Page 64 of Relics of the Wolf

“Estradiol. I figured you were thinking of coming back for it, so I put it there to dissuade you.”

“It almost worked. When I snuck in, I had to poke gingerly all through that drawer looking for it. Little did I know you’d moved it.”

“Yup. I knew you were sus from the beginning.”

“Sadly true.” Duncan looked curiously at me as the car rolled silently into the dark garage. Something about that silence, the lack of engine noise, was disconcerting. “Wherewereyou keeping it, anyway? Before the thugs got it.”

I debated whether to tell him. That hiding spot wasn’t being used anymore, and I didn’tthinkhe still had plans to retrieve the case and ship it to Chad, but…

“Your intern had it when the mugger came and stole it,” Duncan reasoned. “Was he keeping it somewhere?”

“He and his dad were studying it.”

“Because of the druidic connection?”

“Yes, and because whowouldn’twant to study a magical wolf case?”

“I can’t imagine not wanting that hobby. Were they the ones to translate the writing on the bottom? About the bite of the werewolf?”

“Yes.”

“That’s useful,” Duncan said. “I’ve read and researched a lot over the years for my various treasure-hunting adventures, but I’m not a linguaphile.”

“From the conversations I overheard between you and Chad, it sounded like he knew a little more about it.”

“Do you want me to call him back?”

“No. We can ask whoever is trying to capture me when we meet him.” I waved to the garage around us as the Tesla parked. “Presumably, he knows why he’s interested in it and other werewolf artifacts.”

“One would hope.”

The door rolled down behind us. No lights, save for the screen inside the car, were on anywhere. If whoever worked here had expected allies to return, wouldn’t they have left a light on?

“They might have figured out that the wrong people are in their car.” I glanced at the phone lying in the back seat. During the call, Mr. Raspy hadn’t given any indication that he’d been suspicious of Duncan’s voice, but… that didn’t mean he hadn’t figured out our ruse.

“It’s possible. We’d better get out while we can.” Duncan pressed the button that opened the door, thatusuallyopened the door. Nothing happened.

“We may have to break the windows.” I pressed the button that should have rolled mine down and wasn’t surprised when it didn’t budge.

“I think these cars have manual overrides for the door.” Duncan patted around the armrest. “In case the electrical goes out.”

“Or the car goes into servant-of-an-evil-overlord mode and won’t release you?”

“Exactly.” He dug into the cubby under the armrest. Athunksounded, his door releasing. “There we go. It’s in there.” He pointed at my door, then stepped out.

I’d no sooner found it than a man door near the roll-up door opened. Two big thugs stood silhouetted there, one with a rifle gripped at his side. The other held what might have been a handgun or knife.

My senses picked up magic, both from them and the weapons. I darted around the car to use it for cover.

One man flipped a switch, and blinding light filled the cavernous garage. Duncan also ducked behind the car, but it was too late. They’d spotted us.

“Radomir was right,” one barked, raising a rifle. “That’s not Ballinger.”

They lunged behind stout metal support posts, as if we might have firearms too. If only.

“Now could be the time for grenades,” I whispered to Duncan.

“We might want to catch one of them to question,” he replied softly.

---