Chapter 11

Sidnee got the address from the Nomo’s database and I drove as quickly as I dared to Lukas Savik’s house. I’d been to Akiak Savik’s house twice before, once to get the information on the missing men and the second time to inform the two widows of their husbands’ untimely deaths. The second time haunted me: it had been hard to deliver that news. I’d never been to Lukas’s house. I hoped I wasn’t going to deliver any more bad news.

We screeched up, dived out of the car and I knocked on the door, Sidnee on one side of me and Fluffy on the other. When Lukas’s wife, Olena, opened it she looked panicked to see me. I couldn’t blame her: the last time we’d spoken, I’d told her that her husband was dead.

‘Ms Savik, is your son at home?’ I asked urgently.

Her lips trembled and one hand fluttered to her heart. ‘Is he okay? Is he in trouble?’

I shook my head. ‘He’s fine. I’m looking for his girlfriend, Aoife Sullivan. It’s possible she’s carrying around a dangerous artefact.’

‘Aoife? She’s so sweet. She wouldn’t…’ She trailed off. ‘I’ll call them down. I’m sure this is all a big mistake.’ She left us waiting on the porch as she went to holler for Luke.

I heard a distant, ‘What, Mom?’

She sounded exasperated. ‘Please come here immediately. The Nomo’s office is at the door.’

I heard quiet whispering then a ruckus and knew immediately that Aoife would run. Sidnee had heard it too. I gestured for her to go left around the side of the house as I ran right, Fluffy by my side.

Both kids were heading down the street behind the house towards the trees. The boy might be human but Aoife was definitely supernatural – though that didn’t seem to translate to speed. Luke was athletic and he pulled ahead, but I was a vampire and I caught up with them in no time. I snagged them by their jackets and Fluffy growled threateningly to stop them trying to bolt again.

‘Why did you run?’ I asked grumpily. ‘I only wanted to talk.’ And arrest Aoife.

Luke shrugged but his eyes shifted to Aoife; she was clearly the ringleader here. ‘Why are you following me?’ she demanded, contempt pouring from her voice. ‘I already had an interview with you. I told you everything I know.’

Sidnee was panting as she caught up. ‘That’s not true, is it, Aoife?’ She kept her voice soft and friendly. ‘Hon, we know you took the fire gem. It’s dangerous and we need it back immediately. It’s cursed.’

Everything about Aoife’s body language shouted disdain. ‘That’s ridiculous. You can’t prove that I took anything.’

‘We found the empty box in your room.’

‘I found it in the trash,’ she lied, eyes wide, suddenly looking less certain of herself.

‘Don’t take us for fools,’ I snapped. ‘Return the gem and I promise it’ll be a slap on the wrist. If you don’t, it’ll be far more serious.’ I wasn’t sure I could promise that, but if she handed over the gem I’d do my best to persuade the council to go easy on her.

She looked around nervously. ‘I don’t have it on me.’

Annoyingly, I believed her. ‘Will you let me search you?’

She nodded and lifted her chin. ‘I’ve got nothing to hide.’

I patted her down briskly and checked her pockets. Nothing. ‘The houses that burned down – you’ve been to them, haven’t you?’

Her lips thinned. ‘You can’t prove that.’

‘Yes, I can,’ I said firmly. ‘Estate agents keep notes of appointments.’

Sidnee moved towards Aoife’s left to cut her off if she decided to run and the girl watched her with narrowed eyes. ‘Oh hell, no,’ she spat and took a step back.

‘Aoife, please,’ I said, channelling good cop for all I was worth. ‘We need to locate the gem then we can put this whole thing behind us.’ Behind my back I unhooked the magic-cancelling handcuffs, readying them for use.

Aoife took another step back – she was going to bolt! I closed the distance between us. Cuffs outstretched, I reached for her hand and … she disappeared. Fuck!

Sidnee looked at me, disappointment and excitement warring within her. She was thrilled that Aoife could teleport but frustrated that we’d let her get away. I was plain frustrated.

Looking skittish, Luke licked his lips. Since he didn’t have any handy-dandy teleportation magic, I grabbed and cuffed him. We’d interview him at the station; maybe Aoife would follow us there.

‘You’re under arrest for obstruction and aiding a felon.’ I read him his rights. If I recalled correctly from his father’s file – which I did – he was eighteen so I didn’t need his mother’s permission or presence to interview him. The woman had been through hell already, though, so I briefly updated her whilst Sidnee secured Luke in the Nomo’s vehicle.

She slammed the door shut and turned to me, a smile playing on her lips. ‘That was kind of epic.’

‘If we had the stone, I’d agree,’ I said drily. I felt like an idiot and a failure. I should have cuffed Aoife while I was searching her. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I put it aside; I needed to channel my energy into finding Aoife and the stone, not beating myself up. There’d be plenty of time for stewing later.

Before I got into the car, I called Thomas and asked for a favour. To my surprise, he agreed easily and I hung up feeling pleased that something was going my way.

We headed back to the Nomo’s office to interview Luke. I hoped the arrest would rattle him enough to make him talk or that Aoife would be stupid enough to come running to help him. If she did, this time I’d have the damned cuffs ready.