“It does make things easier, especially when your partner is a tiny little thing.”
“This tiny little thing can beat your old ass up any day of the week, and you know it.”
She came out of the bedroom, Ginny’s prisoner in tow, the fierceness of her expression muted by the amusement dancing in her dark eyes.
Tony chuckled, directed his prisoner out the door, then glanced at me. “You want forensics in?”
I shook my head. “I know what they were after, and they didn’t find it.”
He nodded, and the two of them left. Ginny came out, her expression pleased and the faintest stain of blood coating her left fingertips. I raised an eyebrow. “Did you nut him?”
“No, just went close enough to scare him.” She grinned. “All in all, that is what I call a good day’s work. Now, what’s this about a fucking shard?”
“I found it in Francesca’s bedroom and managed to save it before it disintegrated. The magic it contains feels odd, and there’s some sort of rune on it.”
“So why didn’t you just hand it to forensics?”
“Long story, but basically its wrapped in my magic, which needs replenishing, and until the specialist bod gets up here, it’s simply easier for me to keep it.”
“When is the bod supposed to be getting here?”
“Maybe this afternoon. There is a problem, however.”
She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Of course there is. I need coffee to cope.”
I turned and followed her into the kitchen. “The only people who knew I had that shard aside from Lowell were Jack, Sienna, and Janice.”
“They wouldn’t?—”
“I agree, given it is utterly possible the shard can be tracked by the witch it belongs to. But we cannot discount the idea that, given the shard was likely mentioned in their report, someone else in the office is working with our kidnappers.”
“True.Fuck.” She grabbed the kettle, filled it up, then put it back on the stand and flicked the switch on. “What are we going to do, then? We can’t work solo on this. We need their resources.”
“I’ll talk to Michael this evening and see what he suggests. In the meantime, we just continue on as normal and hope for the best.”
She frowned. “That doesn’t sound like best practice to me.”
“Well, if we find anything that can be traced magically—like the shard—then we keep it to ourselves and contact Michael for options.”
“He’s going to love that.”
“When I spoke to him last night, I mentioned Lowell ordering I see Tane alone. Apparently those orders didnotcome from head office as far as he knows, so investigations will already be underway. I doubt he’ll be surprised at recent developments.”
“So, what’s our next move?”
“I don’t know about you, but I have a phone call to return and a possible interview with a suspect.”
She raised an eyebrow. “That sexy man who saved your life, perhaps?”
“I never said he was sexy.”
“You didn’t need to. The minute you mentioned him, your pupils dilated?—”
“They didnot.”
“And a flush touched your cheeks,” she finished, ignoring me. “You, my girl, have the hots for your stranger, and I for one say it’s about time.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did I mention he was a suspect?”
