“It’s not a problem at all, Mr. Kirk. Please feel free to contact my office again if you have any further issues.”
Viktor followed Ant and Able back down the path of a large house with its overgrown garden out to the car, letting Able in the back seat and holding the door for Ant as he got in the front passenger seat. Going around to the driver’s side, he caught sight of Mr. Kirk waving at him as he got in, and – remembering they were on the clock – sketched a wave in reply as he hurriedly got into the car.
“Well, as this was our first private client appointment this morning, what did you think?” Ant was chuckling as Viktor got the car moving.
“Squirrels?” Viktor couldn’t believe it. “When I read the case notes – the scratching sounds at night, the groans in the woodwork, the sound of things being moved around – I felt for sure we were dealing with a poltergeist at the very least. The last thing I thought was damn squirrels.”
“It happens more often than you think. Able enjoyed sniffing for them, didn’t you, boy?” Ant reached between the seats, givingAble a pat. “Most noises in houses are either structural issues or critters.”
“But he paid you an exorbitant amount of money…” Viktor checked his rearview mirror and then pulled into traffic. “All he needed to do was go up into his attic and see the debris from the squirrels for himself. Why would he think his wife was hanging around spying on him after she died?”
“I think you’ll find that was a spot of guilty conscience on his part.” Ant’s grin was worth seeing. “Didn’t you notice the lady’s shoes by the door and the lady’s undergarments hanging over the bath?”
“It never crossed my mind to look for things like that.” Viktor had been looking for signs of evil, not ladies’ undergarments. “I thought his wife died about six months ago. That’s a bit of a long time to leave a deceased person’s underwear drying on the bath.”
“I doubt those black lace items belonged to the late Mrs. Kirk. I did consider that Mr. Kirk liked to wear those garments himself, but the sizing was wrong. I think we were dealing with a situation where Mr. Kirk is still feeling guilty for having someone else in his marital bed so soon after his wife’s death. If he heard a few noises, or his new partner did during an intimate moment, you could see why he’d think his wife was displeased with what he was doing.”
“I had such high hopes for this case.” Viktor shook his head. “So, what are we going to find at the graveyard this afternoon? More bloody furry creatures, I suppose. No offense, Able.”
“Oh no. We will find spirits at the graveyard, there’re always a few there.”
“Hang on a minute.” Seeing a parking space, Viktor eased his vehicle into it. He could see the sign for the restaurant they were going to less than a block away. Turning off the car, he said,“If you always find spirits in the graveyard, then I assume the church that maintains it is aware of them, too.”
“They are. The church like to keep meticulous records about such things and usually calls me in at least once a year. In this case, though, they called me in because they believe a spirit has been causing a disturbance in a particular section of the graveyard.”
“More squirrels?”
“More likely dogs or possibly teenagers. I get a case at least once a year of what my client is sure they’ve found evidence of devil worship. Nine times out of ten, it’s non-paranormal teenagers doing something they perceive as daring to show off to their peers.”
Viktor smoothed back his hair and sighed. “So, when did the Justiciary say we could go back to work with them?” The fallout from Carmine’s arrest had caused ripples all over town and even on a state level. Ant and Viktor were told to go on vacation again, after just one job. Vincent didn’t understand the thinking of some organizations, the Justiciary included.
“They said we could go back Monday, unless something happens over the weekend that requires our assistance.” Ant chuckled again. “It’s only three days away. Completing some of the jobs Bridget has for us keeps her happy and gives us something to do in the meantime.”
“If this graveyard business turns out to be more squirrels, we’re spending the whole day in bed tomorrow.” Viktor opened his door.
“What? And miss out on the case of the missing diamond necklace that we’ve got scheduled tomorrow at eleven?” Ant got out of the car, too.
“That won’t be squirrels, will it?” Viktor let Able out of the car, catching his leash, and then peered at Ant over the roof of the car. “You already know where that necklace is, don’t you?” His mate could hide his emotions most of the time, but smugness was coming through their bond.
“Maybe.” Ant was definitely smug. “I get a lot of these types of cases, too. Usually, Bridget would just file them in the trash for me.”
“But?” Viktor joined Ant on the pavement, handing him Able’s leash.
“This is an insurance case as well.”
“You’re getting paid twice for the same job?” Viktor wasn’t sure if that was ethical, but from a business perspective, it sounded good.
“The client wants me to tell them where the necklace is. The insurance company wants me to prove there was never a necklace in the first place. Bridget figured your presence in this particular situation might stop clients from wasting my time like this, so all in all, it could be fun.”
“Bridget said that?” Viktor tucked Ant under his arm as they made their way to the restaurant. “Does that mean I get to be particularly moody when we arrive?”
“You can for that appointment.” Ant’s shoulders shook as if he were trying to hide his laughter. “This is the third time this family has hired me to find the same necklace. Once, two years ago, when the mother of the family died, and again last year when the aunt died. Now, apparently, another aunt has died, and meanwhile the mother’s son is still determined that the women in his family were hiding their riches from him. Bridget hates him.”
“So, I guess she charged him double for our time.” Opening the door to the restaurant, they stepped inside. “That would mean you’re buying lunch.”
“It’s my turn anyway.” Ant hummed happily before looking up at Viktor, smiling in that rare way that always sparked Viktor’s protective instincts. “It’s a lot more enjoyable working with you than working on my own.”
“It’s a lot more enjoyable working with you than following Tony Manzano around. Although I’d prefer more spirits or bad guys than those darn squirrels.”
