“That’s all?” The waitress stared down at him with her hands on her hips.
“I think so.”
“Well, your wee friend here can out eat you, that’s for sure.” With that, she hustled back into the pub.
“So, Meredith the werewolf who can eat three times her body weight in pub food, what can I do for you?”
“I need your help to make sure there isn’t another run-in with the beast.”
“Christ almighty. Didn’t we kill it well enough?”
I shook my head. “No. He’s not dead. At least I don’t think he is.”
His face went sheet white. “And how do you expect I can help with that?”
“Well…” I needed him to show me the police records of what got stolen from the museum. If I knew what the brooch looked like, then I’d have something to bring to the pack meeting. There were innocent people in the pack who didn’t need to feel the full force of Donovan’s wrath. If I had a picture or description of the brooch, then someone might be able to help us identify the traitor before things got out of hand. “It’s about the robbery in Dublin.”
The friendly McTavish was gone as his gaze narrowed at me. “And what would you know of that?”
“How much do you know about my kind?”
“Not a lot, but more than what they’re sayin’ on the telly.”
“Right. And if I told you we’re not the only things out there?”
“I’d say you’re in the country that’s always believed in the fair folk, and I’m not an idiot.”
Fair folk was another term for the fey. Smart man. “So, let’s just say the fair folk had some things in that museum. One of them was an object that controls this beast, and now—”
“Someone’s got it and is bossing the monster around. Jay-sus. It’s like something out of a horror flick.”
Very smart man. “For sure. I mean, it felt like I’d fallen into It Follows last night. I was running and running, and still, it was right behind me. I’ve never been so scared.”
“I caught that one. Good movie,” he muttered under his breath.
I leaned forward and gave him my best try at puppy eyes. “You wouldn’t happen to have a list of what was stolen from the museum, would you? I just need to know what I’m looking for.”
The waitress came back with his tea and food. He took a long sip before setting the mug down. “Ehm… So… I don’t have it offhand. I’m posted in Murriton, and I don’t see much about the goings-on in Dublin.”
I closed my eyes as that idea went down the toilet.
“But—” He started speaking, and my hope bloomed again. “I’ve a mate in the Dublin garda. I can make some calls. What’re you after? Might be easier if I’m specific rather than asking to see all the files.”
“A brooch. I just need to know what it looks like.”
He nodded. “I’ll text you once I hear back. The number you called me on is your mobile?”
“It is. Thanks. I really appreciate this.”
“Any way I can help.”
We spent the next little bit chatting. I found out that Mrs. O’Collins was an old lady in their town. The teenagers liked to prank her by moving her yard ornaments and potted plants around, but they always came back to put everything back the way she wanted. Poor lady.
Despite the fact that Bhrunyz could show up at any second to kill me, I had a nice break away from the stronghold. All told, I was only gone an hour and forty-five minutes. I had an impossibly full belly and had finally made some progress. If Donovan wasn’t having any luck spying through the pack bonds, then at least I’d know what the brooch looked like soon.
I hoped McTavish sent me the information before the pack meeting. If not, it wouldn’t matter what the brooch looked like. Because in an hour and fifteen minutes, Donovan was going to rip apart his pack to find the traitor.
Chapter Twenty-Two