“Hmm?” Sunshine blinked at me, then looked down at the newspaper in her hands. “Yeah—there was black ice on a bridge in a human residential neighborhood this morning because of the low temperatures. No one got hurt, but the ice stuck around well past dawn, when it should have melted. The meddling House Tellier showed up eventually and melted it with magical fire.”
I tested to make sure my extra pouches, cuffs, and the other items on my belt were secure. “We apprehended the fae in a park near that bridge,” I said. “I saw some people on it when I went to get the car.”
“What did Sarge say when you reported it to him?” Sunshine asked.
I’d grabbed my holster from my locker, but I paused to look back at Sunshine, confused. “How did you know I told him?”
“Because it’s you,” Sunshine said. “You’re meticulous. You wouldn’t see something like that and leave it. So, what did he say?”
“He had me do a drive by on the way home, and the people were gone.” I buckled my holster into place on my shoulder. “I didn’t think much of it—though in hindsight I maybe should have stopped the car and checked for magic, except we had the brownie and fae noble from the fight sitting in the back seat, so I’m not sure that would have been the responsible thing to do, either.”
“Well, as I said, no one got hurt.” Sunshine studied the article, her brown eyes solemn. “Though there was some vehicle damage. The worst part about it is that House Tellier got the chance to play hero. Again.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Even if we ignore the fire at the library they likely started, all their heroics are too convenient. This is the…” I paused, trying to add up all the instances. There’s been the library, and this case of black ice, but before then I’d witnessed them put out the fireworks mishap that they had sponsored, and there was that article in the newspaper about how they’d helped in the storm. “Fourth time. They’ve been heroes four times—that we know of. That’s way too many. They should have been hauled before the Wizard Council by now for using magic in front of humans that often, even if they did it to save people.”
“All the instances must not be getting reported—which is possible since there’s no way the Telliers are self-reporting to the Cloisters when they’re on such poor terms with House Medeis.” Sunshine thoughtfully tapped the article. “Do you think this might be your in?”
“My what?”
“Your in. Your way to open another investigation on House Tellier since the Wizard Council closed the library case.”
I squeezed my gloves. “Maybe…” I said, slowly. “I could head out to the bridge during patrol. If they started—or were at least somehow involved—in the library fire, it’s possible they might have set up a few of their other chances for heroism.”
“That sounds likely. House Tellier isn’t known for doing anything that would benefit others.” Sunshine tossed the shiny curtain her brown hair made over her shoulder. “They are very unpopular here at the Cloisters. If the Wizard Council wasn’t so desperate to maintain their numbers, they would have slapped the Telliers down by now.”
The Tellier wizards are unpopular…but I’ve seen them with a lot of supernaturals. What’s up with that?
There was the werewolf in the parking lot the day I’d gone running and Connor had babysat my stuff, and I’d seen a Tellier wizard with a vampire back in September.
“Sarge probably heard about the accident already, but you should tell him—so you can get permission to investigate it. Do you want the paper to show him the article?” Sunshine held out the paper. “I finished my crossword puzzle, so you can have it.”
“Thanks. Could you set it on the bench? I need to finish getting ready.” I was leaving my gun and daggers in my locker since I was hoping to go visit Orrin, so next I put on my gloves. I didn’t need to use the winter version just yet, but another few frigid nights and I’d make the swap.
“Sure.” Sunshine checked her cellphone. “I was hoping to stay and chat some more, but I should head home—Mom keeps sending me passive aggressive messages about dinner. Are we still on for brunch this Saturday, at your place?”
“Yes. Thanks, Sunshine. Enjoy dinner!” I tucked my gloves under the cuffs of my shirt to make sure no skin was visible, then flexed my hands, testing the fit of everything.
“Will do! Mom and Dad send their greetings!” Sunshine hopped off the bench and waved.