Blair’s shoulders sagged. “Thank you, Val.”
Yuka croaked, “Thank you for keeping us safe.”
She smiled. She hadn’t been exaggerating with what she’d asked Tetra.
It did feel pretty good.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cops swarmed the living room and hallway. Val sat in the kitchen and watched as they photographed the scene and talked in low voices.
“A formality,” Officer Harris had assured her.
Val sipped a glass of water. Tetra sat at the kitchen table, scrolling through her new phone.
A plainclothes officer approached Val, carrying a notebook. “We’re done for the night, Miss Stonehold. You’re free to move around the house as you choose. These guys were professionals. They disabled the alarm system and the cameras. They didn’t know Blair and Yuka had a hidden doorbell camera. It captured enough of the fight to confirm your story.”
She grinned. “As well as giving us everything we need to put these assholes away for a long time.”
“Good.” Val nodded.
“We’ll leave a patrol car out front for the night in case any other threats appear,” the officer added.
Val shook her head. “Thanks, but I’ll stay with Blair and Yuka. I think they’ll sleep better with me on guard.”
“I’m sure they will.” The cop chuckled. “I would.”
You didn’t see the part where I ripped the taser barbs out of my flesh, Val thought but smiled.
The police left in a hum of engines. Val checked the doors, using magic to fuse the locks shut, and listened at the bedroom door. Blair was snoring.
She returned to the kitchen and found Tetra raiding the fridge.
“What are you doing?” Val demanded.
“Eating.” Tetra discovered a pack of hot dogs and tore it open with her teeth.
“Tetra!” Val protested.
“Do you really think they’ll mind? We saved their lives. Remember?” Tetra bit into a hot dog. “What is this stuff?”
“Meat,” Val offered.
Tetra eyed it. “I doubt it. So, we’re staying here tonight?”
“You’re stuck here with me,” Val confirmed.
She stomped into the living room and flopped onto the ruined couch, which moaned in protest. Keeping her eyes on the backyard, Val dialed Frode’s number and raised the phone to her ear.
“Little spark!” Frode boomed. “Is everything okay? It’s late there, isn’t it?”
Val smiled. “You’ve been keeping an eye on the app.”
“Thaumatic fluctuations make it tricky, but I like to know what my little girl is up to,” Frode told her. “Are you okay, darling?”
“I’m fine, Dad,” Val reassured him. “I had a skirmish at a client’s house, but we’re all okay.”
“Of course you are.” Frode guffawed. “You always are!”
Val glanced at Tetra, who had eaten all the hot dogs and started on the plastic. “I had...some help.” She cleared her throat. “Listen, that’s why I’m calling. I brought my clients home and found that their enemies had broken into their house. They were lying in wait for them.”
“Merlin’s beard,” Frode muttered. “It’s Blair and Yuka, isn’t it? The dwarves? They must have been terrified.”
“Luckily, Genevieve got them out of here before they saw much.” Val sighed. “Still, it was far too close. They’re not safe in their home anymore.”
“Genevieve!” Frode crowed. “She’s a hero!”
“Dad? Focus. We need added security at their house. Please,” Val added.
“Of course, little spark. Send me pictures and measurements. What are you thinking?” Frode asked.
Val thought about it. “The guys I fought were human, but they were well-trained. Dwarf-forged iron will keep them out, but I bet they can pick locks.”
“Iron bars for the windows,” Frode suggested. “Iron grille doors, too, with warded locks. It doesn’t matter how good they are. They won’t be better than an unpickable charm.”
“Exactly. That sounds great.” Val paused. “I know you’re busy. When do you think you could have them done?”
“Tonight,” Frode answered instantly.
