“And?” I asked.
Before Midnight could answer, Orville scored a point of his own, which led to another round of restrained clapping.
“Nothing really suspicious in there,” Midnight whispered. “Just some vials of the stuff that you and Artemus cooked up. We left them alone, though. Oh, and this document tube." My friend peered quickly under the table.
“What's in it?” David asked.
Shade held up his paws. "Do you see a pair of opposable thumbs here, Chief?" My kitty shook his head. "Kinda hard to, like, open things, when you're a cat."
"How does Jet get in the catnip jar then?" Midnight asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
Norris and Orville rallied the bird back and forth, neither one willing to concede a point to the other.
“You two keep the tube safe. Go back into the Flip and wait for me in the ladies bathroom next to Norris’ office, okay?” I looked around and then placed the dainty ramekin of tartar sauce under the table where my cats were. Midnight knew what to do immediately. He dipped his paw and began drawing his magical fish-sauce circle. My mogggie’s vanished just as the match came to a close. But not before Shade snagged the last piece of salmon from David’s plate. No opposable thumb needed.
As it turned out, the badminton game had been nip-and-tuck for the remaining ten minutes of the match. Orville won by a single point and also earned a boisterous standing ovation. The crowd was clapping for the memory of his father, and I noticed more than a few eyes glistening above the multitude of clapping hands. David and I made our way courtside and followed the edges of the court to the locker room where Norris and Orville had retired after the cheering had died down. CPI Trew and I waited patiently outside.
Orville was the first to come out. He looked up in surprise.
"Ms. Jenkins, Chief Trew, what are you guys doing here?"
I cast my eyes to the ground.
"Oh, yeah. Dad. Of course." He lowered his head and shuffled his feet, his long bangs falling over his face.
"So, you're a member of the Society then?" David asked smiling. "Must feel good to follow in your father's footsteps, right?" He encouraged.
Orville smiled. "Dad was well liked here."
"I don't doubt that," I said giving the teenager's shoulder a brief squeeze.
"Congrats on the game, by the way," David gave Orville a friendly slap on the back.
"The boy has the reactions of a striking cobra," a voice boomed from the door of the locker room. Norris stepped out beaming. I noticed that he had slipped something into his waistcoat pocket. I couldn’t tell what it was, but I imagined I saw a glint or a reflection as he concealed it in his well tailored clothing. The Vice-Chair stepped over to Nugget junior and followed David's lead by giving Orville a hearty slap on the back.
"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay for tea and scones, boy?" Norris held onto the kid's shoulders and gave him a fatherly look.
"Nah, I can't, Mr. Golden Chair, sorry. Futura 2 won't make itself. I've gotta split."
Orville nodded at David and me. "Ms. Jenkins, Inspector."
"Nice to see you, Orville. Take care. And, good luck with Futura 2!" I shouted brightly to his retreating form.
“Mr. Golden Chair?” I asked, looking Norris directly in the eye.
He averted my gaze and gestured for us to follow him to his study.
We hurried after him, passing the ladies bathroom on the way, where hopefully my cats were waiting for me.
Copperhead waved us into his office.
“At the moment, I am the interim GC, yes. It's hardly unprecedented given my predecessor's untimely demise. However, I'd imagine that the term 'interim' will change to 'official' sometime in the very near future." He cast us an apologetic glance.
"No other worthy candidates, then?" David asked, his face impassive.
"Nobody that has both political AND alchemical acumen to the level's that are needed for this position," Norris replied.
I didn't like the smirk on the guy's face. Something about him didn't feel right.
"Great position to have. Powerful" David commented.
"Well, yes. Yes, of course."
"Good motive for wanting someone dead." Ah, the punch line.
"I believe, CPI Trew, that your men have already questioned me on this case. I also believe they were satisfied with my answers."
David pulled out his notebook, rifling through the pages until he landed on what he needed.
"That's right, my men questioned you. So, let's go over what we have here." David looked up from his notes at the acting Golden Chair. "If you wouldn't mind confirming the details with me?"
"Of course, go ahead, Inspector." Copperhead nodded agreeably.
"So, you and Aurel were chummy. Did everything together, right?"
Norris nodded, his eyes misting over.
"Apparently, five days before his death, following a badminton match with the now deceased, you publicly announced that he was to be the Godfather of your infant, er, Ambronia?"
"Ambrosia. Yes, correct." The GC confirmed. "There's nobody I'd have wanted more than Aurel Nugget as the spirit-guardian of my beloved 'Rosia.'"
David nodded. "And, you, your wife, and Ambron. I mean, Ambrosia, were vacationing on Pandora when Mr. Nugget died?"
"Correct again." Norris sat down on the edge of the desk. "We left shortly after I made the announcement of Aurel being Godfather, some five days before, I guess? We have a summer home on Pandora. Near the Truffle Forests, in fact. I'm happy to give a guided tour to you both if you ever fancy coming for a visit?" Okay, my head snapped up at that. What? I've never tasted expensive truffles, alright?
"What else do we have here, " David muttered, flipping through his notebook once more.
"Ah, okay. So, two days after Aurel's death, you took a trip to, let's see here," Flip, flip. "Bonemark?" David peered at the GC over the rims of his John Lennon glasses.
"Yes, that's correct Chief. I went to Bonemark because the Isle had some materials I needed. Ore, specifically. Iron ore. I'd only planned to stay for the day, but after Aurel's death, my wife and I just wanted some peace and quiet so we could recover." Norris cleared his throat. "You have to understand; we were all reeling from the shock of losing my best friend. We couldn't face all the questions from friends and loved ones, so we took some time out on Bonemark. It was a busman's holiday more than anything."
Goddess, how could this man not be guilty? And, yet, all evidence seemed to be pointing toward his innocence.
I interrupted the conversation then. "If you'll excuse me, I have to use the ladies." I gave a lame curtsy and left the room. Curtsy?!
Walking down the hall, I could hear David go over the timeline of Norris' Pandora trip once more.
I pushed on the ladies door and walked into the lemon scented, tiled room. One of the cubicles was shut. I bent down cautiously, just enough to see feet if there were feet there. There were none.
I heard tittering then. Yep, discreet as always.
"Come out, guys," I leaned against the hand dryer, and my two kitties slinked from under the bathroom stall toward me.
“Okay, first thing's first, " I said taking the tube from Shade's clumsy paws. "Norris used his locker no more than ten minutes ago. Mind telling me how he didn't notice this was missing?" I waved the tube in the air.
"Shh, chill, boss lady," Shade patted my foot with his paw.
"We rigged a glamour," Midnight said, smiling up at me. "He won't know it's gone."
"How long does this glamor last?" I queried.
"Three physical touches and it falls apart," Shade confirmed.
"Okay, great. That gives us time. We have to assume he's already touched it at least once, though. I mean he was in the locker room for at least fifteen minutes, so the chances are high." I said, opening the tube.
"Sheesh, boss lady. Let's at least open that in here," Shade said, pointing one fuzzy paw to the bathroom stall. I glanced at the main door to the bathroom.
>
"Good idea, let's go."
Huddled in the stall, the two cats shared the toilet seat while I stood to unfurl the sheet of paper that the tube contained. A black head popped up over the edge of the sheet.
"Well, what's it say?" Midnight asked, peering over the markings of what appeared to be the same kind of map that Portia Fearwyn had hanging in her underground lair.
"Get, your head out the way, Middie," I pushed my nosy cat’s melon out of the way.
I was looking at a detailed map of the Coven Isles. I didn't recognize the language of the writing on the chart, but the shape of the Isles was unmistakeable. All of the well-known landmarks were well presented.
"What's it say? What's it say?" Shade was on tiptoes on the toilet seat trying to get a look at the pictograph in my hands.
"Guys, hold it, will ya?" On a hunch I turned my 'Sight' on, and surveying the map this time, something appeared that wasn't evident the first time I looked. A glyph. Shining blue and crystal like, not like the blood-red crosses marking the landmasses in Portia's lab. No, this was an ethereal marker. And it wasn't standing on any landmass. Instead, it was floating ghostly in what was clearly the Harbinger Ocean, just a few miles off the coast of Bonemark.
Hagatha had gone to Bonemark just before Aurel died. Could there be some connection? But, then again, smarmy Copperhead had also just been on a recent visit to the most northerly Isle. What did this glowing little cipher mean? We were interrupted then by soft footfalls.
"Shh!" I put my finger to my lips and stared a deadly silence into my kitties.
We heard whistling; an eery tune, that seemed to be comprised of mainly flat notes, followed by the rush of water as the woman (or, at least I hoped it was a woman) washed her hands. We held our breath until she slipped out the door. Something about that whistle was familiar somehow. I shrugged. I'm sure I knew at least half a dozen alchemist wives here, so it'd be no surprise if this had been someone I was acquainted with.
“Okay, guys, think you can make it out of here alive? Without alerting whatever Flip guardian watches this place?" I asked as I stuffed the map back into the tube.
"Well, it's weirdsville, but there doesn't seem to be a guardian installed in this place." Shade looked at his brother. "At least we didn't run into one, anyway." I held out the tube's holding strap for Midnight. He opened his mouth obediently. " Well, that's good right?" I asked, not waiting for an answer. Get this out of here in one piece, okay?" I questioned my map carrier. "So, three pieces in total, I mean. You, Shade and the Map. Got it? Meet me at Howling Mercy, Millie's room later. But, make sure you drop off the map first, okay?"
“Nah a pro'lem,” Midnight said through clenched teeth. “See ya a’ da hozz’ital."
With that, I left my two intrepid kitties and made my way back to collect David. Hopefully, he'd be done with his questioning, and we could leave Mr. Open Arms and this stuffy Society.
CHAPTER 16
Of all the things I expected to see in Millie’s room, an impromptu strip show wasn’t one of them. Through the outside window, I could see the sun just sinking below the Sugar Dunes horizon. A low, arterial-red ball of fading light. Carpathia was slipping into something a little more comfortable, now that her solar nemesis was retreating for the day. The covered-up vampire slid seductively out of her day-time bandages and poured herself gracefully into a midnight-blue velvet number. David, who had walked in seconds after me immediately cast his eyes to the floor.
"Don't like what you see, Herr Trew?" She gave a sideward glance to my embarrassed friend.
Onyx and Midnight strolled in after David, both trying their best not to snicker, as they hopped up on the sleeping Millie's bed.
David blushed and gave a nervous laugh.
Carpathia chuckled in delight. She was likely at her happiest making men uncomfortable.
“Carpathia Alecto, meet Chief Para Inspector Trew,” I said,
“Ah, the head of our local constabulary,” Carpathia said, flicking the used bandages into a nearby trashcan. “I’ve heard many good things about you, Herr Chief Inspektor. Thus it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“I think it was significantly wise that we didn't bring Romeo," Onyx suggested from the nook of Millie's left arm.
"Romeo?" Carpathia asked. "Is he one of your siblings?"
"That is correct, Ms. Alecto. Although, my brother's true name is Shade. Sadly, the poor misguided chap has severe Romeo tendencies. He would be, ah, shall we say an 'appreciator' of your fine form." My overly dramatic cat bowed his head in deference to the undead woman.
Carpathia clapped her hands together in unbridled glee. "I must meet this brother of yours!" She pulled out a piece of chalk then. From where I don't know. The dress looked like it had been spray-painted on, and I certainly didn't notice any weird bulges, protruding from the wrong place, if you know what I mean?
Carpathia kept her eyes focused on the floor as she began sketching the beginnings of a circle. Not unlike Midnight's paw-drawn portal to the Flip.
“So, Hattie, I couldn't help but notice your aroma in the ladies washrooms at the Society today." The vampire stated without looking up from her artwork.
"You sniffed me out?!" I could hardly believe what she was saying.
I shook my head, and then discreetly tilted it toward my armpit for a quick smell. Wasn't that bad. Even I was surprised.
"So, that was you washing your hands at the sink earlier?" I clarified.
"Indeed it was," Carpathia replied. "I presumed that you and your felines didn't want to engage in niceties." She continued her design, drawing finer symbols within the rim of the circle.
"What were you doing at the Society?" David asked, leaning over Carpathia to admire her handiwork.
"I had two purposes, Herr Inspektor. The primary one being that I needed to consult some texts from the volumes at the Society's library. They have one of the finest collections of books on the Isles, as it happens."
Carpathia drew a smaller circle within the larger original form and decorated this with a flourish of peculiar strokes. "Second," she continued, "I was hoping that I might gain access to Aurel's personal effects. He had in his possession, a totem that I'd very much like to be reunited with. I had given it to Aurel as a ... gift."
"What was this totem?" I asked, walking over for a closer look at Carpathia's rendering.
"It was of no significance. Just a fragment of whalebone." A new batch of symbols flew from the vampire's deft fingers, enhancing her floor design.
David and I exchanged a sharp glance. "Is this charm shaped like a sharp fang and has a crest of some kind on it?” He asked.
“Jawohl, Herr Chief Inspektor,” Carpathia said, looking up in surprise. “You have found this?”
“On the steps outside Aurel’s house,” I confirmed. “But, why would you be giving Aurel Nugget gifts?”
“Because giving gifts is what one does for a lover.”
Well, knock me down with a feather.
“So, Herr Chief Inspektor, would I be correct in assuming that you have the charm currently in your custody?”
“You would, Ms. Alecto,” David confirmed. “May I ask what the significance of the symbol is?”
Carpathia shrugged without breaking the rhythm of her design. “Merely a family heirloom whose only discernable purpose was to be passed down my bloodline to say that we still had it. Aurel often admired the piece, so in a token of affection, I gave it to him. As I would have my heart if he would have had it. We will never know now, will we?" She added bitterly.
"Why Aurel? If you don't mind me asking?" I searched Carpathia's face as she searched for her answer.
"Aurel, besides being a phenomenal lover," She didn't seem perturbed by her torrent of (way too much) information. "Was a passionate expert in Fae knowledge. Which also happens to be one of my devotions too." The vampire sighed. "You know we would often do research together? We had learned so much about the Unseelie Court on Mag Mell, you know?" She swa
llowed the painful lump in her throat. "It was all terribly exciting."
David and I exchanged another glance. I wondered how much Carpathia knew about Mag Mell and the energetic disturbances that emanated from the elusive Isle.
"And, how did the research progress? What did you find out?" David questioned, scribbling away in his notebook.
"About the Unseelie? Well, we know that they have latched onto the idea that anyone other than their kind is dangerous. And that 'we' mean to do them harm. They're a defensive bunch, as I'm sure you're aware." Carpathia cocked her head to peruse her work.
"But, anyway, we didn't get much further as Aurel's attention turned to dragons. Or, I should say Dragon Steel. My sweetie's brain was over-run by studies on how to forge and perfect the metal."
David and I gave her blank stares. "Dragon Steel. Once it's fully developed, it will be the only substance to guard against a dragon's 'warm' breath." She stood up from the circle, her artwork complete. "Although it doesn't look likely that this will happen now. Aurel was a master metallurgist. Only his son, Orville, would be a worthy replacement for his father. But, I understand Nugget Junior is busy with Futura 2. Commerce wins over universal affairs. And what a delightfully strange phenomenon that is!"
She motioned for us to gather around the circle. "In about two minutes the moon will begin its phase into full lunar eclipse. A few last minute preparations to be done. " She flicked her wrists at each of the walls. The walls immediately reflected the room, and it's occupants. Carpathia excepted, of course. In her hand, she held a compass. Each cardinal point directed at each corresponding mirror.
The moon, in resplendent silvery glory, peeked its arcing head over the Sugar Dunes.
"Lights, please," Carpathia requested. The lights clicked off, and the room was flooded with lunar light.
My heart was pounding. I knew nothing about the Presences. Other than that they were ancient and preposterously wise.
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