by Livia Quinn
I called Aladdin’s Rub first. Her boss said she’d be returning around two. I looked at my watch. Thirty minutes. I might as well get something to eat while I waited. I dug a pack of stale peanut butter crackers and a too-ripe banana out of my lunchbox from Thursday and parked behind a big live oak at the edge of the lot. I didn’t want to miss Paige, or give her boss a chance to warn her.
Twenty minutes later she drove into the parking lot in one of those square shaped cars. Ugly but extremely practical I guessed for carrying mops, rugs, vacuum cleaners and whatever other cleaning supplies she needed.
She was bending over the back seat when I approached. “Paige?”
She whirled around, a startled look on her face. “Sheeit, Tempe, you scared me to death. What do you mean sneaking up on a person like that?”
I hadn’t been sneaking. “Sorry, Paige, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.”
She smoothed her hair back with nervous energy. “Oh? About what?”
She seemed a little wary of me. We hadn’t really gotten along when she was dating River in college, but River had never said why he broke it off with her.
“About my brother,” I said, monitoring her reaction.
“River? What about him?”
Was it my imagination, or did she stiffen at the mention of his name? “Have you seen him lately?” Damn, I’d meant to ask that a different way so I could judge whether she was lying or not.
“No, why?” Zeus’ primed fist! It was like pulling teeth getting answers from her. Was this why River broke up with her? Was she the jealous type, or just suspicious by nature?
“I haven’t heard from him since Sunday—”
She snorted and shook her head. “Tempe, River’s a big ole boy, and you are not his mother. That’s part of the reason we broke up.”
Really.
“I got tired of being constantly compared to you.”
I was the one startled now. Both by the venom in her comment, and that she was jealous of me. Granted, I was more of a motherly sister—I’d had to be, but I’d never tried to tell River what to do in his relationships.
“Gee, Paige, why don’t you tell me what you really think of me? Better yet, just answer the question, and I’ll leave. When was the last time you saw River?”
She glared at me, arms crossed, foot tapping. “I haven’t seen him since we broke up two years ago.” Then she tempered her response, almost as an after thought, “I hope you find him, but stay away from my jobs.” She slammed the back door and grabbed her purse.
“Right. And Paige?” As she turned toward me, I said, “They give anger management classes at the outpatient clinic.”
The gesture she made was not one of agreement.
The gesture I made created a perfectly square thundershower directly over her head, complete with thunder. As rain saturated her hair and clothes, she just stood there glaring at me. Her hate nearly pierced the wall of rain I’d constructed.
“Just sayin…” I closed my hand leaving her once again standing in sunshine. The training thing was working. I fist pumped, Yes.
I turned and squeaked to a stop when Jack stepped out of his cruiser and strode over to me.
* * *
Tempe
“Did you see that?” Jack asked as Paige pulled a jacket from the car, and scurried off toward the building.
“What? So you had the same idea.” While he scratched his head and tried to make sense of what he’d seen, I created a distraction. “She says she hasn’t seen River in two years.”
“You don’t believe her.”
“I’m not sure if it’s because I dislike her so much or what, but no, I don’t.”
“She’s not blonde…” Jack reminded me.
“And we both know how easily that’s remedied.”
“True.”
“How’s Jordie?” I asked. Jack looked tired, as if he’d slept little in addition to the stress of the murder investigation.
“She’s better, except she’s got this strange rash on her back and thighs. Her fever is going down, and hopefully she’ll be ready to go back to school by morning.”
“I’m so glad.” My hand went for his forearm and I felt the steady thrum of energy beneath my hand.
“The funny thing is that big dog Aurora brought has slept right next to her all night, and though he hasn’t threatened any of us, I get the feeling he’d be a forbidding protective presence. I felt better having him in the house.”
I’d asked Aurora about Beffie. Somehow she’d managed to change the subject. She knew that I knew Beffie was no ordinary dog, and there was a reason she’d placed it in Jack’s home. Obviously, she wasn’t ready to explain, and when Aurora slammed the lid down on a subject, it was both a mark of how important it was and how strong an immovable object she could be.
* * *
Jack
It must have been the mention of the vision Tempe had when I kissed her that made me run back over some of the things that had happened since the day I met her; the weirdness surrounding the scene at the clubhouse. Her actions, which had made her seem guilty; the half truths, omissions, absurd explanations and the outright lies she’d told me.
And still here I was, on her side, believing her, practically attaching myself to her like a lapdog. I didn’t like the image, but ever since that dog had crawled up onto the bed and curled up next to Jordie, I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind that I needed to stick close to Tempe. That something was going to bust loose, and I was not going to be the same.
Personally? Professionally? I didn’t know, but I didn’t seem to have any choice in the matter. That’s not true. We always have choices. So…mine was to watch Tempe’s six.
She was impulsive, loyal, hotheaded, and fierce. There was no telling what might happen when we found River. I’d been reluctant to be completely honest with her, like I usually am in similar situations because...
Damn. I scrubbed my face, trying to wipe away the fatigue and worry. On the heels of the nerve-wracking fear of losing Jordie last night, now I was experiencing a more insistent kind of worry for Tempe. About how she would cope if we didn’t succeed in finding River alive. How it would affect our relationship.
And there it was again. I wanted a relationship with Tempest Pomeroy. I cared about her, even with all the craziness, her little “talents”, and the outrageous fib she told about being able to smell River’s bottle in another room when the overwhelming stink of the body made that impossible.
I remembered her devastation when I’d found her at Phoebe’s, felt the ache right now when I remembered her breaking down in my arms. Last week when I’d first met her, I’d thought she was a nut case; and now, when I knew her, and still wasn’t convinced she wasn’t at least a little crazy, I could no longer walk away.
“I’m screwed.”
My phone vibrated, and I saw Jordie’s name on the screen. “Hey, sweetie. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Just wanted to remind you to stop for some dog food for Beffie.” She sounded tired, but much improved. The dog hadn’t left her side, and he never seemed to drink or eat. Jordie was certainly enamored with him. Whatever helped her feel better was okay by me.
“He seems like a well trained dog. I wonder why his owner didn’t want him.”
“He says it’s because he’s here to take care of us,” Jordie said.
I laughed, “He told you that did he?”
She paused. “I guess I dreamed it. But he seems like he’s been with us forever doesn’t he?”
“If you say so, sweetheart. I’ll run by Dollar Town and be home as soon as I put out more flyers.”
Tempe
Jack called Monday to tell me that several members of the civilian watch volunteered to take some flyers over to Hugo and Amity.
“You think he could be in Hugo?” I asked. Hugo was on the northern side of Storm Lake, about sixteen miles from Destiny, and on the other side of Alliance where Phoebe lived.
�
��We don’t know where he is, Tempe. What if he hit his head and has amnesia and wound up somewhere where no one knows him? Or, he might have been kidnapped and no longer in Destiny. We’re covering all the bases. We already put the report on NCIC.”
“Wow, when you get on board, you go all out.”
He breathed heavily into the phone, I thought a sound of frustration. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, Jack. Do I wish you’d believed me that first day in the clubhouse? Absolutely, but to be honest, you about had me convinced I was guilty. I don’t know how I could have expected you to see what was going on when I didn’t know myself.”
I’m still not sure, and I’m still holding back. And how is he going to react when he finds out we’re rescuing a genie? Or that the dead victim, wasn’t a victim, wasn’t dead, and most all, wasn’t human? Whew! I didn’t want to think about it, because the truth about my family and Destiny’s other world was not going to register in the safe zone on Jack’s “normal” meter.
“Look—shoulda, woulda, and coulda won’t do any good at this point. Let’s deal with what is and find River,” he said.
He was right about looking back… what if I’d called River’s cell phone as soon as I’d noticed his amphora missing? Should I have risked getting in trouble at work and gone looking for him? Absolutely. Would it have made a difference? I didn’t know.
“I think most of this had played out by the time you got to work Monday morning,” Jack said as if reading my mind.
“I know. I just—” wish, I’d started to say. Wishes is what usually brought the Djinn in my family trouble.
“How’s Jordie today?” I asked as I drove out of the mail center parking lot.
“Except for the fact that she wanted to stay home with her new pal… perfect. Like she was never sick. I just dropped her off at work.” There was silence on the other end for a moment. Before it could get more awkward, I said, “Okay, well—”
“Wait. I’m about to take a coffee break. Can I buy you one?”
It sounded like he had more on his mind than just coffee.
“The UPak-It, in ten,” he said. “Gotta catch this, see you there.”
I hadn’t heard any beeps or radio calls on his end, but decided I’d meet him anyway. I was as curious as a cat with five new mouse toys.
Chapter 36
The man was a rock. Nothing rattled him. Still, he was a human rock.
* * *
Tempe
Jack handed me the cup of black coffee I’d requested. He’d parked on the side of the building, and it seemed I was the only one brave enough to park next to a cop car. We leaned against the truck. “God, I love this coffee,” he said. “The UPak-It does it just like we made it in service. You’d leave the ops room at 4 a.m., fly out on a sortie, and when you got back that afternoon, it would be just right.”
Jack’s coffee smelled like rotted sewage and looked like drilling mud. I made a face, “I prefer it dark, but not aged like the swill you’re drinking.”
I sipped mine while he stood against the car, tapping the roof with his finger. I figured eventually he’d get around to the reason we were standing outside the convenience store, the objects of quite a few curious glances.
“I, uh…wanted to ask you something.” In the brief time I’d known Jack Lang, I’d never seen him nervous.
“Sure.”
“I’m not good at this. It’s actually a first for me.”
“You’ve got my curiosity peaked.”
He spoke in a rush. “Would you like to go to the Grand Ball with me next Saturday? It’s not normally my thing, but I was thinking…” his voice trailed off.
“Yes?” I stalled, dragging it out because I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard. It was like being asked to the prom. Which had never happened to me, or a dance, or a party. I’d better stop thinking about it, or I’d wonder why he was asking me… me, Tempe, to the Grand Ball!
“I’d really like to see you all dressed up.” That surprised me. He placed his hands on my shoulders, “And then I’d like to peel your clothes off one layer at a time.” That didn’t. My blood heated and my breath hitched on the next intake.
“Um, Houston, we have a problem.” I looked down, waving my arms. “This is as close to dressy as I have in my closet.”
His chin lifted and he looked away, “I, uh, took care of that. I hope you’re not offended. You can still say no, but I was hoping you’d agree. When I was in Aurora’s back room, I saw a dress, and when I thought about you in it…” he saw my expression change... “No, wait.”
I really wasn’t okay just the way I was. He had to dress me up to make me look better.
“That’s not what I meant, Sweetheart. As awesome as you are in shorts and ankle work boots and no makeup, I can only imagine you’d be the most beautiful woman at that ball all decked out.”
My jaw dropped. “Wow, you’re good. Does that silver tongue get twisted up very often?”
He looked serious and…hurt. “You should know me well enough to know when I’m serious, even if expressing it is new to me. Having a semi-normal person to care about in my life…”
“Huh, you’d better shut up while you’re ahead.” I put my arms around his neck and smiled up at him. “When you can’t say what you mean, or you think you’ve screwed up, just kiss me. You do that really well.”
His mouth covered mine softly, thoughtfully, at first, and then he proved he was an expert at expressing himself with a kiss. His tongue swept into my mouth, dueling with mine, and I lost all track of where we were until a truck coasted by and some teenagers whooped.
“Hey, isn’t that the girl’s basketball coach?” and someone whistled and yelled, “Way to go, Sheriff.”
He placed his chin against my forehead. I could feel the thrum of his heart beating in unison with mine.
“So, about Saturday.” I said. “I’ve got this thing.”
He leaned back looking down at me, the warmth in his eyes dimming. “Look—”
“It’s got to do with River.”
I couldn’t say, I have it on good authority that there will be a Para-moon this weekend. I know you never heard of it, but that’s because you’ve never heard of Paramortals, and I can’t tell you because you not only wouldn’t want to take Cinderella to the ball, but you’d probably run freaking screaming if you even got a glimpse of me in Tempestaerie mode.
I settled for, “I have a feeling if we don’t find my brother by next weekend, it’ll be too late.”
His gaze softened once again, and he took my hand. “And I have one—call it a policeman’s instinct—that says we’re going to find him by then.” He wrapped his arms around me, and I snuggled into his warm strength. The man was a rock. Nothing rattled him.
Still, he was a human rock.
“I’ve never been asked to a dance before,” I said. I desperately wanted to go.
He must have seen the longing on my face because he said, “I won’t go without you. The Mardi Gras ball is just an excuse to see you in that dress. If things don’t work out for us Saturday—we’ll make it another time, soon.”
He walked me to my truck. He leaned toward me, and my eyes drifted shut, expecting another of those mind-numbing kisses but he tilted his head, looking off. “What’s that noise?”
I didn’t hear anything.
“Is your truck running?” he asked, releasing me and walking to the back of my truck.
“No,” I said, curious. And then I heard it. “Er, Jack, it’s nothing—” I flushed.
“Well, it’s something. Sounds like it’s coming from inside your trash bag.”
“Uh, yeah, it is.” My face colored. “Just some… things I bagged up the other night when I was house-cleaning.” And frustrated, I thought. I crossed my fingers that he would let it go.
He didn’t. He grinned at me, lifting the bag to his ear, pretending to try to deduce the evidence. Then his eyes glinted, holding a burning promise. “You might want to save those batte
ries. Toss everything else.” He set the bag down next to us in the pickup bed, still vibrating.
“You won’t be needing it.”
Tempe
Still giddy from Jack’s invitation, I had to share it with somebody, so I called Montana. I kept my eyes on the wet road as I waited for her to answer. Clouds had rolled in and the highway was dark with only a single headlight in my rear view mirror. The driver probably wouldn’t try to pass with the intermittent rain making the road slick.
“Tempe, what are you doing?” came Montana’s voice.
“Guess what?” I teased.
“I don’t know, but from the sound of your voice, it was un…expected,” she said. Then it dawned on me.
“You knew. That Jack asked me to the ball this weekend.” I said. “Who else knows?”
She chuckled. “Just me. And Aurora, of course. And maybe Katerina, and Shannon.”
“Everybody?” I asked experiencing a bit of a letdown that I couldn’t share my excitement.
“Not Bailey. We were afraid she’d mess up and you’d find out before Jack could surprise you. You were surprised and pleased, I hope. And you’re going?”
“Yes, yes, and…I’m not sure.”
“Tempe,” Montana groaned. “You’re hopeless.”
“I want to go. Really. Montana, I’ve never been asked to a dance or ball. This is a first. Of course I want to go, especially…” Just come out and say it. “Especially with Jack.”
“Then what’s the frickin’ problem?”
“The ball is Saturday. Aurora said our best chance to connect with River is going to be during the full moon which begins next Thursday night.”
“I see. So how did that go over with the good sheriff?” Montana asked.
I smiled thinking of our conversation. “He understood. He—” it looked like the vehicle behind me was finally going to pass as I slowed at the turnoff to Harmony. I kept my eyes averted slightly so his headlight didn’t blind me.
