Flipping the Bird (Shift Creek #1) - Carrie Pulkinen Page 0,45

but it wasn’t like she locked any birds in it. The piece was beautiful, made of dark metal with an intricate cast-iron crow sitting on the loop where it attached to the stand. She appreciated the irony of the bird being on top of the cage rather than in it.

Snatching her phone from the bedside table, she dialed Donovan’s number.

“Hello?” His voice was raspy with sleep, and if she wasn’t so perturbed with his klepto-familiar, she might have enjoyed the sexy little shiver running down her spine.

“You need to come get your mongoose,” she snapped.

“What?” The sound of sheets rustled through the line. “Marty is there? I put him to bed two hours ago.”

“Well, he didn’t stay. I caught him trying to steal my jewelry. Taking things others have discarded as trash is one thing, but I draw the line at breaking and entering.” She inhaled a deep breath, trying to rein in her frustration. It wasn’t Donovan’s fault his familiar was a thief.

“I’ll be right over.”

She tossed her phone on the nightstand and plopped onto the edge of the bed, crossing her arms and tapping her foot as she glared at Marty. “What were you trying to accomplish by stealing my stuff?”

He crossed his stubby arms and glared in return.

“If you’re trying to drive me away, it won’t work. I care about him, and I’m not going to let a thieving mongoose come between us.”

Marty gawked. “Me come between you? You’re the one who’s splitting us up. Homewrecker!”

“Homewrecker?! How dare—” She ground her teeth. Arguing with a talking animal was not a productive way to spend her time. If she wanted to be with Donovan, she’d have to win over Marty. Warlocks and their familiars had unbreakable bonds.

“Listen, I think we got off on the wrong foot. The whole ordeal with me giving him my crow and putting you in the jar… I wasn’t trying to hurt either of you. I wasn’t even sure how it happened. I’m not trying to divide you and Donovan. I want to be your friend.”

“Hmph.” The little rat turned his back to her. The nerve!

Twenty minutes later, Donovan knocked on her door. She left Marty in the cage to answer, and Donovan stepped in wearing sweatpants and a dark gray t-shirt. His hair was disheveled from sleep, and she fought the urge to drag him into the kitchen and make a meal out of him before they addressed the situation.

“I’m so sorry.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He’s never done this before.”

“He hates me. Plain and simple.” She led him up the stairs.

“He doesn’t hate you.” He followed her to the bedroom and stopped in the doorway, shaking his head. “Martin, what have you done?”

“Reconnaissance. I told you not to trust her.” He rose onto his haunches and gripped the bars of the cage like a tiny furry prisoner.

Donovan blew out a heavy breath. “I’m so very sorry, Alice. I will have words with him when we get home.” He unlatched the door, and Marty climbed up his arm to sit on his shoulder.

“She’s a thief, boss. Look down there.” He gestured toward the dresser, where the amulet lay half-hidden beneath it.

Doo-doo on a donut. This was not how she wanted Donovan to find out about it. Her heart sank into her stomach, and her hands involuntarily clenched into fists. Her fight-or-flight instinct flipped all the way to flight, her crow begging to take over and fly her the heck away from the awkwardness that was about to ensue.

“Where did you get this?” Donovan kneeled and picked up the amulet by the chain, cradling the stone in his hand as if it were precious.

Alice’s jaw worked, but she couldn’t form words.

“She stole it from you,” Marty sneered. “The first night we arrived, remember? The crow on the balcony really was her!”

Donovan looked at her with disbelief. “Alice, is this true?”

“What? No, of course not!” She crossed her arms and let out a sardonic laugh. “I mean…” Oh, damn it all to hell. Yes, H-E-L-L. This is too messed up for heck. I saved that little weasel’s life, and this is how he repays me?

She chewed her bottom lip as Donovan held her gaze, and Marty’s beady little eyes bore into her like hot pokers.

“Alice?” Donovan’s brow furrowed.

“Yes, okay? I was the crow on your balcony that night, but I did not steal the amulet. I found it in the trash outside the house.”

“Listen to her,