Page 12 of Paws and Claws

The coffee in Dominic's cup rippled as he absorbed Nina's words. The leap from noise violations to endangering civilians did seem steep, even for Tabitha.

Dominic soon slid into his squad car, the leather seat creaking beneath him. His inner lion was restless after the conversation with Nina. He grabbed his radio, needing an update.

"Connor, status report."

"Our favorite purple-haired menace just pulled into her driveway," Connor's voice crackled through. "She's carrying what looks like... wait, are those grocery bags? Living dangerously there."

"Very funny." Dominic's lips twitched despite himself. "Any signs of-"

The radio erupted with static before dispatch cut in. "All units, multiple transformer explosions reported on Oak Street. Power outages affecting three blocks. Fire department en route."

Dominic's heart rate spiked. Oak Street was in Tabitha's neighborhood. His first instinct was to roar 'I knew it!' but something nagged at him.

"Connor, what time exactly did Tabitha get home?"

"About two minutes ago. Why?"

Dominic checked the car's dashboard clock, then pulled up the location of Oak Street on his computer. The math didn't add up.

"The transformers that blew are six blocks from her house. Even if she sprinted from there, she couldn't have made it home that fast." He paused. "And she was carrying groceries?"

"Yeah, looked pretty loaded down. Unless she's secretly the Flash..."

"Her magic's never shown any super speed capabilities." Dominic felt his certainty crumbling. The lion in him hated being wrong, but his sense of justice was stronger. "Stay on her. I'm heading to Oak Street."

"Copy that. And boss?"

"What?"

"Maybe apologize next time you see her? You know, for the whole accusation thing?"

Dominic growled softly. "Just watch the house, Connor."

He flipped on his lights and pulled away from the curb, his mind racing faster than his car. If Tabitha wasn't behind theseincidents, who was? And why did all the attacks happen in her neighborhood?

The scent of ozone and burnt metal hit his sensitive nose before he even turned onto Oak Street. Three transformers had exploded, leaving scorch marks up the poles. His lion's eyes picked out details in the darkness - the clean cuts in the power lines and the precise pattern of damage.

This wasn't wild magic. This was calculated. Precise. Everything Tabitha wasn't.

Dominic's headlights cut through the darkness when he finally drove home, his lion's pride struggling with the weight of his mistake. The precise cuts in those power lines kept replaying in his mind - so different from Tabitha's chaotic brand of magic.

"Damn it," he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tighter. His house came into view, but he drove past it, needing more time to think.

The radio crackled. "Boss, you still up?"

"What is it, Connor?"

"Just checking if you're planning to apologize to our favorite speed demon tomorrow."

Dominic's jaw clenched. "I don't apologize for doing my job."

"Your job includes wrongly accusing people?"

The truth in those words stung more than Dominic wanted to admit. He'd let his irritation with Tabitha's constant rule-breaking cloud his judgment. Her wild magic might send sparks flying and turn fountains pink, but she'd never shown the kind of calculated malice these attacks required.

"She's still a menace," Dominic growled, but the words lacked their usual conviction.

"Sure, boss. Whatever helps you sleep at night." Connor mused. "Though between you and me, I think you just enjoy seeing her."

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