“At this point, it’s all a long shot. Investigations normally don’t take this long.”
“I mean, I used to watch television, and sometimes investigations took months.”
“You’re talking about humans. I’m talking about the supernatural.”
I fell silent. “So where does that leave us? I can’t become a Mixologist without that book. It contains everything.”
“You’re doing just fine now.”
“Just fine is not good enough. I’m struggling as it is, and I lean on Gus for everything.”
“You’re allowed to use other people for help, Lily. The job might be a solo one, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.”
“I wouldn’t have known where to start with The Elixir if it hadn’t been for Gus. He explained the rules, he remembered the ingredients, the recipe...everything. Without him, I’d be lost.”
“Then keep Gus close.”
All at once, a silence descended on the room, heavy and full of trepidation. “Gus went out tonight,” I said slowly. “Gus never goes out.”
“Did he say where he was going?”
“Not in so many words. I assumed he had dinner plans with Mimsey.”
“Are they dating?”
“Not really...” I hesitated. “But I think they want to.”
“How do you know that?” he asked with too much curiosity. “Gus doesn’t strike me as the type to open up about his personal life.”
“People don’t need to say when they like someone, either as a friend or as a romantic interest. You can just feel it.”
“And you think the nature of this evening’s visit was romantic?”
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t like to think in those terms when talking about Gus. Or Mimsey.”
To my surprise, Ranger X laughed. “He’s a man, just like any of us.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He cleared his throat, and this time it was Ranger X’s face turning the color of ripe tomatoes. “Nothing.”
“In all seriousness, do you think Gus is in trouble?”
He paused a moment. “He really likes Mimsey, huh?”
“He enjoys her company,” I hedged. “I haven’t seen them together long enough to know if it’s love, but there is something between them.”
“Do you think he was lying when he said he was going out tonight?”
I shook my head. “He was too awkward about it. If Gus wanted to do something in secret, he just wouldn’t have told me, and I’d never have known.”
“It doesn’t hurt to check in with him,” X said. “I’ll make up an excuse and say it’s Ranger HQ business. Does he have a way we can reach him?”
“I’ve never needed to try,” I said thoughtfully. “He doesn’t carry a Comm device. Usually we’re right next to each other, so I shout across the room. If Gus needs something, he finds me.”
For some reason, all of our modern technology from the mainland did not work quite right here on The Isle. Maybe my cell phone would’ve worked if it hadn’t been washed away by the giant wave, but it was unlikely. The amount of magic zipping through the air rendered most devices useless, and I hadn’t seen a computer either. Even receipts and bookkeeping were done by hand, bringing me back to Little House on the Prairie days.
“Let me call in Glinda, she’s our Emergency Contact Specialist,” Ranger X said. “She consults for Ranger HQ.”
“So what does Poppy do as a dispatcher, if she can’t call people?”
“She dispatches internally. As you might know, each Ranger has a specific talent or skill set. If we get word that someone needs healing, she’ll direct the request to the medics. If someone’s lost, she’ll contact Ranger F, who’s known for his ability to return things to their rightful owner. The list continues.”
“So about this Ranger F, can I get him working on my case? Maybe he’ll have some luck finding the spellbook.”
Ranger X narrowed his eyes at me. “He’s already on it. He’s the reason I’m saying the future is bleak for that book. His track record is impeccable. He’s solved almost everything in just under three days. Yours...it’s been going on weeks. Short of a wild breakthrough, I don’t see this case closing anytime soon.”
“But I need it—”
“We’re not abandoning it,” Ranger X interrupted. “If anything, we’ll be setting an example. When we find out whoever did this, we’ll come down, and come down hard on them. The longer this goes the more interest it generates. The more interest it generates, the more of an example we need to make with it. Now, let me call Glinda in here so we can talk to Gus.”