by R. J. Ladon
Megan nodded. “You could write it down on a notepad.”
Bonnie pursed her lips. “I’m not sure that would work.”
Megan pushed up the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “If it were me, I’d write it on my arm.”
“First of all, I don’t wear clothes like that. Second, I could take a picture.” Bonnie shook her phone.
“What’s wrong with what I wear?” Megan stood and straightened her shirt.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. “Really? You’re never going to attract a guy with that unflattering shirt. You’re swimming in it.”
Megan nodded. “I know.” Her father would never let her date, no sense in dressing for disappointment.
“You’ve always been shy about your body. It’s alright. You don’t have to wear something that would make you uncomfortable.”
Megan regularly wore loose-fitting clothing. Wearing tight clothes and showing off her shape would draw too much attention. Her job was to keep her head down and keep a low profile, at least until she graduated and moved out from under her father. “Okay, we have a plan to find Annie’s target. We can start that tomorrow. You know, I did come over for a reason. We really should start the assignment.” She picked up the handout sitting on Bonnie’s bed.
Bonnie frowned. “Fine, where do you want to start?”
After deciding who would work on which sections of the project, they wrote an outline. The process took much longer than Megan anticipated.
“What time is it?”
Bonnie turned her phone over. “Almost seven.”
“Crap, I’ve got to go. I told my dad I’d be home by seven.” Megan grabbed her portion of the English assignment and put it in her book bag. “We’ll work more on it tomorrow.”
“Thursday or Friday, remember?” Bonnie corrected.
Megan remembered the lesson with Mr. Smith. “That’s right.” She tossed the bag over her shoulder and headed downstairs. She entered the foyer and left through the front door. Megan was surprised that neither Bonnie nor her mother walked Megan to the door. Was that rude or just ignorant? Do they really believe they’re safe?
Her eyes darted down the street. Parked under a streetlamp was a dilapidated, tan, four-door Honda Civic. There was something familiar about it. Maybe she saw it in passing yesterday. She frowned, trying to remember.
Megan climbed into her car and drove past the sedan, taking mental notes. Single male occupant, late fifties, reading a newspaper and eating an apple. The vehicle had a logo on the door, hinting at something official, but she couldn’t read it.
The man didn’t seem to notice or care that she drove by. Still, Megan felt the flush of adrenaline as panic and paranoia took her mind. Was he a tail or lookout? She backtracked, taking side roads to her house. Did she have reason to be afraid, or was she thinking like her father?
Megan entered her house through the kitchen. Most of the rooms were dark. She heard movement in the back by the den. Artem walked out, holding a novel. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I saw a strange car on the street and…” she fidgeted. “I got scared.”
He closed the book with a snap. “Tell me.”
Megan described the car, the star-like logo, and the man inside.
“Where was this?”
“Four hundred block of Maple Street.” Megan swallowed; she couldn’t lie; he would know. “I was at Bonnie's.”
“Bonnie? Who’s that?”
“A girl from school, we were working on our English assignment.”
“A friend?” Artem scowled. “No friends. They lead you to temptation and trouble.”
“It’s only for homework.” Megan looked at her feet. She understood the problem of friends. Friends ask questions. She might say too much.
“Dorogoy.” Artem hugged her tight. “I’m trying to protect you.”
Megan nodded; her head rubbed against his chest.
“You can finish this homework, but in a public place, like the library or restaurant.” He pushed her back and lifted her chin to look in her eyes. “Yes? Promise?”
“I promise.”
Chapter 11
K evin slipped through the back door, into the kitchen, quiet as a mouse. Snoring came from the living room. Before Kevin left the house, Grandma was asleep upstairs. He figured the bed would be more comfortable than the recliner. Clearly, he was wrong.
Flashes of color and light emanated from the muted television. Grandma Ruby curled her unhurt arm around Rapscallion, hugging the big white tomcat close to her stomach. The bright pink cast glowed under the television’s radiance. Kevin pulled a throw off the back of the couch and laid it across them. Grandma smacked her lips and tugged the blanket closer to her chin.
He climbed the stairs to his room. Through the open curtain, he could see the dark window of the triplets’ bedroom. He hated to admit it, but he did miss all three of them. Maybe even Mom and Dad. He tugged the curtains closed and sat on his bed. Kevin looked in the boxes Grandma gave him the night before. Was it only one night? It seemed like a week had passed.
He opened the Book of Shadows and started to rifle through the pages, trying to find a protection spell. There were more spells for protection than he imagined: protection from bad luck, protection from enemies, protection from family and friends. “I wonder what kind of protection Grandma needs. She broke her arm, but that was an accident, not someone out to get her.”
Kevin read some of the spells; they seemed simple enough, short rhymes with the intent of the incantation described within. “It’s an affirmation. We studied something like this in Psychology class. If that’s what a spell is, then Grandma needs to cast it. Not me.”
He continued to dig through the books. He picked up the gemstone book, opened it, and remembered the strange box hidden near the binding. Sure enough, it was there, not a figment of his imagination. He opened the book completely, laying it flat on his bed. He pried the box free from the pages. The craftsmanship of the box was beautiful, the seams barely visible.
The stone inside was greenish. It had red lines running through it, like veins, nourishing it. Kevin held it up to the light and noticed a scratch on the surface. No, more than one scratch, a series of lines and wedges along the outside of the round stone. He rubbed his finger along the marks; they were barely there. The design seemed to start on the outside and swirl inward, wrapping around, getting smaller. The stone under his fingers felt smooth like slippery plastic.
He tossed the rock, feeling the weight of it. In the Gemstone book, he found a stone that looked close to what he had in his hand. Bloodstone. “That sounds ominous.”
On a whim, he flipped open the Witches Grimoire and found runes and other unnamed writing forms. The scratches looked similar, but they weren’t right. He sighed, disappointed that he couldn’t find a way to translate the words. At the same time, he was proud that he did discover it was writing of some kind.
Kevin looked at the red light of his clock, grabbed his boxers, and headed into the bathroom for a shower.
“Kevin, Kevin!”
He woke with a start. Did he miss his alarm? Kevin blinked and sat up.
“Kevin,” Grandma Ruby called again.
“Coming, coming.” Kevin tossed aside his blankets and trotted downstairs. “What’s wrong?”
“My arm, it hurts. I need my painkillers.” Grandma’s eyes were swollen and red. She held the bottle of medicine in her hand, struggling to open the top.
“Why didn’t you call me sooner? You look like shit.”
“You need to sleep too. You have school in just an hour or so.” Grandma looked sheepish.
“You’re important too, Ruby. You have needs. I’m here to help you.” Kevin took the bottle from her and opened it. He pressed a pill into her hand and grabbed the cup of water on the nearby table.
Her tears lessened. Grandma tossed the pill into her mouth, chasing it with the water. “Thank you, Kevin, for more than just the medicine.” She s
queezed his hand with her good one.
“Sit back and relax until your medication starts working. I’ll make breakfast.” Kevin smiled but was uncertain of what to make. Mom always cooked every meal at home.
He checked the refrigerator and saw eggs and bacon. Perfect. It took a little digging until Kevin found the pots and pans. He turned on the stove and cooked the bacon first. Once done, Kevin scrambled six eggs in the bacon grease. He placed two plates on the counter, four strips of bacon, and half the eggs for each. He added a fork, then delivered them to the living room.
The morning news show was on television. The camera zoomed in on Beth Gibbons, the anchor for the station. “Breaking this morning, a dozen teens were arrested last night behind Hair of the Dog, a popular bar in downtown Avalon. Their crimes range from misdemeanor vandalism to grand theft. Avalon, a city once known for its quiet streets and retirement homes, has recently become a haven of adolescent criminals. The mayor and county sheriff will be holding a meeting at town hall tonight. Channel KVEW has exclusive access and will broadcast at ten.”
“Stupid teenagers. Back in my day…we didn’t get caught.” Grandma Ruby grinned mischievously. She accepted the plate, setting it on her lap, and dug in. “Oh, my, you’re a good cook.”
“Probably because I used the bacon grease to fry the eggs.” Kevin grinned between bites.
“Indeed. That would do it.”
Kevin noticed the slightly glazed look in her eye. “Medicine must have kicked in?”
“I think so; I feel better at any rate. Thank you.”
“Why do I feel like the parent today?” Kevin mumbled. “Ruby, please don’t do any gardening while I’m at school. The doctors don’t want you going up and down stairs while you’re using your pain pills.”
“I know.”
“Promise me.”
“Okay, Kevin, I promise, I won’t go into the basement today.” Grandma Ruby blinked at him. “Will you water for me?”
“I’ll take care of it tonight.” Another program started on the television. Kevin realized it was the top of the hour. “Dang it, I’m late.” He grabbed the empty plates and left them in the sink. He ran to his bedroom, where he collected his book bag and the rock with the curious writing.
He ran down the stairs and said, “I’ll see you this afternoon, Ruby.”
Annie was on the sidewalk, arms crossed, and pacing. “It’s about time!”
“I know, I’m sorry.” Kevin stepped beside Annie. “Ruby couldn’t get to her medicine.”
“Ruby? She had better be your grandmother.” Annie glared at him as she continued stomping.
“Yes, she wants me to call her Ruby.”
“You sure spend a lot of time with her.”
“That’s my job; my responsibility. I live with her.” Kevin stopped and grabbed Annie’s arm spinning her around. “Why are you behaving this way? You knew about this arrangement.”
“Why are you taking her side?” Annie rubbed the crystal on her necklace.
“You know she can’t afford a caregiver.” Kevin frowned. Why was Annie behaving like a jerk?
Annie pulled away from Kevin, then continued walking toward the school. “I know, it’s just…”
“What?”
“If she weren’t around, you could spend more time with me.” Annie blinked and looked up at Kevin, leaning into his side.
“Yes, I could.” Kevin smiled at the thought of spending hours with Annie after school. Her beautiful smile, her sexy body, and the way she always smelled like strawberries. “I would love to. But I can’t.” He looked down at her pouting face. “Why are you so upset this morning? I thought you liked my grandmother?”
Annie pulled away from Kevin; she looked at her hands. “I don’t know. I guess I’m jealous.”
“Jealous? What have you got to be jealous about? She’s my grandmother.” Kevin touched Annie’s nose. “You’re my girlfriend.” A sudden thought occurred to him. “Think of this arrangement with my grandmother as practice. I’m practicing how to be a husband. I made her breakfast this morning, bacon and eggs.” He grinned.
Annie snorted a laugh, then looked away from him.
They walked hand in hand, approaching the front door of the school.
“Um, Kevin, I won’t be sitting with you at lunch today. I have an ap…meeting. I have a meeting. I can’t miss it, or Mom will be pissed. I’ll be back after lunch, and we can walk home. Together.” Annie squeezed his hand.
“What kind of meeting?”
“Don’t you trust me? It’s just a meeting.” Annie dropped his hand and stomped into the school.
Chapter 12
M egan drove to Bonnie’s house in the morning. The tan Honda Civic was gone. Maybe she’d imagined it. She chuckled at the thought, even though the fear felt real only hours ago.
She tromped up to the stoop and rang the doorbell.
Bonnie stepped out. “Were you planning on giving me a ride again today?”
“Yes.” They walked to the car and got in. “My father found out I was at your place, and he got mad.” She started the car and drove off.
“Did you tell him we were doing homework?”
“Of course. He thinks we’d be better off in the library.”
“How the hell did he find out?”
Megan shrugged. She pulled into the school parking lot.
“Well, he isn’t wrong. The library could help us with homework and give us some privacy.” Bonnie raised her finger. “And we could use their computers. Do you know how hard it is to get on the internet at home?” She pulled her phone from her jacket pocket. “I know I could use my phone for research.” She slipped it back, smiling devilishly at Megan. “But not for hacking.”
Megan shot a glance at the cars parked near them, feeling paranoid. “Hacking?” The words came out in a whisper.
“I’m only going to get one shot at getting Annie’s schedule. If I fail, I’ll have to try something else.”
Megan turned off the car and placed her hands on the steering wheel. “We could work on our English assignment too.”
“What, are you crazy? Hacking is way more fun.” Bonnie opened the car door and headed into the school.
Megan shook her head, smiling. She trotted after Bonnie. “Hey, wait up.”
Megan sat at a corner lunch table, back to the wall, watching both doors. She was waiting for Bonnie to make an appearance. She bit into her daily protein bar; it had all the nutrition she needed for lunch. Her lip curled. “Tell that to my stomach,” she complained.
She pulled a worksheet from her backpack and continued her math assignment. She wrote an answer and tapped the pencil's eraser end on the tabletop, three fast taps, followed by three slow taps, repeating. Maybe someone would answer her call for help, but she doubted any student in this school knew Morse code. She set her pencil down.
Bonnie plopped beside her with her lunch tray in hand. The meal made fast food look healthy.
“Are you really going to eat that?” Megan pointed to the sandwich with an unknown breaded patty in the middle.
Bonnie bit into the sandwich, chewing with her mouth open, exaggerating the disgusting sandwich.
Megan picked up her book bag and pretended to throw up into it.
“That never gets old.” Bonnie dropped her head onto Megan’s shoulder. She continued munching on the sandwich.
“If you’re going to eat that, please, over there. It smells awful.”
“Plug your nose. I have to tell you a secret.” Bonnie twisted her head to look at Megan. “I did it.” She breathed heavily on Megan.
“You what?” Megan shouted, then pushed Bonnie away.
“I succeeded!” Bonnie shouted, jumping out of the seat and spiking her half-eaten sandwich on the table. White bread fell away, and the meat substance hit the table like a hockey puck.
The cafeteria fell silent, and all eyes were on Megan and Bonnie. The girls laughed, leaning on each other, pointing at the sandwich, gasping for air.
Talking resumed, and the buzz of the lunchroom went back to normal. They cleaned the mess and left the cafeteria.
The girls ran to Megan’s car and climbed in.
“What happened?” Megan asked.
“Not much to tell. I brought Annie’s schedule onto the monitor and took a picture of it.” Bonnie shrugged, wrinkling her nose. “I was a bit disappointed at how easy it was.” She showed Megan the image of the schedule.
Megan scanned the information at the top of the page. “We could still go to the library. Look at the header.” She waited for Bonnie to examine the schedule. “I wonder why her last name is different from her parents.”
“Adopted?”
“Not unless her parents gave her up or died recently.” Megan racked her brain for Annie’s parents’ names, but they didn’t come. “Do you remember her parent’s names?”
“Yea, it’s…” Bonnie leaned forward and put her head in her hands. “When Annie stole Chris, I went to her house. I talked to her mom.” She shook her head as if trying to will the names to come to the surface of her brain. “Why can’t I remember?” She turned to stare at Megan. “Let’s go to the library tonight.”
“Shit. I can’t. It’s Wednesday.”
Bonnie frowned then nodded. “I suppose you can’t get out of it?”
“No, I made a promise.” Megan folded her arms. She had a sudden urge to defy her father and do what she wanted. Like you’d disobey your father.
“Tomorrow night. It can wait until then.” Bonnie said, interrupting Megan’s thoughts.
Megan drove into Nikolai’s parking lot. She parked on the side of the building, then stepped to the trunk, where she pulled out a blonde wig, fit it, and walked in the building.
Nikolai sat at the front counter.
“Good afternoon. I’m surprised to see so many cars.”
