“And then, sir?”
“And theeennn, she says she knocked out her supposed soul mate’s friend, used his phone to send this guy a text, asking him to meet in some lab. I don’t know what lab or where that lab is. She said she did that so when lover boy turned into a werewolf, she could be there to douse him with the love potion.”
If not for Harry, Mara would have slipped right out of her chair. Jeff. This friend’s phone was Jeff’s phone. Her head swirled with questions. How had Jeff called into the police just yesterday? Oh, sweet Jesus. She had Jeff.
“And where is this friend of this nut’s, er . . . the accused’s alleged soul mate?”
Guido looked at Davis like he was insane. “Man, you think I was askin’ questions? I dunno what she did with the guy’s friend. She said she knocked him out in order to get his phone. I figure he’s doin’ what he does, never the wiser. Least, I hope he is. All I know is, she was PO’d. Like crazier mad than the last time I saw her. She was hatin’ on me. She was hatin’ on this chick she called her friend. She was hatin’ on her soul mate, too—because he liked her friend better. She said when she was angry she did bad, bad things. That they made her do bad things. I don’t know about you personally. Me, on the other hand? I know me. I’m not into bad, bad things. But I knew she’d come back because the love potion didn’t work. The crazies always want revenge on me. So, I was ready for her. I got a gun—one with some silver-tipped bullets. Told her I’d blow her crazy out of her crazypants if she ever came back again. Not a fan of violence, but no way was I waitin’ around to see if she was gonna chew a hole in my intestines.”
Davis cocked his head in question. “And how does this all lead to Mr. Emmerson and Mara Flaherty?”
Guido’s eyes bulged. “Hello. Harry showed up at my place two nights after wingnut came callin’ for the love potion, right? I thought Mara was the one who’d turned him into a werewolf with her baby juice. He said she did.”
Mara winced, scrunching her eyes shut, her hands trembling until Harry placed his over them, warm and supportive, stilling her shaking.
“And why did Mr. Emmerson come to see you, Guido?” Griffin asked.
Guido flapped his hands. “Oh, you know, the usual. Because he thought I could turn him back into a full human. Like reverse the werewolf thing. Of course, I couldn’t. Like I told you, I can’t do anything but screw up.”
The crowd rumbled their disapproval, glaring at Harry.
“Continue,” Griffin encouraged into the mic.
“I didn’t make the connection between the nut and Harry until quacky flakes came back a few days after Harry and Mara and that seething, fanged lady on legs left. Like I said, she was screaming at me and calling me all kinds of names, then I threatened her with the gun—so she hightailed it outta there. I was still shaken up, you see. I didn’t make the connection between Harry being turned in an accident and the flippy broad turning some unknown guy on purpose. I did think it was weirder than weird that two people had recently been turned into werewolves so close together, but what do I know about werewolves and what they do? Maybe you people do this stuff all the time . . .”
Council member Samuel Cross spoke up for the first time, clearly offended. “We most certainly do not. We absolutely do not advocate turning anyone into a werewolf! I suggest you finish, sir. My patience has grown thin.”
Guido shook his head, his sleek hair, shiny under the glare of the overhead harsh lights, combed neatly. “I don’t mean to offend. I’m just sayin’ I didn’t wanna know what you all do after crazy lady left. I just wanted her to leave. But she said something before she ran screeching outta my place that freaked me out. I couldn’t sleep all night last night because of it, and that’s when I called the spittin’ mad vampire back there.” He thumbed in the direction of Nina, who stood, imposing and tall, at the exit to the courtroom. “She’s the only person I know who knows other werewolves, and after my experience with loony-loon, I didn’t want to talk to any more werewolves. So I called a vampire. She was friends with Mara and Harry, and I figured if I gave her the heads-up, she could get the word to someone for help if mush-for-brains really meant what she said.” As he finished, Guido began to shake, making Mara begin to shake all over again right along with him.
You could’ve heard a pin drop as everyone waited to hear what this woman had threatened that left Guido shaking so visibly.
Darnell gave Guido a nudge with his sneaker. “Go on now, little man.”