Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,14

some mental space from the constant barrage of my thoughts. She might be my familiar, but she didn’t need to be on call twenty-four seven. That would likely drive even the strongest person insane.

Of course, I could push past the barrier if I absolutely had to, but it wasn’t necessary in this particular case. I might not be able to waitress but I could still work, even if I did so propped up on a stool in either the kitchen or behind the serving counter.

I flicked off the blankets, sat up, and then carefully pulled off my socks to inspect my feet. Surprisingly, many of the smaller cuts had healed, but the puncture wound remained sore and ugly-looking, and the big bruise around the arch of my left foot was now even more colorful. I put my socks back on, then carefully rose. Putting any sort of weight on my feet hurt, but not as badly as I’d feared. I hobbled over to the wardrobe, got dressed, and then carefully negotiated the stairs.

Aiden wasn’t in the kitchen, and his truck wasn’t in its usual position out front. No real surprise there. While he technically wasn’t rostered on until later in the day, he’d always considered it his duty to be present during any major investigation. He had left me a note, however: Early meeting with Ciara. Will see you tonight. Dinner is on me.

Such a romantic, I thought with a wry smile.

I shoved a couple of crumpets into the toaster then made a coffee to go. Once I’d smeared the crumpets with Vegemite and then melted cheese over the top of them—the best way to eat crumpets, in my opinion—I slung my backpack over my shoulder, then grabbed my keys, coat, and breakfast, and headed out.

A few days ago, I’d bought a little yellow-and-black Suzuki Swift to tootle back and forth from the café to Aiden’s. While the council had replaced the SUV we’d destroyed, it cost an arm and a leg to run, so we used it mainly for business purposes. Me having the Suzi also meant Belle could use the SUV should she need it.

Aiden wasn’t entirely impressed with the car—more because of the bright color, I suspected—but jumping into it always made me smile. And there were definitely some days in this damn reservation when that sort of boost was needed.

I reversed out and, once on the main highway, turned the music up loud. It took just over half an hour to reach Castle Rock, and Belle was awake and cheerily singing in the kitchen by the time I hobbled in.

“Sounds like a good time was had last night.” I shoved my bag under the counter and then headed into the kitchen.

“The movie was average, but we headed over to that new pub in—” She stopped abruptly. “What the hell did you do? Why are you limping?”

I wrinkled my nose. “I bruised my left foot and cut my right.”

“And how did you manage that?”

“Long story short, running barefoot through a forest.” I snagged a carrot from the pile she was cutting and happily munched on it.

“That’s what I get for staying out of your thoughts,” she muttered. “Damn it, woman—”

“I’m fine, and there’s nothing you could have done to help. I will be limited in what I can do today, however.” I glanced at my watch. “Celia’s coming in at eight to help out.”

“Ah. Good.” She scraped the carrot sticks into a metal container. “Did you find the kid?”

“No. We did, however, find a dead and mutilated man.”

“How the hell did we go from a lost kid to a murdered man?” She held up a hand. “Don’t answer that. It’s this place again.”

Indeed. “There’s evidence of an animal attack, but until Ciara’s finished her examination, we won’t know for sure.”

“So the dead man is human?”

“Wolf.”

“I can’t imagine an ordinary animal getting the better of a werewolf.”

“Aiden thought it might be the result of a rogue wolf attack. Apparently it’s happened in the past.” I propped my butt against the stove to take the weight off my bruised foot. Which, of course, only made the punctured foot protest. “So, the pub? Details are required.”

She grinned. “It’s the old Walker Street Pub. The new owners have turned it into a funky ale bar with live music. And Monty, I have to say, is a fabulous dancer.”

“So a good time was had?”

“Indeed.”

Given how firmly her thoughts were currently shut down, I was thinking a very good time was had. “So,