Missing Magic Read Online Free PDF Page A

him, she crossed her arms. “All right
buddy, talk. Your story has too many holes. Even if Mick had family, no true relative would be skulking around in the garage.
Explain yourself – and this better be good.”
    How much could he tell her? Though Fae could
not lie, they could present partial truths, which sometimes worked
just as well.
    Staring down into her suspicious face, he
sighed. “I’m afraid Mick might be involved in something…
wrong.”
    “Wrong? Wrong how?”
    He scratched his neck, aware he had to be
careful. “There have been instances of people in our, er, family
having something unspeakable done to them. Their brain has been…
altered.”
    “That doesn’t make sense. Explain.”
    He spread his arms. “I can’t. We’re not even
sure how it’s been done.”
    “And you seriously think Mick is behind
this?”
    “Not I. My father. And his advisor.”
    “Advisor? You talk like you’re in the
government or something.”
    “In a way I am. Which is another reason why I
don’t think Mick’s involved. He knows better.”
    She started to comment, then shook her head,
apparently having decided to let her questions on that topic go.
For now. Her frown cleared. “Damn it. Mick has been acting—.”
    “I’m afraid he’s behind it.”
    “Not Mick.” Her answer was instant, totally
certain. “He’s a cop too.”
    “Everything points to him.”
    Chewing on her thumbnail, she considered his
words. “Could he have been brainwashed?”
    “Possibly.”
    “He’s not acting normal.” She stopped,
swallowed, before lifting her chin and continuing. “Anyway,
something is not right with him and I want to learn why.”
    “Has anything else changed in his life?”
    “The major thing is that woman. You saw her
earlier, at Mick’s.”
    “The tall blonde?”
    “Yes. One of the other guys in the squad room
says she and Mick were all over each other. That would be my first
clue.”
    “True. Since Mick doesn’t like women.”
    “Right.” She heaved a sigh.
    “I knew Mick favors men, but I wasn’t aware
he went public with it. I’d always assumed that with his job…”
    “He kept it quiet. A lot of the guys in the
police department would be really surprised to know the truth.”
    Cenrick regarded her thoughtfully. “Ok, then
we need to check on the woman. Where she came from, how he met her.
Is she living with him?”
    “I don’t know.” She cracked her knuckles, the
sound loud enough to temporarily stop the crickets. Eyeing him, she
cocked her head, as though considering some deep subject.
    He waited.
    Finally, she took a step towards him.
    His heartbeat stuttered.
    “I normally work alone,” she said. “Except
for Mick. I don’t do too well in teams. That’s why I didn’t go out
for the Tactical Unit.”
    “I need your help.”
    “You’re still sticking with the Mick’s cousin
story?”
    He nodded. “I am his cousin. Honestly.”
    “What are your reasons for suspecting your
own cousin?”
    Cenrick sighed. “Mick does have a rather…
spotted reputation.”
    “That was in the past.”
    Another step, and she was close enough that
he could lift his hand and touch her, if he wanted. Instead, he
clenched his teeth and continued to wait, to see what she would
do.
    “My gut instinct tells me you’re okay.”
    He let his breath out.
    “But,” she continued. “I’m also aware you
aren’t telling me everything. I told you, I want the truth.”
    The truth? Warily, he considered. How much of
the truth could he tell her, without her believing him to be
delusional?
    “Look,” she said, deciding for him. “If I’m
going to trust you, I need to know. Tell me everything. All of
it.”
    All of it. Okay, fine.
    He began with explaining what he was. Fae. A
magical being, from another place that co-existed side-by-side with
her world. He talked of Rune, my home. He talked of magic and of
spells, and how his people had been intermingling with hers for
centuries.
    When he finished his