Luna’s heart somehow managed to sink even farther. He meant the SSSD. Only this time, it wouldn’t be a green-eyed wardsman with a devasting smile who came to investigate. And after all the sorcery Mr. Grimm had just performed today, andthe fact that Garden was acting so strangely, and now Mr. Grimm wasn’t even here to protect everything . . .
“Mr. Marlin,” Luna said, using her calmest, most measured tones. “I’m sorry I missed you earlier today. The shop was closed this afternoon for, um, inventory, you see, and—”
“Don’t you try your little sorcerous tricks on me, girlie!” Mr. Marlin pushed away from the counter and stood facing her, his waistcoat swelling with such unsuppressed wrath, it threatened to pop buttons. “I saw you hightailing it away from me!”
Not wanting him anywhere near Garden’s door, Luna hastily stepped out of the passage, still carrying the heavy wastebin. She kept it between them like a shield until she reached the counter. There she set it down and sidled back behind the register for protection, dropping the hinged portion of the counter behind her like a portcullis. Only then did she turn to face Mr. Marlin once more. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean about hightailing,” she said demurely. “Is there something I can help you with? Surely your fine establishment must require fresh flowers for all those tables. I’ve got these lovely carnations on special—”
Mr. Marlin’s palm slapped down so hard on the countertop, Luna jumped back a step. “I won’t hear another word from your wicked tongue!” he snarled. “Not until the wardsman arrives to drag you off to the slammer where you belong!”
Luna’s heart pounded, but she lifted her chin defiantly. “And for what crime am I to be incarcerated, exactly?”
“Sorcery! Black magic!”
“And what black magic am I meant to have wrought?”
“You’ve ensorcelled this whole business!” Mr. Marlin swung his arms out around him, wild eyes sparking from behind their spectacles. “You’ve placed some siren lure upon it, dragging my customers away into your foul clutches! Then you enchant themwith your malicious teas, instilling a craving in them which forces them to return day in and day out—”
“What a fantastical imagination you have, Mr. Marlin!” Luna declared. “I feel like I’m listening to a radio drama.”
“Don’t make light with me, you little chit!” Marlin’s lip curled, and he leaned against the counter again, like he wanted to climb over and wring her neck. “I’ve turned a blind eye long enough to the doings over here on Addle Street. Don’t think I don’t know! Don’t thinkanyof us don’t know! There’s sorcery positivelyoozingfrom this place. And it all started when you arrived. You and that evil mark of yours.”
Luna looked down at him through narrowed eyelids. “And how would you recognize such sorcery, Mr. Marlin? After all, they say only those with sorcerer’s blood can detect sorcerous energies. Perhapsyouought to be tattooed the same as I.”
Marlin went very pale behind his goatee and withdrew from the counter by several steps. Then, snarling, he leaned in again. “You think you can scare me? I’ve got the right of law on my side! What do you have? Not even that scrawny little milk-toast boss of yours is here to protect you now!”
Luna’s lips thinned. The man had a lot of nerve, singularlyunimpressive specimen that he was, commenting on Mr. Grimm’s appearance. But she refused to be baited. Instead, she drew herself up a little straighter. “I don’t need protection,” she declared.
“Oh, don’t you?” Marlin’s grin was downright wicked. “You know, people come to my shop and theysaythings. Things a sharp mind will put together over time. There are folks who would, I suspect, beveryinterested to know that a heptagram-marked sorceress is working at The Arcane Bouquet. I’ve lived in this city all my life, and my connections run deep. One word from me and—”
The shop bells tinkled. Both Luna and Mr. Marlin startled, turning their gazes to the door, where a large, green-uniformed figure even now stepped through. Luna’s heart dropped. All Marlin’s threats, which she had hoped would prove mere bluster, seemed suddenly to be coming home to roost. She could almost feel the slap of handcuffs on her wrists, could hear the slam of the jail cell door, could feel the pressure of four too-close walls compressing her on every side.
Then her heart jolted back up again, bypassing her chest and lodging straight in her throat.
“Ward!” she cried.
In the same moment, Mr. Marlin exclaimed,“Thereyou are, officer! I was wondering when you’d get here.” He pointed at Luna, his accusing fingertip mere inches from her nose. “I demand that you arrest this young woman, at once!”
Ward sauntered down the center aisle, keen gaze scanning the mess. His boots crunched on bits of broken glass, and his brow wrinkled with some concern. He looked up, took in Luna. His eyes widened, and she realized what an absolute fright she must look! Quite the contrast to the glamorous woman he’d taken out to dinner only the night before.
“Ward, what are you doing here?” she gasped, her hands coming down on the countertop for support.
“Oh, you know. I just happened to be in the neighborhood,” he replied and winked. “Took a trolley and a couple of wrong turns to make certain I ended up in the neighborhood. But those are just details.”
Mr. Marlin stared at him, aghast. “Officer,” he wheezed, “do you know what this woman is?”
“I’ve a fairly good idea,” Ward replied, giving Luna a smirking once-over that made her cheeks burn.
“She’s a sorceress!” Marlin squeaked.
Luna’s heart tumbled out of her throat and down to her gut once more. All this while, she’d been able to pretend Ward hadn’t noticed her tattoo, pretend that she’d been successful in hiding it and keeping her identity safe. There was no hiding anymore, however. Mr. Marlin reached across the counter, grabbed her arm, and yanked her wrist out beyond her cuff, displaying the ugly heptagram for all to see. Luna tried to wrench free, but Marlin’s grip was surprisingly strong for such a reedy little fellow.
“Hey, now.” Ward’s face darkened like a cloud passing over the sun. Luna wilted, knowing the anger, the betrayal that must be forthcoming. To her surprise, however, Ward collared Mr. Marlin. Giving him a sharp yank, he pulled the wheezing proprietor away from the counter so that he was forced to drop his hold on Luna. “There’s no call to go manhandling a lady. I could write you up for harassment.”
Marlin gaped up at him, aghast. “But don’t youseeit?”
“See what?” Ward blinked blandly.
“The sorcerer’s mark!”
