Page 13 of The Vampire and the Case of the Malevolent Mermaid

Oops, I’d better make introductions. ‘Ernie, this is Reggie. Reggie, meet Ernie properly.’

Reggie gave Ernie a shy twist of his mouth that barely counted as a smile, though he kept his eyes on the floor, then he shouldered my black bag of goodies and waited for the chai latte I’d low-key bribed him with.

While Ernie made the drinks, I carefully searched Donovan to make sure he had no weapons or contraband on him. He had his wallet and his phone and that was it. The phone case was noteworthy because it had a fake plastic turd on it. Like, who does that? It was grossandit would take up way more room in your pocket.

When they were ready, Reggie carried the three glorious lattes in a cardboard carrier whilst I shouldered Donovan in a fireman’s lift. Even with my strength he was heavy, though totally manageable. Still, the walk back to the station felt significantly longer than the jog to the store had been.

As we walked down the street, Reggie moved close to me for reassurance; he was almost on my heels, the way he’d have been as Fluffy. He scanned the area around us with the kind of hyper-vigilance I associated with trauma, though I noted that his gaze faltered and lingered on an attractive young male about his own age and his pupils widened. Hmm. I didn’t draw attention to it but filed it away for discussion on a good day.

Back at the office, I tossed Donovan into the magic-cancelling cell, uncuffed him and left him to sleep off whatever cocktail of arrogance and poor decisions he’d downed.

When I rang Sigrid, she answered right away. ‘Hey, Bunny! How are you?’ Her voice was warm and welcoming and instantly brought a smile to my face.

‘I’m okay. I have a drunk in the cell but I need to pop over to visit Sidnee.’ My friend needed to be warned that Donovan was quite literally gunning for her. ‘Can you monitor him remotely?’

‘I’ll come in,’ she said after a moment’s thought. ‘I just finished baking a pie – I’ll bring in a slice for you.’

‘I love you!’ I blurted, making her laugh.

‘I love you, too. And yes, I’m well aware that food is your love language. I’ll be there in ten.’

‘Perfect.’

I used those few minutes to complete Donovan’s paperwork. When I looked up, Reggie was gone and Fluffy was in his place. Damn it! Ah well, at least he’d drunk his chai latte right down to the dregs.

Before I had the chance to say anything, the door dinged and Sigrid came in carrying a Tupperware. ‘Hey, Bunny.’ She greeted me with a hug and thrust the box at me. ‘There’s enough pie for Sidnee, too.’

‘You’re a goddess among women.’

She smiled and blushed. ‘I don’t know about that but I do like taking care of my girls. Go on now. Fluffy and I will hold the fort.’ She crossed to Fluffy’s bed to give him lots of love and affection in the form he would accept. My heart ached.

‘I won’t be long,’ I promised.

‘You take your time. I’ve got this.’ She winked.

‘Thanks, Sig.’ With the pie clutched to my chest, I went to track down Sidnee.

Chapter 8

Tracking Sidnee down was super-easy because she was at home. I could see soft lighting inside and hoped that meant she was still awake. We frequently met for my lunch hour but she tended to hit the hay straight afterwards.

I knocked loudly. When she opened the door, I took a good long look at her. Her face was blotchy, her eyes bloodshot and red; she’d clearly been crying her eyes out. ‘Hey, love, I brought you a chai latte.’ I held it out. ‘It’s a little cool. You might need to zap it in the microwave.’

‘Thanks.’ She took it and offered me a wobbly smile. ‘No Fluffy?’ she asked, looking around me.

‘He’s at the office with Sig. She came over with pie.’ I held out the Tupperware box and she gave a small squeal.

‘Mixed wild berries! My favourite. Come on in – you’re doubly welcome now.’

I followed her through to the kitchen and she quickly heated a blood bag for me before warming the pie. I was so grateful to have a friend like her. She’d taken her nod from Sigrid and started storing blood in her house so I’d never be without it. I was so blessed with my friends.

When the pie was piping hot she added a generous squirt of cream and no words were spoken for a good five minutes while we devoured our sharp-and-sweet treat. Sigrid had balanced the ingredients perfectly and it was heavenly.

Back in the living room, I fiddled with one of the cushions as I tried to work out how to broach the subject of Donovan’s threat. ‘Have you heard anything about Thomas?’ Sidnee asked before I begin.

I debated how truthful I should be. I knew Gunnar didn’t want to get her hopes up … but I couldn’t lie to her face. ‘Gunnar said there was a potential sighting but Thomas was moved soon afterwards.’

Her hands tightened into the sofa cushion and her eyes flashed black. ‘Where?’

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