Page 35 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

He wasn’t going to relax until he saw her walking back across that bridge, hale, hearty, and triumphant.

And definitely alive.

Eve snorted.If I’m walking anywhere, it’s a safe bet I’m alive.

You know what I mean.

She squeezed his thigh.Yes, I do.

His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen.

Are we nearly there yet?

Hashtag laughed. “Horvan’s trying to be funny.” He typed.Just follow the lead dog. We’ll get you there.Him and the other two trucks filled with the rest of the team.

Not that he had any idea where Leighton Hall was. Roadkill was the one with the map in his head.

ROADKILL STOODin the doorway to Leighton Hall, staring out across rolling parkland. “This place is awesome. I can see for miles, and there’snothing out there.” He squinted. “Except for some grayish-white blobs way over there.” He froze. “I don’t wanna worry anyone, but those grayish-white blobs I mentioned a second ago? They’re moving.”

Beside him, Horvan chuckled. “That’s because they’re sheep. And you’re right. This place is awesome. Did you see the banqueting hall? I wanna walk through there with my elbows tucked in, in case I break anything historic. And these gardens are amazing.” His breathing hitched, and he pointed to one of the stone pillars that framed the steps leading to the garden. “Do you see him? Of course, it could be a her.”

“What are you talking—oh my God, would you look at that?”

A hawk sat on the pillar, its rich brown wings folded back, its long black tail feathers tipped with white as if it had dipped them in a can of paint. Roadkill imagined its curved yellow beak would make short work of a hot mouse lunch. And as for those bright eyes….

“I’m glad I’m not a mouse,” Roadkill muttered.

Horvan was on his phone, scrolling. “It’s a Harris hawk. Isn’t it beautiful?” Then the hawk took off from its perch, heading their way. It landed on the ground in front of them, peering at them intently.

It was Roadkill’s turn to catch his breath. “Either I’m paranoid, or that hawk is paying us way too much attention.”

“That would be because you’re standing in his doorway,” Aelryn murmured behind them.

Roadkill didn’t need to turn around to know Aelryn was smiling.

“Hisdoorway?” He watched as the hawk took several bouncing steps toward them. He paused, and Roadkill stood aside quickly. “Sorry if I’m in your way.”

The hawk bounced past them and entered the hall.

Aelryn smiled. “That was Richard Deveraux. This is his house. He’s one of my most trusted leaders, and I’m grateful to him for offering us this space during this mission.” He pointed to the thick green canopy to the east. “All this land belongs to him. You’ll meet him later, at dinner.” He touched Horvan’s arm. “Can we talk?”

“Sure.” Horvan gave Roadkill a smile. “Watch out for the sheep in case they decide to gang up on you.”

“Is that likely? Do they carry flick knives or something?”

Horvan’s eyes twinkled. “No knives, but they’re allbaaaadboys and girls.”

Roadkill groaned. “Doing impressions of sheep now? Wow. There’s no beginning to your talents.”

Horvan was still chuckling as he walked back inside.

Roadkill strolled across the courtyard and down the stone steps to the meticulously laid-out gardens. Eve had said Leighton Hall dated back to the thirteenth century, and seeing its gray stone walls topped with crenelations, as if it was a castle, he could imagine battles being fought beneath its battlements, bloodcurdling cries rending the air, thethudof horses’ hooves….

You always wanted to be one of King Arthur’s knights, didn’t you?

He laughed as Eve joined him. “Jousting sounds as if it was fun.”

“Sure,” Hashtag commented as he followed Eve. “You’d probably have gotten yourself run through with a lance. Mind you, you’re the right size to fit into one of the suits of armor I saw in the hallway leading to the banqueting hall. They weren’t big guys by the look of it.”

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