Chapter 10 #2
The dog rears up on its hind legs, front paws planted on the display case. The barista behind the counter just stares, putting entirely too much whipped cream on the tall drink she’s fixing, like she’s never seen a ghost dog before… she probably hasn’t.
The dog whines, realizing it can’t get to the treats. Then, with a frustrated little growl, it lets out a bark that vibrates the air. The glass of the display case shatters, sending shards everywhere. Holy shit.
“The dog’s bark can do that?” I hiss to Marlow.
“That’s part of what makes it so annoying.”
“What is this thing, anyway?”
“Not sure it has an official name,” he says. “We usually call it ‘arggh’ or ‘bahh’ or ‘barghhh’ or ‘you stupid ghost dog.’”
The hound dives headfirst into the display case, tail wagging, as everyone else in the café screams and scrambles for cover.
As the terrified patrons flee, Harper naturally comes closer, drawn toward the commotion instead of away. Always eager to help, damn it. Rowan’s behind him, watching warily.
This is bad. Really, really bad.
“Do something!” Marlow urges, elbowing me in the ribs.
“Like what?” I hiss back, watching in horror as the ghost dog demolishes a tray of muffins.
“I don’t know, it’s your hellhound!”
“It’s not mine!” I protest. But the dog came through my portal. That makes it my responsibility.
Necromancy is hard. Summoning the ghost dog was the easy part.
How do I send it home? Going on nothing but panic and adrenaline, I focus all my energy on willing another passage into existence.
It makes my head hurt, but I somehow manage, and a swirling gateway opens right next to the dog.
For a moment, I think it’s going to resist, but then its tail starts wagging again, as if recognizing a doorway home.
With a cheerful “woof,” it bounds through the portal, which snaps shut behind it.
Okay, good. It’s over. That was a disaster, but it could have been much worse.
“Dude,” whispers Marlow behind me. “You shouldn’t have used your powers. They can interfere with the invisibility potion.”
What?!? “You didn’t tell me that!” I hiss frantically.
“I didn’t know.”
“Then how do you know now?”
“Uh, you better look down.”
No no no no no. With dread, I look down, and yep, there’s my body. Visible again. Would it be too much to ask that nobody noticed?
Yes, it would be. Because when I look to Harper and the man behind him, their eyes are already locked on me. Harper’s gone totally still, face wiped blank, but there are fireworks going off in those golden eyes of his. And behind him…
The surprise on Rowan’s face slowly melts away, something keener and more interested taking its place.
“Dodger,” says my former kidnapper. “What a pleasant surprise.”
~
Dodger
Rowan keeps staring at me like he expects me to disappear at any moment. I wish I could. “New evidence,” he says faintly, glancing at Harper. “You weren’t kidding.”
“Not known to be a joker, sir,” the detective answers tightly.
Rowan’s grin is slow. “True, but I expected your proof to be flimsy, circumstantial at best. This?” He laughs, staring at me again. “It doesn’t get more definitive than the supposed victim being alive. Well done clearing Marlow of murder. Not guilty indeed.”
Harper’s jaw clenches. “Yep.”
“You don’t look very pleased.”
“I was just doing my job.”
Staring at Rowan’s smug face makes my skin crawl, but it’s hard to look at the wolf too long. He’s so stiff, and I don’t know what’s going on in his head. Probably a whole lot of swear words and anger, all directed at me.
Rowan turns back to me, all warmth and brightness. “Good to see you, Mr. Williamson.”
My fists clench. It’s a good thing I don’t have coffee or I’d chuck it at him. “That’s not my name.”
“Right, right. Dodger,” he amends with a fond smile. “It suits you. First you slip past our security to get into Brighton, then you vanish without a word.”
“Telling you I’m about to escape ruins the whole part where I get away from you,” I seethe.
The worst has already happened and I’m visible. Can I get away with punching him now?
The chief laughs, not taking offense in the slightest at the accusation. “From me? You were trespassing, and I was only trying to help. What gave you the idea I was violating your rights?”
I clamp down on the urge to snarl. “From you holding me in the basement of your house.”
“What an imagination. I’m on your side. I take the safety of everyone who crosses our borders very seriously.
Hearing about your demise was such a tragedy.
I took getting justice for you very seriously, even though you had no business being in our city in the first place.
” He pauses, darkness seeping into his tone.
“And I intended to prosecute the guilty party to the full extent of the law.”
“So kind,” I say, voice edged with sarcasm.
He nods solemnly. “I’m glad that malicious people and their insidious powers didn’t take another life here.”
“Careful who you’re calling malicious.”
“You might not approve of all the choices I’ve made, but I’ve seen what the wrong kind of powers can do in terrible hands.” His solemn, concerned act doesn’t fool me for a second. “I was there during the necromancer attack that took innocent lives and witnessed the destruction myself.”
What? This clusterfuck has a silver lining. I didn’t know he was there before. “You were there? You obviously did it.” Is that even possible? He had to be involved somehow.
Harper steps between us. “No, he didn’t.”
The denial stings. I glance at Harper, hurt flashing in my chest. “You’re taking his side.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Quite right,” Rowan agrees sadly, still playing his part. “I’m only one of several witnesses to that day’s tragic events. Unfortunately, these things happen with dark powers. You know firsthand what rogue necromancers running amok are capable of, don’t you, Detective Harper?”
Harper clears his throat. “Why don’t we wrap this up?”
My hand itches to smack the cordial smile off Rowan’s face when he bids me farewell. “So long for now. Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again, Dodger.”
Forget hitting him. I’d rather summon a monster from the underworld to gobble him up. There’s a hungriness lurking in his eyes that makes me want to throw up. Then he waves and heads toward the door, whistling a cheerful tune as he leaves.
Well then. That did not go well. I’d rather deal with the fiercest netherbeast any other plane has to offer than explain myself to Harper.