I called home to inform my mentor on my discoveries. He would contact the Council and see about Warden Morgan unwarranted death threats.

"... also Paula called looking for you. She said it was extremely important. Bye."

I dialed the number for St. Claire residence. It rung several times before a polite yet bored voice answered. "You have called to Lady St. Claire's mansion. Do you have an appointment?"

-"No sir, I was looking for Paula and she asked for me to contact her about an important issue."

-"A likely excuse. Give me you name and we will see when the Lady Rachel -" Emphasys on Lady Rachel, not Paula. " - has any spare minutes in her agenda."

It galled me the snobbery tone, but whatcha gonna do? "Name's Dresden, Har-"

The phone fell on the other line. "Oh forgive me Master Dresden! I didn't recognize your voice. I will personally get Lady Paula on the line."

Huh?

A warm voice took the line.

-"Harry dear, glad to hear you. I have big news and I wanted you to be the first to know."

If a puppy's concept was mixed with a honey pot, you get Paula. Sweet woman. "How are you recovering? Should be leaving the wheelchair in a week by my mentor's account."

-"Doing fine, that's in part why I wanted to give you the news personally. We have set the date with my pet. You and Listens to Wind are invited to our wedding in the next month."

This time it was me who dropped the tube. "Sorry, woow! That's fantastic!" A vampire tying the knot with a living being? And my treacherous mind punched me in the gut. She is no longer attuned to life. My eyes moistened.

-"Are you okay Harry?"

-"I suppose a wedding gift is in order. Will try to find something suitable for Lady Rachel."

-"Oh he didn't. Will need to talk with Claude." I couldn't stop giggling like a fat kid with a bow of jello. "Oh quiet you! My pet wants to talk with you too. See you soon!"

Now if Paula was a puppy with honey on top, Bianca was a rabid dog with a velvet collar. Approached her with the same caution and no sudden moves. "Lady St. Claire, congratulations on your coming nuptials."

An approval noise reached the speaker.

-"Mr Dresden, why thank you. While my better half is filled with glee at the prospect of receiving your gift, don't think I have forgotten my debt to you."

-"No need to worry about it. Being able to witness your reunion was enough, more than enough."

-"Dolt, stop making this harder."

-"Huh?"

-"Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, I command you to hold the phone and stop breathing."

I froze. I couldn't.

Panic settled in and grabbed my stitched throat. Butters saw me and started doing a heimlich maneuver on me.

Her voice filled my despair addled mind.

"Harry Blackstone Cooperfield Dresen, you may breath again."

AIIIIIIR. SWEET LOVELY AAAIR.

"It's okay….it's ookay bud." He looked weary and I pointed to the phone, he plasted his ear to the tube. The phone was sandwiched between us.

"Why you! I help you and you try to kill me?! Are you crazy?"

An amused laugh filled me with dread.
-"Go ahead, wizardling. You know my full Name spoken by my own lips. Make me stop."

-"Are you nuts? Did you drink ketchup instead of the good O Negative? It's wrong to control people."

-"And you continue to make this harder than it needs to be. I Banca Agustine Rivendell St. Claire just gave you a life lesson. My debt is thus repaid. Formal robes code, no tacky suits."

After hanging the phone, my associate took out a notepad. "Juicy gossip?"

I was embarrassed. Angry at myself. My stupidity and naivety. "My Mean Gramps said to never give your full name spoken by your own lips. What do I do? This is a friendly vampire, have faith. And she almost killed me to drive home the point."

Waldo, ever the methodical, wrote with a tiny scrawly doc's script. "Harsh. Did it work?" And he had the gall to smile.