Chapter 11 #2
Officer Ward strode up the center aisle.
Looking fresh and vigorous, as though he’d not spent the better part of last night tracking down hoodlums and enforcing the law.
As though he hadn’t discovered incontrovertible evidence of her own presence at the scene of the altercation and handed that evidence over to her without so much as an accusatory murmur.
As though he couldn’t even now, with very little trouble, turn the whole situation round and drag her off to prison.
Luna’s stomach dropped to the floor. She’d been so overwrought by everything else which had happened, she’d scarcely let her mind dwell on that moment when she fairly pushed the wardsman out the shop door.
But seeing Ward now brought it all rushing back.
She felt dizzy, and the floor under her feet seemed to pitch.
Mr. Grimm shifted behind her. “I’ll be in the back,” he muttered and reached for the hinged portion of the counter. Did he truly mean to abandon her? To make her face Ward and whatever his intentions might be on her own?
Luna’s hand darted out, grasping his forearm. Mr. Grimm turned his head sharply, looking down at her from wide eyes, burning with heat. A hasty blink, however, and the heat vanished, disguised by a thin veil of indifference.
“Don’t leave me!” Luna hissed desperately.
His brow crinkled.
“Please!” she added.
He stared at her for a breath. Then he nodded. Once.
The next moment, Ward was at the counter, leaning on his elbows. “Morning, Luna. Grimm,” he said. His voice seemed to fill the shop.
Luna painted a huge smile on her face and whirled to greet him.
“Ward! What a, um, lovely surprise!” Mr. Grimm’s arm tensed under her grasp.
Realizing she still held onto him, she let go, and he stepped back a pace or two.
With a grunt, he turned and busied himself with the debris scattered across the lower counter where she’d been working.
He picked up and moved around various items and flowers at random. But he didn’t leave.
“Surprise, is it?” Ward tilted an eyebrow at her, even as his dimples came out to play. “I shouldn’t think so. A fellow likes to pop in and visit his girl on break, doesn’t he? Speaking of . . . you got a break coming up soon?”
Luna shook her head, valiantly keeping her smile fixed in place. “I’m sorry, Ward. We’re quite behind on orders today. What with the Governor’s Ball and all.”
“Yeah, about that.” Ward removed his hat, and that dark curl of his bobbed across his forehead, working its winsome charm at max appeal. “How about you just ask Mr. Grimm over there for a five minute breather, eh? And come on a little walk with me.”
Her blood went cold. What did a “little walk” mean?
Was it code for a one-way trip to the slammer?
Her mouth felt dry as a desert, and Luna couldn’t help self-consciously tugging at the cuff of her blouse, even though she knew perfectly well Ward had clocked her heptagram tattoo long ago. Probably the very first day they’d met.
“Um, I can’t,” she demurred.
“Sure you can.” Ward leaned over, looking at Mr. Grimm. “She can, can’t she? You can spare her for five minutes? After she stayed up late running inventory for you and all.”
Mr. Grimm looked at Ward then at Luna. She met his stare hard, even as she kept her smile in place. She gave the slightest shake of her head and watched her employer’s brows pucker.
Then he said, “I cannot spare her just now.”
“Geez Louise.” Ward sighed heavily. “Really, Grimm? Five minutes?” Then he slapped the counter, not hard, but enough to make Luna jump.
He continued talking in his habitual breezy tone, however.
“Never mind. I wanted to do this someplace more private, but this’ll have to do. Close your eyes, Luna Talbot.”
“What?”
“I said close your eyes. And hold out your hand. Palm-up.”
Luna felt her smile trying to wobble. Was she about to have a pair of handcuffs slapped on her wrists or something? “Why?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light, curious, without any trace of terrified quaver.
“You’ll be happy if you do. Trust me.”
Something told her she was not, in fact, going to be happy about whatever this was. Still, Luna did as requested, closing her eyes and holding out her hand. Something smooth and flat was placed in her palm.
“All right,” Ward said. “You can look now.”
Luna opened her eyes. She found she was holding two tickets in her hand.
Two gilded tickets. She blinked and looked more closely, at first assuming they must be for the theater, some concert perhaps.
When she saw what was written in gold lettering, however, she was obliged to read it three or four times before the truth finally registered. Then she gasped and looked up at Ward.
“These are tickets to the Governor’s Ball!”
Ward grinned. “I know. Last night’s raid was a resounding success, with the shipment confiscated, and one Dark Sorcerer brought into custody.
Nasty fellow by the name of Lancelot Mortimer, all Dire-burned on his face.
Yeeugh.” He shook his head, grimacing. “But in honor of our noble service, all the lead officers on that raid have been invited to attend the ball tonight and be awarded medals by the governor himself.” Ward leaned harder on the counter and winked at her.
“Told you I was going to sweep you off your feet, didn’t I? How’s this for a bit of a sweep?”