Pawsitively Dead (A Wonder Cats Mystery Book 2) by Harper Lin Read Free Book Online Page B

Diane replied.
    “Of course you’ve got backup watching both.”
    Diane shook her head. “Blake and I are doing a favor, private security just for tonight. Min told us to expect those two to make their way down here after the show, then Blake could read them their rights in private and take them in for questioning.”
    I groaned and started up the staircase. Diane followed me as I almost scolded, “Well, they’re trying to dodge us by getting out earlier than that.” When we reached the top of the grand staircase, I told Diane, “You and Blake block the east wing. I’ll block the west, and we’ll have them surrounded—but if you find them first, don’t do anything to threaten them. Just stall them until I meet with you.”
    There was no time to wait for her answer. I ran ahead to the west wing. Fortunately, that was where I found the both of them.
    Murray was grappling Topher and saying, “I can’t let you go out on your own and disappear again! Come back with me and just calm down!”
    “Stop it!” I said as I fixed my gaze on the ripple over Murray’s and Topher’s heads. “You can’t control him, Murray. You don’t have the right. I’ll give you one chance to leave him alone.”
    I concentrated on him to do my spell.
    Murray raised his hand, palm toward me, and I was struck with a paralyzing fatigue. The Unfamiliar laughed. My knees buckled, and my field of vision darkened even though I tried desperately to remain standing and alert. In my panic, I thought I might have done the spell wrong.
    But I sensed the Unfamiliar spirit’s fading laughter. I used all of my strength to conjure a magic lasso. I made it wrap around the Unfamiliar again and again before tying a knot.
    It had worked. For now. The spell could last a day, up to two or three, until I, or another witch, had to do it again. It took a lot of energy, and it wasn’t sustainable for the long run.
    Somewhere down the hall, footsteps sounded, followed by a scuffling sound. Murray made a grab for me as I began to faint.
    A voice pulled my attention back to the world of the non-witches. “Step away from her! I’m telling you, I’m armed.”
    It was Blake. My vision focused, and I saw Old Murray looking confused and shocked.
    Murray let me go. “What’s going on here?”
    Blake holstered his gun and drew a pair of handcuffs instead.
    “I’m so sorry, Murray,” I said as Blake snapped on the handcuffs.
    Murray looked from his cuffed wrists, to Blake, to me, and back to his wrists. “What did I do wrong? I didn’t do anything…”
    He really hadn’t, but there was no way to even try to tell non-witches what had really happened. Instead, I asked Blake, “Where’s Topher?”
    Blake nodded in the direction of farther down the hall. “I caught him as he was trying to run off and got him handcuffed. Diane will take care of him.”
    Diane trotted up behind him with her gun drawn. “Take care of what?” She saw us and holstered her gun.
    Blake peered at her. “Wasn’t there an old man in the hallway behind us?”
    Diane paused. “Yes?”
    Blake groaned with aggravation. “Diane! He was handcuffed and knocked out! Get back there and guard him like you were obviously supposed to!”
    As Diane backed away apologetically, I raised an eyebrow at Blake.
    “I can’t wait until Jake clocks back in,” Blake muttered.
    “Handcuffed and knocked out? That’s harsh, Blake. You could have given Topher a heart attack or a stroke.” Old Murray, at least, was spry for his age, although I still felt sorry for him when he looked at us sadly. We took care of lost and injured animals together. We were friends.
    Blake argued, “He attacked me first.”
    “He’s over eighty years old! He couldn’t have been too much of a threat.”
    As I said that, Diane jogged back into our hallway. She fidgeted a little and said apologetically, “The other old man got away. I went back and saw your extra handcuffs in the hall, so I tried to run him down—I