“Something in the back room disturbed Meg enough that cutting her skin for a prophecy was needed,” Tess said. “She asked for my help.” She pulled the papers out of her pocket and handed them to Simon. “These are the images she saw.”
Henry and Blair leaned over his shoulders to read.
“Makes no sense,” Blair muttered.
“Pieces of a puzzle,” Henry replied. “We need to put the pieces together to find the answer.”
“The answer is poison,” Tess said quietly. “Skull and crossbones is a human symbol for poison. That is what Meg was trying to tell us. Someone poisoned the sugar in order to kill the ponies.”
Jester whined. Vlad took the papers from Simon to read the words for himself.
“This skeleton in the hooded robe and the children,” Vlad said. “That’s not about us.”
“Maybe this poison was used before or is about to be used elsewhere,” Tess countered. “Maybe these images are the only way the prophet can help someone identify this particular kind of death.”
“That means calling the police,” Henry said.
Simon nodded. “Montgomery.”
“Do we let him into the back room?” Vlad asked.
“No,” Simon replied. “But we’ll give him the box of sugar, let his people figure out the poison.” Now he looked at Tess. “What can we do for Meg?”
“She says she was given food and rest when she was cut before,” Tess said. “The back room and bathroom need to be cleaned and all the rags burned, along with anything that has Meg’s blood on it. I’ll do the cleaning. Merri Lee will help me.”
“After the police are gone,” Simon said. “After the poison is gone.”
Jester looked at Simon. “After the ponies have the mail, I’ll tell Winter. But I think she’s going to want to talk to you.”
Simon nodded. Then he looked around. “Where is Jake?”
“Probably informing the entire Crowgard that something happened to Meg,” Blair said sourly.
“Vlad, get a shipping box and packing tape from Lorne,” Simon said. “We’ll put the box of sugar lumps in that. I’ll call Montgomery and have him come here. And I’ll take care of any deliveries that come until the office closes for the midday break.”
Vlad opened the front door and flipped the sign back to OPEN as he walked out. Jester slipped back into the sorting room and returned with the stacks of mail, which he laid out on the front counter before going outside to wait for the ponies.
“Let the Crows spread the word that the Liaison will not be making any deliveries this afternoon,” Henry said before he left.
Blair walked out without a word to anyone, leaving Tess and Simon.
“I’m not sure the euphoria is worth the pain that comes before it,” Tess said softly. “She didn’t make that cut for herself, Simon. She did it for us. Remember that before you snarl at her.”
She walked out of the office, then hesitated before she headed for the sidewalk instead of staying within the Courtyard. She’d forgotten her coat, would have to fetch it later. As she walked the short distance to A Little Bite, her coiling hair turned red and black in equal measure, and she allowed the smallest glimpse of her true nature to show through the human skin.
And everyone who looked upon her died just a little.
Simon walked into the sorting room, looked at Nathan, and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. <Out.>
Nathan showed his teeth. <I’m guarding.>
<I want to talk to her. Go in the other room. Come back when I’m done.>
The Wolf wasn’t happy about it, but he went into the front room.
When he was alone with the troublesome female who kept him confused, Simon leaned close enough to feel her breath on his face, to breathe in her scent.
She smelled of pain and a strange kind of arousal that made him want to sniff between her legs. And she smelled of blood and the medicine Tess had put on the cut. He wanted to sniff that too, wanted to get rid of the human medicine and clean the wound as a Wolf would.
But Meg was human, so human medicine was best for her.
“I know you’re not sleeping,” he whispered. “You can’t fool someone who has listened to you sleep.”
“Are you saying I snore?” she asked, her eyes still closed.
“No.” He considered. “I don’t think so. But I know when you sleep.”
She swallowed. Such a bitable throat, so soft yet firm.
No, he thought, pressing his forehead against her arm. Meg is not bitable. He raised his head and studied the gray eyes that now looked back at him. “I’m the leader. You should have called me. Even if you wanted Tess to be there instead of a Wolf, you should have told me first.”
“I knew there was something wrong. Didn’t want anything bad to happen while I was arguing with you.”
It was a valid point. Not that he would tell her that.
He touched her hair. Still weird in color and funnier-looking with the black roots. When it grew out, he might actually miss the orange hair.
He wasn’t going to tell her that either.
“I’ll watch for deliveries,” he said. “You rest. There is food. You want to eat?”
“Not yet.” Her eyes closed, then fluttered open again. “Is Nathan angry with me?”
“Yes. If you lock him out again, he’ll bite you.”
The briefest smile. “Bet he won’t if I tell him he can have all the cookies.”
He watched her, listened to her, and knew she was truly asleep. He kissed her forehead and found the act pleasing for its own sake. And, he admitted as he licked his lips, it was enjoyable for other reasons. Meg wasn’t bitable, but he really did like the taste of her.
He traded places with Nathan. While he watched Jester fill the mail baskets and explain to the ponies why there wasn’t a treat, he dialed the number that would bring Crispin James Montgomery back to the Courtyard.
Monty realized Kowalski had been talking to him only when silence suddenly filled the patrol car.
“I’m sorry, Karl. I wasn’t listening. Have some things on my mind.”
“Like why we’re being called this time?” Kowalski asked. “Kind of strange to be told something is urgent and then be given a specific time to show up.”
“That’s part of it.” Another part was Captain Burke informing him that the mayor was grumbling about how many resources were being used on behalf of the Others when they didn’t feel inclined to return any favors. Burke suspected His Honor was floating the idea of Humans First and Last as his potential campaign platform.
Let me worry about the mayor, Lieutenant. You just remember that all roads travel into the woods.
In other words, remaining on good terms with the terra indigene was more important than human politics.
They pulled into the delivery area for the Liaison’s Office. Monty drew in a breath. Closed sign on the door, but he could see someone at the counter.
Someone who wasn’t Meg Corbyn.
“Come in with me, Karl.” Not his usual request, but this time he wanted backup with him instead of waiting in the car.
As they walked up to the door, Simon Wolfgard approached from the other side. He turned the lock and opened the door.
“Is Ms. Corbyn taking the day off?” Monty asked as they all walked up to the front counter.
“Midday break,” Simon replied. “She’ll be back for the afternoon deliveries.” He didn’t sound happy about that.
The door into the next room was wide-open. The room itself didn’t interest Monty, but the wheelchair parked next to a big table did.
“Ms. Corbyn seems to be accident prone all of a sudden,” he said softly. Would Meg be there for the afternoon deliveries, or would the Others have a different excuse for her absence?