Page 42 of The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag

Faran folded his arms. ‘Not without a warrant.’

Interesting. ‘It behoves you to comply with this investigation,’ I said.

‘This “investigation” is a farce. The hag is behind the murders. You’re working with the mine owners to cover it up, to force us to stay in the Chrome Mine when there’s a deadly demon stalking us! We all know the truth!’

Matilda had intimidated me a little, yes, but I really didn’t see her being a deadly demon; she’d actually seemed quite nice. A bit scary, perhaps, but nice.

‘The only thing we’re working on is finding the truth,’ Gunnar asserted. He shot Faran a hard look. ‘And you better believe we’ll find it.’

The dwarf stood up. ‘We’re done here.’ He wasn’t under arrest, so there wasn’t much we could do but watch him walk away.

‘He’s a keeper,’ I said sarcastically.

‘Not the most pleasant of fellows,’ Gunnar agreed.

‘He’s got a chip on his shoulder big enough to dive off.’

Gunnar chuckled. ‘That he does. Now, what are we going to do about my lack of lunch?’

‘Go to the diner?’ I suggested. The Garden of Eat’n catered to a paranormal town with a mix of nocturnal and diurnal supernaturals so it was open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week – though ithadclosed on Christmas Day.

Gunnar considered the proposal and dismissed it. He picked up his phone. ‘Hey, Sig,’ he said warmly when his wife answered. ‘The damned cat did it again.’

I heard her laughter and her loving response. ‘I’ll bring something over now.’

‘And something for Bunny?’

‘You got it. See you soon, BamBam.’ They rang off.

‘I’m surprised she’s still up,’ I commented.

‘She tends to keep to nocturnal if I am so we can spend more time together. She only goes diurnal if the office needs more cover. It’s been great having April because Sig and I have seen so much more of each other.’

I smiled. ‘That’s lovely. April was a great hire. She doesn’t get intimidated by anyone.’

He grinned. ‘No she doesn’t!’

‘I’ll go type up some notes on our interview.’

‘You do that. Sig won’t be long.’ Gunnar’s tummy rumbled. ‘Luckily for that greedy feline,’ he groused.

He was right: it wasn’t long before Sigrid bustled in with an oven dish filled with hot pasta and a happy Loki at her heels. The aroma made my mouth water. ‘I love you,’ I blurted out, making her laugh.

The hearth witch gathered me into her arms, ‘And I you, Bunny Rabbit.’ I let the nickname slide since she was bringing me food.

Loki said hi to Fluffy and Shadow and then started sniffing around the office. I warmed some blood and chugged it, looking forward to Sigrid’s food. Gunnar found some bowls and we sat together, eating at our desks. We were actually way past lunchtime and had probably strolled right into dinner, but either way the pasta hit the spot.

We were all happily eating when Loki cocked his leg and peed on the leg of Sidnee’s desk. ‘Loki!’ Sigrid chastened.

‘That’s why you’re not allowed to come to the office,’ Gunnar said to Loki. ‘You’re a bad dog. Why can’t you be more like Fluffy?’

Fluffy looked pleased while Loki, totally unperturbed by his telling-off, chased his tail. Sigrid sighed, stopped eating and cleared up the puddle. ‘Let’s not mention this to Sidnee,’ Gunnar suggested. ‘She can be funny about germs.’

I grinned and mimed zipping my lips shut. Sigrid washed her hands and joined us again. ‘How’s Stan?’ I asked as I wolfed down a huge mouthful.

She beamed. ‘He’s really doing well. He’s even been on a few dates.’

‘He has?’ That was welcome news. Stan had held a torch for me for a while and it had felt awkward when I had firmly friend-zoned him. Even so, I hadn’t missed theoccasional lingering glance he’d sent my way, or the way his touch lasted a beat too long. If he was moving on from me, I was all for it. ‘With whom?’ I asked.

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