Page 27 of Fresh Old Bounties

“Where’s Ian?”

Alex pointed his roller toward the back of the house. “Back there.”

“Thanks!”

I took the main hallway, pausing to admire the wonderful work they’d already done in the kitchen, and found Ian and Key in the tiny fenced backyard. A couple of flags marked spots on the overgrown grass, and Key was on her hands and knees, her fingers digging into the soil, and her brow creased in deep concentration.

My chest swelled at the sight. I knew Key would be perfect for Ian’s business.

“What are you guys doing?” I asked, way happier than seeing Key put to good use warranted. It probably had something to do with Ian standing in his all-black, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

“Working,” he said.

Key looked up, her expression filled with determination. “Here. It’s the last one.”

Ian marked the spot with another flag. “Thank you. Clean up and see if you can help the boys.”

Key nodded and ran inside the house, giving me a shy, happy smile on the way.

“Marking the position of dead bodies?” I joked, but only because Key had already checked my backyard for corpses.

Ian grunted, still studying the small expanse of grass and weeds. He pointed at a tree peeking over the fence. “Checking if the roots are messing with the pipes.”

“You’re welcome.”

He fixed those green eyes on me that made me want to melt. “For what?”

My grin was smug and toothy. “For Key.”

He huffed, but the ghost of a smile curved his mouth. “Did you bring us food?”

“No, but I brought you this.” I produced an individually wrapped candy from my pocket.

Ian eyed it dubiously. “What’s that?”

“An organic candy. Plum favor.”

“Plum?”

“As close to black as I could get.”

He laughed and took the candy. It disappeared into his jeans pocket. “Thanks. What new catastrophe brings you here?”

I opened my mouth, but he lifted a hand, cutting me off. “That bad? Do I need to sit down?”

“Not that bad.”

“We better go inside.”

I let him usher me back into the house and into the kitchen. He leaned against the central island, the top covered in thick plastic. “Tell me.”

Since he was asking so nicely, I told him about the spellbook call, about Dru and my suspicions about Preston, and about our adventures following him all over Olmeda. To finish the tale, I brought out the folded envelope and note from my back pocket and presented them to him. I’d put them in a freezer bag.

He looked at the bag, then back at me, one eyebrow rising.

“To check for fingerprints or something,” I said.

“Or something?”

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