Chapter 14 #3
He glances over his shoulder to me, flushing when he realises where my eyes are fixed. “I mentioned to Grumps about the supernatural cases you’ve been getting recently.”
“You did?”
“Yes. He’s a sixth-generation witch, so I thought he might have some insight,” he replies as we step through the doorway into his flat and hear the kettle boiling in the kitchen. “Take a seat. I’ll go help Grumps and put my rose in some water.”
He looks at it again, a small smile playing on his lips.
Ordinarily, I’d offer to help, but I wonder if Harrison needs a moment alone with his grandfather…
Grumps. I huff out a quiet laugh at the name that seems to so perfectly suit the old man despite his obvious humour; maybe it’s an ironic pet name.
Grumps and Prickles, it’s like a comedy double act.
Rather than taking a seat as he suggests, I first head into the bathroom to check my appearance and wash my hands.
Once I finish and settle myself on the sofa, the two of them enter the room as well, Harrison carrying a tea tray with three mugs and a plate of chocolate digestives.
“So, Sam the Psychic PI.” Grumps grins as he lowers himself into a chair, his knees cracking loudly. “Harry tells me you’ve had some strange cases.”
“Hmm.” My eyes narrow. “Before we get into that, which one do you belong to? Dad or Pops?”
Grumps snorts. “Lucas, aka Pops, is my son. Hayden, aka Dad, is my son-in-law.”
“Huh, I would have said it was the other way around.”
He picks up his mug and sips as Harrison hands me mine and sits down next to me on the sofa. “So, tell me about these paranormal cases.”
“Actually, I can do one better than that.” I turn my head to Harrison. “That was what I was coming over to talk about.”
“You usually use your mouth for talking, not your hands. Unless that was the kinkiest version of sign language I’ve ever seen.” Grumps innocently takes another sip of his tea.
“Ignore him,” Harrison says dryly. “He thinks he’s funny, but he’s been trying his hardest to win the coveted title of Resident Casanova ever since my dads settled him in that retirement community back home. People in glass houses and all that…”
“Fine, spoilsport.” He scowls and picks up a biscuit, dunking it rather forcefully in his tea. “Apparently, Sam, you get to a certain age and you’re not allowed to have fun anymore.”
“Only when it comes with the risk of STIs or throwing out a hip,” Harrison says tartly, picking up a biscuit and dunking it just as ferociously while they glare at each other.
I can’t help it. I laugh out loud.
“What?” Harrison turns that glower on me, but it doesn’t have the effect he intended. Honestly, whenever he gets all prickly and put out, it just makes me hot for him.
“You two may not be related biologically, but you’re so alike. It’s like looking at you in sixty years.”
“Fifty,” Grumps grumbles. “Anyway, we’re getting off topic.”
“Right.” I settle back against the sofa, resting my arm along the back as I drink my tea. “I went to visit Hadley and Mason a few days ago.”
“You did?” Harrison blinks, his brows wrinkling, but I can’t be sure if it’s worry or something else.
I nod.
“Who’s Hadley and Mason?” Grumps asks curiously.
“They’re a solicitor’s office,” I continue, “but evidently not just any solicitor’s office. They represent magically and supernaturally inclined families and individuals.”
“Do they really?” Grumps leans forward his eyes glittering in interest.
“And according to Mr Hadley, they’ve been around since 1605.
Well, not them personally, but their ancestors.
The original Hadley and Mason were part of King James’ court.
Given his absolute fear of witches and his subsequent persecution of them, Hadley and Mason the first convened a secret society to protect the accused and limit the damage.
I’m guessing the mantle was passed from father to son, to the present-day Hadley and Mason.
Somewhere along the way, it morphed from a secret society into a legitimate business. ”
“And he just told you all of this?” Harrison frowned. “Why?”
“Because”—I stroke his back absently—“they’re apparently the ones who have been filtering all the paranormal cases in my direction.”
“Really?” His brows furrow.
“They want to hire me.”
“For?” Grumps chimes in.
“Hadley told me that I was onto something before I went back home to Yorkshire. That more people are spontaneously manifesting supernatural gifts—a lot more. More than they can keep track of, and they want to know why.”
“They’re not the only ones.” Grumps traces his bottom lip with his thumb.
“Did you ask him about the demon in the bookshop?” Harrison asks.
“Yes, but I didn’t get much of an answer. All he said was that the demon wasn’t the one causing this outbreak of paranormal abilities. That it was something else, something more powerful.”
“More powerful than a demon?” Harrison whispers, his gaze briefly flickering to his grandfather, who scowls thoughtfully. When Harrison turns those blue eyes back on me, they’re once again filled with worry but also determination.
“Then I guess we’d better figure it out.”