Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
The moon hung low in the sky, its silvered glow barely visible above the nearby rooftops and chimney stacks.
Stars had emerged to twinkle down from above but it was still early.
No doubt there would be more later. It was a fitting evening for a graduation ceremony, even if it was only for a few newly trained minor investigators.
Marie Wicker blew out a blue smoke ring and watched my approach. ‘Ms McCafferty,’ she said flatly. ‘What a joy to see you again.’
Oh dear, she didn’t look happy. I offered her my bright, trademark cat-lady smile. ‘Mary! Hello!’
‘It’s Marie.’
I peered at her owlishly. ‘Is it? Mary suits you better.’ Her answering scowl held enough ferocity to curdle milk and it was hard not to laugh. ‘How did the fraud investigation go?’ I asked.
Her unhappiness deepened. ‘Fetch Mayhew uncovered several misuses of funds, mostly relating to the unauthorised sale of Wicker light powder. We’ve been trying to outlaw its use outside our coven for years but without success.’
Ah. ‘Perhaps the powder is being put to good use,’ I said easily. She sniffed but didn’t argue. ‘What about your swapped investigation for the witches’ council?’ I asked. ‘How did that go?’
Her expression darkened further. ‘Not well. I was tasked to investigate the disappearance of an item from the council’s Alexandria Collection. You’d think the council would be more circumspect with valuable scrolls and books but apparently it is not.’
‘Did you find the item?’
Her answer was short. ‘No.’
I pursed my lips then dug into my bag. Thane had kept hold of the Clouded Map and it remained safely ensconced in the bellarmine jug. ‘Perhaps this will help,’ I said.
She took the jug and stared. ‘What is this?’
I remained serene. ‘You know what it is. I promise you it’s safe, and it’s still in perfect condition.’
Marie stared at me open mouthed. ‘Did you steal it? Did you steal the Clouded Map from the witches’ council?’
‘No. I’m not a thief.’ A killer, yes, but never a thief. ‘I found it.’ I paused before adding for effect, ‘I give you my word on that.’
‘Where?’ she demanded, her cheeks growing red. ‘Where was it?’
‘I’m not at liberty to say.’ I waved a hand airily. ‘But feel free to make up any story you wish about its recovery.’ Clearly doubting my words, she looked at me suspiciously. ‘It’s not a trap, Marie,’ I told her. ‘What matters is that it is returned safely, right?’
She glowered but I saw the flash of delight in her eyes. ‘I suppose.’ She cradled the jug in her arms. ‘I found it,’ she breathed. ‘I found the Clouded Map.’
I clapped her on the shoulder. ‘Well done! Now you can graduate from the class and become a real investigator like the rest of us.’
Marie barely heard me but I grinned proudly all the same.
‘And that,’ Matty declared as she updated us on her investigation into a spate of druid muggings that Kevin had swapped with her, ‘is when I kicked the fucker in the goolies and brought him to justice once and for all.’
There was a smattering of applause from my classmates.
Randolph was particularly enthusiastic; it appeared that his burgeoning relationship with Matty would continue beyond the MET training course.
I doubted Captain Montgomery would care about his inadvertent role in matchmaking but nevertheless he ought to be pleased.
I glanced at Thane, who was standing at the rear of the room with Thomas, Penelope and my classmates’ family members who had come to witness our graduation. Yep, love beat crime every day of the week.
She Without An Ear caught me looking and started to preen; she had clearly decided that she was the star of the show. Fair enough: I couldn’t have done it without her. I bowed my head in her direction and took a sip from my champagne glass.
‘Congratulations, Matilda,’ Montgomery said to Matty. ‘You did well. In fact, all of you did well. Almost everyone completed the course successfully and achieved a positive outcome in your final investigation.’
Almost everyone. None of my classmates had questioned Alan Vennington’s absence, which was probably just as well. It wouldn’t have been easy to explain.
Montgomery raised his glass. ‘Cheers.’
We all beamed. ‘Cheers.’
He smiled then nodded at me. ‘Ms McCafferty? May I have a word?’
I nodded. ‘Of course, sir.’
He frowned faintly. ‘Sir?’
‘I can call you Monty, if you wish.’
He shuddered. ‘Sir will do.’
I smirked as we moved away to stand next to a large window that overlooked the narrow street outside.
Montgomery cleared his throat. ‘I have received a full report about your investigation from the vampires.’ He lowered his voice to ensure he wasn’t overheard.
‘They told me about the monster – and the maze. They should never have let matters get as bad as they did. If they had requested help, the MET could have ensured that many deaths were avoided. They were fortunate that you could help them out.’
‘It was a simple matter,’ I said.
Montgomery scoffed. ‘Not as far as they are concerned. But I find it curious that you succeeded in defeating that creature when the combined might of the Understream failed.’
‘Oh, that’s no great mystery,’ I said lightly. ‘I had help.’ I indicated Thane, Thomas, Penelope and She Without An Ear, who started moving towards us to join the conversation. ‘Plus,’ I added, ‘I had the advantage of seeing what the vampires could not.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘And what is that?’
‘The creature in question was a vampire – an ancient, deformed vampire but a vampire nonetheless. If they had recognised Cian as such, they would have deployed the correct tactics to defeat him.’
‘With a wooden stake through the heart, you mean.’
‘Just so.’
He watched me doubtfully. ‘Hmm.’
‘I got lucky.’
‘In my experience,’ he muttered, ‘luck is something that follows you around, Ms McCafferty.’
I touched Dave’s pendant, which was still hanging around my neck. ‘That and cat hair,’ I said cheerfully.
Montgomery snorted then his expression grew more serious. ‘You realise that technically you did not pass the course? Although the vampires’ gratitude is overwhelming, you did not achieve what you were supposed to.’
I allowed a shadow to cross my face. ‘I’m not sure what you mean.’
‘You did not discover what had happened to the missing worms – unless you believe that this ancient vampire was responsible for their disappearance?’
‘No, Cian had nothing to do with them.’
‘You are sure?’
‘Positive.’ I grinned. ‘Vampires, even very old very hungry vampires, don’t drink worm blood. And I know where the worms are. They’re not missing at all.’
‘What do you mean?’ Penelope asked as she and Thomas joined us.
‘Ask Anthony.’
Thomas blinked. ‘The worms’ caretaker?’
I nodded. ‘The only thing he cares about is his posse of worms. I reckon that when thralls and vampires started to go missing, he hid some of the younger worms to keep them safe and to prevent anyone from considering offering them as a sacrifice. He didn’t know that Cian wasn’t interested in worm blood and he likely surmised that if some worms were already missing yet Cian continued attacking, then it would be obvious that offering up more worms wasn’t a solution. ’
Penelope’s brow creased. ‘So where are the four lost worms?’
I thought of the way Anthony had mysteriously appeared when I’d sneaked into the stables. ‘I suspect there’s a hidden entrance towards the back of the worms’ enclosure. You’ll probably find Nicola, Solly, Fields and Tiger there.’
Thane smiled and I felt a warm glow in the pit of my stomach at the pride in his eyes. He put an arm around my waist. ‘You are extraordinary,’ he said, kissing me.
I kissed him back. ‘I might say the same of you.’
As I pulled away, I felt the tickle of eyes upon me. I looked out of the window at the cobbled street outside. There, on the opposite side, sat a silver cat. He was watching me carefully, his tufted ears pricked and alert in the moonlight.
Penelope touched my shoulder and I turned to her. ‘Kit, William has asked me to tell you that your banishment from the Understream has been rescinded. You are welcome to visit any time and you will be granted full, unfettered access. Only a few people have ever been given such a boon.’
Thane snorted. ‘I think that’s the least you can do.’
Penelope dipped her head to acknowledge his words while I thought about the round red mark on Trilby’s wrist. ‘What happened to “trust in the fang and the fang alone”?’
‘It is a silly motto – and terribly old fashioned,’ she said primly, without looking in my direction. ‘We ought to come up with something different.’
‘Probably,’ I agreed. They ought to put some thought into their long lives as well or one day there might be more Cians rampaging through the Understream, but that was a problem for another time. I drained my glass. ‘Who wants another drink?’
‘There’s no need for you to fetch another bottle yourself, Kit,’ Thomas murmured. ‘Our thrall will do that for us.’
He beckoned to the figure who was loping eagerly towards us. ‘My Lord, what can I do for you?’
I sighed at Eric’s obsequiousness. Some desires obviously ran too deep to be denied.
I reached for Thane’s hand and entwined my fingers with his as She Without An Ear wound her way around my ankles. I’d always be a cat lady. I thought of Alan and Cian, then I acknowledged that I’d always be a killer, too.
I glanced out of the window again to dispel my darker thoughts. The Maine Coon had vanished but his disappearance didn’t disturb me.
Deep down, I was certain that he’d be back.
Thank you so much for reading Night Maze!