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By the time I get home around midnight, I’m completely drained. The stress of the exam, plus the events of the evening have really wiped me out. I’ll never get used to seeing dead bodies, even if I work as a PI till I’m old and grey.
I give a little shudder as I step inside, just thinking about Hiroku’s lifeless eyes.
“Cold outside?” Asks Turkey.
“Yeah,” I respond. “But that’s not why I’m shaking.”
“Did you pass your test?” Turkey asks. I can tell that he’s concerned about his supply of gourmet wet cat food.
“Yes,” I say, reaching down to scoop him up. I kiss his forehead. “Don’t you worry about that. Mamma’s gonna take care of you.”
“You’re not my mother,” Turkey says, twitching his ears.
I kiss him again. It feels good to hold him. Comforting.
I could use a little comfort, given the night I’ve just been through.
Not only did Marley and I find a dead body—which is bad enough—but then I had to endure an entire round of questioning with my ex-boyfriend, Captain Chris Wagner.
Not the best way to spend a Wednesday night, that’s for sure.
I shudder again.
“You’ve really got the shakes,” Turkey says.
“I just had the worst night,” I say.
“What could be so bad about it?” Turkey asks. “You passed your exam! You should have been celebrating. Responsibly celebrating, of course.”
“I did,” I say. “Marley and I went to The O.P.. They have nachos on the menu now! But then after that, we were walking home and we took a shortcut down Juniper Hill. We saw lights on in Hiroku’s law offices, so we went in. Guess what we found there?”
“I’m too hungry to guess,” Turkey says.
I pick up on his not-so subtle hint, and move towards the pantry. As I reach for the bag of dry cat food, I say. “Okay, if you don’t want to guess, I’ll have to tell you. We found Hiroku Itsu in her office—dead.”
“You mean Blueberry Muffin’s caretaker?” Turkey asks.
“Correct,” I say. “Blueberry Muffin was there too. Marley and I brought little Muffin over to Cora’s place after we were done being questioned by the police. Cora’s going to take care of her, at least for the time being.”
“And Hiroku was dead?” Turkey asks, watching as I pour dry food into his bowl.
“Yes! Can you believe it?” I move to the fridge so that I can find a can of cat food. “She was hit in the side of the head with a paperweight. I think she was murdered.”
“By who?” Turkey asks.
“I don’t know,” I say.
“Another murder in Hillcrest,” Turkey says. “It must have something to do with the portal. Your coven must start keeping a closer eye on it.”
“You’re right,” I say. “We haven’t been doing a very good job of guarding it.” I place his bowl down on the floor. He’s too busy pacing now to take notice.
“It’s dangerous, having it open like it is,” Turkey transmits.
“I know. This ends now,” I say. “From now on, we’re going to take really, really good care of that portal. No one is going to get through it without approval from us. Claudine used to keep it completely blocked off, you know. Azure says that upset many people in the magical community, but at least it’s better than dealing with trouble like this every few weeks.”
“Indeed,” Turkey says. “You know, I think I read something in ASBW that might be helpful... It was a way of blocking off the pass. It was some kind of verse or rhyme... what was it? Something to do with a lock and a key... supposedly it would prevent anyone from coming in or out.”
“That would be helpful,” I say. I walk towards the living room, my mind on ASBW. My cat is right. It’s high time that we block off that pass.
“Where is ASBW?” I ask, searching my coffee table. “I had it here this morning, when I was trying to figure out a spell that would help me pass my test. Did you bring it into the bedroom?”
“You know I can’t move that book.”
“Right, no thumbs,” I say. I bend down, and peer under the table, and then under the couch. “Maybe it fell off the table and I kicked it by accident...”
I don’t see anything under the couch—anything except a massive amount of dust bunnies, that is. I make a mental note to move the couch and vacuum that little section. I’ll do that soon. Really soon.
Right.
Back to my search. I get onto my knees, and peer beneath the TV stand. More dust bunnies.
“Maybe it fell between the couch cushions?” Turkey suggests.
I stand and hurry to the couch. I don’t like this. I’m so attached to my book. I hate the feeling of not knowing just where it is.
I pry the cushions off of the couch, and grimace as I eye the Cheetos and choco-puffs that my actions reveal. I have a whole snack bar under my couch cushions, but unfortunately, no green book.
“Where could it be?” I ask again.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen it all day,” Turkey says. “I thought you had it with you. Did you put it in your messenger bag?”
“I don’t think so,” I say, hustling over to my bag to check, just to be sure.
I’m fairly certain I didn’t pack my book when I left the house with Nadia today but it doesn’t hurt to check. I have been wrong before, you know.
Just once or twice.
I thoroughly search my bag. No book.
“What if someone took it?” I say. “Azure knows how to open doors without keys. What if all magical beings know how to do that? Do you think someone could have come in here today, while I was out?”
“I did take a short nap in the bedroom,” Turkey admits. “Nothing major. A few hours—that’s all. From noon to five.”
“That’s five hours!” I say. “Anyone could have waltzed in here!”
“I’m not a guard dog, you know.”
“Yes, but do you really need to sleep for five hours during the day time?”
“Let’s not fight,” Turkey says.
I run my fingers through my hair. “You’re right,” I say. “But Turkey, this really isn’t good. That book is really important. Without it, I’m never going to become a witch.”
“I remember now!” Turkey says. “It was a short verse, called ‘Lock and Key!’ Four lines. They’re coming to me now. I’ll type them out for you. That’s the spell that will energetically lock off a portal!”
“Turkey, I’m not worried about the portal right now. I’m worried about my book.”
“I know, but you should be worried about the portal. Don’t you see, Penelope? If someone stole your book, there’s a good chance that they are involved in magic. They might even be involved with Hiroku’s death—the timing would make sense, wouldn’t it?”
“It is a strange coincidence,” I say, trying to keep up with my cat’s train of thought. “The book missing and the murder, on the same day.”
“Right. And if a magical creature is involved, they might be heading for the portal right now, about to make their escape. If you want to have any hope of finding the killer—and your book—you’d better lock up the portal right now.”
“You’re right,” I say. “I see it now. What was that phrase again?”