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“Birds?” Nelson looked up from his notepad.
“First, I just heard them,” Tony continued, his face twisting as if he saw something ugly. “Then, there was a wave of crows—bloody demon crows—and they were singing.”
“Okay… That’s really odd, but definitely not yew poisoning,” Nox said, glancing back at Nelson. He stared, unblinking until Nox widened his eyes expectantly. “What?”
“That’s really odd?”
“It is…?” Nox confirmed and Nelson made a thoughtful sound as he reviewed his notes.
His nostrils flared, suggesting he wasn’t as calm and cool as he appeared. “I would consider a ‘wave of bloody demon crows’ to be more disturbing than odd.” He shot Nox a severe look over the top of his notepad.
“Sure, that sounds really bad,” Nox said before tipping his head from side to side. “But I’m inclined to think this was a very bad acid trip and intended to scare me off the case. What song were they singing?” he asked Tony.
“‘Immigrant Song’ by Led Zeppelin.”
“And is that what you were singing?”
Tony chewed on his lip. “I think so… “
“See?” Nox turned back to Nelson, gesturing at Tony. “That’s really odd, right?”
“Are you ignoring the crows on purpose?” Nelson asked.
Nox made a pffft! sound. “That could be a simple matter of suggestion or because Tony likes crows.”
“Not those kinds of crows,” Tony muttered to himself, shivering.
Nox hummed sympathetically. “Or, some dark magick mixed in with whatever Tony took to...taint it with ill intent.” He narrowed his eyes as he considered Tony. “Did you eat or drink anything from my office or from my desk?”
“Oh.” Nelson nodded and his tiny pencil flicked hard against the notepad. “So you realize this was probably meant for you.” He did his best to stare a hole through Nox.
“Thank gods Tony wasn’t seriously hurt,” Nox said slowly, not quite sure why Nelson was focused on the crows when Tony could be slowly dying like Julian.
“Hold on,” Tony said, waving to get their attention. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to poison me, but why the professor? Everyone loves Professor Mac.”
“Not everyone,” Nelson replied flatly, shaking his head at Nox.
“If I had to guess…” Nox raised his voice as his frustration grew. “It’s because we’re getting close to finding this wannabe puppet master who thinks he’s my nemesis. Think about it: he either takes me out so I can’t investigate. Or, the trap sits until he takes out my replacement at the school so I have to come back and teach, instead of investigating. It’s what I’d do if my nemesis was getting close to finding me.”
Tony frowned at Nox in concern. “Who’s your nemesis?”
Nelson crossed his arms, hugging his chest. “That’s a good question, isn’t it?” he asked tightly.
“Listen,” Nox held up a hand. “I already blame myself and I won’t rest until I find him and—”
“Outside, professor,” Nelson ordered loudly, cutting Nox off and pointing hard at the door. “A sidebar, please.”
“What was that?” Tony whispered to Nox. “What did you just say? Was that in Gaelic?”
Nox laughed it off as he stood. “It helps me think.” But his legs were shaking as he went after Nelson.
He was on the porch, pacing as he studied his notes. “Want to run the last part by me again? But in English this time.”
“I’m sorry, I know you’re freaked out,” Nox said as he edged closer.
“Freaked out?” Nelson repeated. “What did you say in there? I want to know what freaked you out and made you switch brains.”
“I…” Nox swung back toward the living room and rewound the conversation. “I said I already blame myself and that I won’t rest until I find him.”
