Page 1 of Shadow Running
CHAPTERONE
“What did you do now?”I stared down at Jangles and Murdoch, shaking my finger.“You know you’re not allowed to terrorize Mr.Crumbles.”
I’d walked into the living room to find the two cats on either end of the bird cage, batting the bars, as Mr.Crumbles shrieked at them both.If he’d been out, he’d teach them a quick lesson in respect, but the Catalina macaw was sitting on the middle perch in his four-foot-tall cage, scolding them.The cage was on a table, allowing Mr.Crumbles a better view.That the cats were working together was good—they were getting along like they had been raised together.However, that they were working together to scare Penn’s macaw wasn’t exemplary behavior.
“Go away!”Mr.Crumbles shrieked.Then he broke into song with, “Bad cats, bad cats, whatchya gonna do?”
I snickered.Bad cats, indeed.Penn had taught him to sing that.
“Move along, you two.”I shooed them away from the cage.
They bounced into the kitchen for a bite to eat.I glanced at the clock.Time to start dinner.Penn was at a business seminar, and she’d be home in thirty minutes, so I decided to give her a break this evening.She loved to cook, but I made a mean mac ‘n cheese, and we had it at least once a week.
I headed for the kitchen, but stopped as my phone started playingMad About Mad About Me.The cantina song from Star Wars was my ring tone for Benny the goblin, mostly because he never failed to remind me of a much rougher and dumber version of Yoda.If pressed, I’d grudgingly admit that he was a friend, and I had grown to care about the doofus.
“Hey, Benny.”I answered the phone with one hand, as I opened the cupboard with the other.I pulled out the elbow noodles and bread crumbs.“Let me put you on speaker phone.”I set my phone on top of the toaster.“Okay, what’s up?”
“Hey Legs, can I come in tomorrow morning to talk to you?”Benny sounded unusually subdued.Given Benny was seldom subdued, I set down the food and leaned against the counter.
“What’s going on, Benny?You sound worried.”
“I am,” he said.“I want you to investigate something for me.I’ll pay you what I can.”
Iusually doled out the jobstoBenny.For him to offer to pay me, something must be wrong.“Sure, Benny.Of course you can.Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said.“But…I’d rather wait till we can talk in person.”
There was no guilt in his voice, so I figured he hadn’t screwed the pooch again.I also detected real concern, and that worried me.Benny usually saved his concern for himself.
“Be at the office at eight-thirty tomorrow morning and we’ll talk.”
“Thanks, Legs.I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” he said.“Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Sure thing.”As he hung up, I shoved my phone back in my pocket, wondering what could have worried Benny so much.
* * *
Penn arrivedhome forty-five minutes later.By then, the casserole was done, hot in the oven.She dropped her bookbag on the sofa, then wandered into the kitchen, looking tired.
“That smells wonderful,” she said.“I’m starved.”
“Sit, I’ll bring over our plates.”I dished up the casserole, added a side of asparagus, and set the plates on the table.“Wine?”
She nodded.“Please.”
I poured white zinfandel for us, then settled down in my chair.“How was the seminar?”
“Good.I’ve got more of a head for business than I thought.”She tossed a piece of paper on the table.“My mother emailed me this.I printed it out so you could read it.”
I picked it up and glanced at it.“This is from your mother?”
“Right.I don’t know what the fuck is happening.”
I read the letter.
Dear Penelope, I just received a formal dismissal from the Crystal Court.I have no idea what I did, and I tried calling but they’ve blocked my number.It appears I’ve been excommunicated.I thought you could find out what happened.Thishasto be a mistake.I haven’t done anything wrong.–Eileen
I glanced at Penn.“Does she know you were kicked out of the Crystal Court?”
