Page 56 of Skulk of Foxes
Lizzy threw herself at the other side of the door, splintering the wood. I jumped back, alarmed. Charlotte glared at me. ‘You’re supposed to be helping.’
‘Sorry,’ I muttered. ‘This is my first time with an Australian monster.’
‘Lizzy’s not a monster. She’s just having a bad day.’
It wasn’t my job to deal with this. Even if Iweresome sort of police liaison officer – or the arsebadgering police commissioner – it wouldn’t be my job to deal with this. I was here to retrieve the sphere and get the hell out again. However, given that Lizzy’s transformation was no doubt caused by the build up of Fey magic in the Manchester atmosphere, it was arguable that it was my fault. And if itwasmy fault, I was honour-bound to help.
I tried to summon up my evil-bitch persona but Morgan had rubbed off on me too much. Either that or I was simply too wonderful to abandon both Charlotte and Lizzy to their fates – even though I had no idea how to help either of them.
My indecision must have been evident because Charlotte gazed at me, a frown marring her smooth, freckled forehead. ‘You’re not with the police. I’m usually good at reading people and your air of self-importance suggested you were a copper – but you’re not.’ She sighed. ‘Great. Who are you and what do you really want?’
She seemed more exasperated than anything. I raised my shoulders. ‘Okay, Charlotte,’ I agreed. ‘I’m not with the police but I reckon I can probably help. Or I know someone who can.’
‘Charley,’ she said.
‘Pardon.’
‘Call me Charley.’ She folded her arms. ‘How long will it take to get hold of this someone?’
I smiled. ‘Just give me a minute.’
Chapter Sixteen
Morgan wasn’t impressed at being left out in the cold when I beckoned in Monroe. I gave my love bunny a quick, reassuring smile and blew him a kiss. The fact that his jealousy was still affecting him was rather nice. Yes, I’d get tired of it fairly quickly but right now it showed that he cared for me.
I’d never thought of myself as someone who needed to be told repeatedly that I was loved. I was still learning about myself, I supposed. I still had amnesia, after all.
Monroe the werewolf swaggered inside the house as if he owned the place. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he lifted his nose, sniffed and recoiled. ‘What is that?’
Charley appeared. Monroe looked her up and down, apparently unimpressed by her blue hair. ‘What are you?’ he hissed.
‘The woman whose house you’re in,’ she said. She looked at me. ‘Is this the best you can do? This guy with the ego the size of a blimp?’
I winced. ‘Give him a minute. He has, uh, a sensitive nose. It’s probably affecting him adversely.’
I’d barely finished speaking when Monroe stalked towards her. He paused in front of her, his nostrils flaring. ‘Sunshine,’ he muttered. ‘You smell of sunshine.’ He flashed her a disarming smile. ‘Despite your hair, you’re rather pretty,’ he purred. ‘I like the freckles.’
His abrupt volte-face did little to impress Charley. ‘Be still my beating heart,’ she said. ‘What a wondrous compliment.’
Monroe drew back and inspected her again. ‘Sarcasm doesn’t impress me.’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh no. I’m devastated.’
I watched the pair of them. I knew next to nothing about either of them but I’d seen a gentler side to Monroe already. The fact that he was ramping up the machismo factor suggested to me that Charley’s ‘sunshine’ affected him more than he wanted to admit. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. No wonder she was a gambler; she really did possess a poker face.
Apparently realising that he was laying it on too thick, Monroe stepped back and gave her room to breathe. ‘I apologise,’ he said. ‘The magic in the air is causing my … animalistic side to gain dominance.’ He grinned at her. ‘Next time I’m rude, feel free to slap me around.’ He bowed. ‘Thank you for inviting me in. I’m only here to help.’
Charley looked slightly confused. ‘Magic? Is that what you’re calling all this spooky shit?’
Monroe waved a hand around. ‘It’sjustwhat I call it.’
Charley’s eyes narrowed. Yep, she was far too smart for our good – and Monroe was far too careless.
Taking a breath, I pointed at the closed door. ‘The problem is in there,’ I told him.
The werewolf squared his shoulders. ‘Excellent,’ he said. ‘This won’t take long.’ He strode past Charley and opened the door, his face dropping in shock when he spotted Lizzy.
‘Maybe I should wait for the real police,’ Charley said to me.
