The Orange Cat and Other Cainsville Tales (Cainsville 3.5)

"Yeah," Ricky said. "We chatted with her. She knows we realize she's fae. She did suspect I was Arawn--"

"What?"

"I played dumb. I'm good at it."

"Not nearly as good as you think you are, Ricky. I've seen the performance. It is unlikely to fool anyone who isn't already convinced of its veracity based on physical appearance. In other words, it is not going to convince an ancient fae who suspects you are the incarnation of her long-dead Lord."

"I wouldn't say incarnation."

Gabriel's voice chilled. "My point--"

"--is that we're leaving," I cut in. "We can see the bike. The gwragedd didn't follow us. She was just glad we didn't take her puppy."

"Puppy?"

"We thought it was a baby. Long story. Point is, she just wanted to see the backs of us, and she really did seem to think she was wrong about Ricky. We'll be leaving town in the morning. I just need to--"

"I would ask that you leave tonight. I understand it is late, but I have compiled a list of lodgings over an hour away. I will inqui

re and book if that is helpful. I have also checked flights from Chicago to Halifax."

"To do what?"

"Come out there, of course. If this gwragedd realizes what you both represent, Patrick suggests she could target you, Olivia, as a way of getting Ricky's attention."

"You can't come here. You don't have a passport."

"I'm sure my driver's license would suffice. It's only Canada. They hardly need to worry about terrorists invading from the US. That would be rather pointless."

"Yeah, sorry," Ricky said. "You do need a passport. It's not terrorists they're worried about. Just Americans in general, I think."

"Hey, I couldn't bring my gun," I said.

A pause. "You don't have your gun?"

"It's Canada. They frown on that."

"Please tell me you have your knife."

"Switchblades are illegal here, too, and as someone who plans to get her PI license, I can't have a cross-border weapons offense on my record. So no, I couldn't bring my gun or my switchblade but--"

"But you know what she did bring?" Ricky said. "Me."

Silence, the heaviness of it as thick as Maritime fog.

"I didn't mean to imply--" Gabriel began.

"Then don't. I never underestimate the danger to Liv. Never."

"Yes, I know. I simply--"

"You're thinking of the psych hospital last month. Where I lost her."

"Temporarily misplaced," I said, my voice light, trying to lift the mood.

"I was not implying--" Gabriel began.

"Yeah, you were," Ricky said. "But if you're going to swing that low, Gabriel, let me remind you of who went to that hospital with her. And who didn't because he was being a jackass, ignoring her calls, ignoring my attempts to make peace, ignoring us."