Page 44 of Bright Dark Curses

“Now, why would we want that?” he said in a deep voice that made my insides turn into molten liquid.

“Sacrifices are sometimes needed to teach people a well-deserved lesson.”

“Another affirmation?”

“Came up with it all by myself.”

He laughed again, and Good Mother Earth but how I wished he was back already. We could take the dogs out for a walk together, then return home together, eat dinner together, cuddle on the sofa together, and have the best life together. So what if a week ago I’d been horrified of anything fully serious between us? I was a convert now and I couldn’t wait to begin this new side of life together. “I heard you were told about Key’s case.”

“Indeed.”

“What do you think?”

“That it’s not my case.”

I rolled my eyes. “Ian!”

“Do you trust Key and Shane?”

“Of course.”

“Then they’ll be okay.”

“But do you have any idea of who it could be? Wait, I need to put you away for a sec.” I dropped the phone in my jacket pocket and cleaned after Fluffy, who panted all proud of her offering. “Yes, yes. You did good, Fluffbutt.”

Fluffy let out a yip and went on to join Rufus in sniffing a bed full of dead bushes.

“Sorry,” I told Ian, “Fluffy had needs.”

“Women, am I right?”

“Har-har. Any thoughts on who could’ve done the sabotage?”

“I don’t know much about movies.”

“There are some people from Olmeda working on the set. If we send you the names, do you think you could, uh, check it with the list?”

“There is no secret bounty hunter database, Hope.”

“Uh-huh. But maybe seeing the names will ring a bell?”

“If Key wants to send a list, I’ll look it over,” he conceded.

“Thank you, you’re the best!”

“There is no database.”

“Sure. Something else happened.” I told him about the Council witch’s visit and the test.

“You can’t trust anything Bagley says,” he warned. “She might be messing with you.”

“She was right about the potion, though.”

“It could be a set of potions often bought together, and Bagley’s trying to get into your head.”

“What would be the point? She’s at my mercy.”

“Have you heard of the tale about the toad and the scorpion?”

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