There was another meow that sounded like, “Be more specific.”
“It was awful, if you must know,” I continued. “Something like smoke filled my head and lungs. I could feel that Angus was… well, altered. I had some experience of him from our meeting here. It had something to do with that book. I assume you have access to it.”
Ruthann shook her head. “It’s been taken into evidence. What more can you tell me about it?”
I sighed. “Nothing but the title, ‘Magic Through the Ages.’ If I hadn’t fainted, I might know more. Angus was looking for something and thought he found it in the book. Hopefully the police can keep that information secure.”
She exchanged a look with Minerva and sighed, too. “Nothing can be done, then.”
Mr. Bixby finally chimed in again. “How can nothing be done? You’re the mayor of this fine town.”
I echoed the comment in words I knew she’d understand. “You need to do something. Whatever information or spell Angus was deployed to find and use is dangerous.”
“I’m sure it is. We have special security officers investigating.”
“Mayor, may I—”
“No. You’ve said enough, Janelle.” She went back around the desk and sat down at the computer. “I have it handled.”
“With all due respect—”
“Quiet, please.” Her fingers clicked as speedily on the keyboard as her feet generally moved. “I need to make arrangements for your training to begin. Immediately.”
Walking over to the desk, I held out the fingers of my right hand to Minerva and almost curtsied. “Permission to speak, Minerva?”
Mr. Bixby writhed under my other arm. “That cat is not a queen. Or if she is, she doesn’t reign over this dachshund.”
“Denied,” the mayor said, continuing to type like the wind.
The cat ignored my fingers and started to lick her paw. I decided to take that as permission. “Minerva, I think you’re right.”
The mayor looked up from her work, although her fingers still clicked. “Right about what?”
I spoke to the cat, not the mayor. “I do believe that she’s in trouble.”
“Who’s in trouble?” Ruthann’s voice got a little louder and her fingers stopped.
“I’m speaking to Minerva, Mayor. I owe her that after what happened before.”
“When you hiccupped her into oblivion, you mean,” Bixby said, with a chuckle.
The cat opened her mouth in a silent hiss that shut him down fast. I wished I could bottle that, because very little intimidated or silenced my dog.
“I prefer you speak directly to me,” Ruthann said.
“Fine. Minerva left her post to find me for a reason. I believe she thinks you need help. Even protection.”
“Me? How can a novice in elementary training protect someone like me? And from what?”
“That I don’t know.” I went back to my friends and sat on the sofa. “But I intend to do my very best to serve.”
“We all do,” Sinda added.
“Definitely,” Ren agreed, clutching her bag tightly as if the book might jump out.
“You will do no such thing.” Ruthann came around the desk and leaned over us. It was probably one of the few times she got to tower over someone. “My job is to protect all of you. Not the other way around.”
I held up my palm. “Tell it to Minerva. It looks like she’s satisfied.”
The mayor turned quickly and found her cat now perched in the middle of the keyboard. “Minerva!”
She walked over to the cat and Bixby chuckled. “Impressive, Janelle. I give you a seven out of ten for delivery. Shame you lost a few points because of the—”
The mayor had tried to sit down and sprung up. “What on earth?”
Between her fingers was a particularly feisty sunflower. Its roots were disconnected from the leather chair but it continued to grow like Jack’s beanstalk.
“Sorry, Mayor,” I said. We all jumped to our feet and moved toward the door. “We should be going.”
“You will go to room two-ten and stay there. Class begins in half an hour.” She raised one finger and for a second I thought she might hurl a spell at me. “Do not, under any circumstances, get involved in this Angus situation. Understood?”
“Understood.” Glancing at Minerva’s unblinking eyes, I nodded before adding another “Understood.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Mr. Bixby struggled to get down and walk through the halls on his own steam. “As if we need to obey Ruthann Longmuir. We report to a higher power.”
“And that is?” I stared at the framed portraits of our past leaders on the walls. Orville Tingle was among the solemn bunch. Mostly male, as expected of the time. I slowed to view the one woman, the severe but beautiful Adeline Brynne.
