“Brynn, I’ll get that report in a minute,” Mallory said before turning to Cordelia. “How are you holding up?”
Cordelia nodded. “Not bad.” She rubbed her arms.
“I need to talk to Brynn.” Mallory smoothed her fingers along Cordelia’s nape and got a low purr. She smiled and went to Brynn. “Tell me.”
“I was already out when you called,” she said. “I’d gotten a call someone had spotted a jackal, possibly Larue.”
“Damn it,” Mallory muttered. She had failed to protect Cordelia when she’d assured her she would. “Have you found her?”
“No. The two guards on duty are dead. Both stabbed. Blood leads up the stairs, as you saw, and into the cabin.”
“Did you ask Cordelia if Larue came here?”
“She said she didn’t see her, but I picked up a hint of something. Ice with blood beneath it.”
Mallory nodded and wiped a hand over her mouth. “Check the garbage.”
“You don’t think she killed her and cut her up with her own knife,” Brynn whispered. “She’s maybe one-twenty soaking wet. It takes strength to kill a jackal and then cut it up.”
“I know.” Mallory turned and headed for the kitchen.
The trash was kept under the sink. She removed the can but didn’t find anything inside. The smell of ice and blood was faint, making her wonder what Cordelia had done with the body.
“Did you find anything?” Brynn asked.
“No. Check outside around the house.”
“Already been done,” she said. “Nothing’s back there.”
“Comb the area and tear the place apart. I want the body buried along with that asshole who tried to kill her.”
“Taken care of,” Brynn said quietly.
Mallory nodded and went back to the living room where Cordelia was curled up on the couch. The two men in the room were talking quietly keeping their backs to Cordelia.
“Cordelia, we’re going to go to another cabin for the night,” Mallory said. “This one needs to be cleaned.”
“I’ll get my bag.” She unfolded and headed to the bedroom.
“I want Merry to check her out,” Mallory said. “She looks fine physically, but emotionally, she looks a little whipped.”
“Tonight?” Brynn asked.
“Yeah. Have her meet us at the Willow cabin.”
“I’ll make the call.”
By the time Mallory got her to the cabin, Cordelia seemed to have shut down. She went through the motions of movement, but said nothing. Worried, Mallory was glad when the healer arrived with bag in hand.
Mallory told her what she knew. “Can you give her something to help her sleep?”
“She might not want it, Mallory,” Merry said with a shake of her head.
“She looks like she’s been through hell.”
“Which isn’t unusual, but she presents like something more than killing an attacker is going on,” Merry told her. “I don’t know. Maybe this is the first time she’s had to kill someone.”
“And that could leave her freaked out,” Mallory said. “Talk to her, see if she’ll say anything.”
Mallory was determined to help Cordelia, but she wasn’t sure how.
Chapter Twenty-Two
When Cordelia awoke the next morning, she was glad she had refused the drugs. She needed a clear head for the decisions she had to make.
As she stood outside, the forest her view, the cat in her came to full alert at the barely audible rustle. Cordelia turned her head to find a coyote coming out of the woods to her right. She cocked her head and drew in the scent.
“Brynn.”
The coyote faded back into the woods and the smell of Mallory told her that was the reason. Cordelia remained where she was as Mallory joined her at the railing of the back porch.
“How are you feeling?” Mallory asked.
“Better.”
Mallory nuzzled the back of her neck, and Cordelia turned to smile at her.
“Dogs are always so affectionate,” Cordelia said. “They never hesitate to show their concern. I didn’t know coyotes were the same.”
Mallory pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry about last night.”
“No. It wasn’t your fault. You did your job, but they were determined to get to me.”
“You must have heard or seen something you don’t know you did,” Mallory murmured.
“I could have,” she said. “Can we go inside? I sense three people out there and I only know one.”
Mallory led her inside. “What haven’t you told me?”
Cordelia drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “I always leave before it’s too late, but I can’t leave until I do this.”
“Do what? And what do you mean by too late? What’s going on with you, honey? Let me help.”
“You can’t,” Cordelia said quietly. “But maybe you can help Jenner.”
“Jenner? What’s he got to do with this?” she demanded carefully.
“I saw—no. Let me show you.”
Cordelia headed to the bedroom and removed her bag from the chair after unlocking the spell she’d used to keep Mallory from getting to it in case she slipped in after Cordelia fell asleep last night.
“What was that I felt?” Mallory asked suspiciously.
“Energy releasing,” Cordelia told her. “I’m a witch, but that’s not important.”
“It could be,” Mallory exclaimed.
“Mallory, baby. Try to focus,” Cordelia urged as she opened her bag. “The guy tried to set you up for killing Carleigh and some other girl.”
“What! What guy?” She demanded on a growl.
“I don’t know,” Cordelia muttered pulling a plastic bag free. She held it up. “He had your tie, a tie pin, cuff links, and a sock. He strangled that girl with it.”
“Hold on. What girl?”
“At the cannery. He left your tie pin in Carleigh’s hand.”
“Oh, my freaking—what were you doing at the cannery?”
“I’m leaving,” Cordelia told her. “I went down to the docks to meet someone who was just passing through.”
“A forger for new papers,” Mallory guessed. “That’s why you passed your background check.”
“It’s the only way I can survive.” Cordelia shrugged. “I was walking back past the cannery, and I heard the attack. She was fighting. She bled him.”
“Good. I hope he’s still hurting,” Mallory muttered. “Bastard.”
“I know.” Tears filled her eyes. “He messed her up bad.” She wiped away a tear that fell.
“God.” Mallory pulled her in for another hug. “That’s why you were so messed up last night.”
“Carleigh was there looking for something. I don’t know what, but she said she stumbled upon him.”
“Killing someone?”
“I think so, because I found a girl dead.” She told Mallory everything Carleigh had told her. “She was conflicted. She trusted Kamari, but not you.”
“Because her brother didn’t,” Mallory said. “Jen deserves to know this.”
“I can’t tell him,” Cordelia snapped. “I can’t get involved that way, but I can’t leave until I talk to Kamari.”
“You’re not leaving,” Mallory growled. “You’re staying here.”
“You can’t make me.” She shoved Mallory away.
“Because you’ll use whatever power you have on me?” Mallory asked silkily.
Cordelia glared at her. “I’m leaving now.”
Mallory tried to get to her, and Cordelia lifted her hand to raise a wall of energy between them.
“Cordelia.”
“No. Mallory.”
Mallory turned, and Cordelia threw a ball of black energy at her.
“Contain.”
Mallory stumbled into the wall and gasped. “Cordelia. Stop this.”
Cordelia ignored her and grabbed her other bag. “I’ll leave this stuff for you. I’m taking your car. You can get it in Stonington.”
Cordelia snorted. “Cats scratch, Mallory. Don’t forget that.” She dashed from the room and into the living room. Cordelia stopped in front of the door.
“Cordelia!”
“The shield will fade in twenty minutes. I need that long to get underway,” she said. “Invisible like air, scent like sky.” She said the words softly then waved her hand as the front door opened. She walked out and down the steps into the woods.
****
“She didn’t take your car,” Delaney told her calmly thirty minutes later. “In fact, it doesn’t look like any of the cars are missing. She might have taken one of the trucks instead.”
“Find out,” Mallory muttered. Her animal was frantic knowing that someone had tried to kill Cordelia last night. On top of that, someone could be after her, thanks to Cordelia having been down at the cannery last night.
There was no telling what was going on, but Cordelia, her little cat, had painted an even bigger target on her back.
“What did she tell you? Why run?” Brynn asked as they stood in the parking garage.
“I need to get to the club,” Mallory said. “Delaney, find her ass and call me when you’ve located her. Don’t approach.”
“I’ll get a small team and get right on it.”
“Why are you doing this?” Brynn asked. “Let her go unless she’s working against us.”
“Hell, I don’t know if she is or not,” Mallory snarled. “But I want her ass back here.”
The drive into the town took twenty minutes. Mallory didn’t go to the club though. She headed for Sam’s office.
Sam was an accountant and investment banker which was why Mallory had made her a partner in the club.
Sam let her into the foyer of the house she used as an office and apartment. “Morning,” Sam said. “What are you doing here? Is there a problem?”
“There could be,” Mallory muttered.
“Let’s have some coffee,” she said and led her into the kitchen where Adalyn was seated at the breakfast bar with a cup before her.
“Good morning, Adalyn,” Mallory said.
“Hey.”
Sam poured her a mug of the steaming brew. “Why’d you leave so suddenly last night?”
“There was an attack on Cordi in the den,” she said with a shake of her head. “I told her I’d protect her, but I failed her.”
“I’m sure she knows you did your best,” Adalyn said gently. “Is she okay?”
“She took off this morning,” Mallory told them.
“Where did she go?” Adalyn asked. “I mean, you have time to talk to her, right, convince her to stay?”
Mallory flattened her lips. “She vanished. She said she was a witch and she used magick on me.”
“Sort of like Adalyn,” Sam said throwing her mate a look.
“I’m not a witch per se, honey,” Adalyn said with an amused smile. “So, track her.”
“I can’t pick up her scent. There is literally nothing in her wake.”
“Then she’s not human,” Adalyn said. “She’s some kind of coyote mate.”
“She’s a freaking cat shifter,” Mallory muttered.
“Doesn’t mean she’s not some kind of special mate breed,” Adalyn said. “Most of them are scentless because we aren’t as strong as dominants.”
“I don’t know, but I know she has answers we might well need,” Mallory said. “She said someone was trying to set me up still and with Jerry dead it can only be his partner or partners.”
“In the land deal,” Sam said.
“Why was she attacked?” Adalyn asked with a frown.
“She knows something about that night,” Mallory answered. “I’m not sure if she told me everything she knew or if she’s holding back.”
“Her being gone could be the safest thing for her,” Adalyn replied. “Especially since you guys have no idea who’s behind this.”
Mallory growled at her and Sam growled at Mallory.
“Don’t get rowdy in my house, woman,” Sam warned. “It’s not her fault you didn’t stake your claim before Cordelia got away from you.”
Mallory yipped at her, and Sam rolled her eyes.
“Come on guys,” Adalyn said. “I didn’t know she was your mate.”
“She’s not.”
“If she’s not, then Adalyn’s right. Her being gone could be for the best,” Sam said.
“Not good, Sam. Jenner is going to try to pin Carleigh’s death on us, and—”
“Whoa, what?” Sam jumped in.
“Carleigh’s the reporter, right?” Adalyn asked.
“Yes, and she was killed last night by the person who’s trying to set me up. Cordi told me she was there—she was with Carleigh when she died. Carleigh gave her messages for Jenner and Kamari.”
“Did she say what they were?” Sam demanded.
“No, and she said she didn’t want to get involved.”
“Maybe she’s running from cops,” Adalyn said. “When I was hiding, I avoided them like the plague when I could.”
Mallory took a sip of her coffee. She could have seen her parents die. Cordi had been more torn up over the bloody things that had happened than Mallory thought she should have been.
“What’s her background say?” Sam asked.
“It won’t matter because she has forged papers,” Mallory said and told her what Cordelia had told her about the forger being down at the cannery last night.
“We might never find out who she really is,” Sam said.
“Delaney is still looking,” Mallory muttered. “What are we going to do about Jen?”
Sam shook her head. “Get bail money?”
“Sam, Mal,” one of the women Sam kept on guard came rushing into the room. “Jen’s outside, and he isn’t alone.”
“I’ll call the lawyer,” Sam said. “If we’re taken away, take Adalyn to the den and tell Syd to keep an eye on her.”
“Done.”
“One of my people was a mole for Bradley, so he has to be behind this,” Mallory said. “He’s not just covering Jerry’s tracks.”
“Absent of proof….” Sam said trailing off with a shrug.
A rap on the door drew the guard from the room.
Chapter Twenty-Three
All of his packages had been sent, and Mallory should be getting arrested right about now. Summerfield wouldn’t have anyone to back her up. When the Coalition moved against her, she’d lose, and the land would be his.
Things had happened a little more quickly than he’d planned, but so be it. They’d be able to run their play on Summerfield sooner rather than later. By summer, they’d be ready to break ground on the project.
He picked up his ringing phone with a grin. “Yes?”
“How is everything going?” the voice on the other end of the line asked.
“On schedule.”
“I’ll be in town in a few days. I’d like to meet.”
“Not a good idea. I’ll meet you in Stonington,” Bradley replied. “I have to be up there for a business meeting tomorrow.”
“Fine. Just make sure you don’t do any hunting. And bring the plans. I want to see them.”
“I sent you the copy,” Bradley muttered.
“Yes, but you might have made some minor changes since then, and I’d like to add to them at any rate,” his partner said.
“Fine but keep it brief.”
“I can do as I please with my money,” he growled. “And I hear you’ve recruited another investor.”
“Not me, Isaiah,” Bradley told him. “It’s been in the works from the start. They get a small percentage of his shares as well as a few perks.” Perks Bradley wasn’t comfortable with.
“We’ll discuss that as well. Bring those plans, and no excuses.” The line went dead in his ear, and he growled.
That damned wolf was really
starting to annoy him.
His phone rang again, and he connected.
“Yes?”
“It’s me,” the coyote said. “The girl’s in the wind, and we lost two last night.”
“McDaniels failed to do her job?”
“She’s dead or missing. I put my money on dead,” he said. “What do you want me to do?”
“Just keep your head down. Mallory can’t know you’re involved. I need you in place until this is over.”
“I’m almost done with that other matter. I’ll send you the results soon. Bye for now.”
****
The day had been a long one and with the airport closed over the high winds ahead of the coming blizzard, there was no way she was getting out of this state any time soon. She could drive, but renting a car was just a pain, even using magick.
Cordelia preferred to use public transportation and nothing was leaving town. She sighed as she stared out of the hotel room window. It was getting darker as the storm moved in. Snow was already starting to fall.
She could probably ride the storm out here, but Cordelia needed food.
Cordelia pulled on her coat and grabbed her bag to remove her wallet. She put her bag back on the chair and used a spell to hide it before heading out.
Cordelia locked the door and was only half way through the parking lot when her cat picked up a familiar scent. She hadn’t used her new glamour yet, so it would have been easy for Mallory’s people to track her by name and looks.
Cordelia just hadn’t expected the hotel to be so indiscreet. She should have put a spell on that jackass behind the counter. She turned and hurried for the room. She’d grab her stuff and get out of here.
‘Course she might end up waiting in the airport, but that would be okay. Magick would keep her safe.
The cat picked up someone coming close to her, and Cordelia turned her head to find Delaney racing toward her. Cordelia closed her eyes only briefly and opened them again and the falling snow thickened and swirled around her before forming into a snowball.
Cordelia sent it sailing at Delaney who dove to avoid it and slipped on the icy cement.
“Snow.” Cordelia buried her beneath a fall of snow before turning the ground even slicker.
She used that slippery surface to skate back to her room. Once there, she was inside quickly and came to stop at the sight of the bouncer standing at the window.
Catching a Coyote Page 13
