The footsteps behind me faltered, and then he came up alongside me. “How did you know?”
“Remember, I’m immune to magic. Whatever you were doing to hide yourself, it didn’t work. Owen’s not a criminal, you know.”
He sighed heavily. “I know. But I’ve got to go through the motions until my boss orders otherwise.”
“Have you noticed the freaky skeleton thing following me?”
He gave a startled flinch. “The what?”
“That must be veiled from you. For what it’s worth, the bad guys are also following me. I feel so popular.”
“Shout if you feel like they’re a threat, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Mack.”
He faded back into the background behind me and stayed there until I made it home. My entourage complicated matters. There wasn’t a lot I could do while everyone was watching me, and while I was being watched, it was dangerous for me to go near Owen. How would we ever get Owen to that fire station to find the mysterious envelope that could be our only clue to resolving this situation?
The next morning, I figured my best strategy was to act like this was a relatively normal day and go to work. With any luck, that would bore my followers into complacency. I left early to stop by Owen’s place and feed Loony before I headed to the office. The protesters hadn’t come back after James and Gloria’s scolding—or perhaps Owen’s arrest—so that was one less hassle to deal with. While I was in his home, I looked around for anything that Owen might need me to bring him. It would have to be small enough for me to smuggle, or else it would be too obvious that I was bringing something out of the house. Owen’s moving spell would come in pretty handy, I thought. All we’d have to do was set it up, and then Owen could zap anything to where he was.
Then I gasped as an idea hit me that was so good it made me dizzy and made my ears tingle. I had to lean against the kitchen counter for a moment until I felt a little steadier. “That’s it, Loony!” I said. “I know how to get the envelope.” The cat flicked her tail, but otherwise didn’t let her excitement over my brainstorm get in the way of enjoying her breakfast.
The question was, where did Owen keep the supplies for the spell? I went into the living room and searched around the desk. I wasn’t sure whether Owen’s recent cleaning spree was a blessing or a curse. There was less clutter to sort through, but that also meant he might have put away the supplies instead of just leaving them in his satchel.
Where was the satchel? I tried the hall closet and found it hanging on a hook on the inside of the door. “Jackpot!” I said when I discovered the vials of powder and the spell booklet. The recent upsetting events may have led Owen to the unprecedented action of putting away his books and papers, but he hadn’t emptied his satchel before putting it away. I selected one of the powders and put that vial and the booklet in my purse.
Now I needed to think of a way to get that powder on the envelope. I was so eager that I wanted to go straight to the fire station, but I knew that would alert my followers. Instead, I headed to the office with representatives from both sides in tow.
As I approached Sam’s awning after weaving through the usual mob of protesters outside the office building, he said, “Looks like you’ve picked up an entourage.”
“You can see them?”
“It’s hard to hide completely from someone who knows to look for you.”
“That’s good to know. I’ll need to chat with you about that inside in a little while.”
“Got it, doll. I’ll find you in a bit.”
I went to my office first, as though it was any other working day. Perdita was doing her nails when I entered, and she immediately sat up and dropped her nail file. “Wow, you’re here!” she said. “I heard about yesterday. That must have been exciting.”
“It was more scary than anything.”
“But I heard the boss accused Owen.”
“Not everything is as it seems.”
She winked. “Okay, gotcha.” Then she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “You know, it’s kind of sexy having a boyfriend who’s a fugitive.”
“More like nerveracking.”
“Do you think he’ll be able to clear his name?”
“There’s nothing to clear. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” Well, other than escape from custody, but there were extenuating circumstances. “Do people really think he’s, well…”