Page 29 of The Dark Hiss of Magic
Thane chose to stick to business. ‘How did it go at the mortuary?’
I exhaled; that was a much safer topic. I told him everything that had happened, including my suspicions that Fetch Daniel Jackson had been playing me. Thane listened, interjecting with a few questions but saying little else until I’d finished.
‘If I were playing Devil’s Advocate, Kit, I’d say that you’ve accomplished what you set out to do. John Doe has been identified, the witches’ council sat up and took notice, and his family will be informed.’
‘Job done, then? Go home and forget any of this happened?’ I nodded towards the door. ‘Feel free.’
Thane leaned back in his chair and grinned. ‘Not a chance. I don’t know about you but I don’t want a quiet mid-life before I slip into retirement and fade away. I’m fully invested in Rory Taggert and Knox Thunderstick. I’m going nowhere.’
I met his eyes. ‘There’s far more going on here than we realise.’
‘Whatever it is, it’s big,’ he agreed.
‘We can’t back out.’
‘Not a chance.’
‘We still don’t know who killed Taggert.’
‘Or why.’
‘We don’t know how Knox Thunderstick is involved.’
‘But we will soon.’
‘And the witches’ council is acting very strangely.’
Thane nodded his copper-haired head. ‘Very strangely indeed.’
We smiled at each other resolutely.
‘I might know a few people who can sniff around the council and find out what’s going on in their inner sanctum,’ Thane suggested.
‘Actually, I’ve got that covered. I bumped into Mallory on the way here and she’s working on it for me.’
‘You’ve employed Mallory? You realise there’ll be a cost.’
I sighed. ‘Yes. I don’t exactly know what yet.’
‘I hope it’s worth it.’
‘Me too. She’ll let me know what she finds out on Friday night.’
‘You’re meeting at her place?’
‘No,’ I said absently as a long-haired druid whom I recognised from the poster as the Blue Tattoos’ singer appeared and started fiddling with the equipment on the tiny stage. ‘She’ll meet me at Vallese. I’m having dinner there on Friday with Alexander MacTire.’
Thane didn’t say anything; he was watching me with hooded green eyes. ‘A date?’
Oh. I shrugged helplessly. ‘I guess. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s only dinner.’
‘He might be a pack alpha but he’s a good man.’ Thane pursed his lips. ‘Mostly.’
‘Thane—’
‘Your private life is your own affair, Kit.’
Before I could say anything more, a second member of the Blue Tattoos walked past us, a deep scowl on his face. ‘He’s still not fucking here,’ he muttered to his bandmate.
