Page 58 of Relics of the Wolf

Duncan leaned forward, looking out the windshield toward the crumpled front of the car still mashed against the cedar. He didn’t glance at the police officers, but they were still distracted, with more and more tenants coming out to surround them.

“The damage doesn’t look that bad,” he said. “I think that’s just the trunk up there. There aren’t any errors on the display, so I doubt the car will explode if we drive it.”

“Oh, would itwarnus first before blowing up?”

“I should think so. This is modern technology, after all.”

“I’d be more comfortable in your van.” I didn’t object to riding in electric cars, just electric cars that belonged to other people and had recently been crashed into trees.

“So would I, but that bobby is standing close to it.”

“That what? Is that like a tallywacker?”

Duncan snorted. “No. Don’t you watch any British TV?”

“I’m too busy with work.”

“I believe you. This place seems to come with a lot of issues.” Duncan patted the passenger seat again.

“Most of those issues started after you showed up,” I muttered. “We can take my truck.”

“Do you have money for gas?” He arched his eyebrows.

I hesitated. I did not, but this was an emergency. I could?—

“Look, if the potion place happens to be a front for the mastermind behind the artifact theft, it might be a good idea to drive up in a car they’ll be expecting.”

I wanted to keep arguing, mostly because I didn’t trust the huge mass of batteries that powered the car not to blow up on the freeway, but he had a good point.

“Fine. But if this breaks down, you’re paying for the Uber.”

“Fair.”

After slipping into the car with him, I spotted Bolin. He was looking in our direction, but he didn’t do anything to indicate to the police what we were doing.

“I’m starting to like that kid,” I admitted, though that had been true since he’d used his burgeoning druidic powers to annihilate the mold in one of the apartments.

“He doesn’t miss much,” Duncan said. “I think he’s figured out what we are.”

“As long as he doesn’t tell his parents.”

Duncan looked over at me.

“My employers. He’s their kid. That’s why he’s interning here.”

“Ah.”

Since the police weren’t talking to Bolin at the moment, I grabbed my phone and called him.

“Yes?” he answered in a dry drawl.

“We’ve got a lead on who sent these guys.”

“A lead? Like the navigation back log in the car?”

“Yeah, Duncan found a likely spot that it’s been today.”

“That’s pretty good for a Boomer to think of looking at that,” Bolin offered.

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