“There will be a full investigation into your child’s disappearance and return,” DS Judge said, her hands falling awkwardly to her sides. “SOCO teams are collecting evidence, and we’re following up with a couple of leads. We may need you to come to the station later for a lineup or to answer further questions. In the meantime, is there anything else you want to tell us? Do you have any idea who might have a grudge against you or Connor? No previous clients who?—”
Jane’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing.
“No.”Her voice was firm. “I’ve told you before, I’m not in that business anymore. Connor and I pretty much keep to ourselves.”
The corners of DS Judge’s thin mouth turned up. “Of course. Well, then, I’ll leave you and Connor in peace. It’s been a long night. Miss Crawford, I’ll need you to come to the station for some more questions.”
“It’s past midnight,” I said, a yawn fighting its way to my lips. I stifled it with my hand.
The boys need me back at the house. We have to get to the gateway and try to close it off. We have no idea how many fae already came through.
But of course I couldn’t tell DS Judge that.
“Guv’ner’s orders, I’m afraid. There are just a few points with your statement we’d like to follow up on, and in cases like this it’s much better to get these things done as soon as possible, while the memories are fresh in your mind.”
“Of course,” I shrugged. “I read somewhere that witness statements become significantly less reliable the more time elapses. Can I just have a few minutes with Jane?”
The DS frowned. Clearly she wasn’t supposed to let me hang around with Jane. I guess that made sense. Despite our best efforts to create a believable story – and Blake’s ability to speak into their minds that the police should believe us – we were probably suspects in the abduction. But one look at Jane’s face and she relented. “I’ll be back in here in sixty seconds.”
“Thank you.” I gave DS Judge what I hoped was a friendly smile, but I was so tired it probably came out more like a grimace.
As soon as DS Judge was out of sight, I wrapped my arms around Jane and Connor. Connor’s warmth pressed against my heart, and for the first time, I caught a whiff of that baby smelleveryone talked about – that kind of milky sweetness that defied description but made your heart constrict.
He’s home. He’s safe. That’s all that matters.
“Thank you,” Jane whispered, her eyes not leaving Connor’s tiny face. “I can’t believe you did it. No, I lie. Icanbelieve it. You’re something else, Maeve. You and those boys of yours.”
“I just hope we haven’t made more problems than we solved,” I whispered back. “Every moment that I’m here is another second that gateway lies wide open and the fae are able to pour into our world unchecked. Luckily only a few of them can come through, but a few fae are still capable of horrible things. When they find out we’re alive and that we have the babies, I don’t know what they’ll do.”
Whatmy fatherwill do.
I shuddered at the thought.
“I want to help,” Jane snarled. “I want those fae to pay for this. I don’t want this to ever happen to another mother.”
“I don’t want to put you in danger. If you hang around with us, you’re going to be a target?—”
“You said so yourself; they chose Connor specifically. I’malreadya target. I’m doing this, Maeve. Don’t make me do it on my own.”
I sighed. “I get it. And we need help. We have to figure out how to block up the gateway permanently. Other covens have done it before, but it’s not going to be easy to figure out how. And I don’t even know if that will work, because the fae will still be on the other side, trying to get through. Solving this probably means poring through every single book in Corbin’s library.”
“If your hot dreadlocked housemate can keep the tea and hot chocolate coming, I’m there.”
I laughed, thinking of Rowan’s fervent belief in the healing powers of a correctly-brewed cup of tea. “I’ll make sure of it.”
We embraced again. Over Jane’s shoulder I saw the door open and DS Judge enter. She tapped her wrist. I slunk away from Jane. “Look after that boy of yours.”
“Oh, he’s not getting away from me again.” Jane clutched Connor against her chest.
DS Judge escorted me down the path. I sat in the squad car, wringing my hands, nerves tugging at my stomach. True to his word, Corbin had done most of the talking when the police questioned us at the castle. I wasn’t even named as one of the people who found or touched the babies. So why did they want to talk to me again without the other guys around?
“Do I need a lawyer?” I asked, hoping I didn’t have to call leggy Emily to come bail me out of jail.
“You’re not being detained. This is only voluntary questioning to clarify some details. Why, doyouthink you need a lawyer?” DS Judge turned the car down the main street of Crookshollow – which the guys called the “high street” because they’re English and weird. The quaint little village had a reputation as being the most haunted place in England, and all the stores played up that fact with spooky names and decorations. Back in Arizona, I’d never been allowed to celebrate Halloween (the Crawfords believed it was “satanic”), but I always loved the fun decorations and costumes at school. Corbin told me that Britain didn’t really celebrate Halloween, but living in this town was the next best thing.
After what we’d been through tonight, the plastic witches and hanging ghosts in the shop windows didn’t seem so much fun anymore.
DS Judge led me through the station to an interview room that looked exactly like the interview rooms on TV – bare grey walls, a table and two chairs, a second table by the door with some recording equipment set out. A woman in plain clotheswho introduced herself as Detective Inspector Davies sat at the table.
