Marriage is Murder

"No," Khaat said.  "I can't use Jim and Brant to do this.  They aren't employees here.  Jack and Steven and Brian are.  Michael is here because he's with me, but Jim and Brant have no ability to function here. I'll take care of it, Jess."

"Khaat and I are just gathering what evidence we can find and then we'll set clean up spells in place," Michael said. 

"Daddy's going to have to make the decision about what to do with all the loss of the equipment and potions here," Khaat said. "Its not like he doesn't know it happened.  I can order the standard things, but he had some custom made thingamajigs that are not so replaceable.

"As far as the potions, I don't know if he'll perhaps purchase some potions from Brant to help replace what has been lost or what he'll do.  Daddy has so many other things he's doing right now that he really didn't need to have to redo this. 

"But, I don't want anyone knowing about this, Jess.  I don't need panic through the hospital.  We know what they were trying to do, and it didn't work.  I really should just go up to my office when I finish here, Michael, and..."

"And gather up what you need to work at home," Michael deliberately interrupted her, finishing her sentence to stop her from giving more thought to staying.  "Your father needs to be involved in the refurnishing of this.  You said so yourself.  We'll get your things from upstairs when we're done here and then we'll go."

"I don't know when Jack and Steven are scheduled again.  No clue," Khaat told Jess honestly.  "But if there is still something to do here when they work next, I'll make sure they know how to undo Michael's spell that seals the lab. Fair enough?"

Jess nodded " of course" Jess said but looked around " I'm sure it will be okay with Brant, their due after my shift " she said softly staying at the door way so not to contaminate herself " looks like  hell of a battle" she said but she knew that already from the wounds on Brian and Robert when she tended them that night.

As Jess looked at Michael she nodded to him then looked at Khaat “let me know if you need anything” she said “ I'll get it to you, at home.” she said noting how tired she

looked and the tone in Michaels voice told her he was worried that Khaat was over doing it too.

"Thanks, Jess," Khaat said.  She noticed Michael continuing to collect little bits of thins that she hadn't even seen.  She didn't know why she wasn't noticing those things, but she was glad for his skills of observation.  "I'm sorry, Michael.  I'm just missing things, I guess."

"Don't apologize," he said, "I'm almost done. I don't get paid to think of all the administrative things you do.  All I need to do is to focus on what I have to do right now.  And hopefully keep you focused yourself.  Jess, we'll be out of this room in another couple of minutes.  I'll take her up to her office for a moment and then we're going home. We'll talk to Robert about how he wants this handled and then we'll let Steven and Jack know."

Jess smiled and looked at Khaat "Don't worry about it Khaat we all have off days."She said softly then nodded to Michael again. "besides your still healing, I'll be right back." she said softly seeing one of her helpers heading down the corridor she quickly turned and headed to intercept her asking her to cover her shift on the wards as she had something important to do. She would not come back she headed quickly back to Michael and Khaat in the basement after she sent word to Steven and Jack. “ ok that's all sorted now” she said as a message flew to her hand as she stood “ Ah, that's Jack, he's right on it Michael and will be here once he's finished his rounds he also says he found some spots where he thinks some one had tried to get in to the grounds” she added and looked at him.”secured he's secured them but thought you should know.”

"Yes," Khaat said quietly, being business minded. "Well done. I'm glad he made that check and headed off more trouble.  Good job.  Thank you." 

Michael looked up at her briefly, as he found a spare brown paper sack that was merely trash.  He picked it up and put the little bits of evidence into it, considering that she truly looked to him as if she was becoming more like her father every day.  He had a feeling that she was certainly learning his business skills. 

"Khaat," he said to her, "I think we're done here. What do you need from upstairs?"

"I have some suppliers catalog books. I know I have one that is particularly good with potions making supplies. I know that either I will need it or that Daddy will need it.  And I do need my messenger bag of paperwork and forms.  I will have to send owls for an immediate shipment of furniture, equipment, ingredients and supplies."

"Then let's go get it," Michael said. He led her to the hallway and once they were all outside, Michael cast his cleaning spells in the room and then shut the door and cast a spell to make the room impregnable.  "If you need something from Khaat or Robert, I presume they'll both be home today, Jess," Michael said, saying it more for Khaat's benefit than Jess's.  "I feel quite sure you can manage for one business day."

Jess looked at her as she spoke and smiled " there good like that Khaat, well trained by the best" she chuckled knowing it meant Robert and Khaat's tutoring. Jess made sure once they had left the door was locked to make sure nobody could get in that wasn't meant to." I'll be here if you need me until nine tonight" 


Jess moved back to her station and checked everything was in order and began her walk around the beds checking all in order only one wasn't he had a temperature but Jess soon brought it down and under control. “ keep an eye on him” she said to her student.

"Thank you, Jess. We'll see you at home later, then," Michael said.  He took Khaat upstairs to her office so she could gather what she needed.  He frowned deeply at the huge suppliers catalog.  It was large and leather bound and very heavy. "Don't you dare try that with your shoulder," he told her, picking up the book.  He shrank it and put it into her bag and helped her pack the bag.  Once the bag was packed with her things, he put the paper sack of clues into it and closed her messenger bag. He slung the bag on his shoulder and then ported her back home.

Brian was passing through from the kitchen, with two tea mugs in his hands--his and Robert's. When he saw Khaat and Michael back, he looked at her.

"I really would have taken care of it," he said gently to her. 

"You had dead bodies and blood and gore on the floor," she told him. "It needed to be seen to."

"And buggared all my evidence?" he asked.

"No," Michael said. "We have it here." He patted her messenger bag.

"Oh. Good. Well, maybe you can solve a mystery for me then."

"Me?" Khaat asked.

"Yeah. You. There's a significant drain on our bank account. Several thousand pounds. Where did it go?"

"I spent some of my money--not yours...." she began.

"No, no, no. There is no more 'your money, my money.' Its all in one account. If you spent it, fine. Just tell me where it went," he told her.

"If you must know," she said, feeling a bit defensive, "I bought several cases of Macallan scotch."

"Cases?" he asked, hesitantly.  Michael looked a bit wide eyed at her purchase. "As it multiple bottles? Do you know how much each bottle costs?"

"Since I bought them, yes. I do know," she said. "Its good scotch."

"Its damned good scotch," Michael said.  "Some of the finest on the planet...With one of the finest price tags on the planet."

"And well worth it.  Every drop is like liquid gold," Khaat said. "Consider it an investment."

""It certainly is an investment," Michael said.

"Um...I think I'll go check on that investment down in the cellar," Brian said, putting the mugs on an end table to go downstairs.  Michael didn't say a word, but if there was that much Macallan, he wanted to see it for himself too.

Jess nodded and continued her shift watching as they left. Jack walked in with Steven and nodded to Michael" I'm grabbing a soda then I'm on my way" he said and took one out of the fridge and popped the top downing it he chuckled.


"All fixed and doubled up, I'm assuming Jess told you what we found?" Steven said washing his hands" they tried but the spells held up" he finished and dried them. Jack finished his soda and picked up his Jacket and slipped it on as he waited for Steven who reappeared with his own jacket on “ okay be back in a few hours” he told them and both ported out.

Khaat watched Brian leave to go downstairs to see exactly how much scotch she had purchased.  She wasn't sure if he would raise the roof over it or not.  Then Steven asked if she'd been updated.

"Yes, Steven," she said. "Thank you."  Michael handed Steven a scrap of paper with a spell word written on it. 

"This will open the door for you," he said. "But it will seal again when you close it.  I suggest you not shut Jack inside if you plan on losing the paper."

He watched them leave, seeing Robert come out from the office.

"I thought I heard you home," Robert said. "Where did Brian go? I thought I just heard him too."

"You did," Michael said. "He went to check on Khaat's new investment in the cellar."

"Investment?" Robert asked.

"She's bought some cases of Macallan scotch, it seems," Michael said.

"Oh, nice," Robert said, impressed.  "Did you get a good price for it? The last I priced it, it was over 150 pounds a bottle."

"I did, actually," she said. "Depending on age, it varied from 75 pounds to 120 pounds a bottle.  Oh, and I have a few of the rare bottles that were a bit more than that."

"Oh, well done.  Did you leave some money in your accounts?"

"Yes," she smiled.  Robert looked at Michael. 

"This definitely calls for some taste testing," he grinned.

"Oh, I heartily agree. We should make sure it is authentic, don't you think?"

"Certainly," Robert said, still grinning, heading for the cellar too. Michael put Khaat's bag on the sofa and then looked at Khaat.

"Behave yourself," he said to her, and then he turned and headed to the cellar as well.  Khaat went to the sofa and pulled the miniature potions supply book out and put it on the coffee table and resized it.  She was glad Michael had resized it for her so that it was manageable for her. 

She drew out a pad of paper and a quick quotes quill.  This wasn't her forte, having to order potions lab supplies for her father.  She understood some of the basics, but since the lab had been so well equipped, she felt like just ordering several of everything.  But she knew that wasn't going to be right either. And it certainly wasn't going to replace the custom designed items.  She sighed, frustrated.