He yawned, a huge yawn like a lion’s, stretching his arms over his head. “I’m sleepy.”
“Don’t go to sleep!”I said, suddenly afraid of what might happen. What had Renee dosed the batch with? Conrad didn’t seem to be showing any ill effects. But no matter what it was... I was going to assume that a gobgoyle’s metabolism was different from a human’s.And knowing Oscar, he had probably eaten the whole dozen. I fought panic at the idea that Oscar could be ailing.
“Come with me,” I said, grabbing my extra set of car keys. “We’re going to see Aidan.”
Chapter 18
“Master Aidan?” Oscar’s eyes grew huge. “I, um, I don’t think that’s a good idea, mistress. Let’s just hang out here and watch a movie. We can make popcorn! With butter!”
“We’re going. Aidan will know what to do.”
At least I hoped so.
Oscar put up a bit of a struggle, but though he’s normally much stronger than his physical size would suggest, whatever was in the cupcakes had made him uncoordinated and weak as a puppy. I was able to hoist him up and slog him down the stairs again, though for the first time since I’d met him, he had to be reminded to transform into his piggy guise.
“What’s wrong?” Bronwyn asked as we came through the shop floor. “What’s the matter with my little Oscaroo?”
“Something he ate doesn’t agree with him,” I said. “I think I need to take him to... the vet. Did you see how he got into the cupcakes? Did Renee send more over?”
“How do you know he ate cupcakes?” Maya asked.
“He had blue frosting on his muzzle,” I improvised.
“Really?” Bronwyn asked. “I can’t imagine where he got them from. Unless... he did go out into the alley at one point.”
“He raided theDumpster?” I said, outraged, as though a pig ransacking a Dumpster were out of the realm of possibility.
“Sorry, Lily,” Bronwyn said. “It didn’t occur to me that he’d be able to do such a thing. How would such a little tiny piggy get up into the Dumpster in the first place?”
“Pigs are pretty smart,” Maya said.
“Maybe it’s something else,” I said, worried. “Anyway, I’m going to get him checked out. I’m sure he’ll be fine. In the meantime, would it be possible for someone to go pick up my car? I had to leave it in Chinatown. Long story. I’ll take the shop van.”
“We’ll take care of it,” said Maya, holding her hand out for the spare key.
I told her where the car was parked. “And can the rest of you hang out here together? I don’t want anyone to be alone.”
“Actually, we were just talking about that. We were thinking we’d order Indian food to be delivered and have an informal picnic on the shop floor,” said Bronwyn. “We’re hoping you will join us. Bombay biryani, aloo gobhi, and garlic naan, your favorite.”
“Thank you. I’ll get back as soon as I can. I’m not sure how long I’ll be, so don’t wait on my account. If there are any leftovers, I’m sure I’ll make short work of them,” I said, realizing I was starving. I wished I had eaten more of Patience’s calamari.
Through the shop windows, I could see the fog had rolled in. I grabbed my cocoa brown wool coat and rushed out the door, a laughing pig in my arms.
• • •
“You can’t take apiginto the museum!” shouted the ever-suffering Clarinda from her post inside the ticket booth.
Oscar snickered loudly.
“Take it up with Aidan.” I barreled past her as fast as I could, given that I was still lugging my hefty familiar. I was panting and my arms ached. “He asked me to bring the pig.”
“Hedid?” she asked while picking up the phone.
“Loves pigs,” I called over my shoulder, already mounting the stairs. “Can’t get enough of ’em.”
Aidan stood in the open door of his office, waiting for us.
“Clarinda wants me to remind you that livestock is not permitted in the museum,” he said. He did not seem overly pleased to see us.
