Page 120 of Crown of the Fae King

49

Ding Dongs And Thunder

At breakfast that morning I was a bundle of nerves waiting for Kitch to join us. But when he did, he was smiling.

“He’s still in Wales. Made a call this morning. Hasn’t gone anywhere since yesterday.”

“I’ll call Brooks,” Wickham said, set aside his napkin, and disappeared.

We’d already packed a bag and had our strategy for after we left the police station. If anyone intended to catch us coming or going from Oxford, they’d be out of luck--we weren’t taking a car. And when Wickham and Alwyn had taken the car, to pop out for a siege-worth of groceries for those staying behind, they hadn’t gone to the local stores.

I don’t know where they went for sure, but I found a coveted box of Ding Dongs on my bed soon after they returned.

As for the Youngs and Meral and Reem, we knewtheyknew what was going on, we just pretended they didn’t. And they pretended the same. With the killings in Tunisia, however, they were all very happy to be living under the protection of theSeanathairof the Muir witch clan—according to Kitchens. At least, for now.

Thankfully, the estate was large enough to provide a change of scenery for anyone going stir-crazy.

Besides the seven members of staff, the brothers remained, both reasonably confident in Wickham’s power to keep the property hidden behind his magical version of camouflage. Everly and Urban stayed too, to monitor the progress of monsters along the Ninth Meridian East, prepared to go at a moment’s notice as always.

Kitch and Persi came with us to find the Naming Powers. A party of four wasn’t the most inconspicuous choice, but we could split up if necessary. Besides, I was just learning to fight, and was more of a liability than an asset. With the other two along, our chances of making it home again were loads better.

We just had one little stop to make before we headed for the first lighthouse on our list. Brooks was in Edinburgh already, and would pick the police station at random, then text Wickham.

At ten o’clock, right on schedule, the text came.

Brief, tearless goodbyes, then pop, we were standing in someone’s backyard.

The Corstorphine PoliceStation was a large modern building with sharp angles, covered in dark grey brick and teal-green siding. It sat on the curve of a busy road just a block from the backyard we’d found ourselves in. No one noticed when we slipped out the gate and onto the front walk.

Our nervous solicitor shuffled his feet in the tiny parking lot. “They’re waiting. I explained we’re here to give an official statement. They didn’t seem to know who Miss Todd is, but they will have found out by now. Still, I expect we’ll get in and out quickly.”

Kitch crossed the busy road to keep watch from a distance. Persi, Wickham and I went inside with Brooks, and we were politely led to an interview room where a middle-aged officer greeted us. He offered us tea, invited us to sit on thick-cushioned chairs, asked if we were comfortable. I got the feeling they were stalling. A look from Wickham said he thought the same.

“Miss Todd has a statement to read,” Brooks said, still standing. He was too nervous to sit, apparently, but at least brave enough to speak up for me. “We have safety concerns for her, so we need to be quick about this.”

“She’ll be safe enough here—”

“Turn on the camera,” Brooks barked. “We can’t afford the time to discuss it.”

The younger officer jumped to obey. He switched on the camera, aimed the lens at Lennon, then announced who she was, the date, the officers in the room before giving her a nod.

I read the words I’d practiced a dozen times, telling myself they were only words, and words couldn’t make me cry. “Nearly two months ago…I was walking from the Waverly Station to the U.S. Consulate because I needed a new passport. I realized I was being followed by a woman and two men. I stopped and let them pass. They continued around the corner. I was scared they might jump me, so I backtracked a little and hailed a taxi. I told the driver where I wanted to go and he turned that same corner, then stopped. The woman and two men climbed into the taxi with me.

“They mistook me for someone else and thought I had something of theirs. I told them they were mistaken, but they didn’t believe me. They…assaulted me, broke my arm, searched my clothes.” Though I fought it, tears came to my eyes and choked me. “They were pissed when they didn’t find what they were looking for.

“By then, we were in a dark parking lot. I kicked and fought, and when someone opened a door, I got away. I called my friends, then hid until they came to get me. I don’t know what happened to my attackers. I didn’t know anyone was missing until…recently.”

Brooks handed me a pen so I could sign the paper in front of witnesses. My hand jumped when a single boom of thunder shook the building. The officers chuckled, but I rose to my feet, unable to breathe.

“Skies were clear when we got here,” Persi said. She and Wickham were on their feet too.

Wickham headed for the door. “Ye think that was thunder?”

Fear froze me. I couldn’t even shake my head. “Not a chance.”

Wickham listened for only a second before he waved Persi to him. They both stepped toward me, but that young officer yanked me back behind him. Shouting erupted outside the door and he backed me up even further. The older officer joined him, putting their bodies and the table between me and my friends.

Wickham and Persi tried to round the table and close the distance, but the young officer held up his arm and reached for his baton. “Back! We’ve got orders to protect her, from her friends if necessary.”

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