Page 85 of Dead Serious Case 5 Madame Vivienne

“I’m sorry, Harrison can’t come to the phone right now,” a deep male voice says. “My cousin is rather… tied up at the moment.”

The call cuts off and we all stare at each other in shock.

“I’m sorry.” Dusty blinks. “Did I just walk into the middle of aScreammovie? What the fuck was that?”

“Oh my god, someone’s got Harrison.” Sam swallows hard, his eyes wide. Gone is the anger, replaced with something that looks a lot like panic.

“And I’m betting it’s the same nutjob that killed Viv,” Chan adds anxiously. “What was with the wholemy cousinbit?”

“If Harrison is Sage, which it’s looking very likely he is, and the killer is a descendant of Cordelia Crawshanks, then it would technically make them cousins just several times removed,” Danny explains.

“Fuck. Okay. So the killer has Harrison somewhere. They have to be at the bookshop. If he’s planning on opening the demon trap, it’s not like the venue is optional,” I point out.

“That’s a good point. Let’s go.” Sam stands abruptly knocking the table and setting the empty glasses rattling.

“Wait, wait. Just wait a minute, John Wayne.” Danny tries to inject some reason before we go off half-cocked. “Shouldn’t we have some sort of rescue plan? When has us barrelling in guns blazing ever worked?”

“But he hasHarrison.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of that, Tris, but surely it’s better to take a few minutes to figure out what we should do? Remember, Harrison isn’t completely helpless. He’s a witch.”

“Uh, so is the psycho who’s kidnapped him,” Sam snaps.

“Danny, I know you’re the dad of the group and I love you for it,” I say to my fiancé, “but we’re going in.” I stand.

Chan and Danny also rise from the table.

“Need I remind you he’s got dark magic?”

“Yeah, well, I’ve got uh, a…. Dusty.” I glance over to her to find her nodding and weirdly dressed in a spangly glitter-encrusted American football uniform with really tight gold pants, her blonde wig, and platform trainers.

“Nice.” Chan nods as his eyes glide over Dusty’s ensemble in appreciation.

“You tell ‘em, boo. I’m ready, coach. Put me in the game and I’ll show that arsehole that hurt Viv what a spirit guide in training can really do when you mess with her friends.”

“Uh… Okaaay.” I shake my head in an effort to get that vision out of my mind. Nope, still there. “Look.” I turn back to Danny. “I’m done with all this shit. He really picked the wrong fucking day to kidnap one of my friends. He may be a witch, but I’m a fucking ghost whisperer.”

They all stare at me unblinking and I swear I can hear crickets.

“Okay, that sounded better in my head,” I say dryly. “Whatever. Shut up and let’s go get our witch back.”

21

“Are you sure this is the right one? Because I’d hate toGreat Escapethis giant-arse wall only to find we’re in the wrong place,” I hiss to Dusty as Danny holds my foot to give me a boost up and over the tall brick wall.

“Actually, love, they burrowed under the walls in theGreat Escape,they didn’t climb over them.” Danny winces when I accidentally kick him in the ribs.

“I’m so sorry, baby. Are you okay?” I lay across the top of the wall and look down at Danny, who’s doubled over with his hands on his knees.

“I’m fine,” he wheezes.

“Oh my god, would you two like to speak a little louder so the psychotic killer who’s kidnapped Harrison can hear us trying to sneak up on him?” Sam hisses from the other side of the wall.

“I’m really regretting those last two glasses of wine,” I moan as I finish shuffling across the wall and dangle off the other side. I feel Sam grab my hips and help me down, and Danny scrambles over a moment later, wincing slightly as he lands.

Sam snorts. “Not as spry as you once were.”

“Fuck off,” Danny replies. “You’re like two minutes younger than me.”