Page 35 of Skulk of Foxes
I widened my eyes and spun round several times until I made myself dizzy. ‘Only boring, sane people are staying in their homes,’ I declared loudly. ‘Is it true that the army are on their way to protect us? Because I wouldn’t mind stealing one of their tanks, you know. Even if they don’t come, it won’t do any good. This is all because of MI5. They’ve engineered all this crap because they’re doing nuclear testing.’ I tapped the side of my nose. ‘I know, see? They can’t fool me.’
The teenager flicked a look over my shoulder at Morgan, who just shrugged and put his hands in his pockets.
I stretched my grin even wider. ‘He thinks we should go inside but I want to see the end of the world. First fire, then there will be floods.’ I pointed down at a nearby drain. ‘The waters will come from there. The four horsemen of the apocalypse will ride through town. There will be pestilence and—’
‘Screw you, lady!’ the boy yelled. ‘I’m going home!’ He marched away, his feet moving at double time.
I watched him as he trotted off and mentally patted myself on the back. With any luck, he would do as he said. If he believed that the only people out on the street were weirdos with questionable sanity, there was more chance he’d make the sensible choice and stay indoors for the time being. For all I knew, floods really were going to happen next.
Then a thought occurred to me. ‘Hey!’ I called out. ‘Have you seen any pink elephants?’
He didn’t answer but scarpered off round the corner.
Morgan came up to my shoulder. ‘That was good of you,’ he said quietly.
‘I’m the Madhatter,’ I intoned. ‘I am keeping the mean streets clear so that children are safe.’ I paused. ‘He should have been more grateful. He probably didn’t recognise me without my fabulous cape.’
Morgan didn’t smile. That was hardly surprising: the first time I remembered meeting him, I’d been wearing the aforementioned cape. Even I had to admit that it wasn’t quite as fabulous as I wished it was.
Without warning, he planted a hard kiss on my lips. Before he could pull away, I grabbed his shoulders and hooked one leg round his thigh. It wasn’t right that he should taste quite this good. I’d never tried pixie dust, the addictive Fey drug that I’d been selling prior to my amnesia, but I’d bet my best knickers that it wasn’t nearly as addictive as Morgan’s kiss. Heady. Dizzy making. Groin tightening…
From somewhere to our left there was a loud cough. I flicked a look over long enough to register the group standing on Julie’s doorstep watching us.
Breaking off the kiss, Morgan growled, ‘This isn’t a peep show.’
Julie started to fan herself. ‘It would certainly be one of the hotter ones if it were. My goodness, darlings!’
I smiled in a smug, self-satisfied manner – then I noticed just how pale she looked. Finn, who was also there, was hovering behind her as if her legs were about to give way.
‘What’s wrong?’ I demanded. ‘I’ve already consigned an entire species to disaster today. I don’t want to lose the only v— uh, soap star I’ve ever met too.’ Godammit with this magic NDA crap. I quashed the repeated flare of pain.
‘They all know what I am, darling,’ Julie said, with a weak wave of her hand. ‘Under the circumstances it seemed pertinent to reveal the truth. And thank you for asking but I’m fine. Just a little sniffle.’
It didn’t look to me as if she had a little sniffle. I frowned at her. Behind her, Finn frantically waved his hands then made a cutting motion across his throat. ‘What’s up with you, Finn?’ I enquired. ‘Do you want me to cut off your head? Because I don’t have any handy bogle swords with me. I suppose I could try a kitchen knife.’
He rolled his eyes in irritation and hissed at me. Julie smiled and reached back to pat his hand. ‘Finn’s a bit worried about me. Honestly, though, it’s absolutely nothing. In you come.’
Morgan and I stepped inside while everyone else moved back. It was fortunate that Julie’s house was on the grandiose side of large. Our beat-Rubus-into-the-ground-and-save-the-world crowd seemed to be growing bigger every time I turned around. It was probably just as well.
Timmons loped into view. ‘I’ve been monitoring the police radio. There was a disturbance at the estate where the bogles live but everyone seems to have dispersed for now. Was that you guys?’
Morgan shook his head. ‘No,’ he said grimly. ‘I’ll give you three guesses as to who was responsible. The bogles knew it was coming and turfed us out so they could deal with it on their own.’ He glanced at me sideways. ‘It appears they did the right thing.’
I snorted. ‘Only because I got the police involved. Good to know that DC Jones came through.’ I couldn’t deny the sharp relief I felt that the bogles were safe; I had enough crap on my conscience as it was. Then another thought occurred to me. ‘Hang on,’ I said to Timmons. ‘You have a police radio? You?’
He looked slightly discomfited. ‘I don’t have my own radio. I listen in via the internet. It’s a hobby.’
‘A useful one.’ I smiled. ‘Go you.’
The compliment made Timmons’ cheeks turn pink. Hmmm. It appeared that I could knock people off balance by telling them nice things. Insults weren’t the only way to go.
I rose up onto my tiptoes and spotted Jodie. ‘I love the way your hair looks!’ I called out to her. Unfortunately it was actually rather messy and looked as if she hadn’t brushed it for a month. She apparently realised this and glared at me. ‘I was trying to be nice,’ I mumbled.
‘Keep your fake niceties to yourself,’ she snapped back.
I shrugged. I couldn’t blame her for her antagonism. ‘If you insist,’ I told her cheerfully. ‘Only nastiness from here on in.’
Morgan rolled his eyes. ‘We don’t have time for this. We have things to do.’ He looked at Julie. ‘Is there somewhere we can sit down?’
