by Erin Johnson
I nodded—good thinking. She must’ve used the blow gun since it was the only weapon nearby that would allow her to hit Malorie from a distance. She couldn’t risk getting close to the phoenix, after all, not when it was about to burst into flames. I frowned—then again, why hadn’t she just used her wand? And come to think of it, she’d said Malorie fell and landed on her back—but the dart was sticking out of the back of her neck.
Rebecca spluttered. “W-wait—what?! I didn’t do any of that. I have no idea what you’re talking about! Someone shot Malorie’s body with a poisoned dart?” She gaped at us.
Daisy glanced back and whined. All true.
I groaned and thunked my head against Peter’s arm. I knew this had been too good to be true.
Peter tensed. “So we have a second killer?”
I raised a finger. “And let’s not forget a second body, plus a missing bird.”
Peter looked down, lips quirked to the side. “No ramen tonight, I’m afraid.”
“Boo.” I understood but was still disappointed.
Peter aimed his wand at Rebecca, and a pair of glowing magical handcuffs appeared in his other hand. “Rebecca Rutherford, we’re taking you into custody—you’re under arrest for the murder of Malorie Rutherford.” He faltered a moment. “And we’ll figure out the other details later.”
17
THE BOYS
The station at the top of Bijou Mer bustled and buzzed with energy. Perps sat with their heads in their magically handcuffed hands, cops shouted at each other from across the jumble of metal desks, and stacks of papers, arrest warrants, and case files whizzed through the air overhead.
Edna, the precinct’s manager, waved wildly, half raised from her stool behind the tall front counter. She sank back into her seat, looking relieved, when I pointed her out to Peter. We headed her way, Rebecca Rutherford sandwiched between Peter and Daisy.
“Oh, doll face, I’ve been tryin’ to reach ya!” She let out an exasperated sigh and flashed her eyes at Peter from behind her purple cat glasses.
“Oh. Snakes.” Peter dug around in his pocket and withdrew the gumball-sized communication device. “Sorry, Edna.”
She winked. “No worries, kid. Hey, girlie and toots.”
I grinned and said hello as she reached over the edge of the desk. Daisy pressed her side up against the wood paneling, and Edna scratched the pup’s head. Daisy closed her eyes and groaned with bliss.
Oh—that’s the spot.
Edna’s bright pink lips pressed tightly together as her gaze landed on Rebecca. “And who’s this?” She looked up at Peter. “We booking her?”
He nodded. “Rebecca Rutherford, for the murder of Malorie Rutherford.”
Edna’s thin brows twitched up. “You may want to pass her off to Russo for all the processing.”
Rebecca, whose shoulders sagged, whimpered. “Processing?” She swayed on her feet, the color gone from her already pale face. No doubt the night and all the murdering she’d done had really taken it out of her.
Edna pointed a long, candy-pink nail to our left. “That one better sit down. Leave her to me. Bon wants to see you about something.” She rolled her eyes. “Insists it’s urgent, but you know him. Everything’s urgent.”
Peter sighed. “Thanks, Edna.”
She winked again. “No sweat.” She winked at me. “He being a good boy to you?”
I nodded. “Definitely.”
She let out a deep, raspy laugh. “Hopefully not too good.” She winked again, then called out for Russo.
The rookie cop jolted up from behind one of the nearby desks and dashed over, taking Rebecca off our hands. Peter, Daisy, and I moved a little way off to the side.
He grinned down at me. “I have to finish up a few things here.” He dug around in the pocket of his blue trousers. “I’ve been meaning to give this to you.” He pulled out a small gold key and held it out to me.
My smirk dropped, and I blinked down at it. “Is this…?” I gaped up at him.
He nodded, a twinkle in his eye. “I figured it was about time you had a key to my place.”
My whole chest and face grew hot, and I couldn’t help but smile. “This is a big step, you know?” I plucked up the key and held it up. “Once you let me in, I’m hard to get rid of.”
“It’s yours… like my heart.” Grinning, he leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
I clicked my tongue—that was too much. But it was also pretty cute.
“I’ll finish up with Bon as quick as I can, then meet you back at my apartment?”
I nodded, grinning.
He started across the busy station floor with Daisy trotting behind him, growling to herself. They’re being gross again.
I watched him go, then looked down at the key in my hand, my whole body flushed with happiness. I stuffed the key in my pocket and turned around, heading back out into the chilly night. I strode out of the ancient medieval keep that was Bijou Mer’s jail/police headquarters, nodding at the guard through the window in the stone wall and ducking my head as I passed under the raised portcullis.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, chilled and eager to get home and warm. I grinned to myself—I’d go by my place to pick up some spare clothes, then head back up to Peter’s. I looked forward to snuggling up with him, nice and warm under the blankets.
Up ahead, the path dipped, fog gathering in the hollow that passed through the bramble patch. I slowed my pace as a few shadowy figures came into view, lurking near the entrance to the tunnel formed by the thorny vines.
My chest grew tight as I tried to peer through the darkness and mist. I glanced back—I could go get Peter, but I didn’t want to bother him, and I was sure no one would be dumb enough to mess with me right outside the police station… probably.
I squared my shoulders, lifted my chin, and walked steadfastly forward. Nobody had to know I’d had my powers stripped by that curse a few years ago—for all these hooligans knew, I was a powerful witch who could take them all. The mist swirled as I neared, the shadowy figures sliding closer.
“Hey. Wait up.”
I recognized the voice and rolled my eyes. Of course. “Neo. How nice of you to stalk me.”
The ringleader of this particular little branch of Ludolf Caterwaul’s army stepped forward out of the fog and glared at me, his dark eyes narrowed to tiny slits, his hair slicked back and shiny.
“Hey, boys.” I nodded my greetings to his underlings.
Sacha, an enormous, bald brute of a man bowed his head. “Hi, Jolene.” Despite being the size of a small house, with his thick brow and deep voice, Sacha was always polite and gentle with me.
I grinned at him while Viktor, twitchy and wiry and covered from head to toe in tattoos, giggled nervously.
Neo blocked my way, arms crossed, stance wide. Though he now sported trendy haircuts and stylish black clothes, to me, he’d always be that small kid I’d grown up with in the orphanage.
I raised a brow at him, unintimidated. “Yes?”
Neo still glared at me. “What have the police found in the case tonight?”
I thumbed over my shoulder. “Why don’t you go ask them yourself?” I moved to pass him, but he sidestepped, blocking my way.
“This is coming from Ludolf.”
I flashed my eyes at him. “Do you enjoy being his little lap dog?”
Color flushed Neo’s pale cheeks as Viktor giggled and wrung his hands. Sacha clamped a massive hand down on his shoulder, and the weasel shifter grew slightly more still.
Neo took a step toward me, his nostrils flared, jaw set. “You do remember Ludolf’s only letting you out on so much leash because he wants you collecting police intel for him, yeah? He could just keep you down in the sewers.”
Chilly fear ran down my spine as a light rain began to fall. It was true. Ludolf could just keep me down in the sewers, performing endless experiments on me, testing potions until he found what he was looking for.
Part of me just assumed he was toy
ing with me, scaring me till he decided to end me. But another part of me suspected there was more behind it—something about the way the curse had stolen my powers and ability to shift seemed to excite him.
I shuddered and blinked a raindrop out of my eyes as hot anger flushed through me. I hated that Neo was right—that Ludolf could do whatever he wanted. It was why Peter, Will, Heidi, and I had vowed to look into Ludolf and find some way to put him behind bars. In the meantime, though, I was at his mercy, and I hated feeling powerless.
I balled my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms. “You can report back to your master that the cops have made an arrest… but are still looking into the case.” I plastered on a smile that felt more like a grimace. “Happy?”
I moved to pass him and again he blocked my way. I flashed my eyes at him in warning. I was not in the mood to be messed with, and while he knew that I didn’t have any magic, I’d bet I could still pummel him.
He looked smug. “You’ll keep us in the loop.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like I have a choice.” A thought cut through my annoyance. “Wait—why does Ludolf care about this?” I cocked my head, watching Neo. “And why was he even at the fundraiser tonight?”
Viktor let out a manic giggle, and Sacha muttered a few quiet words to him. Neo shot the wiry man a harsh look, then raised a brow at me. “That’s not your business—Ludolf has his reasons.”
I shrugged, trying to get more information out of him. “I can’t protect him if he’s behind this.” Had Ludolf killed those two women for some reason? Could this be the case that we finally nailed him on?
Neo shrugged back, his lips pressed tight together.
I stepped closer, and he held his ground, though he leaned his head away from me. I grinned, suddenly feeling more like the cat and less like the mouse. “Right… is Ludolf interested in the phoenix?”
I watched his reaction closely, but he didn’t give anything away. I tried again. “Did he steal it?” I narrowed my eyes. “For his potions, maybe?”
Neo huffed. “I can’t say.” He pointed a finger with a black ring around it at me. “The boss just said to tell you not to ask too many questions. Got it?”
I scoffed. “It’s kind of my job as a consultant for the police to ask questions.” I decided to try a little reverse psychology. “Whatever. I bet you have no idea why Ludolf cares about this. Not like you’re his confidant and right-hand man. I bet he can’t even remember your name.”
Neo’s lip twitched, curling with anger. He bared his teeth at me. “Just do what he said—don’t look into it too much and keep us informed on how the investigation is proceeding, got it?”
I rolled my eyes.
He huffed and marched forward until he stood right in front of me, nearly chest to chest. I recoiled a bit, Heidi’s teasing that Neo had a crush on me suddenly seeming less far-fetched.
His eyes held an earnestness I hadn’t seen from him much, his brows lifted in the center. “Please, Jolene. Don’t mess with Ludolf, or he’ll hurt you.”
It didn’t sound like a threat this time… more like a plea. It took me aback, but after a moment I shrugged it off. “He’s already hurting me.” I raised my brows. “You’re working for a bad dude, you know that right?”
He shook his head and stepped back. “We grew up together, Jolene. Not all of us got a lucky break and ended up lawyers.” He rejoined Sacha and Viktor. “What choice did I have, huh? We’re both doing what we have to to survive.” He pointed at me. “Don’t forget what I said.”
With that, he marched through the tunnel of brambles, Viktor skipping behind him, giggling. Sacha gave me a wave, then ducked his head and followed.
I watched them disappear for a moment into the fog, then leaned forward and cupped my hands to the sides of my mouth. “I’m going that way too, you know? You just made this awkward. Guess I’ll give you a head start.”
The only reply was some manic laughter from Viktor. I crossed my arms and tapped my toe as I thought the interaction over. Judging by Neo’s reaction, I’d caught the fish on the first cast—he had no idea why Ludolf wanted to be clued in on this case.
But I could also tell he was scared for me. I shivered and waited a few more moments before walking alone into the pool of fog toward my place on the bottom tier of the island.
18
WILL AND HEIDI
Crowds of bargoers poured in and out of clubs pulsing with music, and shoppers swarmed the jumble of stalls and food carts when I made it back to the Darkmoon District. Neon lights reflected off the puddles, which shimmered with a pattering of rain, and the smells of sizzling spices and savory meats mixed with the less than appetizing fog that drifted up from the sewer grates. I ducked down Urchin Alley and hung a right, heading toward my place.
When I got to my graffiti-covered door, my cold hands fumbled with the keys as the bass beat from the bar below my place thumped in my chest. The lock turned, and I pushed the door in, stepping out of the rain and into the narrow stairwell that led up to my apartment. My foot slid, and after my stomach lurched back into place, I glanced down to find a slip of parchment under my boot.
I dipped down and grabbed the folded paper with Jo scribbled across the top. My stomach clenched as I stared down at it in the dim light coming from my place at the top of the landing. Ludolf’s style was usually to carve an annoyingly difficult to fix symbol into my door anytime he wanted to see me, but still—who else liked to leave me cryptic notices in the middle of the night?
With a sigh, I leaned my back against the cold wall, the tight space vibrating with the bar’s music, and unfolded the note.
Hey, girly.
I grinned, and that knot in my gut relaxed—okay, definitely not from el creepo. Friendly was not his style.
I came by looking for you—I have some info on you-know-who. Talk soon.
—Madeline
I heaved a sigh of relief and trudged up the steep steps, then pushed through the beaded curtain to my run-down apartment. I thought the letter over as I dug through piles of laundry and threw some spare clothes and pajamas into a beat-up leather backpack.
So our intrepid reporter had dug up some dirt on Ludolf. I grinned to myself—good. Maybe we’d be able to book him on some charges that would actually stick this time and throw him behind bars before he tested any more mysterious potions on me.
I checked the time on the clock in the kitchen. It was getting late—I’d have to go see her tomorrow night at The Conch headquarters, the local newspaper she reported for. Gary the cockroach scuttled around in my cupboards, muttering about how stingy I was for not leaving more crumbs out for him. I shook my head and finished packing.
After I changed clothes, jogged back downstairs, and locked the door behind me, I pulled my hood up to shield me from the rain and looked left, toward Peter’s place, then right.
It sounded like Peter had some business that might keep him busy in the precinct for a bit, so I decided to pop over to Will’s back alley veterinary clinic to say hi and fill them in on the case.
Heidi let me in with a squeal and gave me a tight hug, pinning my arms to my sides.
“Oof! You’re crushing me.”
But she just giggled and hugged me tighter. “Will!” she called through the swinging door to the exam room. “Guess who’s here?”
She let me go and skipped back behind the tall front desk to perch on her stool. “You have to tell me everything.”
I didn’t have a chance to answer. Will, my giant bear shifter friend, shoved through from the back, wearing his typical scrubs and white lab coat. He glowered at me from under his bushy brows. “You stole my assistant all night. Better have been worth it, Jolene.” I cocked a brow at him, and he glared back at me.
Heidi rolled her eyes at Will and bounced her foot, neon pink leg warmers up to her knees. “Tell me what’s going on with the murder case? Do you know who killed those women?”
I filled them in. “I think something’s going on wit
h Malorie Rutherford’s husband, though he seems completely clueless and spineless. Their veterinarian seems shady and disgruntled, their recently fired head zookeeper was caught trying to steal a wombat, and we actually arrested her stepdaughter, who admitted to killing her.” I narrowed my eyes. “Though I don’t think she actually did.”
Heidi gaped, and Will pulled his chin back and blinked at me. “Um… why not?”
I heaved a sigh and settled my chin on my crossed arms. “Because she admitted to pushing Malorie, but the woman died of a poisoned dart to the back of the neck.” I narrowed my eyes. “We think. We still have to wait on the coroner’s report.”
Heidi curled her lip and exchanged a look with Will.
I pushed myself back upright. “Plus, the stepdaughter didn’t know anything about our second victim, our mysterious Jane Doe who no one seems to know anything about or even have heard of before.”
Heidi frowned and nibbled the end of a pencil. “Oh!” She gasped, and her eyes lit up. “It was a sanctuary! Were the animals able to tell you anything?”
“No.” I grabbed one of the hard lobby chairs and dragged it over to the front desk. I flopped into it and slumped down, groaning—I’d been on my feet all night.
Will sniffed. “Such a lady.”
I shook my head. “It was… weird. The animals acted like they didn’t understand me or something. But then when I talked to the wombat that woman was trying to steal, it could understand me just fine.”
Will’s already huge eyes grew wider, and he let out a sharp gasp. “Are your powers slipping?” He glared at me. “Was it that last potion Ludolf tested on you?”
“Will!” Heidi whacked him on the arm, but he continued to glare at me.
I sighed. I knew he was coming from a place of caring about my health and safety, but it was getting old. “We’ve been over this. I’m just cooperating with Ludolf while we look into him and try to figure out a way to hopefully put him away for life.”
