Page 91 of A Seer and Present Danger

“Something’s in the head.”

“The mechanical stuff that makes the bear talk?”

“I don’t think so. Well, it could be. But it feels square.”

“Like a box?”

“Mmm-hmm. I’m not going to open this here in an unprotected space outside of Ordinary. Too risky.”

“Smart.”

“Okay, this is evidence. I’ll bag it up.” She reached into her jacket pocket, produced a bag, and dropped the bear into it.

“Do you want to check anything else in my car?”

“Is there something I should check?”

“Not that I know of. I was the one who chucked the bear into the back seat. Back when I was taking it to Kenny for repair.”

She nodded. “Okay, go ahead and open the trunk and all the doors, I’ll take a quick look just in case.”

I was happy to do so. I was done being the target of a crime I did not do, done being the target of a woman who would use anyone and anything to get what she wanted: more power.

Hugo might have been a thief and a jerk who hid the stolen box in the bear, and well, Kenny might have been both those things, too, but neither of them deserved to be killed because a person more powerful than they were wanted what they had.

Delaney took her time searching my car, pulled out her phone and snapped pictures, then told me I could lock it up.

“Is that it then?” I asked. “Can I go home, get a shower, sleep for a week?”

I mean, I was still super curious about the bear and Pandora’s box, but I was also exhausted. It had been a long night, and a long several days before that.

Messing with time (I couldn’t believe I’d really done that!) had taken it out of me.

Even one hour of sleep sounded like pure luxury.

“Yes, that’s it. Piper, I’m really sorry this happened. I know how much you love the Blue Owl, and I know how much of a shock it can be to have something so traumatic happen in a place you love. If you need anything—if I can help you in any way—please come to me.”

The emotions—gratitude, belonging, acceptance—were overwhelming.

“Thank you. You and your sisters have always been so kind. If I need something, I’ll let you know.”

She pressed her hand briefly on my arm, then started toward her Jeep to deal with the bear.

Buzz was walking my way.

“Heck of a night, eh, Pipes?”

“You can say that again. At least it stopped raining.”

He chuckled. We were facing the Blue Owl, the sign (which was, of course, a Blue Owl) towering cheerfully over the top of it.

“You know what I think?” he asked after a moment.

“That the roof is going to need some repair?”

“Yeah, that. But I think I’m getting too old for all of this. Not some of it, but, yeah, all of it.”

“Are you talking the restaurant or the murders?”