Page 60 of Curse of the Wolf
Bolin, who’d retrieved his maligned man purse, didn’t look that excited. Glum was the word to describe his expression as he considered the cut strap. I was surprised the small multitool blade had managed to sever it that quickly, but the inspector might have applied some of whatever type of power hepossessed. I was lucky he hadn’t managed to thwart the locks and get into my truck.
“I might need to get that repaired for Bolin,” I said as we approached.
“That’s a Stefano Ricci, isn’t it?” Duncan asked. “It might cost a pretty penny.”
“You think it’s a lot more work to sew the strap of a luxury brand than a knockoff?”
“I think those who do the repairs know which clients they can charge more to than others.” Duncan waved toward Bolin, the gesture including his expensive SUV.
“If I show up in my Goodwill clothes and my beat-up truck, they should give me a discount.”
Duncan gazed thoughtfully at me. “I suppose that’s possible. You could also show them your fangs. That can make craftsmen agreeable about offering deals.”
“I’m not a brute.”
“What should we do with the ladder you clubbed that man with, Luna?” Bolin asked as we walked up.
Duncan raised his eyebrows.
“He tried to club me first,” I told him.
“Naturally.”
“I’mnota brute.”
Duncan smiled. “Certainly not.”
Jasmine stepped close enough to show me her phone. “Dad found a newspaper article with photos of that glowy hand thing. It sold at an auction in this area a few years back.”
“At what kind of auction does one buy magical artifacts?” Bolin asked.
“This was an art auction.” Jasmine pointed at the heading.
“That thing didn’t feel artsy as it was boring agony into my brain,” I said.
“Dad did some digging and managed to find the name of the person who bought it. Thecompanyanyway.” She showed me.
“TBL Luxury Perfumes and Potions.” I recognized the umbrella company for Radomir’s various businesses. “Looks like he’s been collecting magical artifacts for years.”
“There wasn’t anything wolfish about that tool,” Duncan said, “not that I noticed.”
“Only that it was happy to thrust lances of pain-inducing power at a werewolf,” I said.
“That describes more artifacts than you’d like.”
“Throughout history, people have been afraid of powerful, shaggy beings,” Bolin said.
“Unfair,” Jasmine said. “They’re not as scary as out-of-control vans.”
“You think there should be more artifacts with the ability to zap those?” I asked.
“I do.” She nodded firmly. “Anyway, Dad got the address that was associated with the company too. Apparently, the auction was online, and the buyer had the tool shipped afterward.”
“Is it one of the places from the list your father put together before?” I leaned close to the phone to read it.
“No. I don’t recognize it. Maybe we should check it out though.”
“Wait.” I held up a finger. “Irecognize it.”
