Chapter 30

I dropped Mum off at home and went back to the office to return Sidnee's car. She looked up expectantly as I walked in. ‘What happened?' she asked eagerly. ‘Did you find the black market?'

‘I did.' I sat down heavily on one of Gunnar's visitor chairs. ‘It's at one of the warehouses on South Harbour, just up from AML.' From the outside the warehouse had looked like a wreck but inside it hadn't been so bad. I wondered whether the Grimes brothers had been up to their illusion magic again to make the place look ramshackle.

‘I found out that someone is demanding protection money from the vendors. Apparently Jeff didn't pay up. No one identified the person, but they all agreed it was someone local – and it's someone with the power to curse their victims.'

‘A magic user,' Sidnee murmured.

‘You know what that means?'

She grinned. ‘Liv is gonna eat you for lunch if you start interviewing her magic users.'

I blew out a breath. ‘Yup. But did you know that she visited Stan and Sigrid in the hospital? She does have a heart somewhere.'

‘Buried deep, deep down,' Sidnee snorted. ‘Anyway, it's a start, though I honestly have no idea who would run a protection racket in this town. Threatening people here can go very badly for you.'

‘I guess that's why they came down so hard on Jeff – you can't let anyone buck the rules. Do you know anyone who has tried this before? Any complaints about people around town demanding protection money?'

She frowned. ‘Nothing springs to mind but I can search the database.' Gunnar had a computer at his desk but we didn't have his password. ‘Um, when are our new computers coming in?'

‘I have no idea. I'll text the boss for his password.'

She smiled. ‘Don't bother, it'll be written down on a sticky note in his desk.' She started pulling open drawers.

‘While you look, I'm going to call my favourite council member and see about our computers and office furniture. He was sorting it out for us.'

She grinned. ‘Buying your love?'

It was terrifying to admit to myself that he didn't need to because he already had it for free. My commitment-phobic thoughts washed in and the urge to dump Connor and run for the hills was strong, but I told it to piss off and took a steadying breath. I was worthy of love, of being loved. I could do this.

I dialled Connor, my heart and mind a maelstrom of emotion. His phone rang for a long time and I nearly hung up before his husky voice filled my ear. ‘Bunny,' he answered warmly.

‘Hey,' I said happily, my emotions settling in an instant. Something about him grounded me in the very best way.

‘I'm down at the docks. Edgy is flying me to Homer – I'm heading to Anchorage to pick up the computers for your office.'

‘Oh.' I was sure he could hear the disappointment in my voice.

‘I wish we were making the trip together but I know you're busy, and the sooner I get these the quicker you'll be back in business.' He paused. ‘I don't want to raise your hopes, but there's a book in Anchorage that might have some answers as to what you are. That's why I'm going myself rather than sending Margrave. This is too sensitive to farm out to anyone else.'

My heart swelled. ‘Thank you, Connor. And you're right – we do need those computers and I need to do some research.'

‘Exactly. This way, I'll have more time with you.'

‘I'll miss you,' I said in a small voice. It was hard to admit but it was undoubtedly true.

‘I'll miss you too, doe. I'll make up for it when I'm back home. I've gotta go. Edgy is ready.'

‘Okay, be safe.'

‘Back at you.'

We hung up. At least I had the answer on the office equipment. Connor had told me that no one would ship electronic items here directly; you had to arrange delivery with a pilot or go yourself. With the book coming into play, Connor had assigned himself the role.

I couldn't suppress the fizz of excitement that ran through me at the thought of finally getting some answers about what I was. He'd told me not to raise my hopes but it was too late: they were already sky high.

Sidnee was clacking away on Gunnar's computer. I popped my head around the door. ‘Connor is leaving now to go get us some more computers.'

‘Yes!' she said giving a triumphant fist pump. ‘Gunnar's computer is so slow it's driving me wild – but I'm determined.' She went back to clacking on the keyboard.

I waited a few minutes, trying to be patient. After another minute I asked, ‘Any luck?'

She looked up and gave me a wry look. ‘Not yet, Bunny. I barely got into the program.'

‘Right, of course. Sorry.' I swung my legs whilst I waited.

She grinned at me. ‘You are terrible at being bored.'

I really was. I was rarely bored: I usually had work or I was home doing chores or watching TV, or I was with Connor. I preferred it that way; idle hands do devilish things.

Shadow chose that moment to jump into my lap from out of nowhere. I jumped and earned a firm set of claws in my thighs. ‘Ow, you son of a bitch!' I yelped.

He relaxed and started kneading my legs. ‘Gently!' I chastised and he retracted his claws. I swept my hand down his silky kitten fur and noticed that he had grown again. I stared at his shadowed coat and wondered yet again what the heck he was. Whatever he was was key to whatever the beast was, and once you knew your enemy you could defeat it. Or bribe it – I'd be totally happy to end the beast's years of terror with a little well-placed bribery. My mother had taught me well.

Fluffy whined at me pointedly and I reached down to rub his ears. ‘You're right,' I said to him. ‘I'll text Anissa and see if she's ready to help you. The worst thing she can say is that she's busy.'

I started to text: Anissa, when you have a moment, I'd really like you to take a thorough look at my dog to see about getting the curse taken care of. I do appreciate all you've been doing, but please let me know when you're free. Thanks.

I watched the phone for a few seconds but there was no response; she must be busy or at work. I patted Fluffy again. ‘Maybe we can go talk to John while Sidnee is collecting records on potential racketeers,' I suggested. She was still typing away. ‘The rabble and I are heading out to talk to John. Are you good?' I asked her.

She nodded then pursed her lips. ‘Maybe leave me Shadow?'

‘Sure. He's great company.' And a liability when he was out and about; as his little battle with the beast had shown, he did not listen to me.

Shadow obligingly stayed with Sidnee, padding over and lying on the desk so she had to type over the top of him. Typical.

I placed her car keys on the desk in front of her with a muttered thanks and went to the car park to the Suburban. Fluffy jumped in with me. I was halfway to Kamluck, where John was bunking down, when Anissa called me.

‘Hi, Bunny, it's Anissa. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I was putting the baby down. I'm free for a few moments now if you can bring your dog by. We can look at him while the baby naps.'

‘Yes! I'm on the road now. I can be there in five minutes.'

‘Perfect. I'll watch for you so please don't knock. If you wake the baby, I'll have to kill you and I'm all out of hiding places.' She sounded like she was only half-joking.

I laughed. ‘Sure, of course. I'll be as quiet as a mouse.' I pulled over, waited for a car to pass then did a U-turn. I drove quickly to the old-fashioned, sod-roofed cabin and Fluffy and I walked up to the front door. ‘Be as quiet as you can, boy. The baby is asleep and we don't want to enrage Anissa before we get some help.'

He flicked his ear at me to show he'd understood. His body was taut and alert; he was excited – or at least intrigued.

Anissa opened the door of her cottage as we approached and quietly invited us in with a warm smile. ‘Is your mother here?' I asked, more to set her at ease than out of any genuine curiosity.

‘Yes, but she's having a lie down. She watches the baby for me when I'm at work, so she likes to grab a nap when she can. She's actually my grandmother but she raised me, and I've always called her mother. Please have a seat. I'll get my drum and see what I can see.'

The drum? I blinked. ‘Er, won't the drum wake the baby?'

‘No – it's what we use to put her to sleep on bad days. She loves the rhythm.'

‘Oh.'

Anissa laughed. ‘It's part of my shamanic tradition and the baby will probably have the power, too. It often runs in families.' Like mine did. I pushed the thought away. Now was not the time to think about my mum and the bus; I was here for Fluffy.

Anissa sat on the floor with her eyes closed to centre herself then she picked up her drum and started beating a rhythm. She was chanting in a language I didn't recognise, and she started to glow slightly. When she called Fluffy, he looked at me and whined a little but then stood in front of her. As she looked him over, the glow extended from her to my dog.

Finally, after at least ten minutes, the drumming stopped. Anissa stood up, replaced the drum in its spot next to the playpen and sat on the couch next to me. She sighed. ‘That is one complex curse.'

My heart sank. ‘Does that mean it can't be removed?' I buried my hands in Fluffy's fur to reassure him – and myself.

‘I really don't know. I'm good with curse breaking but I'm not a world-class expert. It's only one aspect of my work. Honestly? Your best bet would be to find whoever laid the curse.'

I watched Fluffy droop. ‘We don't know who did it and even if we did, it was almost certainly done back in London. You said it was old?'

‘I'd say a good two or three months. I'll speak to the elders, they might have some ideas.'

‘I'd appreciate it.'

‘I can tell you one thing, though. The curse involves an element of transformation. Do you know anyone who specialises in that?'

I didn't but Connor knew people – and Liv definitely knew people. ‘Does anyone in the magic user's group besides you specialise in transformation?'

‘Some of the elders do, and I can certainly look into it for you, but it'll take time,' she said apologetically. ‘I'm not saying I can't do it, but I'll need to do some research first.'

I tried to keep my disappointment out of my voice as I thanked her. Fluffy seemed dejected as he jumped in the SUV. He immediately lay on the back seat with his head on his crossed paws and stared at the fabric.

I felt bad for him. We'd both had high hopes that Anissa could remove the curse but instead we had more questions. And I had no answers.