Page 25 of Way of the Wolf

But… Duncan was here. And I might need that magic detector to figure out the exact location of the whatever it was.

I sighed. “I doubt anyone put a dangerous artifact in my heat duct, but if you want to stay, fine.”

“Okay.” Duncan rose from his chair and stepped toward the bedroom, but he glanced warily at the dresser before crossing the threshold.

“I put the cream away. I didn’t want to hear you shriek again.”

Duncan squinted at me. “I’m feeling the urge to do something strong and fierce to remind you that I’m quite manly.”

“If you want, I can find something heavy for you to carry for me later.” I pushed the bed frame farther away from the wall.

“That might do it. Something made from metal and spikes.”

“I’ve got three kinds of rakes if you want to tackle the leaves outside.” I waved out the window toward the autumn foliage scattering the lawn.

“Hm. Would you consider such an activity manly?”

“Extremely.”I knelt to remove the vent cover. “Sexy too.” Iwaggled my eyebrows at him, deciding that if I succeeded at inveigling him into doing yard work, I would offer him free parking for the rest of the week.

“Would you want me to do it shirtless?”

“That’s optional, though Grammy Tootie in C-3 would have her nose pressed to the window watching. I always catch her sneaking peeks at our contractors.”

“I’d be more interested inyournose against the window.”

“My nose is distracted right now.” With the vent cover removed, I dropped to my belly and lowered my flashlight into the hole. Of course, the duct immediately turned a corner, so I couldn’t see to the spot the magic detector had liked. The ductdidlook like it headed in the right direction to go past it. “I don’t see anything glowing,” I offered.

“I wouldn’t think whoever placed the item would have chosen that location if unexpected illumination might have seeped through the vent and alerted you to its presence.”

“I don’t spend a lot of time looking under the bed for strange glows coming from the ducts,” I said, but he was right. Iwouldhave noticed something like that at night with the lights out. “I can’t imagine why there would even be something down there.”

“Because it’s a good hiding spot,” Duncan said with certainty. And a little excitement. Because he had the heart of a treasure hunter? Probably. “I doubt whoever put the cameras up there anticipated someone cruising through your apartment with a magic detector.”

“With reason.”

I twisted to poke my arm into the duct, deciding I was glad I wasn’t alone. I might never admit it aloud, but the entire situation creeped me out. Images came to mind of rats and snakes and more inimical things lurking around the corner of the duct.

My phone rang in my pocket. One-handedly, I toggled it to silence without looking at the screen.

“I should have made you do this.” I patted about, shifting so I could extend my arm deeper and trying not to think about getting stuck. “To prove your manliness.”

“That is more in line with my special abilities than wielding a rake. If there’s anything metal on whatever it is, I could get my magnet to slide down there.”

“We can try that if—” My knuckles brushed something, and a zing shot up my arm.

I drew back, hesitant. It hadn’t exactly hurt, but it had seemed like a warning. Like maybe if I offended whatever it was, itwouldhurt me. Further, I wasn’t sure if I could reach deep enough to grab it fully. Had it felt metal? Magnetic? Maybe. It had been cool.

“Did you find something?” Duncan knelt close, looking at the vent and my face intently, eagerly.

“Yeah.” I eyed him.

The intentness was such a contrast to his usual affable smiles that it was unsettling. Was it possible he hadexpectedto find something odd in my apartment? I didn’t see how, as this was beyond puzzling to me, but he’d brought that magic detector in. And, despite his comments about analyzing my potion, he’d yet to swing the device over it. Could itreallyanalyze alchemical ingredients?

“Can you get it?” Duncan asked. “Do you want me to try?”

I started to sayno, but I doubted I could reach it. I would have to go down to the crawlspace and cut into the duct from below. Then I would have to later repair the duct.

“Go ahead and try.” I drew my arm back. “But it zapped me, so be careful.”

---