City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

that we had proof Philip was most likely her killer. Just because we had identified him and his body lay on a gurney didn’t mean that the case was closed. I was still concerned about his motives. Not to mention Maggie’s, as well.

‘It was him, then,’ I said distantly.

‘Yep.’ Cath nodded and dusted off her palms like it was a fait accompli. ‘Well done, boss.’

I flinched. I’d not done much. And I really was very tired of being the boss.

The door opened and a white-coated figure appeared, framed in the moonlight. ‘Ah, Cath. You’re still here. I was hoping to catch you before you left.’

‘Hey, doc!’ Cath waved. ‘This is Charley. She’s the enchantress,’ she added proudly.

The doctor strode forward and reached out to shake my hand. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you finally,’ she said. ‘Catherine here has been singing your praises.’

I coughed. ‘Uh, it’s nice to meet you too.’ I wondered if it would be bad form to ask the good doctor to abandon her work here and join us in the south. It couldn’t hurt to ask, right?

Before I could say anything, the doctor jumped in. ‘I’m glad you popped in,’ she said. ‘I wanted to speak to you about Catherine. She has quite a talent and a great deal of enthusiasm. We could do with someone of her calibre to help out here. Our group does tend to get into quite a lot of scrapes. We can teach her more about the rudimentals of medicine. The more medically trained people we have, the better.’

I couldn’t have agreed more. The trouble was that I wanted the medically trained people with me in the south, not on the other side of the city where I couldn’t reach them in a hurry. But Cath looked so eager that I was reluctant to say no. Besides, if I prevented her from coming here to learn that made me as bad as Monroe and all the others. I sighed. I was too tired for all of this right now.

‘In theory that sounds good,’ I said carefully. ‘Maybe we can discuss it later? Cath and I are leaving now.’

The doctor glanced me up and down, registering my dishevelled appearance and – no doubt – exhausted eyes. ‘Absolutely. You’re welcome here any time.’

After my blow-up, I wasn’t convinced that was still the case. Regardless, I smiled at her and propelled Cath past her. ‘Nice to meet you,’ I said firmly. I could still manage some manners, if nothing else. ‘Come on, Cath. Time to go.’

We trotted out, weaving through the streets until we reached the main barricade leading out from the northern community. Felicity, the werewolf I’d met earlier in the day, was waiting there. I was prepared to scoot past her with nothing more than a raised hand but she stopped us, her expression serious. ‘I have a message for you,’ she said.

Here we go. I took a deep breath. ‘Go on.’

‘Monroe said that he’ll leave you in peace if that’s what you want, and that he knows you can look after yourself.’ She pointed to a car beyond the barrier. ‘He wants you to take that and drive home. He was most insistent about it.’

As much as the stubborn side of me wanted to throw the gift in Monroe’s face and storm off into the night to prove a point, I knew I had to take it. For one thing, I had Cath’s welfare to look after. Besides, we’d get home far quicker with the vehicle than if we were cycling or on foot.

‘Tell him thank you,’ I said, with more grace than I’d thought I’d be able to muster.

‘Can I drive?’ Cath asked eagerly.

‘No.’

‘But…’

‘Get into the car, Cath.’

She jutted out her bottom lip but did as I’d instructed. I joined her, remembering everything I’d learnt from my visit here. ‘You’ve done well,’ I said quietly. ‘That doctor was obviously really impressed with you, and the fingernail you found is invaluable. Well done.’ My hands gripped the steering wheel. ‘It might be a good thing if you come here again and stay to learn more.’ It pained me to say it; I didn’t want to lose her, and not just because of her value as a potential doctor. I’d really grown to like her and I enjoyed her company. Cath had free will like the rest of us, though, and she deserved her right to exercise it without other obligations and responsibilities holding her back.

For a long moment, she didn’t speak then she turned to me. ‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ she asked in a small voice, with more vulnerability than I’d ever seen from her even in the dark days immediately after she’d escaped from Max.

‘Never,’ I said. ‘I’d prefer it if you didn’t go. But that’s for selfish reasons. You should do whatever your heart is telling you to.’

She blinked at me. ‘What does your heart tell you?’

That it was tired and sore and that a certain blue-eyed werewolf with complex issues of grief and masculinity was the only person who would ever make it sing. ‘That we should get home and get some rest,’ I said.

I started the car engine. I reminded myself to be thankful that I wouldn’t have to worry about getting caught in a traffic jam and put the car into gear. Adios, muchachos.

Most of the journey was uneventful. As mine was the only vehicle on the bumpy, potholed roads, I could flick the headlamps on full beam and accelerate as much as I dared. The main route between the north and the south was fairly clear of trees and dangers. In the absence of a working radio, Cath hummed and sang. She wasn’t the most accomplished singer I’d ever heard but her voice lifted my spirits. Before long, I’d pushed my worries away and was bobbing along in time to her beats.

I’d over-reacted earlier, especially with Monroe who I knew was trying hard to soften his approach to survival