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

Chapter Five

I drummed my fingers against the worktop. It had been hours, more than hours. Night had turned back into day again and, while no more crazy shit was happening outside, beyond the constant buzz of helicopters in the air and hastily departing vehicles in the streets, there was still plenty going on inside.

Even with both the kitchen and the living room doors firmly closed, I could hear the creature that was probably Lizzy grunting to herself. And Lizzy was the woman who’d made a snarky comment about my snoring. Honestly, I had nothing on her.

‘It’s serious, though,’ I said into the phone. It had taken an age to get through to someone so the last thing I wanted was to let them fob me off. The phones were still working but I’d not had internet access since before the fire rain incident. I couldn’t count on my landline working forever.

A few army vehicles had trundled down the street around midday. I’d almost flagged one down until I remembered that soldiers tend to have guns and their first impulse would surely be to shoot Lizzy in the head.

‘I don’t know what to do and…’

‘No one does, love. We’ve got calls from all over the city. It’s not the rats. Pet dogs and cats are going crazy. There’s a pink elephant on the loose and goodness knows what else. I’ll add your name to the list but if the animal is contained and safe for the time being it’s not a priority. Most of our officers in the area are unable to venture out. The army has given instructions that no one is to leave their home unless absolutely necessary or unless they’re being evacuated. You should stay put, keep an eye on it and wait for help to reach you in the next week or so.’

‘She’s not an “it” or an animal. I told you, she’s my housemate.’

The RSPCA operator sighed. ‘Your housemate who transformed into a furry cat-wolf-bear thing.’

I knew it sounded crazy but it was still the truth. ‘Yes. You’ve got it exactly.’

‘We’ll be with you when we can.’

‘Today?’ I bit my lip.

‘Unlikely. As I’ve already said.’

I persisted. ‘Tomorrow?’

There was another deep sigh. ‘Maybe by the end of the week. I’m sorry but—’

‘You’ve got calls from all over the city,’ I finished. Curses. It didn’t matter how much I persisted. I wasn’t going to get any help from the RSPCA any faster.

I muttered a vague thanks, because once upon a time I’d been brought up to be polite, and hung up. My biggest concern wasn’t that Lizzy had turned furry, it was that she was likely to do herself some serious damage. Every so often she worked up the energy to throw herself against the walls. I was sure I’d heard glass shattering earlier. Sooner or later her animal brain was going to work out how to get out of the room. If she hurt someone, she would never forgive herself once she turned back into her normal self again. And, of course, she would turn back to the Lizzy I knew; it was impossible to conceive that she wouldn’t.

I thought for while longer. If she could be taken somewhere safe where she’d be less likely to do herself – and others – damage, it would be for the best. Fortunately, I mopped the floors of such a place.

I quickly found the number I needed. Part of me hadn’t expected Anna to answer so, when she picked up on the third ring, I exhaled in sharp relief. Now I was getting somewhere. ‘This is Charley,’ I said perfunctorily. I wasn’t panicking. Not me. Nope. ‘I need some help.’

There was a momentary silence. I could hear shouts in the background and a siren wailing. DC Anna Jones was no doubt far busier than the RSPCA. I had to work quickly.

‘I’m the cleaner,’ I reminded her. ‘With the blue hair. I desperately need someone to come and help me with my housemate. It’s an emergency but I don’t know who else to turn to, and if you don’t help me then all hell will break loose, and it’s quite possible there will be deaths, and working as your cleaner has got to count for something, not to mention that time that you were vomiting all over the Situation Room and—’

‘I know who you are, Charley,’ Anna said drily. ‘After all, we were talking together yesterday. And I would rather not be reminded about the vomit incident, thank you very much. We’re incredibly busy at the moment, as you might imagine.’

‘But…’ I began.

‘But,’ she said, ‘you’re one of ours. Besides, with the army here and the city on lockdown, we’ve got plenty of back-up. We can spare someone to help you out. Text me your address and someone will be there within the hour.’

I swallowed. Praise be. Anna Jones really was one of the good guys. ‘With handcuffs. Please.’

She sniffed as if it were never in doubt. ‘Always.’

There was a dull roar in the background and she clicked off. Despite her brisk manner, she’d been too business-like and was too trustworthy not to keep her promise. I congratulated myself on my solution-focused approach. Apocalypse or not, I wouldn’t give up. Not on anything or anyone, no matter how horrific their halitosis was.

I ran my hand through my hair and opened the kitchen door, tiptoeing out. Using my knuckles, I rapped quietly on the living room door. ‘Lizzy? Someone’s coming to help soon. Everything’s going to be alright.’

I waited for a moment, listening for any kind of response. Apart from the continued snorts and ragged breathing, there was nothing. Perhaps she was finally calming down. That could only be a good thing. ‘Your throat must be red raw after all that shrieking. Would you like a honey lozenge?’ I called. ‘Or a breath mint?’

There was a single thump. I’d take that as a no, then. I was a risk taker at heart but