Chapter Twenty

"Well, hello," Bev said, after a moment of panic. "Mr. Flanigan. Welcome back."

Although there had been a spate of queen's soldiers in town of late, none of them had made a repeat visit—until now. Karolina Hunter had been all but run out of town, and Claude seemed to be frequenting Harvest Festivals and the like. But it seemed Mr. Flanigan was the first amongst them to make a repeat visit.

"Likewise." He leaned on the counter, the gnarly scar on his face somewhat off-putting. "Any more trouble happening in town?"

"Not so much," Bev said as she quickly crossed the room to the front counter.

"Really? Because I hear you've had a spate of buildings being demolished."

"Oh, right." She laughed nervously. "Well, that. But no more blackmailers."

"I'm not here for blackmailers. I'm hunting magic." He inhaled deeply. "And this place is covered with it."

Bev forced a smile. She'd seen firsthand what a magic-hunter like Flanigan was capable of and didn't want him sniffing around the inn too much. She'd have to dispose of Etheldra's magical tea as soon as she got back into the kitchen.

"So." He surveyed her. "Any idea what's causing the trouble in town? You're always the one embroiled in these things."

"Wish I could say," Bev said, hoping she sounded honest. "Do you have any idea what it could be?"

"Some theories. I've been hearing about dragon shifters." He paused. "Heard anything about that?"

Bev could've sworn he could read her mind—but she did her best to keep her tone neutral. "Dragon shifters? That's a bit out of my depth, I have to say. Can't say I've seen any dragons around these parts."

"Then what about that shadow last night?" he said. "I have several witnesses say you took off looking for it."

"Witnesses?"

He nodded. "Been chatting with the baker and his girl."

"Fiancée," Bev said. "Just got engaged last night. What else did Allen say?"

"The baker didn't say a thing," he said with a look. "His fiancée, however, was quite chatty. Told me you went off searching for the shadow."

"I did," Bev said. "Didn't find it. But I didn't venture into the dark forest. Not really my favorite place—even in daylight."

He let out a long breath before reaching into his pocket. Bev held her breath, half-expecting him to pull out a pair of handcuffs, but he slammed two gold coins onto the counter.

"One night."

"Just you, then?" Bev asked.

"Just me." He cracked a grin. "The rest of my troops are encamped near the dark forest, actually. Surprised you didn't run into them."

And thank goodness whoever the shifter is didn't either.

"Like I said, I try to steer clear of the place." She slid one gold coin toward him. "Just one gold for the night."

"Keep it," he said. "In case you remember anything that might be pertinent."

"I'm sure I won't," Bev said, pushing the coin back. "Memory isn't my strong suit, if you hadn't heard."

"Yes, I did a little digging on you, Bev-the-innkeeper," Dag said. "Interesting past you have."

Bev started. "You… You know about my past?"

He could say anything he wanted, and Bev wouldn't be able to discern truth from fiction. The only thing she had were flashes, and one of those flashes had her at the same battle where Mr. Flanigan had earned his gnarly scar. And from Bev's limited understanding, she'd been on the opposing side.

"I think I know as much as you do," Flanigan said, stepping back from the counter. "Had a chat with Karolina Hunter and Renault Lank—you knew him as Claude, I believe. Both of them said you were highly suspicious. Renault had his doubts that you even suffer from memory loss, perhaps on the run from something—or someone."

"Well, if they have any clues you'd like to share," Bev said. "I'm all ears."

She waited, and the silence stretched out between them.

"Hm." He stepped back. "Which room am I in?"

"Oh, um." She checked the log book, her gaze scanning over the grannies' names, and her stomach dropped. Would they be leaving? What did that mean for the town? What if—

"Ms. Bev?"

"Room five," Bev said, grabbing the key and pushing it across the counter before she gave him more reason to be suspicious. "And dinner will be ready at six. Believe I'll be making some pork loin today." Not that she'd purchased meat or done anything other than get her bread proofing.

"Along with that rosemary bread, hm?" He cracked a surly smile. "Can't say that wasn't a big reason for me to come back in town, either. Left something of a craving on my tongue."

"Won me second place at the Harvest Festival," Bev said, nodding to the ribbon. "Not sure if Claude—Renault, I suppose—heard about that. But it was quite a feather in my cap. First time I'd entered the contest, and to win second place?" She was almost babbling now, but she was rather proud of that ribbon, after all.

"Mm." He snatched the key off the counter. "I'll see you at six, Ms. Bev."

"Just Bev," she muttered as he ascended the stairs.

Once the door shut, Bev turned and rushed out of the inn.

~

Bev hoped, perhaps, that the grannies had found the shifter and were already on their merry way. But her hopes sank when she found them at the schoolhouse, discussing plans for rebuilding with Earl and Bardoff.

"Left the kids in charge of finishing the paint job," Earl said as Bev joined their group. "Assume Apolinary would skin them alive if they messed things up."

"Probably," Bev said with a tense smile. "Can I speak with you ladies a moment?"

The grannies followed Bev until they were a safe distance away.

"You look like someone's canceled your birthday," Gladys said.

"What's wrong?" Rita asked.

"Dag Flanigan showed up at my inn," Bev said, her voice low. "Are you familiar with him?"

Based on the way their expressions darkened, they were.

"Where is he?" Janet nodded toward the other side of town. "At the inn?"

"Yeah. He was upstairs when I left, but I don't think he'll stay there long," Bev said. "Please tell me you found who you were looking for last night?"

"Unfortunately, no," Janet said.

"Did you get a chance to speak with the kids?" Bev asked.

"They're about as chatty as a steel trap," Rita said. "Definitely hiding something. We can't help them if they don't open up to us first."

"And even if they had," Janet said with a sad shake of her head, "if Flanigan is in town, it seems our time in Pigsend has come to an end."

"But, cousin," Gladys started, earning her a shake of the head from Rita.

"We can't risk it," Rita said, sounding awfully sad to admit it. "We must be on our way."

"Can't share a building with the man who'd have us wiped off the map," Janet said. "We're so sorry, Bev."

"What happens when the shifter…well, shifts?" Bev asked. "Who'll be here to control them?"

"Flanigan." Rita's face was clear about one thing: Flanigan's methods wouldn't involve containment. Just elimination.

"I wish we could've had more time," Janet said. "Truly. It breaks our hearts to have to leave you so quickly."

Bev licked her lips. "Is it possible for you to leave without…leaving? Maybe give me one more night to find out who it is?"

The grannies shared a look of indecision, but their answer was cut short.

"Is this one of the destroyed buildings?"

Flanigan strolled up, his queenspin shiny on his chest as he inspected the property. In the daylight, he was even more formidable, and that scar seemed to reflect the light. Bardoff nodded to him with a tight smile and Earl averted his gaze, but the grannies plastered on their usual cheery expressions. If Bev hadn't just been talking with them about leaving in a hurry, she wouldn't have guessed a thing was amiss.

"What was this?" Flanigan asked.

"A schoolhouse," Bardoff said.

The soldier knelt to inspect the splintered wood on the ground. "When did it happen?"

"Two nights ago," Earl said. "While we were all in a town meeting."

"Oh?" He rose, spying the grannies. "Who are you? And why are you loitering?"

"I'm Rita, this is my sister Janet, and our cousin Gladys," she said with a smile that Bev knew she certainly didn't mean. "We're guests at the inn."

"Darn glad they are, too!" Earl said, perhaps feeling the need to come to their aid. "They've been helping me rebuild."

"Rather hard work for ladies your age, isn't it?" Flanigan asked, narrowing his gaze as Bev's pulse spiked.

"We get by," Rita said.

"Happy to help these delightful people," Gladys said.

"Is that Dag Flanigan?"

Hendry seemed to have heard the conversation from clear across the town square and through the closed doors of the town hall, because she breezed over with a smile on her face. Bev couldn't help but notice the particular shade of purple of her tunic.

"I'm so sorry to have missed you the first time you were in town," she said, extending her hand. "Jo Hendry. The mayor of this magnificent town."

"Pleasure." Though from his tone, it wasn't. "What can you tell me about this destruction?"

"Oh, well, it's been a few places here and there," Hendry said. "Earl's workshop was the first one, but we're pretty sure it was a rambunctious group of teenagers. Aren't we, Bev?"

"Can't say—"

"Alice's barn, well… I'm pretty sure there was a nasty storm that had blown through," Hendry said. "As far as the seamstress's shop, I'm not quite sure what to make of that one. Or the schoolhouse. Near everyone in town was attending a town meeting when it happened."

"And the large shadow last night?" Flanigan asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Hendry said, brushing the front of her tunic. "But I suppose that's why you've come to town, isn't it?"

"It is." He glanced behind her toward the town hall. "Rustin around?"

"Our dear sheriff is taking a much-needed vacation," she said. "We do expect him back any day now. And not a moment too soon, what with all the curiosities happening in town."

"Well," Flanigan spun around to make sure everyone in the vicinity knew he was talking to them, "if any of you should remember anything you saw last night, or anything related to these curiosities, you should report them to me. We're officially taking over the investigation in town."

"What do you think it is?" Bardoff asked.

"Can't say for sure," Flanigan said. "But to me, it appears to be a dragon shifter."

"Oh my!" Gladys said, putting her hand over her heart.

Janet gasped. "A shifter?"

"What in the world is that?" Rita asked.

"A person who can destroy the town if they get a mind to," Flanigan said. "Trust me when I say you'll want to tell me who it is before they completely change. Don't think this quaint little town would survive a full dragon stomping around in it."

Bardoff looked concerned, as did Earl. The grannies were quite good at acting surprised. Hendry was mildly interested. Flanigan scrutinized each of their faces before deciding they weren't worth bothering further.

"Keep that in mind," he said, turning on his heel, "while you think about who you're protecting." He paused. "Innkeeper, didn't you say something about dinner?"

"I did," Bev said, weakly. "Suppose I should get on it."

"We'll see you at six, then?" Rita asked.

"Yes, of course," Bev said, knowing that the grannies would be long gone. "At six."

~

Bev walked away from the schoolhouse with every intention of going to the butchers and putting in that pork loin order. But instead, she found herself walking back toward the seamstress shop. The grannies might've been leaving town, but if Bev found the culprit, she'd be able to send that person to safety along with them.

She just had to find them.

Vicky was the only one working, though she seemed to have put more of the fabric away. The outside had been completely painted, and the kids were nowhere to be found.

"Back again?" Vicky asked, a little thinly. "What can I do for you now, Bev?"

"Where's your brother?"

She started, putting down the tunic. "Why?"

"Because I think he's in trouble, and I need to find him before…someone else does," Bev said.

Vicky rose, crossing the room with her brow furrowed. "What in the world has he gotten himself into now?"

"I don't think he's done it intentionally."

She scoffed. "You still think he's behind all this destruction, don't you? Doesn't matter how much I vouch for his whereabouts."

She chewed her lip. "I think he might be turning into something else. Unbeknownst to him. Maybe his friends know. But—"

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Vicky snapped.

"It's not." Grant walked into the front room, his face an ashen color. Behind him, Valta followed, her lips pressed together in a thin line.

"Grant?" Vicky said. "You aren't… Tell me you aren't the one behind this."

He glanced between Vicky and Bev then back to Valta, who seemed as indecisive as he was.

"It's PJ, isn't it?" Bev asked softly.

He didn't say anything for a long pause, then gave one curt nod. "And what of it?" Grant asked. "Are you going to turn them in to that Flanigan guy?"

"No," Bev said, glancing out the front window to make sure said guy wasn't standing there eavesdropping. "If you tell me what you know, there's a chance I can get him to safety with friends. But only if we act quickly. Otherwise, he might be leaving town in handcuffs with Dag Flanigan."

"There's no need," Valta said. "He's long gone."

"Which way did he go?" Bev asked.

"We're not saying," Grant replied. "He's left town, and that's the end of it."

"That's not the end of it, though," Bev said. "Sometime in the next day—maybe even today—PJ is going to have his full shift. And whoever he's with is going to be dealing with a mindless dragon instead of—"

"Dragon?" Valta squeaked, covering her mouth. "Grant, we—"

"Hush, Valta," he snapped. "We made a promise."

"I know where they went," Vicky said softly. "Apolinary left about an hour ago with her sister and brother-in-law—the Norrises," Vicky said, not taking her eyes off Grant. "Thought it was strange timing, considering we just got the shop back up. She told me her mother had taken ill and they were going to check on her, but I didn't see a letter or anything like that." She paused. "They said they were headed toward Sheepsburg."

After a long pause, Grant nodded.

"Thank you," Bev said. They had a head start, but she might be able to catch up with them if she left now. "And if either of you see Flanigan—"

"I'll be sure to send him the other way," Grant said. "He won't get PJ if I have anything to say about it."

"Yeah," Valta said, puffing out her chest.

"Just be careful," Bev said, hurrying to the door.