Mr. Bixby snorted. “Piffle. You’re an adrenaline junkie with a voracious thirst for knowledge.”
“Mom, does Sir Nigel make caustic remarks about your personality?”
She laughed again. “You know the answer to that. He’s very respectful and supportive. And you also likely know we get the support we need. Mr. Bixby may be caustic, but you’d ignore anyone else. He forgot to mention impulsive and headstrong.”
“I hate how you two gang up on me. But the good news is that there always seems to be another ghost dog waiting in the wings and I’m building a team. There was one in the library today. That’s actually why I went in the first time.”
She didn’t fall for the decoy. “You went in a second time?”
Oops. “Yeah. Just now. I wanted to see her again. And of course I wanted to see if there was any evidence of who hexed the book.”
“Janelle.” Mom’s voice got a harsh note. “That’s incredibly reckless. What if it’s not the only rigged book in the library?”
“The biggest risk was giving myself away with hiccupping, which I did. Send me this doctor’s name and I’ll make an appointment.”
She sighed. “Okay. I don’t feel good about sharing family secrets with her, though. Remember, it could get worse instead of better.”
“It couldn’t get worse than hiccupping sunflowers into a cop’s pocket from miles away.”
“It could and it has,” Mom said. “Ask Liberty to remind you.”
“I actually think she’s been avoiding me. Wonder what she’s doing.”
“That’s always a very good thing to wonder about, but answers are usually scarce. I would think the entire community is rattled. Angus was a powerful man in every way. If he could be so easily dispatched, anyone can.”
I fell silent on a particularly twisty stretch of the road. Many vehicles ended up in the rivers around Wyldwood, especially during the winter months. I didn’t want Elsa to be one of them.
Bixby prodded me with his nose. “Tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Mom asked. “Did Liberty leave something out?”
“Possibly. I’m not sure what Ren and Sinda shared. It’s about Ruthann.”
“I know about witch school, if that’s what you mean. And as much as I respect Norris Strump, I’m at a loss about how crossword puzzles can help with anything. I hope Ruthann knows what she’s doing.”
The long nose poked me again. My dog was usually quicker with a quip than a physical prod. I was always cautious about confiding in my mother. Our relationship was new again and still under stress testing.
“It’s about Minerva, actually.”
“The mayor’s familiar? The one you—”
“Yes, that’s the cat in question. She came to take us to City Hall and the mayor wasn’t expecting us.”
“She went behind Ruthann’s back?” Mom’s shock was evident. “That’s against the rules.”
Bixby snorted. “There are no rules, or even guidelines. We do what we need to do to protect our companions. I presume Minerva felt Janelle was critical to resolving this situation.”
Mom’s groan filled the car with a vibration I could feel in my very bones. That was a result of our mental connection. “Oh, no. That means Ruthann’s in danger and in her position, she doesn’t have many trustworthy allies. Other than her security team, but they’re vulnerable, too.”
“It comes back to what you were saying earlier. I think this is bigger than Angus. But I don’t know how I can help. She stuck me in witch school for a reason.”
“Ruthann obviously recognizes your raw talent. Minerva, too. But they wouldn’t put you at risk if they didn’t think you had something very specific to offer. Do you know what that is?”
“Just the ghost dogs.”
Mom gave a cluck of derision. “A cute parlor trick that won’t save a mayor in peril.”
And… that’s why I didn’t confide in her. Without a second thought, she dismissed my calling as cute.
“Madam, I object to being categorized as a cute parlor trick. Do I need to remind you of my pedigree and talents?”
“Sorry, Bixby. And you, too, Janelle. I just think the mayor may need something more in this particular instance. She already has an experienced familiar who would not welcome your new foster dog.”
“True,” I conceded reluctantly. “If you come up with ideas, let me know. One thing the mayor absolutely does not need is a hiccupping misfire, so I’ll work on that, first.”
The very thought of sending Minerva into a void made me nervous and sure enough, a sunflower appeared in the pocket of my purse.
“I felt that.” Mom’s sigh was heavy. “Somewhere, someone just got a surprise flower delivery.”
“Gotta fly, Mom. By the way, can I fly?”
The click as she abruptly hung up on me wasn’t new but it was satisfying.
“Home sweet home,” Bixby said, as we pulled into the driveway. Lifting his nose toward the crack in the window, he added, “Except when it’s not.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Iopened the front door with trepidation. Was Liberty on a tear? Had the mayor or Minerva come to visit? Tavi Knight? All of the above? My senses had become overwhelmed and I couldn’t pick up anything beyond a din of voices. Mr. Bixby refused to enlighten me. He hung over my arm like a heavy purse, only sulky. Clearly, we weren’t in serious danger.
