Page 48 of A Seer and Present Danger

“You know what was in that safe, don’t you?”

She stilled, and when her gaze met mine, it burned with fire.

She was a demon. She’d undoubtedly done many terrible things before she’d come here to lark about as a unicorn.

But one thing I knew she had plenty of practice at was making deals to get her hands on souls and other valuable items.

It’s basically in a demon’s DNA to offer deals, get more than they give, and somehow turn the whole thing against the unlucky person who thinks they have a chance to win.

“How would I know what was in it?” she asked. “I’ve been in Ordinary for less time than you.”

“Because you know where all sorts of powerful things are hidden, don’t you?”

The very slight twitch of her horsey lips told me that yes, she knew.

She blew a raspberry. “Of course, I know where powerful things are hidden. But why would I tell you?”

“Because we’re helping Joanie,” Fawn said.

“Because we’re a murder book club and we’re solving a mystery,” Herman said.

“Because I am willing to see if you can demon your way out of being a statue,” Dusi said in her soft voice.

“Dusi!” I exclaimed.

Jules barked out a laugh, and I giggled, turning my head into my shoulder.

Everyone else stared at Dusi. Moments like this made me happy the powerful gorgon, who could turn people into stone, was on our side.

“Well, that’s certainly a thing,” Sage said. “Your move, Xtelle.”

Xtelle tossed her head and puffed rainbow sparkles out of her nose. “Someone has to give me something to make this worth my time. It’s the rules.”

“How about we give you a body that doesn’t have stone lungs?” Fawn said. “That seems like a great offer.”

Dusi tipped her chin toward her in agreement. “What was in the safe?”

“Unfair!” Xtelle pouted. “Fine! Not for any of you, but for the murder solving. It was a box.”

“What kind of box?” Joanie asked.

But I knew, because every future showed it, three, nine, a hundred, a million.

“Pandora’s box,” I said.

“Obviously,” Xtelle said. “This was her storage unit, after all.”

“It’s been stolen,” Joanie said sounding almost numb. “Someone stole Pandora’s box.”

CHAPTER 10

“How angry was Delaney about us investigating the safe?” Dusi was helping me unload yarn onto the lovely wooden shelves I’d set up along one wall. The yarn was soft and colorful. Tiny futures whispered the joy of stitches and creations it would become.

“She seemed relieved. She can’t investigate the charges against Jean. I think she was happy to have another crime she could sink her teeth into.”

Dusi nodded and opened a new box. “Sock weight. Over there?”

“Yes, please.”