Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,26
at me. “Be careful out there.”
“Careful is my middle name.”
Her snort followed me down the stairs. I grabbed my coat, purse, and the backpack, then headed out the front to wait for Monty under the shop’s old front veranda. His old wagon came clattering around the corner a few minutes later and pulled to a halt in the no-parking zone.
I jumped in and did up the seat belt as he zoomed off.
“Where are we headed?” The rain drummed so loudly on the wagon’s roof that I practically had to shout the question. The wipers were not coping, which was somewhat scary given the speed he was going.
“The bush behind the motocross track.”
I frowned. “I wasn’t aware Castle Rock had one.”
He cast an amused look my way. “It may be a smallish country town, but it’s not lacking facilities, you know.”
“This from the man who was only a few days ago bemoaning the absence of a decent cinema complex.”
“And quite rightly. Ashworth might love the retro styling and movies the Royal shows, but I prefer pictures that are a little more this century.”
So did I, to be honest. “I gather Aiden is meeting us there?”
“Tala is. Aiden and Jaz are over near Welshman’s Reef—bad car accident, from the sound of it.”
“I hope there’re no fatalities.”
“Tala didn’t say.”
“Who reported the crying child then?”
“One of the motocross riders. Apparently he was taking a break when he heard it.”
“He didn’t go investigate?”
“A couple of them did, but the kid kept moving deeper into the scrub, even though the riders were shouting out to remain where he was.”
“Were they human or wolf?”
“A mix, but the kid who reported it wasn’t able to catch the kid’s scent.”
“Same problem the rangers had.”
“Yeah, but that was hours after the fact. This is fresh, and there should be some sort of trail.”
With this rain? That was doubtful. “It does suggest we might be dealing with some sort of supernatural entity after all.”
“Or the entity is working with the rogue.”
I frowned. “I wouldn’t have thought that likely. Werewolves aren’t generally known for making pacts with the supernatural.”
“Which doesn’t mean it can’t happen. I guess it depends entirely on what sort of supernatural creature we’re dealing with.” He glanced at me. “Are you checking Belle’s books to see if there’s anything there?”
“Ha!” I said. “That’s why you insisted I become your helper—you want to get your hands on those books.”
He grinned. “You forget I’m going to marry that woman, so I can clearly bide my time when it comes to checking out the library.”
I snorted. “Did you tell Ava these grand plans?”
“I did. She wished me luck and gave me her blessing.”
I studied him for a second, uncertain if I should believe him or not. “Seriously?”
“Hell, yeah.” The look he cast me was amused. “I may be lower in the power scale than my parents wished, but I’m still an Ashworth with high-flying parents. A catch, in other words.”
I laughed. “Nothing like beating your own drum.”
“Especially when it’s nothing but the truth.” A self-deprecating smile touched his lips. “Of course, I’ve yet to convince Belle of that.”
“Play the long game, Monty.”
“Oh, I am.”
I smiled. “Did Tala say if there’s a report of a missing kid? Or is that like last time too?”
“No reports, but the call only came in fifteen minutes ago, so it may be too early.”
“If there’s a kid young enough to be lost and crying in the bush, you’d think someone would be missing him.”
“But you and I are sensible. Not all parents are.”
“You being such an expert in the matter.”
My voice was dry, and he chuckled softly. “You forget I haunt the café daily. It really is a microcosm of the wider community.”
“Only on days when the weather hasn’t unleashed.”
He glanced at me, eyebrows raised. “Meaning I’ll have to come in and consume more cake to keep the profits up?”
“You don’t pay for said cake.”
“You want me to start? Happy to, you know.”
“I know, and we’re fine, Monty.”
Silence fell—to the extent it could be silent with the drumming rain and furiously swishing wipers, at any rate. We moved out of Castle Rock and sped a couple of miles down the road that led to Maldoon. The entrance into the motocross area was so simply signposted that we almost missed it, and was little more than a double farm gate and a dirt track that led up to the parking area and basic facilities.
Tala was talking to a couple of teenagers in bike leathers as we pulled up