‘Great!’ I beamed. ‘Can we stop along the way? I want to pick up a magnifying glass.’

‘No.’

‘But all the best investigators use them. It’ll help us hunt for clues. I was thinking perhaps I should get a gun as well.’

‘This is not a television episode. And it’s obvious that you have the skills to defend yourself if you need to.’

I thought mournfully of the gun used by my would-be taxi mugger. I could have used that but the police would have impounded it by now. That’s what I got for trying to stay on the right side of the law. I could magic up something into a gun but it wouldn’t be like the real thing. Transmogrification was never perfect, especially when technology was involved.

‘A gun takes less time to use than magic.’ I formed my forefinger and thumb into an imaginary weapon. ‘Bang. You’re dead.’ I grinned. ‘I win.’

‘That is not necessarily true.’ Winter glared at me. ‘I’ll prove it. You be the bad guy with the gun.’

I clapped my hands in delight. ‘Role-play? Do I get to dress up?’

‘You’re fine as you are.’

‘But…’

‘Ivy.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Fine,’ I muttered.

‘Walk towards me,’ Winter instructed. ‘When you decide the time is right, you can shoot me with your … gun.’

I mimed placing my weapon in my pocket. ‘This is going to be a piece of cake.’ I started strolling; to add to the atmosphere, I also started humming. Nothing to see here, just a plumpish blonde out for a walk. Less than fifteen feet away, Winter pulled back his shoulders and headed in my direction. It was like the world’s worst-ever game of chicken.

Although I stayed on the balls of my feet, I forced myself to look relaxed. Even though he knew it was coming, I still wanted Winter to think I was going to wait until he passed me before I reacted.

I didn’t look directly at him but I could see him with my peripheral vision. When we were almost shoulder to shoulder, I spun to my left and started to pull out my imaginary gun. Winter also turned, checked my hand, then drew a rune. Before I could bring my hand up to chest level, I was thrown backwards by an immense force. I landed on my back, winded and in considerable pain.

‘Shit!’ Winter jogged over to me. ‘Are you alright?’

I lifted my head weakly. ‘It hurts,’ I admitted.

‘Where?’

I pointed to my back. ‘I’m not sure I can move.’

He bent down. ‘I’m so sorry, Ivy. I never intended to—’

I lifted up my hand again and this time managed to get my ‘shot’ off. ‘Bang.’

For a moment Winter stared at me then he growled under his breath, ‘You cheated.’

‘No, I didn’t. I took advantage of the situation.’ I grinned at him. ‘I still won.’ I stuck my hand into the air and waved it around. ‘Help me up.’