Hexed

another three to join Granuaile at my house later that evening.
    » Okay, let’s go talk to the cops, « I said, with a degree of insouciance I didn’t feel. I didn’t want to go at all, because the stark fact of Perry’s death was waiting for me there, and once I saw him I wouldn’t be able to compartmentalize his absence.
    Hal flicked his eyes downward and raised his eyebrows. » In a towel? «
    » I have a set of clothes and my cell phone on top of the shop. Just drive me up the alley and I’ll get them, no sweat. «
    Hal rested his face in his hands. » Dare I ask why they’re up there? « he said through his fingers.
    » I left them up there because I had to ditch that creepy Russian rabbi. Did you find anything out about him yet, by the way? «
    » No. « Hal shook his head. » Still waiting to hear. We have someone good working on it, though. «
    We waited until a member of Hal’s pack arrived to keep the widow company—it turned out to be Greta, who’d only just survived the fight in the Superstition Mountains. She looked askance at me standing there in nothing save a towel, but she made no comment.
    » Take Mrs. MacDonagh for a nice drive out of town, « Hal suggested, pressing a hundred-dollar bill into Greta’s hand. » Bring her back in the morning, and we’ll have this window fixed up. «
    » Oh, can we go to Flagstaff? « The widow clapped her hands in hopeful joy. » There’s a steak house up there what has singin’ waiters, and a fine wee wolf lady like yerself ought to be lovin’ some steak, am I right? «
    Greta didn’t speak but looked meaningfully at Hal. He sighed and gave her more money, then beckoned me to come along to the car.
    I bid farewell to the widow and assured her I’d have everything straightened out the next day.
    » Oh, I know ye will, Atticus, « she said, and then a mischievous glint fired in her eyes. » Christmas isn’t all that far away, ye know. Would ye be likin’ a nice set of boxers this year? «
    » Mrs. MacDonagh! « I said, embarrassed.
    » What? Yer the sort that wears briefs, then? They make ’em in all sorts of fancy colors these days, y’know. When me Sean was alive ye got white or nothin’, but sure it breaks me heart t’see ye goin’ commando when ye don’t have to. «
    » Going commando? « I exclaimed. Hal and Greta had tried at first to mask their amusement at this conversation, but now they were sniggering openly. » Where did you hear that? «
    » The telly, o’course. « The widow looked up at me uncertainly, then glanced at the werewolves wiping tears from their eyes as they laughed. She got a little testy then, suspecting they might be laughing at her, and she explained with some heat, » I saw it on a rerun of Friends , when Joey wore Chandler’s clothes and did lunges while goin’ commando. Did I say it wrong? «
    » No, you said it fine, but—oh, bugger. « It was becoming impossible to make myself heard over the howls of the werewolves. » Enjoy your time with Greta up in Flagstaff. Come on, Hal. And, hey, I’m not paying you to laugh at me. «
    » Okay, okay, but you keep that thing on nice and tight, « he gasped, pointing at my towel. » I don’t want your naked ass sitting on my leather seats. «

Chapter 20
    Hal navigated his slick Z4 down the back alleys until he was only a building away from my shop, and he parked it in someone’s private space.
    » Hang out in the back and I’ll toss everything down to you, « I said. » The cell phone will be first, so don’t drop it. «
    » My reflexes aren’t that bad, Atticus, « Hal reminded me.
    » Right. Shield your eyes, then, « I said, stepping out of the car and dropping my towel. » Naked Irish guy. «
    » Aggh! I’m snow-blind! « Hal said. I flipped him the bird and then transformed into one, lifting myself with a dozen strokes to the top of my shop, where my clothes and phone lay precisely where I’d left them. Perched on the back edge of my store, I couldn’t see any of the police cars in the front, which meant they couldn’t see me either.
    When Hal hissed up at me that he was in position, I carefully dropped my phone, jeans, and shirt down to him, and then one sandal at a time. I saved my underwear for last, just to make a point, and Hal very pointedly did not catch them. Oh well. I’d just have to go commando.
    After checking my many missed calls, I punched up Granuaile’s number.
    » Hey, sensei. Is the widow okay? «
    » Yes, she’s fine. But