“You mentioned bears and cougars,” Patrick said.
“Add elk to the list,” I said. “That’s it. Sorry to disappoint.” I gave the camera a smile, and started toward my Jeep.
He dropped his phone into his pocket. “Look, I know I came on a little strong yesterday. But I really would like to have coffee with you. Sometime today would be great, but anytime you have free works for me.”
“If you want to know more about Ordinary’s history, or our events and festivals, you really should talk to Bertie. She’s a spectacular organizer, and honestly, Ordinary wouldn’t be the same without her. She’s the reason our little town is such a fun place to visit.”
“You don’t have to hard sell me, Chief,” he said. “I’ll talk to her too. Of course I will. But I would like to hear what it’s like to be a small town cop in a modern world. Small towns like this are sort of a...well, not a time capsule, but they are outside the normal world, or they seem to be. I’d love your perspective on how your town adapts or tries to resist forces so much larger than it is.”
Was he talking about gods and demons? Was he talking about social unrest? The economy? Climate change?
I opened my mouth to ask, but my phone rang. “I’ll let you know when I’m free.”
“One o’clock? Lunch?” he pressed.
I held up a finger and put the phone to my ear. “Chief Reed.”
“Hey, Delaney,” Hogan said. “I’m sorry I didn’t call yesterday, I got busy, like, really busy, and I didn’t think about it again until now.”
“No worries.” I moved to my Jeep, ignoring Patrick, who was filming again.
Both Than and Crow headed to the passenger side of my vehicle and reached the door at the same time.
Crow grabbed the handle, and Than placed his hand over the top of Crow’s. The two gods glared at each other.
“Than, you’re with me,” I said over the top of my phone. “Crow, could you show Mr. Baum your studio and explain our Find and Keep glass float treasure hunt weekends?”
Than didn’t smile in victory, but he did look smug. Crow rolled with the punches and turned on the used car salesman charm.
“Happy to, Chief. Mr. Baum? Can I call you Patrick? Paddy? Pat? Have you ever blown your own balls?”
“Uh...” Patrick didn’t have a quick answer for that one.
“Well, then,” Crow said, “you are in for a hot, sweaty, glory-hole treat!” Crow slapped him on the shoulder hard enough it had to sting.
I got into the Jeep. Than was already buckling his seatbelt.
“Sorry, Hogan,” I said, starting the engine. “What were you saying?”
“You asked me to tell you what Patrick Baum might be. What kind of supernatural.”
“Right.” I backed out of the parking space. “So what is he?”
“A leprechaun.”
I glanced over at Patrick. Crow was gesturing lewdly with his hands, explaining his glass-blowing technique, but Patrick was watching me. He gave me a little half-bow, then held up his finger and mouthed:one o’clock.
“Did you hear me?” Hogan asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Leprechaun. Are you sure?”
Patrick didn’t look like a leprechaun. We’d had one in town once, Siofra, a lovely woman who hosted wicked poker games, but otherwise stayed to herself and her garden. She had been small of stature, not even five feet tall, had thick auburn hair, and a green glow in her eyes that meant she always wore sunglasses when she went out in public.
I’d never met a male leprechaun in person. So maybe they did come in tall, handsome, young-ish, blond, social-influencer packages.
“I am sure,” Hogan said. “He’s got some affect on luck too, I think. Good and bad. He was at my shop, having a good time, and then a guy showed up who had just won a small lottery. The guy bought everyone donuts on the house. The crowd who gathered cleaned me out.”
“Okay,” I said, slotting that information. “Thank you. How did the rest of his visit go?”
