Arabella

Chapter 9

         Caleb sat in a car outside waiting for Arabella. She had a routine when it came to working a case. She was going to get her car, which she kept in a rented garage nearby. He rubbed his hand over his face, trying to clear the sleepiness. After he left her house last night, he was called into the office. What happened yesterday was blowing up, adding in what was going on with Jake and it was heading to be a disaster. He wanted to approach Jake and tell him to leave Arabella out of his problems, but he was overruled. He was going to have to sit back and watch this play out. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t ready. She was going to have to get ready.

        He rubbed his face again, feeling the day-old stubble. A semi-good thing was that Jake would be able to protect her, if she would just let him tag along. He rubbed his face again and reached for his coffee. He was going to need hell of a lot more of it in the coming weeks.

                                                                                                ***

        Arabella headed onto the highway, going seventy-five, giving her car a much needed workout. She needed quiet to think everything through and Jake was a distraction. Mr. Blue was dead, Jake was a suspect. She shifted gears to go faster, when she felt something by her ear. 

“Lily, what do you want?”

“Hello Ara! Whatcha up to?” a small voice answered quickly. “I hear you on a big case. Big! Big! Big!”

“Lily, stop buzzing in my ear.” The pixie moved into Arabella’s vision. Arabella had met Lily a few years ago at a job in a magic supply shop where a thief had stolen some magic accessories that could raise the dead. Unless you’re a necromancer, this is never a good idea. Lily had seen the thief and the murder of the shop owner. She was an asset during the investigation and has since fancied herself a detective. A four inch detective. Problem was, she caused more trouble than she helped. 

“Where did you hear about my case?” 

“You’re driving your car, silly-willy!”  Lily laughed and pushed her short pink hair behind her pointed ears. She was wearing a pink leather one-piece suit to match her hair, her wings a shimmering gold. 

Arabella just shook her head. Lily rarely answered questions straight-forward. She’d find out soon enough. 

“So, whats it, whats it, whatsit!” Lily continued and floated in front of her face. Arabella moved her hand to swat Lily out of the way. “You want to help, Lily? I may have a job for you.” Arabella smiled. She sort-of had a plan.

                                                                                            ***        Jake paced back and forth. Arabella had been gone for three hours and she wasn’t answering her phone. He tried watching TV and putting in a movie, but nothing could hold his attention. He was worried. He ran his hands through his hair and looked at his phone again. Aggravated, he threw his phone against the wall. He shouldn’t have let her go alone. He didn’t even know where she was. 

        Walking to pick up his phone, he looked toward the kitchen. It was almost one o’clock. He could make some lunch. He stepped into the kitchen and started washing the breakfast dishes. “Lunch it is.”