I jumped up, nearly knocking over my coffee cup. This time, it was Perdita who rushed to the rescue and kept the cup from tipping over. I knew I was in bad shape when Perdita was saving me from clumsiness. I got up to Merlin’s office so fast I might have beat someone who teleported if it had been a race. “What is it?” I gasped as I ran into his office.

“The hearing has been set for tomorrow,” he said. “I will need you with me.”

“Of course,” I said, nodding. “What’s the plan?”

“I think it depends on Mr. Ramsay’s plan. I do intend to reveal some rather incriminating information about him as soon as possible. I will have Jake and the research team there to break the amulet spell at the most opportune moment. Other than that, we should be prepared for—how is it you say it?—all hell to break loose.”

“And from what I’ve seen of Idris’s work in the past, that may be literal,” I said with a shudder. “You’ve found enough incriminating evidence, then?”

“I may have to propose a posthumous medal for Mina Morgan. Not only has she revealed Ramsay’s role in that plot, but he was involved in a lot of other mischief within the magical world. For instance, he was blackmailing the Meredith family about their takeover of the Vandermeer firm. Your friend Philip will be interested in that information, I’m sure. There appears to be almost as much fear and blackmail involved in Ramsay’s rise to prominence as there was magic. He is not as beloved and popular as he would like everyone to think.”

“And what about that scheme to make it look like Owen’s the one to kill you? What can we do about that?”

“I would hope that revealing Ramsay’s perfidy will negate that. There is little point in creating another villain when he has already been revealed as one, himself.” His eyes became steely and the air crackled with power. “Then he can face me one-to-one—wizard-to-wizard.”

I had no doubt that Merlin could beat Ramsay in a fair fight, but I also had no doubt that Ramsay would cheat. Either way, I was afraid Owen would be caught in the middle.

*

Early the next day, I went with Merlin to the Council headquarters. The security guard was properly deferential to the distinguished Council member and allowed us into the Council chamber. “Now, we will search the room to ensure that nothing has been hidden,” Merlin said once we were alone in the room. The two of us went over the chamber inch by inch, comparing what we saw. We didn’t find anything out of place, which bothered Merlin. “I know Ivor Ramsay would not assume he could win without cheating,” he said, frowning and scratching his beard. “But how does he plan to cheat?”

“He may bring something in with him. Too bad you don’t have the magical equivalent of metal detectors at the entrances.”

“Unfortunately, it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference between good and bad because it’s the intent that matters, and I doubt we’d ever get this Council to agree to ban all magic from the chamber. How else would they show off? Some of these people don’t know how to function without magic. Rudolph wouldn’t be able to tie his shoes.” He sighed wearily. “I suppose we have done all we can to prepare. We will have to remain on the alert.”

A livid Gloria was the next to arrive, with James in her wake. “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded of Merlin, getting up in his face. “Why won’t they let us see him? They wouldn’t even let us bring him a suit for the hearing.”

“I hadn’t heard anything about that,” Merlin said. “I suppose after he managed to escape from them so easily, they’re worried about security.”

“It wasn’t a nice suit and a visit from his father that allowed him to escape,” she said with a derisive snort.

Merlin promised to look into it, then left to go prepare in the Council offices. Gloria then turned her attention to me. “So, it is true about him, then?”

“Yes, it is.” I’d brought the letter and the key with me, and I handed her the letter.

She and James read it, then she said with a sniff, “I suppose she couldn’t have been all bad if she had a child like that.” Her expression softened ever so slightly. “How did he take it?”

“The last time I saw him, it hadn’t yet had time to really sink in.”

More people began arriving. It was much like the previous hearing, but there were a lot more strangers. I was fairly certain I recognized a number of people from the mob of protesters at the MSI building and a few of the people James and Gloria had scared away from Owen’s house. That left me with no doubt that Ramsay had something in the works. But what?