And then, he was gone.
Chapter Five
Idrove back down the dirt road, my heart in my throat every time the tires hit a bump. Not a single car passed me as I crawled into the village. The old man who operated the garage didn’t bat an eyelid as I drove the police car onto the lot, got out, dropped the keys into his outstretched palm, and walked away. Just as Sherlock said. I worried about mine and Morrie’s DNA all over the backseat – especially the story that it might tell a forensic expert like Jo. But there was nothing I could do now.
I hiked down to the pub, conscious of the fact I had no underwear on and my leggings were definitely on the old and thin side. I waited for two hours in the drizzle for a bus to arrive. As the bus drove away, I saw a plume of smoke rising from the field – and the shape of a burned-out car behind the garage.
I guess there isn’t any reason to worry about DNA after all.
I rested my head against the window, my mind reeling. This day had started off as one of the happiest days of my life – the boys showing me the new room they designed for me in the flat so we could live together. Then, like everything else in my life, it had all gone to shit in the most ridiculous way.
Morrie’s in trouble.
He’s on the run.
I have to help him.
I hated leaving Morrie behind with Sherlock.Hatedit. I didn’t believe I was a jealous person, especially not while my thighs still ached from what Morrie and I did in that clearing. But knowing my guy was cozied up in a remote cabin with his stalker ex-boyfriend didn’t fill me with joy. Judging by the way Sherlock touched Morrie when he unlocked the handcuffs, he wasn’t paying much attention to the “ex” part.
Sherlock wanted Morrie back. And he was going to use this case to show off his skills. He wanted Morrie to see what he was missing by choosing me over him.
That meant I had to solve the mystery first.
I’m going up against the greatest detective in the history of literature, and Imustwin.
I spent the rest of the bus journey running over the details in my head, trying to come up with a plan. Sherlock and Morrie were going after this McFarlane character and others in Morrie’s criminal network. I knew nothing about that world, and I wouldn’t be able to infiltrate it like they could, so that left me with the victim – Kate Danvers. I didn’t know the information Sherlock used to eliminate her husband and the other suspects, but I had one key advantage. Namely, I grew up in the modern world. I knew how social media and computers and forensics operated. Sherlock was using nineteenth-century methods to solve a twenty-first-century crime. I could beat him if I worked fast and followed the right clues.
That, and Sherlock worked alone. Whereas I had a posse of clever, beautiful, and dedicated friends who would move heaven and earth to help clear Morrie’s name.
As soon as I stepped off the bus at Argleton, a raven flew down from the station rafters and perched on my shoulder.
Where have you been?Quoth’s voice inside my head sounded both relieved and terrified.We were so worried about you.
“It’s a long story.” I scratched the raven under his chin. He nuzzled my cheek and made a nyuh-nyuh-nyuh noise. “I’m surprised you didn’t follow me.”
I had to run back into the shop to transform into my bird. By the time I got back outside, the car had gone. I went to the police station, but when you didn’t show up I came back and told Heathcliff. I’ve been flying everywhere, but we couldn’t find you.
“Thank you for trying.” I stroked his silky feathers as I cradled him against my chest. “Are the police still at the shop? I know I’ll have to talk to them, but right now all I want is a cup of tea.”
The SOCO team has finished going through yours and Morrie’s things, and Hayes is leading the manhunt for the stolen car. They believe you’re heading toward Scotland. I’ll take you home.
Home.Hearing Quoth speak that word brought tears to my eyes. For a while back in the woods, I truly believed I’d never see Nevermore or Quoth or Heathcliff or Morrie again. The shop felt more like home to me than anywhere else I’d lived, including the dingy council flat where I grew up. And knowing I got to return, and that Quoth felt the same way about it… I blinked furiously, in case all the emotions flapping about in my head from this wretched day overcame me.
“Yeah, let’s go home.”
Easier said than done. As soon as I stepped onto the green, villagers mobbed me. A stampede of people raced from the pub and post office to surround Quoth and me, hemming us in with their questions.
“Mina, who kidnapped you?”
“Were they handsome?”
“Did you have to chew your own leg off to escape?”
Bloody hell.At least I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about calling Hayes – he’d hear about my return from the village grapevine.
“Make way, make way!” A familiar carpet bag swung in front of my vision. Mrs. Ellis dropped her plump hand around my shoulder, squeezing me against her ample bosom. “You should be ashamed of yourselves. Mina has been through a harrowing experience, and you lot getting up in her face won’t help. Why, I bet the poor girl just needs a cup of tea and to be left alone in a hot bath.”
“Croak,” Quoth agreed.
