Page 52 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part Two

“Honestly,” Lochlan, “I’m usually the first person to smell an elephant, but I don’t sense any here.”

He removed his pipe from his mouth and sat back. “I don’t want to be indelicate, but you’ve just been through an ordeal. And presiding over my bunch is what they call a stress inducer. If it was rated, it would be close to top of the chart, I think. So, if there’s any question whatsoever about being up to Samhain Court, we’ll cancel. And damn the torpedoes.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Damn the torpedoes?” Now and then, Lochlan dropped hints to remind me that he was older than he looked. They weren’t intentional. He simply had a wealth of historical culture to draw from.

“Yes. Damn the torpedoes.”

“I’m touched, Lochlan. Honestly. But you must know I don’t want to set the record for being the first magistrate in history to cancel a court date. I care about my reputation.”

My clerk’s austere expression softened. “Your health is more important than your reputation.”

“You’re being old and wise.”

“Yes. That’s because I am old and wise.” I chuckled. He looked at his timepiece. “What do you think that bloody Valkyrie is doing with my dogs?”

“Maybe Loki left those two in a place that’s hard to reach. Don’t be worried. If we didn’t trust Sigrid, we wouldn’t have agreed to this.” I cocked my head to the side. “Aren’t you kind of proud of your dogs?”

He didn’t answer right away. “I can’t help but wonder what other abilities I know nothing about. And…”

“And?”

“I can’t help but wonder if they’re entirely happy in a home where they’re not able to exercise their range of talents.”

I laughed. “You can’t be serious. Your dogs wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else. Remember? You were the one who told me they more or less choose their owners. In the sense that they can be owned.”

“Yes. I did say something of the sort.”

“When she returns, why don’t we ask Sigrid if they care about being, um, underutilized?”

He sighed. “I wouldn’t want word to get around that Angus and Aisling are available to track lost things.”

“Understandable. They’re not for hire or rent. I mean, except to me and, even then, only in exceptional circumstances like this. Let’s make it clear to Sigrid that this was a one-time thing.”

Lochlan stood to go. “The enforcer is waiting.”

I stood and opened my mouth to reply, but the door chime piped up with “Der Kommissar”.

“Uh-oh,” I said. “It’s Maxfield Pteron.”

“How do you know?”

“He has his own ring tone.”

Lochlan frowned like he wanted to know what that meant, but didn’t want to seek further clarification. He followed me out.

“Hi, Max. Come in,” I said.

“Thank you, Magistrate.”

He nodded to Lochlan. “Clerk.”

“Counselor,” Lochlan responded in kind.

“Tea?” I asked, gesturing toward the kitchen.

“No.” He continued to stand near the front door as if he had no intention of staying for long. “Just here with a bit of news and I wanted to deliver it personally.”

“Alright.” I congratulated myself for maintaining all appearances of calm, but inside I felt a seed of trepidation.

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