Page 32 of A Seer and Present Danger

I bobbed my head in an approximation of a nod.

“Have you told the police you saw someone?” Jules asked.

“Yep. I’ve got Hatter and all the rest of them on speed dial. I just wish I could clear this blank spot in my head and find my memories. I know I was behind the diner. I know I lived it, but I feel like I wasn’t really there when any of it was happening.”

“So, here’s a question,” Jules said. “Do you think someone used magic on you?”

“It’s…possible. But no one noticed magic that night.”

That was true. I’d tried to feel magic, but it had felt like the normalist of all normal nights.

“So, about Yancy,” I said navigating away from the crime we were totally-not-going-to-investigate. “Even though your doom-twinges are on the blink, can you keep an eye out for danger heading Yancy’s way?”

“Of course! I’m going to tell Delaney about his dream—no, you can’t talk me out of it. Our job is to keep everyone safe, even if the danger was seen in a dream. If there’s someone who wants to harm him, they’ll have to get through the Reed family first.”

I took a breath, relieved. I’d thought I’d have to try to keep him safe on my own. But Jean, just like Delaney, was quick to stand up and protect.

I liked that about her. I liked that about all the Reeds.

The alarm on my phone sang a little song. “That’s me,” I said. “I need to head to work. Jules, do you want a ride to the Rookery?”

She hadn’t let go of Jean’s hand and she squeezed it again. “I think I’ll stay here a bit. Unless you don’t want me barging in on your gaming time?”

Jean smiled. “Barge away. I could use some company.”

“Good then.” I stood and put my glass in the kitchen. “I’ll see you both soon.”

Jules walked me out. She gave me a quick hug, which caught me by surprise. “Be safe,” she whispered, “and call me if you find anything.” Then she shut the door.

Safe shouldn’t be a problem. I was going to be at work for the next nine hours. What could happen there? I mean, there was the murder, but that had to have been a one-time thing.

I drove home, checked on Smuckleberry, my snoozing tabby cat who was (thankfully) not up to mischief. A quick shower, a change into my uniform, and one look at Smuck’s automatic feeder and waterer, then I was out the door.

I made it to work three minutes before my shift started.

The place was stuffed to the gills, a line snaking out the door to the two tour buses.

I called a cheery hello to customers, picked up three menus, a pot of coffee, and got busy.

CHAPTER 7

“Did you hear?” Aggie asked as I wiped down a booth that had a surprising amount of cracker crumbs left behind by a family who hadn’t ordered anything even slightly cracker-like.

“The blissful silence of half the diner being empty?” I said.

“No, that man,” she whispered. “The dead one. They released his name. Hugo Malloy. Said he was a criminal.”

I knew it was Hugo, but Aggie had left before the whole murder debacle and the hours of questioning that happened afterward, though she’d said the police did come by her place and question her this morning.

“Criminal?” I asked. “Who said he was a criminal?”

“I heard it from one of the diners. He stole things. Breaking and entering all up and down the coast.”

“Wow.” I moved to the next table. Aggie followed.

“He must have taken something from someone,” she said. “Probably double-crossing them for the money.”

I shook my head and smiled. “Isn’t that a bit of a leap?”