Read Online The Lost Night by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page B

an amused, knowing look. “That would be you and your two-person department.”
    Slade smiled, coolly satisfied. “Yes, it would.” He turned back to Charlotte. “All set over at Looking Glass?”
    “Yes,” she said. “Jasper is going to watch my shop while we’re off the island. I just gave him the keys.”
    “In that case, it’s time you and I went home and grabbed our bags.” Slade glanced at his watch. “Next ferry leaves in an hour.” He looked at Harry. “We’re scheduled to be out of town for a week. After I meet Charlotte’s relatives, we’re going to attend the wedding of some friends of mine, Marlowe Jones and Adam Winters. You’ve probably heard of them.”
    “I’d have to have been living in a cave not to have heard of them,” Harry said. “According to the media, they saved the Underworld and, possibly, all four city-states, as well. That makes for a lot of press.”
    Rachel whistled softly and propped her elbows on the counter. “I’m impressed with your social connections, Slade. Adam Winters is the boss of the Frequency City Guild, and Marlowe Jones is from an old Arcane family. That is going to be a huge wedding. Full-on traditional Guild ceremony combined with all the trappings of a high-ranking Arcane Society affair. I can’t wait to see pictures of Marlowe Jones’s dress.”
    “Trust me, I don’t usually move in those circles,” Slade said. He looked grim. “And I can think of a lot of other ways that I would rather spend that particular afternoon, but Winters and I go way back.”
    Charlotte patted his arm andlooked at Rachel and Harry. “Slade is grousing because it means he has to buy a tux.”
    “Think of the bright side, Slade,” Rachel said, “you’ll have the tux available for your own wedding.”
    Slade visibly cheered. “Good point.” He turned back to Harry. “Officer Willis is covering for me while I’m off-island. If you need anything, just ask. He’s solid. Learns fast but he’s young and hasn’t had a lot of experience. If you think you’re going to require more backup than he can handle, call me. I can get here within a few hours either by ferry or float plane.”
    “Sure,” Harry said. “But this is just an initial security assessment. I won’t take any action until I get a handle on what’s happening inside the Preserve. That will probably take a few days.”
    “You’ve got the files I pulled for you and my notes,” Slade said. “If you need anything else, Myrna Reed at the station will get it for you.”
    “Thanks,” Harry said.“I appreciate that.”
    Rachel was amused. “Don’t worry, Slade. Rainshadow will survive without you for a few days.”
    “The question is, will I survive the meeting-the-relatives marathon,” Slade said. He scooped Rex off the windowsill. “See you all next week.”
    “Bye,” Rachel said. “Have fun meeting the parents and all the rest of the in-laws.”
    Slade narrowed his eyes. “Can’t wait.”
    Charlotte laughed. “You’re an ex–FBPI agent. You can handle anything, including my family.”
    “Not unless we get moving,” Slade said. “We now have forty-five minutes to grab the bags and make the ferry.”
    He ushered Charlotte out the door and then all three of them were gone. Rachel found herself alone with Harry.
    “Coffee?” she asked.
    He glanced at the elegantly lettered menu of tea and coffee drinks that hung on the wall. “It says that something called Harmony Tea is your specialty. ‘Specially blended to enhance the unique harmonic resonance of the aura.’”
    She went still, her intuition flaring. “Harmony Tea is very popular with the tourists. I sell a lot to the locals as well. But this morning at breakfast you told me that you prefer coffee.”
    “I drank that green tea you served.”
    “Because it was all I had on hand.”
    “Slade gave me coffee when we met at the station. I’ve had my fix. I’m ready to try a cup of Harmony Tea.”
    She tapped one finger on the