I frowned. I hadn’t seen Tiddles for a couple of hours and I suspected that meant trouble, though Thane’s ginger cat had proved she could take care of herself. Most of the time.

‘Come on,’ I said to Keres. ‘Let’s make a move. Would you like me to help you with your bag?’

Her expression softened. ‘No, I can manage it, Kit. Thank you.’

Fair enough. Not every facet of our character was open to change and it appeared that Keres was still struggling to accept help, but we were all works in progress in our own way. I stepped back and allowed her to take the lead.

Dave was waiting by the gate with a scowl on his face. ‘You’re leaving, then?’ he asked gruffly, even though he knew the answer.

‘It’s time,’ Keres said. ‘Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me, Dave.’

His scowl turned ferocious but, unable to stop himself, he reached forward and pulled her into a bear hug. ‘You look after yourself, you hear? I’ll come over to Barton Street next weekend for a visit but if you need anything in the meantime, you get in touch.’

Keres sniffed into his chest. ‘I will.’

Eventually, they parted. Dave’s bottom lip jutted out and the creases in his forehead were deeper than ever when we turned away and walked down my narrow street. I suspected he would stay by the gate until long after she had disappeared.

As soon as we reached Slasher’s – or rather Suzanne’s – house, there was a cry of delight. Kate, her daughter, flew over the fence in a move that I heartily approved of then zipped towards Keres, pigtails bouncing behind her. ‘I made you a goodbye card!’

She thrust a folded sheet of paper into Keres’ hands. There was a scribbled drawing of a skull and crossbones on the front. Okay, then. ‘Are you going to sing now? Are we going to die?’

‘Not today.’ Keres smiled as she held up the card. ‘Thank you for this. It’s beautiful.’

‘My mum says she hopes you’ll come and visit some time,’ Kate burbled.

My eyes met Suzanne’s as she hovered by her front door.

‘And I hope you will, too,’ Kate said. ‘Mum says that next time you can come and have some cake with us.’

Suzanne smiled.

A few doors down, Arthur Dinsbury gazed at us for a long moment before lifting a hand towards Keres, either in greeting or farewell. Probably both. Not for the first time, I wondered if the three of us still possessed vestiges of Keres’ magic. I guessed we’d find out soon enough.

‘I’d like that a lot,’ Keres told her.

Harvey Johnson was waiting at the end of the road. He was pale faced and sweating but he broke into a beaming grin when he caught sight of Keres. She rolled her eyes but she was smiling. ‘I thought we agreed to meet at Crackendon Square,’ she said to her husband, sounding faintly exasperated.

‘That was the plan. But this is Danksville.’ He glanced around nervously. ‘I thought I should meet you here instead. There are all sorts of strange people in this neighbourhood – sorry, I don’t mean you, Ms McCafferty. I don’t mean any offence.’

‘None taken,’ I replied while Keres’ right eye twitched.

Harvey took her hand and squeezed it. ‘I’m so happy you’re coming home.

I planned to get you flowers,’ he said, ‘but I can actually go one better.’ He reached into his pocket.

‘I found it wedged down the side of the kitchen cabinets. It must have fallen down there by accident.’ He unfurled his fingers and revealed a glinting gold ring. ‘It wasn’t stolen at all.’

Keres allowed Harvey to slide it onto her ring finger. ‘It still fits,’ she said and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. He crowed with delight and pulled her into his arms.

I left them to it: the last thing either of them needed was the likes of me hovering around them. Nipping across the road, I jumped on the first tram that appeared.

I didn’t know whether Keres and Harvey would last the distance, given that her instinct when the shit had hit the fan had been to run away from him, but the couple deserved the space and the freedom to find out without interruptions from a nosy cat lady.

My work as far as Keres was concerned was finished.

Besides, I mused, as the tram trundled away, I had a far more serious errand to run before all this business could be wrapped up.

Unlike last time, I didn’t have to beg for admittance into the Barrow werewolf stronghold. I had an appointment and they were expecting me. Hell, they wanted to see me. Desperately.

Two smiling werewolves wearing full kilted regalia were at the front gate as I approached.

Clearly the clan was making a point: We’re all fine here and we’re open for business.

I enjoyed the sight of a man in a kilt as much as the next woman so I didn’t complain, and I had to admit that it was pleasing to have the red carpet rolled out for me; it was a rare occurrence.

Both werewolves bowed and greeted me. ‘Welcome, Ms McCafferty,’ intoned the one on the left. ‘We are pleased to have you here.’

Uh-huh.

The wolf on the right smoothly picked up the thread. ‘Alpha Ashina Barrow is waiting for you inside. I will show you the way.’

I inclined my head as if I hadn’t been unceremoniously thrown out of these very same doors only a few days earlier. ‘Thank you,’ I murmured. ‘That would be wonderful.’

‘May I offer you some iced water?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘Room-temperature water?’

‘No, thank you.’

‘English breakfast tea?’

This could go on for some while. ‘I don’t want anything to eat or drink,’ I said. ‘Just take me to your leader.’

If the wolf was amused by my clichéd words, he didn’t show it. ‘Of course. Right this way.’

We stepped through the gates and into the small courtyard.

It already looked like a different place.

The rubbish had been cleared away and the weeds had been uprooted.

I nodded approvingly as someone called out from the rooftop to my left.

I glanced up and spotted two workmen carefully replacing the broken window.

The wolf beside me followed my gaze. ‘A game of football that went wrong,’ he said wryly.

I smiled faintly, then he led me inside.