Page 58 of The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag

‘Raincheck. Now go, before I change my mind.’ He slumped back onto the bed looking a bit grumpy. ‘Sometimes chivalry is a pain in my ass.’

I laughed. ‘I’m going.’

After my shower, as I was hastily plaiting my hair, delicious scents wafted up from the kitchen. Bacon! Connor had definitely made me bacon! In fact, Connor had made a full English breakfast. ‘No black pudding,’ he said apologetically. ‘So I substituted with Jimmy Dean’s.’

‘Is that close?’ I asked.

‘It’s just cheap sausage, but tasty.’

‘Thank you. I appreciate you making me a slice of home.’ I didn’t realise how hungry I was until the first bite touched my lips, then I tucked in to it like a starving bear.

Connor sat down to eat with me; it was nice and homey, and something we hadn’t done enough of. His house was still decorated for the holiday season with the tree up and multicoloured lights. My own house seemed sterile incomparison. It scared me how much Connor’s house felt like home but I pushed the fear down; I was done with letting that particular emotion rule me.

I finished eating and checked the time. ‘I’ve got to go. I told April I’d be there soon.’

Connor nodded. ‘I’m going to the councillors’ office. You’ll be calling us by the end of the day,’ he predicted.

He was probably right. Things were about to get messy.

Messier.

Chapter 34

The office was full when I walked in. Sidnee was there, looking clear-eyed and determined, and Gunnar was there looking grim. April appeared tired but determined; she had a huge can of energy drink on her desk, so clearly, she intended to power through another shift.

Sigrid was there, too, dressed in a homespun skirt and her ever-practical boots but with a new addition of tough, flinty eyes. It looked like she was stepping into the breach with us, too. ‘At least go and have a sleep in the back,’ she said to April. ‘I’ll man the phones until you wake up.’

‘Go,’ Gunnar ordered. ‘There’s a bunk in the back for that purpose.’

‘I won’t need much sleep,’ April promised. ‘Shifters can go without when we need to.’ She yawned widely then shuffled off.

Sigrid made us all drinks and we clutched them as we perched on plastic chairs in a circle. No one wanted to break the companionable silence because we all knewwhat was coming next would be grim. This was more than murder: this had been a deliberate mass killing. The thought shook me. So far the MIB group had clung to the shadows, tried to abduct us and subdue us with drugs, but now it seemed the gloves were off.

Gunnar broke the silence. ‘It’s not like I can contact the government and ask for the MIB’s assistance. This splinter groupisMIB, and they may even be acting with government approval – though Thomas and my other MIB contact assure me that won’t be the case. Even so, I can’t risk contacting the wrong person. If we’re going to take these fuckers down, we don’t want government witnesses.’

‘Hoorah,’ Sidnee said, but without any of her usual levity.

‘I’m certain this group is hidden and unsanctioned, but they’d still find a way to block any order the governor gives.’ He tugged on his beard.

‘What about I go out and look around Chrome Bay?’ Sidnee asked.

‘Absolutely not!’ Sigrid snapped, before blushing lightly and glancing apologetically at her husband. Clearly her presence had been allowed at the office on the basis that she didn’t countermand his orders.

Gunnar shot her an amused look that had a distinct ‘told you so’ edge to it; nevertheless, he agreed with her. ‘No, Sidnee, I’m not sending you out there alone. They’d kill you or capture you. I’d feel better sending Calliope – if she’d go.’ He frowned ‘Then again, she’s volatile and she isn’t law enforcement.’

He leaned back and the loud squeak of the chair sounded ominous. Abruptly, he brought his fist down on the table. ‘Damn it! We aren’t sitting here like proverbial ducks. We’re not ducks!’

‘Yeah!’ Sidnee said enthusiastically. ‘We’re like birds of prey! Bald eagles!’

Gunnar swiped a self-conscious hand over his head. ‘Speak for yourself,’ he muttered. ‘I have a full head of hair.’

‘Golden eagles?’ I suggested helpfully.

‘Do we have to be birds?’ Sigrid asked. ‘I’m not much of an ornithologist.’

Gunnar huffed. ‘The point is, we’re notducks.’

‘I quite like ducks,’ I murmured, making Sidnee giggle. Once she started, she couldn’t stop and the helpless laughter released the tension we were all carrying. Even Gunnar guffawed.

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