“Good to know. I thought the dead fish smell was coming from Hatchet,” Diesel said.
“Did you bring the charms?” Wulf asked Diesel.
Diesel took the charms from his pocket and held them in his palm so Wulf could see.
“They have an excellent selection of baby carriages at Target,” I whispered to Diesel.
“Not now,” Diesel said. “Get a grip.”
“Was I bad? Do I need to get punished? Maybe I need a good paddling.”
Wulf looked like he was thinking about rolling his eyes, and Diesel wrapped an arm around my shoulders and dragged me into him.
“We’ll get to that later,” Diesel said.
“I’d be happy to paddle the wench if you’re too busy,” Hatchet said.
Diesel cut his eyes to him, and Hatchet took a step back.
“Just a thought,” Hatchet said.
“Why did you dig Phil up?” Diesel asked Wulf.
“Six weeks ago, I happened upon Philip More’s diary, and I realized he was a SALIGIA guardian. At one point in the diary, late in his life, he said he would take the Stone to his grave, and that it could only be rescued by all the Humbugs in Salem.”
Diesel looked at the charms. “And you think these are humbugs?”
“There are four bugs carved into the lid of the casket. Mark More’s dragonfly charm fits into the dragonfly carving.”
“But it wasn’t enough to open the casket?” Diesel guessed.
“No,” Wulf said. “The casket is sealed, and I’m not inclined to open it with force.”
There were some strange creaking soun
ds, and howling, and Michael Jackson singing in my purse.
“What the heck?” I said.
“It’s your cell phone,” Diesel said. “I used ‘Thriller’ for your ring tone.”
I pulled my phone out and saw it was my dad. We had a two-minute conversation, and I returned my phone to my purse.
“He was just checking in,” I told everyone. “He’s at a conference.”
Wulf and Diesel exchanged glances, and Wulf gave his head an almost imperceptible shake, like he couldn’t believe they were saddled with me.
“What do you want from this?” Diesel asked Wulf. “You can’t have the Stone. The Stone goes to the BUM.”
“That’s so tedious,” Wulf said.
Diesel shrugged.
“I could force you to give me the Stone,” Wulf said.
Diesel did a tight smile. “I don’t think so.”
“It probably wouldn’t end well for either of us,” Wulf said.