Chapter 7 #2
Bran scrambled up, grabbing him by the collar and, with one punch, knocked him out, dropping him into the snow.
The next moment, two police cars barreled through the gate, screeching to a halt next to us. I glanced over to see Bree holding her phone. She must have called Daisy and told them we were already embroiled.
As the cops raced over, we all set down our weapons. Even though they knew us, we followed protocol to make sure nobody got hurt. As the men from one patrol car hurried over to gather up the MacFarland brothers, the other pair headed toward the warehouse, motioning for us to stay back.
Within less than a minute, two more patrol cars pulled in, one manned by Daisy. The officers from the other car headed in as backup to the warehouse, while Daisy walked over to us.
“I know you wanted us to wait, but we saw the opportunity —” I started.
She waved away my explanation. “Trust me, I doubted you were going to wait for me, even though I wish you would. This is the van?”
“Yes, and Fancypants is in there, can I get him please?”
“Let me take a look first. I just want to make certain everything’s okay.”
I fidgeted as she opened the door, wanting to rush in behind her.
But I made myself wait. A moment later, she returned with Fancypants cradled in her arm.
He seemed drowsy, and I knew he was still sedated.
But when he looked up into my face and saw me smiling down, the weakest of smiles appeared and he let out a soft sigh.
I took him, now totally focused on the dragonette in my arms.
Daisy was talking into her mic affixed to her collar. After a moment, she turned to us.
“They found the women, and five familiars—cats.”
“I’m so glad,” Bree said, worrying her lip. “Are they all right?”
Daisy shrugged. “I have no idea. We’re transporting the women to the hospital and the cats to the emergency vet’s clinic.
Luckily, there were only a couple goons inside that my deputies were able to take down.
I’m amazed. We actually have the MacFarland brothers in custody.
In fact, until you called, I’d forgotten all about them.
I was under the impression that they never came back, but apparently I was wrong.
We might be able to solve a lot of crimes because of this.
How did you know where to find them? How did you even though they were here?
” She asked, her gaze narrowing on Faron.
He fidgeted a moment, then shrugged. “The rumor mill?”
“Right,” Daisy said. “Sometime we need to have a talk about that rumor mill. It might come in handy.” She paused, then added, “so, you’re a free agent now?”
Faron nodded. “Seems that way, doesn’t it?”
Still holding his gaze, Daisy said, “have you ever considered applying to become a deputy? You’d make a good one.”
None of us were expecting that, and we all turned to stare at her. Faron looked especially surprised.
“Are you serious?” He asked.
“I don’t joke about things like that,” she said. “I’m serious, all right. We can use a couple good men, and if you are looking for a job, I can wait until you’re through the training. Given your past, I’m pretty sure you could accelerate your studying and be done within six months.”
I glanced at Faron. “I do have a thing for uniforms,” I said, winking at him.
Faron hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’m starting a temporary job that I committed to for a little while, but I’m sure I could give notice there. Meanwhile, thank you for helping Elphyra. And the rest of us.”
As the medics arrived and we made way for them, Fancypants shifted in my arms. I leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, his scales cool to the touch.
“Let’s get you home,” I said. “May can check you out and make sure you’re okay. You’re safe now, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure this never happens again.”
Even though he was too groggy to speak, his eyes told me he was grateful to be back, and the song in my heart told me that our bond was as strong as ever, and I vowed to make sure that nothing ever endangered him again.
* * *
Six months later…
Bran, Grams, May, and I sat in the front row.
There were only a handful of families here, but it was as big of a day to us as it would have been if we were at a graduation with hundreds of families.
I had left Fancypants with Bree, not trusting to leave him alone with the cats.
Even though we had beefed up our security system — after finding it had been disabled by the MacFarland brothers — I never wanted to go through that again.
And speaking of the MacFarland brothers, they were in prison, a maximum security prison at that.
They wouldn’t be seeing the light of day for quite a long time.
Not only had they been convicted of kidnapping and theft — sadly cats were still considered property and not family — but in the investigation following their arrest, they had been extradited to several other states for crimes including kidnapping, poaching, murder, and various assaults.
They wouldn’t ever get out of prison again.
I drew my attention back to the stage, where one of the satellite Academy professors was giving the graduation speech.
And then it was time. As the officers walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, I found myself grinning maniacally.
Because the first one to shake the professor’s hand and receive his diploma was Faron.
And next week he would begin his new job with Daisy, as a deputy in the sheriff’s office.
During the past six months, we had managed to find a pattern and rhythm to our relationship, and he and Bran had become best friends.
My tarot business was thriving, and I was learning about my heritage from Grams, and about kitchen witchery from May.
It’d been quiet, blissfully so, and I looked forward to a summer and autumn filled with the mundane things in life.
Because too much excitement was as exhausting as too much boredom.
All I wanted right now was a calm, happy life with the two loves of my life, the two women who were teaching me how to grow into my powers, my best friend, the cats, and — of course — the little dragonette that had bonded so deeply into my heart that I couldn’t imagine life without him.