Page 50 of The Dark Hiss of Magic
We waited.
‘Fetch Jackson has a regular outreach meeting scheduled at a community centre in Bankton in an hour. I’ll meet him there.’
Something about his tone made me smile. Montgomery was planning to surprise Jackson and bring him in for questioning before the witches’ council could stop him. It was what I would have done – but it was more than I’d expected from a MET detective.
‘And?’ Thane asked, not yet understanding. ‘You’ll meet him and do what exactly?’
Montgomery adjusted his starched cuffs. ‘I’ll see what he has to say for himself.’ He jabbed his stubby fingers at us. ‘If I see either of you at the community centre, themeeting,’he emphasised the word, ‘will not occur.’
Because a forewarned Fetch was a Fetch who’d find a way to avoid it. Montgomery’s warning confirmed his unvoiced plan to me. ‘Thank you,’ I said quietly.
‘If I lose my job over this, I’ll be coming for you.’
I kept my expression blank. ‘You’re doing the right thing,’ I said. I dropped into a half-curtsey, grabbed Thane’s elbow and marched him out of the cell.
There wasno question about where we had to go first. I’d been out all night and I had a furry family to look after. We jumped on the first tram we could and high-tailed it back to Danksville.
I saw She Without An Ear as soon as I turned onto my street. She was sitting in the centre of the cobbled road and staring at us. I was touched that she’d been worried enough tokeep an eye out for my return, but when I approached her she hissed dramatically.
‘Don’t be like that,’ I told her. ‘It wasn’t my fault. I’m here now.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘I know Trilby fed you and checked on you last night. Did they come back this morning? Or did Dave give you breakfast?’
Her whiskers quivered with indignation. ‘I’ll get you some treats,’ I promised. She turned her head away. ‘That dried herring you like?’
She miaowed and I sensed that she was softening. Unfortunately, that was when Tiddles chose to pop her head out from underneath Thane’s coat. She Without An Ear hissed again, glared at me then turned and stalked towards the house.
‘She’s only coming to visit!’ I called. ‘She’s not going to stay with us forever!’
The ginger cat didn’t look back and I grimaced. That could have gone better.
‘Is there a problem?’ Thane asked, hugging Tiddles closer.
‘No.’
He looked at me and I pulled a face. ‘Maybe.’ I’d have to do some grovelling, that was all.
By the time we’d opened my gate and walked into the garden, She Without An Ear had vanished. He Who Crunches Bird Bones, He Who Must Sleep and She Who Loves Sunbeams were gazing at me from the front step.
‘I’m sorry.’ I splayed my fingers and dropped my head to add weight to my apology. ‘I would’ve been here last night if I could have been. You guys know that.’
She Who Loves Sunbeams stared at me without blinking before padding forward and winding around my ankles. She was always the first to forgive.
I exhaled. ‘This is Tiddles,’ I said. ‘She’ll be hanging around here today while Thane and I go out again on business.’
He Who Crunches Bird Bones stiffened. ‘I’m trying to solve a double murder,’ I pleaded. ‘I’ll be back with you all tonight.’
He Who Must Sleep miaowed softly.
‘I didn’t name her Tiddles,’ I said quickly. ‘It’s only a temporary name until she comes up with her own.’
Thane frowned, but he was smart enough not to argue in front of the cats.
‘Where is He Who Roams Wide?’ I asked. All three cats gazed at me blankly. ‘Is he inside?’ Again there was no response and my stomach tightened. It wasn’t like the adventurous black cat to hold a grudge because I’d stayed out all night – he did that often enough himself.
Dave’s front door opened and he ambled out, peering at us from beneath the hood of his terry-cloth dressing gown. ‘You’re back then,’ he grunted. ‘Did you enjoy gallivanting around town?’
‘We weren’t gallivanting,’ I said. ‘We were in jail.’
He raised an eyebrow before turning to Thane. ‘Don’t let her lead you astray.’ He wagged a finger in warning. ‘She’s more dangerous than she looks.’
