“You didn’t call me,” he said.
“There was a lot going on. Myra had Jean call you because she was bossing everyone around and told me I had to take a shower.”
He exhaled and the tightness at the edges of his eyes and mouth eased just a bit.
“Oh, and Frigg figured out the people are demon touched,” I said.
“What now?” he asked.
“You didn’t know that yet?”
“We didn’t get that far before he charged up the stairs to check on you,” Jean said. “So butch, by the way, Ryder. Much hero.” She gave him a thumbs up.
“Frigg caught the scent of a demon mark on them,” I said.
“They are possessed by demons?” he asked.
“No,” Frigg said. “That’s a whole different thing.”
“We think they made a deal with demons,” Myra said.
“All right.” He rubbed at his forehead for a minute. “How do we want to deal with the demon angle?”
“That’s where you come in,” I said. “Can you use your contract knowledge from Mithra on them? See what kind of deal they made?”
“We’re pretty sure you’re not a target,” Myra started, but before she could finish saying whatever she was going to say, he cut in.
“Yes.”
“Good. Let me get my shoes on,” I said.
The chorus of arguments and discouraging noises was impressive since there were only four other people in the room.
“Of course I’m going. I’m the chief of police. It’s my damn job. You are all worse than a bunch of mother hens. Move dragon-pig.”
Dragon-pig growled and grew heavier, making it clear it wanted me to stay put.
“Please,” I said. “You know this is my job.”
It huffed, and moved off my lap.
I left the room, and noted that they all started whispering at each other as soon as I was at the top of the stairs. I sighed. It was good to be loved. Annoying, but good.
Ryder droveand dragon-pig came with us, because every time we took it back into the house and told it to stay with Spud, we found it waiting for us in the back seat of Ryder’s truck.
Hatter and Shoe were still at the station. One of them, probably Shoe who was short, wide, and ill tempered, would pull the late shift and keep an eye on the people in holding. Our other reserve officer, Kelby, who was half-giant, should be on duty soon too.
“Hey, boss,” Hatter called. “Ryder. Wondered when you’d show up.” Hatter was the opposite of Shoe in almost every way. Tall, lanky, always cheerful, he gave off easy-going cowboy vibes. We’d stolen both of them from the Tillamook police up north, and they’d settled in quickly. I couldn’t imagine taking care of Ordinary without them now.
“Evening, boys,” Jean called out as she, Myra, and Frigg all strolled into the station.
“Looks like a party,” Hatter said. “How’s this going down?”
“Ryder,” I said, “Frigg, just you two, with me.”
Myra and Jean frowned, not liking my plan, but I strode back to our very small holding cell, unlocked the door that separated it from the bullpen, and stepped through.
All four people behind the bars watched us step into the small space. I didn’t bother trying to keep the dragon-pig out. It was clearly going wherever it wanted to go tonight, and that was clearly with me.
