Jack looked at them and shrugged. “T1 and T2. Has a cuteness about it.” He took a bite of his pizza and brought his reflexes into action to catch a piece of falling pineapple.

“Thanks, Jack, you’re cute too,” T1 said.

Jack looked to flick the pineapple towards T1.

“It’s their names.” Ruby said, to help Jack out.

“Yep, Tanner and Teasdale,” Catherine said.

Ruby was glad Catherine jumped in because she couldn’t actually remember their real names.

“You’re not slow, Jack. Are you? You knew that,” T2 said.

Jack nodded and changed his aim with the pineapple.

Ruby noticed a slight redness appear, ever so slight. Ruby smiled and watched as Jack sought refuge with more pizza. He munched away at his pizza and then washed it down with more Coke. He raised his hand to his mouth to try and conceal a burp but was unsuccessful.

“Jack, that’s disgusting,” Catherine said, then let out a smaller version.

Jack raised his eyebrows and gave her a look. “What goes around comes around.”

Ruby smiled at Jack’s pizza entertainment. He turned around and looked at her.

“Now that the gases have been released.” He wiped his hands and face with a paper napkin and then threw it in an empty pizza box. “I have some good news for you, Ruby.”

“Good news?” A heaviness came upon her.

“Yes, good news.” He switched into a formal mode. “We found the high priestess.”

“That’s good news.” Ruby said, and felt something lift from her.

“Not sure how to put this, but she’s deceased. No longer with us.”

Ruby swallowed and looked around the room. She returned her gaze to Jack. “And I’m not sure what to say or ask.” She took a deep breath and gave a soft sigh. “I feel sad for her friends and loved ones.”

“That’s okay, Ruby. You don’t have to say or ask anything.” Catherine said. “We’re investigating the death, and wanted to let you know.” 

“That’s good news, Ruby,” Zoe said. “But sad also because it means we may have to leave here.” 

Ruby looked at Zoe. She didn’t have the same emotional connection with the death. It was sort of a holiday for her, an adventure.

“Maybe, maybe not,” Jack said, walking over to the table and raising the lid on one of the pizza boxes. “But I think we need to discuss a few things.” He picked up a slice and took a bite but the pigginess was gone.

“Are you going to share those, Jack?” Catherine asked. “I think we might have to widen the doors to get you out of here.”

“Oops, sorry . . . and ha ha.” Jack picked up the box and walked around, offering pieces to everyone. “My partner keeps me under wraps.”

Jack stopped in front of T1. “Here ya go mate, you have the last piece.”

“Nope, don’t need it,” he said.

“Go on T1,” Zoe said. “You need some meat on you.”

“Don’t be so rude, Zoe,” Ruby said. “Sorry, that my friend is so blunt.”

“It’s okay, Ruby. I prefer to be lean and mean. I’ll get Zoe back some other time.” T1 gave Zoe a wink.

“Ruby, another thing.” Jack placed the pizza box back on the table. “We also have the man who visited your apartment block under lock and key.”

“That’s good to know.” She nodded slowly. “But I get the feeling something is still lingering.”

“She’s intuitive, Jack.” Catherine said.

Jack coughed into his fist and then continued. “Did you know the high priestess worked at your doctor’s clinic?” 

Ruby sat back. “Really.” She knew who Jack was talking about—the healthcare assistant she nearly bumped into. She must have been the staff member whom her doctor mentioned was into witchcraft. “The lady would’ve had access to my personal details. She must have given my address to the crazy man. Why did she pick me—”

“Ruby,” Jack said.

She looked at Jack. “Sorry. My mind started running away.”

“You’re doing well,” Jack said. “But we still have a concern. We haven’t been able to locate the high priestess’s partner to ask him some questions.”

“Did he murder her?” Ruby asked.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Evil attracts evil.”

Something inside told Ruby the woman hadn’t just died. She’d been murdered. It was a spiritual thing she knew but didn’t understand—an inner peace trying to break free, but protecting her from the forces at the same time. Forces of evil, which seemed more interested in turmoil and death.

“We just want to find this man and ask him some questions.”

“You will, Jack. You’re good at what you do.” She believed that.

“Thank you, Ruby. That’s appreciated.” Jack looked at Catherine. “And she’s good too.”

Zoe chipped in. “And T1 and T2.”

A loud bang startled them. Jack walked over to the window, looked out, and called Ruby and Zoe over.

Black shadows criss-crossed the yard.

“They’re bats,” Jack said. “One flew into the window. After our pizza, maybe.”

“Funny, Jack,” Zoe said.

“Or maybe, drunk from the fermented fruit,” Catherine said.