“My thoughts exactly.”
Flannery still hadn’t accepted his new reality. He shook a fist at Lydia. “You’re going to regret this, bitch. You’ll never be free of me. I’ll make your life miserable until Doomsday.”
Even as he said it, he gasped and made a squawking noise then scratched himself furiously as a bubbly red rash spread from under his clothing across his exposed skin. It looked like poison oak on steroids.
“That looks unpleasant,” Jen noted.
“I did my best,” I said.
“I think the cavalry’s arrived,” Lorraine said, turning to listen.
With the place sound-proofed, the only noise came in through the main door of the suite, which could no longer close thanks to me.
I heard the thud of footsteps and clank of metal on metal. Several cops in uniform with guns raised entered the outer part of the bathroom and spread out, followed by Officer Mikey who strolled in.
“Everybody stand still,” he ordered.
Jen snorted. “Because we were in the middle of running a marathon,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.
I snickered, and Mikey scowled. His own fault. If he was going to leave a door that wide open, somebody was bound to step through.
“What’s going on here?” He demanded after examining the tableau.
“I’ll tell you what’s happened,” Flannery declared, stomping toward the doorway of the glass enclosure, only to come to a halt in front of Jen and Lorraine, who declined to move. He started to push forward with every intention of shouldering them out of his way, but magic shoved him backward and he sprawled onto his ass.
Lydia barked out a laugh. “Carson, I’ve never seen you look better. Stay there, why don’t you.”
He let out a string of epithets and struggled to his feet. “I want these people arrested for trespassing, breaking and entering, and assault. They’ve done something to me. It’s some sort of chemical like anthrax or Agent Orange. I need to see a doctor right away. Call an ambulance.”
“Or,” I said. “You could arrest Flannery for unlawful imprisonment and assault, plus being an all-around asshole. Then take him to the hospital if he wants, though I’m pretty sure they can’t help with his particular problem.” I looked at him. “You are such a coward. You can dish it out, but you can’t take it. Best learn fast.”
“That’s a little harsh,” Lorraine said. “It’s not like he can help it. Poor dear only has two brain cells, and they’re fighting hard for third place.”
Jen snickered.
“Maybe someone could explain what’s going on,” Mikey said, his tone indicating it wasn’t the suggestion it sounded like.
“This is Lydia, Flannery’s ex,” I said. “Try not to ignore her, this time, would you?”
The other woman’s mouth tightened and she clearly didn’t want anything to do with the police. I couldn’t reassure her. Mikey was a wild card. He could easily go the asshole route, or could actually listen. He’d seemed to thaw into a decent human last night with Lindsey, but breakfast this morning had him freezing right back up. Not that he hadn’t had a good point or two, but he hadn’t been particularly supportive.
“Ma’am?” Mikey said. “Could you tell me what happened here?”
She curled her lip. “Fine, but I’m not putting up with anyone treating me like I’m some scorned housewife out for revenge. If you’d paid the slightest attention to me when I told you what my husband was up to, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Yes, ma’am. Maybe we could talk in another room, where you’ll be more comfortable,” Mikey suggested as she came out of the enclosure. He looked at one of the uniformed cops. “Take these four where they can wait, but don’t let them talk to each other. Please follow me, Mrs. Flannery.”
“I go by Bishop now.”
“Is that so? Are you divorced?”
She grimaced, holding tight to the edge of her borrowed robe. “No such luck, I’m afraid. Maybe soon.”
He ushered her out and we followed, with Flannery bringing up the rear. The uniforms led us into a small sitting room where two of them took up stations inside and two guarded outside. Overkill, much?
I sat down on a small settee. It bore a similar look to the furniture in the vestibule outside the suite’s doors. Lorraine and Jen sat on either side of me.
“This is fun,” Jen said, watching Flannery pace and scratch and mutter.
