H Mallory - To Kill A Warlock

He took a deep breath. “You’re off all future cases.”

I felt like I’d been blindsided by an elephant. “What? What the hell are you talking about? What did I do to deserve this?”

Quillan put a hand on my shoulder, but I coldly shrugged it off. There was no way in hell he was going to make me feel any better about getting…fired.

“This has nothing to do with you,” he said, and it was as dumb a line as when a guy breaks up with you and says it isn’t you, it’s him. It’s you-it’s always you. “What the hell did I do?” “The Relations Office seems to think you might be in danger. That’s all they’d tell me. Apparently this is very hush-hush.” I narrowed my eyes. “What a load! I’m starting to wonder if I’m off the squad because I’m a suspect in Fabian’s murder!”

Quillan shook his head. “You aren’t off the squad. I received word from the Relations Office this morning that you aren’t considered a suspect. I don’t think you ever were.” He paused. “And you know I never thought you were.”

I swallowed a retort. “What kind of danger do they think I’m in?”

“They wouldn’t tell me. They just said to give you a break for a little while. Think of it as a little downtime-a mini vacation.”

I leaned back in my chair. At least I wasn’t fired. But this whole danger business? It made no sense. Somehow Knight had to be involved, and the bummer of the whole thing was that I couldn’t ask a goddamned question without somehow bringing Knight into it. “For how long?” I asked. “Until I hear back from Relations and they tell me.” I dropped his gaze. “This sucks.”

“I know you’re angry, Dulce but it’s for your own good. Fabian’s killer is still out there and now with the other murders…this way you’ll be protected.”

“Protected?” I scoffed. “How will I be protected? By staying home?” Well, there was Sam’s protection spell on my house, but somehow I didn’t think Quillan was referring to that. And Sam’s spell could be broken. “That’s not the end of the story. We’re…setting up some other protection for you.” “What does that mean?” “A few gremlins to patrol your house.” I started shaking my head “But…” Quillan interrupted me. “You won’t see them. They’ll be out back in the woods but close enough to keep an eye on the place.”

“Gremlins, Quillan? You should be more afraid of them attacking me!” Gremlins had the unfortunate reputation of attacking anything that moved. “And what about my neighbors? They’re all human and wouldn’t survive a gremlin attack. That is the worst freaking idea…”

“The Netherworld is sending a species of evolved gremlins. They’re smarter and stronger than your average…gremlin.”

I was so pissed off, I didn’t even get to ponder the fact that I’d warranted Netherworld gremlins. “This bites the big one, Quillan.”

He shook his head, like he didn’t think it bit the big one at all. Yeah, well he wasn’t about to have gremlins pooping in his yard and killing neighbor’s animals if not the neighbors themselves.

I was so going to be evicted.

“You won’t even see them. They have strict orders to stay on the perimeter of the property. The only thing you have to do is feed them once a day.” “Feed them?” I stood up. “What the hell am I supposed to feed them?” Quillan laughed. “Dog food. Two scoops a day.” “Okay, you do realize I’ve killed every houseplant I’ve ever owned?” A smirk played with his lips. “Dulce, I’m sure you’ll be fine. This will be good for you.” “I never planned on having a dog or a cat or anything else. I’m not a pet person.” The smile didn’t vanish from his lips. “Well, now you have gremlins.” “I’m so glad you’re enjoying this.”

Quillan crossed his arms above his chest. “It might be slightly entertaining but I’m more worried about you than anything else.” He paused. “I’m going to check on you every day after work.”

I sat down again and sighed until it felt like all the air was escaping my lungs. “You don’t have to do that. With freaking gremlins around, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Quillan touched my shoulder again. “I want to. You know I don’t want anything bad happening to you, Dulce.”

I dropped my gaze as heat rushed to my cheeks. “Yeah, yeah,” I waved away his concern with an indifferent hand. “I’m your favorite, blah blah blah.” Quillan laughed but it didn’t make me feel any better. “How many gremlins do I have to feed?” “Just two.”

I nodded, feeling slightly guilty that I was still keeping the fact that Knight and I were working together from Quillan. Quillan was a good boss and my friend.

“So, am I free to go now?” I asked.

“Yes, and just so you know, the gremlins are arriving tonight.”

Holy Hades, it was like a bad horror movie. “Great, then I need to go to the store and get some Purina.” I shook my head. “Goddamit.”

Quillan chuckled. “I already took care of that for you, Dulce. I’ve got it in my truck.”

I forced myself to smile. It wasn’t his fault. He was trying to make this as easy on me as he could. “Thanks, Quill. What time are you coming over?” “How about six thirty? I’ll bring dinner.” “Don’t get any ideas.” He laughed. “I’ll try not to.” ###

When six p.m. rolled around, I’d managed to email my Captain Slade queries to nearly every agency on my list. I stood up, stretched, and caught my reflection in the mirror. An oversized t-shirt and boxers weren’t the greatest thing to wear when company's expected.

I neared the door of my bedroom and eyed my jeans draped over my armchair. They’d do. I threw them on along with a black tank top and considered myself dressed. I mean, I didn’t want to give Quillan the wrong impression.

A knock sounded on the front door.

After checking the peephole, I pulled it open and found Quillan with a bag of Alpo on one shoulder and dog dishes in both hands. I reached for the dishes, but Quillan just grinned and showed himself into my unremarkable apartment. “Where should I put this?” he asked and lifted his shoulder as if he needed to draw attention to the enormous bag of dog food. “How about outside?” He frowned. “It’ll get wet outside or animals will get into it. You need to embrace the gremlins, Dulce.” I’m sure he couldn’t help his smile. “Funny. I guess in the kitchen.”

Quillan dropped the mammoth bag of Alpo onto my linoleum floor and headed for the back door that led into the woods bordering my apartment building. I watched him open the door and drop both bowls onto the weed-ridden “yard”.

“And what do I do if any of my neighbors sees one of the ugly things and freaks out?” I asked.

Quillan slapped his hands together as if his job here was done and closed the door behind him. “They won’t. I cast an illusion, so to the unknowing eye, they look just like dogs-a Labrador and a Dalmation, to be exact.”

“I’m not allowed to have dogs here.”

“Then don’t let anyone see you feed them. They’ll stay in the woods and won’t cause you any trouble. No one will even notice they’re here.” Quillan started for the front door. “I left the food in the truck. Got Chinese.”

Of course, that immediately made me think of the massage parlor. Dammit, I still needed to pay a visit to Dagan.

“That sounds great, thanks Quill.”

I watched his large frame as he walked through the door, then I started for the kitchen. Pulling out my best silverware, I held a fork up to the light and used the hem of my shirt to wipe away the water spots.

Quillan walked back in, the smell of sweet and sour something wooing my nose. My stomach growled, and I could feel my cheeks instantly coloring. Quillan didn’t seem to notice or was polite enough not to comment. He started dishing us up, as I searched for a place for us to sit. I only had two chairs and one was currently residing at my desk. Quillan handed me a plate and motioned for me to sit at the table while he assumed my computer chair.