“I could tell the cops the whole truth!” Rune directed her voice toward Adam’s shadowy figure, waiting beside the outer door. “What do you say to that, Adam?”

“I don’t seem to be involved in this conversation. Why include me now?” Adam’s voice was, as always, composed, but as he descended the stairs, he left a cool breeze in his wake.

Elle offered her hand to Rune. “Come on. Let’s go down and see whether anyone else was hurt or, God forbid, killed. That would destroy all my theories and give you more ammunition for your argument.”

Rune grumped all the way down the stairs.

In the shadows at the bottom of the stairs, they found Adam, three wizard staffs in hand, surveying the sunlit, empty shop.

The sight of him seemed to trigger horror in Rune. She clapped her hand to her throat. “Adam, are you right-handed?”

Adam glanced at her in amusement. “Ambidextrous.”

“That’s good.” Elle looked confused at Rune’s distress. “Isn’t it?”

“He needs both hands to swing the long sword. And he’s been shot, disabled!”

“Now we get down to it.” Adam peered through the windows at the empty street, and he grinned. “It’s the Gothic Spring Psychic Festival Rune is really worried about.”

“That’s not true. I’m worried about you!” Rune was indignant, then conceded, “And the Gothic Spring Psychic Festival. The Pacific Coast Highway has been closed for months. If the festival doesn’t come off as scheduled, most of the businesses in town will fail. People will lose everything.”

“You’ll be fine,” Elle reassured her.

“Of course I’ll be fine. In an emergency, I do online video-direct psychic readings. I keep my website updated with the stock in the shop. Online ordering comprises a good part of my business. I really will be fine,” Rune assured her.

Adam cackled and handed each of them a staff.

Elle twirled her staff first one direction, then the other. “Well-balanced,” she commented.

Adam shot her a sharp glance.

Rune’s staff more than matched her height, and she leaned on it heavily. “My God, when word gets out to the paying public that there’s been a shooting...”

Looking at Rune with the bright sunlight behind her, Elle saw something glittering in her hair and on her shoulders. She brushed at it with one hand and pulled back with a wince. “You’ve got glass everywhere. You need to shake out your hair and clothes and be careful until you can get cleaned up.” She plucked a sliver from her palm. “This stuff will put a hole in you every time.”

Rune shook herself like a horse, and tiny shards struck the floor.

“We’ll take shelter in the restaurant,” Adam said.

Elle looked across the street at the Live Oak. “The lights aren’t on.”