Page 46 of Resurgence of the Pack

Okay, so we knew the artefact was stolen by the 11thof August 1846, which was when that particular entry was made. I just needed to work back from there. Last time I’d looked through the journal I’d been searching for references to the seat of power; now I needed to scan it for references to the orb or the artefact.

I browsed through the pages, trying not to think about Kearns and the Domini, but even though I leafed through the whole thing I came up with nothing. Dammit.

Call Elvira,Esme suggested.She might know more about a theft. She’s the police.

I snorted.The theft was hundreds of years ago so it will definitely be a cold case. And the Connection was only formed eighty years ago, so they won’t have records about the artefact.

She might know someone who can point you in the right direction.

I didn’t share Esme’s optimism but there was definitely something Elviracouldhelp me with. Surely the Connection had a file on the Domini?

I took out my phone and dialled her number. The last time I’d seen her, she’d been storming out of Jess’s hen do after finding out that Jess had identified who was responsible for some crimes that she hadn’t told Elvira about. Before that, we’d been having a total blast. Hopefully Elvira wouldn’t hold a grudge against me for Jess’s actions; Jess and I might be besties, but that didn’t mean I had any influence over her behaviour.

The phone rang and rang. I was just about to give up when she answered. ‘Hi, Lucy,’ her voice was cautious.

‘Hey. I wondered if I could pick your brains about a few things?’

‘Sure. Shoot.’

‘What do you know about the werewolves having air powers?’ I asked.

‘Well, we all know you used to have them and now you don’t,’ she said levelly.

‘And?

‘And that’s it.’

‘No mention of an artefact being lost or stolen?’

‘No, nothing like that.’

‘Bugger,’ I cursed. ‘I’m trying to pinpoint when a particular orb was stolen, but I really haven’t much to go on.’

‘Is it important?’

‘I think finding it will restore the werewolves’ lost air powers, so yep, it’s pretty important.’

There was a pause. ‘Okay. Well, if it’sthatimportant… Off the record, I’d go and see the Librarian. It will probably be worth it, regardless of the price.’

‘Why do I get the feeling that the Librarian doesn’t work in a normal library?’

‘Because he doesn’t. He works at the Bodleian Library in Oxford in a specialist Other wing.’

I wanted to do a head thunk. Amber had told me to go and visit the Great Library in Oxford. I wasn’t fool enough to ignore the advice a second time. ‘Okay. You mentioned a price?’

‘Rumour has it he asks for a favour in the future. Word any promises you make very carefully,’ she warned me.

‘Wonderful,’ I said drily. ‘So I just need to drive to Oxford and then what? How will I find him?’

‘If he thinks your question is interesting enough, he’ll find you.’

‘And if he doesn’t?’

‘Then you get to enjoy a tour of a library that holds some of the oldest and rarest manuscripts in the world. The place is four hundred years old and houses more than twelve million books.’

My jaw dropped. ‘Wow. You know a lot aboutit.’

‘The Librarian didn’t find my question interesting,’ she said laconically. ‘So I took the Common tour. It’s a magical place, even if you’re not in the Other section.’

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