Gloom started crowding Seamus’ personal space. “Fine…now get out of my house before—“
“Gloom!” I admonished my miserable moggie.
“Tis alright, milady,” Seamus said with another bow. “I’d actually best be getting back. Me and me boyos will stay out of sight while you’re visiting Ms. Infirma. But if ya need us, we’ll be ‘round. Ta.”
With that, he ran, in a sprinting blur and dived under the bottom of the back door.
“I wonder what roast brownie tastes like,” Carbon mused.
“A question for another time,” Onyx asserted, giving his brother a disapproving look. “For the moment, I’d like to take up the matter of how so many Fae connections keep popping up in this case.”
Shade chortled. “Well, hey, bro, that makes it just another typical day on the hunt for our human. Name me one recent case that DIDN’T have a massive Fae connect somewhere.”
“Onyx still has a point,” I said. “The fake apothecary…the communications rune I just unlocked…all those riddles Ankou was spouting…”
“Hold on,” Gloom said, one eye narrowed on us. “What riddles?”
“Oh, you know our Sidhe cousins,” Eclipse said. “Big on hints, low on clarity, all wrapped up in one confusing poetic package.”
Clearing his throat, he recited, “Through the darkened gate, black currency flows. Straight from our stony heart, the dragon’s fire grows.”
“That was something Anjou said?” Gloom asked, sitting up straight and pricking her ears.
Eclipse, with a look of regret in his eyes, nodded.
“Duh! Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? Obvi, he was talking about the portal we found in the Glimmer Mountains.” She looked at us. “The sacred rock grumlin site, guys.”
I felt the sharp shards of lightbulb shatter in my head. “And the ‘black currency’ is the black diamond being mined there.” I raced over to my grumpy cat and kissed her on the forehead. She took all my love like a trooper, but giving nothing away, standing rock-still.
“And, so, by my observations, that would make the ‘stony heart’ none other than the Tiamat Stone,” Onyx concluded.
“The heart of the Dragon,” Eclipse confirmed with an awed murmur.
Gloom tapped her paw on the ground a couple of times. “Alright, I know there’s more. What else did he say?”
Fraidy swallowed, but he kept his voice fairly steady.
“When-when Hattie asked about the b-black currency and where it was coming from, Ankou said… ‘Is there hope? Maybe a glimmer…as the fire grows, iron shimmers. A clever lad can make, from many parts, a shield for the witching arts.’”
“There’s a direct reference to the Glimmer Mountains, you donuts,” Gloom said, gritting her teeth. “Amazing that you all missed it. That bit about a shield? Not sure about this, but maybe it’s an inference to our smarmy Governor Shields?”
Onyx meowed in appreciation. “You always were the best at solving these riddles, dear sister.”
“So I’m no longer a biatch?” Gloom asked, not ready to let the earlier insults go.
“Well, actually…” Carbon said, stoking the fires.
“It still feels like we’re missing something,” Millie lamented. My assistant was propped up on one elbow, holding her chin in her hand, her face screwed up in puzzlement. “How does any of this tie into Morag’s death? This Ankou dude’s riddle all seems to be dragon lore stuff again. And, yeah, why does this dragon thing keep cropping up? It’s freaky.” Millie stood and rubbed her bare arms as if a ghost had just passed through her.
Onyx rapped his claws on the table top. Wow, the gravel’s are really coming out today. “I can think of one person who might be able to furnish us with a definitive answer. Infirma.”
“Well, we did say we were going to pass this ledger onto her,” I said, closing the book. “I’ll go to Howling Mercy after closing time,” I said, making my decision.
“Might I suggest—“
I gave Onyx a stern look. “You may not, Professor. I want you all to make your own way to Gaunt Manor this evening while I’m taking care of things at the hospital.”
This provoked a full chorus of howls and kitty protests. “You’re going a-lone?” Fraidy asked, yelling with wide-eyed horror, just loud enough to be heard over the din of his siblings. “That’s anything b-b-ut safe.”
“Not to mention that you’ve as good as sentenced us to WALK through that hideous swampland,” Gloom added, gravely disturbed by the thought of getting her paws muddy. “I call animal cruelty.”
I waved away her remark. “Well, at least this time, you’re welcome guests at Gaunt Manor,” I pointed out, remembering our prior break-in during the last case. Portia hadn’t been a happy camper to find me, David and my cats, uninvited, in her hallway.
“Even so,” Onyx said, rubbing against my arm. “I’m going to have to go from suggesting to insisting that you have a suitable escort, Hattie. Should trouble come knocking again for Infirma, you may well be caught in the crosshairs.”
“And that is way uncool,” Shade said, nudging his brother aside slightly to join in the arm rubbing. “So, I’m volunteering for bodyguard duty too.”
“And I’m sure that the idea of dirtying up your paws in the muck has NOTHING to do with that,” Gloom snapped.
“Well, why don’t you catch a ride with David?” Millie suggested. “I mean, he’s going there too, right?”
Midnight stifled a yawn. “But how will we even know if he’s there by the time we head to the station?”
Millie gestured toward the shop phone in a manner that would have done credit to Vanna White. “By way of a fantastically magical device called the telephone.” My friend turned to me. “How about it, Hattie? Maybe call and reserve David’s broom for the kitties?”
I sighed. “He probably isn’t going to be thrilled about that. But once I explain why…”
“What can it hurt?” Millie asked. “Also, you might finally get a date out of the deal too.”
My hand reached for the phone, but I knew that using David as a kitty airliner would do nothing for my chances of dating him.
I called him anyway.
Chapter Fifteen
Shade and Onyx trotted behind me as we approached Infirma’s hospital room at Howling Mercy. I was about to push the door when Onyx held up a paw against my shin. He put a furry hand to his lips in a ‘shushing’ gesture. Voices from inside Infirma’s room. I wished now I’d taken up David’s offer of him joining me here. It never hurts to be with a tall guy who has your back, you know? Still, I was thankful to my two moggies for their company. We pressed our ears against the door to better hear the conversation inside when we heard a noise at our feet.
“Psst!” a small, familiar voice hissed from under the door. “Glad ya’re here, milady!”
Onyx looked at the brownie. “What is going on in there and why aren’t you doing something about it?” My knowledgeable cat whispered urgently.
“I’s about to get the nurse’s attention when you stepped up, Fancy Pants,” Seamus said. “That geezer t’ain’t done more than talk. But me boyos are ready to pounce if’n he goes O'er the line.”
The voices in the room resumed, and I put a finger to my lips. I knew that gruff voice. Barnabus Kramp.
“Think you can open the door without it making a sound?” I suggested in a hushed tone to the little guy.
Seamus barked a short laugh and crawled back into the room. The door quietly slid open with no more sound still air makes. Onyx and Shade slipped in, thankfully making just as little noise.
The bedridden Infirma was talking, her face flushed in an angry shade of red. “For all I know, Shields is the reason I nearly joined my sister yesterday!”
“You’re straying very close to libel and slander territory, Ms. Devlin,” Barnabus countered, his face a frozen mask of politeness. “Make those unfounded accusations to anyone else, and I guarantee that you will be dealing with a lawsuit shortly.”
“You wouldn’t be nearly so smug if you had to explain all this to the Chief Warlock.”
I really should have held my tongue, but indignation got the better of me. “Just be grateful that you’re not explaining harassment and intimidation of a bereaved relative to CPI Trew at the moment, Mr. Kramp.”
Barnabus whirled. And, by the look on Infirma’s face, she was just as surprised to see me. I watched as recognition, and then relief washed over the woman.
Kramp got his mouth to work. “It was…unfortunate that you listened to that exchange.”
“Especially for you,” I said, livid at this guy’s bullying tactics. “So why don’t you leave before you say something you regret?”
He was either a good lawyer or a coward, but Kramp knew when to call it quits. “Good day to both of you,” he growled and strode out of the room.
Seamus jumped onto the foot of the bed and bowed. “I do cry yer pardon, milady, for allowing that dastardly barrister in ta—“
Infirma chuckled. “Nothing to forgive, my brave little brownie. You opened the door to our dear friends here, so for that, I’m grateful.”
Seamus offered her a warm smile and jumped down to the floor. Infirma tried to sit up. “I’m guessing there is at least one kitty with you right now?”
The shadows in the corner next to her bed unveiled a pair of yellow eyes. Shade jumped up and gave Infirma a lick on the forehead. It proved to be good medicine for the sickly lady; I could see some color return to her cheeks as she giggled at Shade’s ministrations.
“I do hope Ms. Poof is willing to forgive your kissing another woman, Shade,” Onyx said, hopping up onto Infirm’s bed too.
“Heeeyyy,” Shade said. “Ms. Devlin here just went through a rough stretch. What woman doesn’t benefit from my brand of lovin’?”
Infirma roared with laughter.
I took a seat and waited for the woman’s laughter to come to an end. “How are you feeling?”
Infirma sighed, but her high spirits were evident. “Up until Barnabus Kramp showed up—which, by the way, I’m sorry you had to see…”
“There is nothing to concern yourself with, Ms. Devlin,” Onyx said, kneading Infirma’s shins through the hospital blanket. “I think I speak for us all when I say that I am grateful we arrived when we did.”
Morag’s living sister smiled. “The doctors say that I should be going home in a couple of days. They’ve found no trace of whatever caused that allergic reaction. But they want to be sure it’s gone.”
“That’s great news,” I said. Then, pulling my chair up to the bed, Shade, Onyx and I filled her in on the fake apothecary; Grave Matters .
Infirma nodded her head slowly. “I can’t even really say that I’m surprised. Gideon had suggested that particular apothecary seven months ago when my trusted one closed its doors finally. Now I think about it though; I realize I’d never heard of this Grave Matters before Shields’ recommendation.”
The bedridden woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, Goddess, what if someone else from Mag Mell tries to—“
“Chill, lady fair, chill,” Shade said scraping a soothing tongue along the woman’s forehead again. “My brother turned that uncool establishment into ash. Ain’t nothing coming back outta there to get you.”
Infirma reached a frail hand to Shade’s head and rubbed him gently. “Well…that IS one less worry. Please give my thanks to your brother. “ Infirma sighed. “If I didn’t suspect Shields and his cronies were trying to kill me and, possibly having killed Morag, I’d even say I was relieved.”
My eyes drifted to a bouquet of white roses with a 'Get Well Soon' card attached. I noticed the name of the shop on the vase. “Buntie’s Blooms?”
Infirma smiled. “They're from Saint Pendragon’s…or maybe I should say, Reverend Peacefield.”
“Thaddeus, Goddess bless him,” I said, feeling the warmth of true friendship snuggle up to my heart.
“He’s been using Buntie’s to adorn St. Pen’s ever since I was a little girl. Always did love to see the glorious floral displays at the altar.”
I was dreading asking what I was about to ask, but I needed to get it out in the open. “We found something on your estate the same day you had your…incident.”
I pulled out the Puppeteer Charm Jet had discovered in Infirma’s bedroom and handed it over. “Does this look familiar?”
Infirma straightened out the vellum and read. Her eyes flashed with recognition. “Where was this found? And, what was it doing there?”
“Then you have seen this before, Ms. Devlin?” Onyx asked raising a scholarly eyebrow.
“It’s from Shields’ private collection,” she explained. “Take a look at the watermark.”
Infirma turned the vellum around and pointed at the bottom righthand corner of the page. I could just make out a shield standing in front of a pair of crossed swords. It looked like a family crest.
“This Puppeteer Charm was ‘donated’ to me last year by Shields himself. We tried to use it to help me walk,” she explained, handing the scroll back. “It was Morag’s idea, to be honest, but it was Shields —likely just to display an act of public charity — that presented me the charm.” A lone tear streaked out of Infirma’s eye. Shade put a firm paw on it. The woman continued: “My sister just wanted me to have a way to get around that didn’t involve my cane. I was already on oxygen and refused to use a wheelchair. But…”
Infirma visibly winced at the memory. “It was so painful. Sure, I could walk like everyone else. But every one of my nerve endings howled at me until I finally begged her to break the spell. She gave it straight back to Shields.”
I frowned. I had every reason to believe that Morag did give that charm back. So what was it doing…?
That’s when a follow-up thought hit me. “Remember you told us that Shields and his cadre paid you frequent visits soon after Morag’s death?”
“Only to suddenly stop calling at all,” Onyx added. “Could this charm have been planted during Shields’ ‘concerned’ initial visits?”
A primal fear crawled across Infirma’s features. “But why would anyone do that? I can’t—“
“Just trying to throw anyone who cared to snoop off the scent,” Shade said. “They figure you’re dead, the evidence of your guilt comes out, and suddenly this whole murder of your sister gets wrapped up in a nice pink bow.”
“It’s not like a dead woman can defend her reputation,” I pointed out.
Infirma took a deep inhale of her oxygen, and breathed: “Whatever next?”
“Actually, there’s something else we found at the estate,” I said, as I pulled out the book Seamus had delivered earlier. “It looks like a ledger, but we can’t figure out for what.”
Infirma opened the book and looked it over. After flipping through the pages, she asked, “Where did you find this?”
Wanting to shield Seamus’ role as our mole on the inside, I said, “In the library. Just after your attack. It was stuck between a volume of Jane Austen and Emily Bronte. Sorry, one of the cats knocked it off the case while they were prowling.”
“Well, it’s definitely a ledger, but it’s not one I’ve ever seen before,” she confirmed as she flipped back to the first page. “Seeing as I was the family accountant, I should have though.”
She pointed to the numbers with dashes. “I do recognize these first few numbers, though. That’s the routing number to Gwydion Trust Bank on North Illwind.”
Onyx’s ears perked up. “That would make the remaining numbers on that line an account number?”
“Correct, kitty cat,” Infirma said, glancing over the book at my smartest moggie. “It’s no account that Morag and I ever used for estate affairs. But, I can say with conviction that Gwydion Trust Bank is where Morag set up an account dedicated solely for my medical expenses. I believe we're looking at the very ledger for just such expenses." Infirma's shoulders slumped, as her bottom lip began to tremble.
“Which is why you recogn
ized the routing number,” I pressed, trying to coax her to stay present to matters at hand. I knew she felt terrible about her ill health and its associative costs, but now was the time to get serious about Infirma's sister's murder, and so staying on track was paramount. Goddess, am I sounding like a seasoned sleuth now?
“I’ve had so many doctor’s visits, both at home and here at Howling Mercy, that I know that number by heart. This account is paying for my stay here right now, in fact.”
My heart went out to Morag. Even in death, she was taking care of her beleaguered sister. “Is there anything else about the ledger that stands out?”
“I was just about to mention that,” Infirma said. “These amounts…they’re easily twice as high as any salary Morag would have collected from her law job. So I have no idea where this money came from.” Infirma squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and opened them. “Goddess, I hope Morag didn’t get herself into something unpleasant.”
Infirma handed me the book and grabbed my other hand in a tight squeeze. “I really wish I could tell you more. But thank you so much for coming when you did.”
I returned the squeeze. “Glad we could help.”
We let go of each other’s hands, and my kitties drew close to my ankles in preparation of leaving. Suddenly drawing inspiration from Columbo, I blurted, “Oh, there’s just one more thing I was hoping you could clear up.”
Infirma raised her eyebrows.
“You mentioned the Chief Warlock. Who is the Chief Warlock and why have I never heard that the Warlocks even have a chief? ” I asked.
She licked her lips nervously. “Actually…that’s something I’m not supposed to talk about with outsiders.”
Her jaw tightened as she added, “But you know something? The people who would have wanted me to stay quiet are not my allies.” She took a deep breath before adding: “The Chief Warlock is the informal head of all Warlocks in the Coven Isles, sort of like our version of the Mainland Pope.”
“Who is the current one?” I asked again.
The Chimera Charm Page 17