Page 87 of Playing with Fire

“He’s on his way, Mrs. Quinn. He should be here soon.”

I pawed at the sand, arranged it around my hole to my liking, and curled inside. “Move lamp closer, please? Cold.”

With the help of Officer Andrews, Chief Hollands moved the lamps closer until I had a blazing red shield cocooning me. “Your friend Professor Yale told me you’d have problems in this weather. He suggested we keep you talking until Chief Quinn arrives. If you go back to sleep, we will have a very difficult time waking you until we can get the temperature up—and shy of lighting a bonfire in here, he seems to think we won’t be able to get you warm enough using our lamps.”

If the cop wanted me to talk, I could talk. I nosed the sand over my hooves and legs to keep them warm. “Audrey McGee did this. Turn me into poodle. Don’t want to be a poodle.”

“Yes, we’re aware of Audrey McGee’s involvement in your kidnapping. She was spotted nearby the Plaza. I’m unable to share details with you at this point, but if you could fill me in on what you remember, it would be helpful.”

“She work with in-cu-bus. He seemed drugged. In-cu-bus not in control of fac-ul-tees.”

“Take it from the top. Begin in the Plaza, please.”

“Quinn’s cops bring us to Plaza. He talk to front desk. I go to room. I open door. Hear pop. Blue pow-dur in face. Lights go out. Woke in warehouse with gor-gon and in-cu-bus. Pan-eeked, ate pills. Vial may-be leak during pan-eek. I run. No want to be gor-gon bay-bee fac-tor-ee. I run. Hit transport. Sor-ree. I pay fix? I run. No see transport.”

“The transport was equipped with a moose grill. It won. The grill will need replaced, but the transport was otherwise undamaged. The driver, a single woman in her early twenties, has expressed her appreciation over the situation.”

Well, at least someone had enjoyed my nightmare. I sighed. “Transport won. I sad.”

“Would another steak help?”

I lifted my head. “I like steak.”

Chief Hollands tossed me a raw t-bone, which I caught. It took a bit of work and several snorts to clean my foreleg of sand so I could use it to hold my snack while I gnawed through the bone and gulped down the meat.

“If you’re anywhere near as high maintenance as a human, I’m amazed there’s a man alive capable of handling you.”

“She’s worth it.”

I squealed, dropped my half-eaten steak, launched out of my hole, and whirled so I could charge across the arena, skidding to a halt in front of Quinn. I rammed my head against his chest, careful to keep my horn away from him. “Quinn.”

Huffing and pawing at the sand, I pressed as close as I could, staggering him back several steps. Quinn wrapped his arms around my head and neck, holding me close. “You look like a poodle. What have you done to my wife? Why does she look like a poodle? Damn it, Bailey. I’ve been worried sick.”

I nuzzled his chest and lipped at his uniform. “Quinn.”

Chief Hollands crossed the arena. “Hello, Chief Quinn. I’m Chief Hollands, Vermont State Police. Your wife needed stitches and has cracked and possibly broken a few ribs. Blood had matted her fur, so it was shaved. She had an unfortunate encounter with a transport. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Quinn, Quinn. I escape all by my-self, but I run in front of transport. I stupid. Sor-ree. Room went pop. Lights go out. Sor-ree. But I escape all by my-self?”

Quinn stroked my neck before lifting my head. After dropping a kiss on my nose, he smiled at me. “You sound so tired. You have nothing to be sorry about. Audrey does, and she’ll pay for taking you away from me.”

I longed for my human body so I could rub up against Quinn and hold him close. I settled for draping my neck and head over his shoulder and holding him against my chest, careful to avoid stepping on him with my hooves. “Quinn.”

“How many of your pills did you eat, Bailey?”

I turned my ears back and lipped at the back of Quinn’s shirt. “All. I pan-eek, sor-ree. Ate all. I may-be break A+++ pixie dust vial, too. And beat in-cu-bus with a door, and stab him, and claw him. No want in-cu-bus, only you.”

“You’re incredible. Did you really think I’d be angry with you about anything that may have happened?”

Yes, I had. I did. I couldn’t bring myself to say a word, so I chewed a hole in his uniform.

“Are you eating my uniform?”

I grabbed a new piece and gave a tug. It ripped. I swallowed the evidence. “Nooooo.”

“You’re eating my uniform. Bailey, you’re ridiculous. My uniform is not food.” Quinn laughed and patted my neck. “You didn’t hit the incubus hard enough. When I get you home, I’m going to ask Amanda to give you private self-defense lessons. Are you all right?”

“All right now. You here.”