Dual Release

by Tara Nina

  “It’s lack of sleep,” Cait responded with a playful sneer. “Not exercise—or lack thereof—that’s slowing me down today.”

  Together, she and Jenny surveyed the event while keeping their suspect in sight. It didn’t take long before he was escorted to the door. From what they discerned, it seemed as if he’d gone down a hallway he shouldn’t have been in. One at a time, they followed him out. He settled on a bench in a corner of the garden and watched the front door.

  She and Jenny took seats at a table in the outdoor bistro area where they could still see him. They ordered tea and scones in an effort to look casual. But no amount of tea would ease the questions plaguing her about this man. It bothered her that he seemed bent on tailing the older redheaded woman.

  Why was she his assignment? And more importantly, what did she have that this brotherhood wanted? She and Jenny debated it, trying to figure that one out. The little bit of information she’d read was an open call for individuals with magical abilities to join the brotherhood. That had captured her interest but when she went back to the site to study it more, the website was gone. So now here she was, following a hunch.

  Was the woman a witch? She nearly snorted a sip of her tea over that thought. If she was, wouldn’t this “magical” brotherhood have approached her to join instead of followed her? Perhaps they had and she declined their offer and now they were after her for some mystical property in her possession. Cait pinched the bridge of her nose, doing her best to squelch the onslaught of ridiculous theories her extreme tiredness conjured. Jenny’s hand on her arm made her meet her best friend’s concerned gaze.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” Cait replied, then smiled. “The night’s catching up with me, that’s all.”

  “It’s understandable. Would you like another cup of tea?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t think we’ve got time.” She nodded toward the stairs at the sight of the redhead descending with the cute dog in tow.

  When the redhead strolled down the walkway toward the street, their suspect eased from his hidden position and was on her trail again. They spent the rest of the day tailing him as he kept after her. It didn’t make sense. Was he plotting her kidnapping? Or perhaps he planned to take her dog and hold it for ransom? Weird scenarios built in Cait’s brain as she battled the desire to sleep. By the time late afternoon rolled around, they were back at the hotel. Jenny gave her a break and kept watch while she took a nap. Evening came and they were hot on his tail again as they sat outside a posh restaurant overlooking the Thames River.

  Cait prayed she hadn’t made a mistake as they watched the man in the car several spaces ahead of them. Since she and Jenny had been grabbing quick bites here and there while on surveillance, the delicious smells wafting from the restaurant were killing her.

  “I hope we’re not wasting our time watching this idiot.” Jenny broke the silence in her soft Southern drawl. Cait loved to listen to her accent except when she was mad. Jenny felt the same way about her Scottish lilt. Apparently when she got angry the brogue thickened and she became harder to understand. Like Jenny didn’t?

  “So far he’s the best lead we’ve had on this so-called Brotherhood of the Sons of the Servant of Judgment.”

  “But from what you’ve said about him, he doesn’t seem like he’s that bright.”

  “His intelligence level isn’t in question here. His connections are,” Cait stated bluntly, then wished she hadn’t. It had to be the lack of sleep making her snippy.

  “Listen, Cait, I’m beginning to think that tip you got is a dead end. There is no such disturbed brotherhood recruiting members to help search for some dark book of magic spells,” Jenny declared. She leaned catty-corner against the seat and the passenger door. In the dark, Cait could tell from Jenny’s tone she was aggravated and if she could see Jenny’s eyes, she knew they’d be glaring at her right now. It was a glare she’d experienced many times in their years together.

  “And I believe there is,” Cait answered, forcing her tone to sound calm. She needed her cohort to stick with her on this one. “Is it not our job to investigate every strange tip thrown our way?”

  “Yes,” Jenny replied. “But this seems out there a bit more than usual.”

  “Look at it this way. Our little online magazine could use the boost this scoop would bring. Just imagine it, CJ’s Otherworldly Experiences exposes a band of self-proclaimed warlocks on a mission to destroy the world with a book of black magic spells. It would probably shoot us to the top of the paranormal magazine heap. All it takes is one thoroughly researched, fact-based article to show we can compete with the best of them.” She leaned toward Jenny. “And we’ll never have to work an odd job again to make ends meet. Sales will boom and who knows, maybe sponsors will place ads in our magazine as well.”

  “I hope you’re right. I’d love to never wash a dish at the deli again. But I’ve got a nervous feeling this story doesn’t have an ounce of fact behind it. That website you stumbled upon disappeared offline when you requested further information. For all we know, it was some computer geek kid playing around.” Cait felt her questioning green-eyed stare even if she couldn’t see it. “And you never did tell me where you got this so-called tip about this guy we’re following.”

  Cait turned her gaze forward to the car slightly obscured by several other vehicles. “If you must know, I got it from him. I was at the pub last night. He was drunk and in need of a friend, so I sat beside him and listened to him slurring on about the mess he’d gotten himself into.”

  “You got it from a drunk. And now we’ve wasted a day following him.” Jenny’s voice cracked as she yelled at Cait. “I can’t believe you. All that hooey about taking our magazine to the next level and you gambled it all on a bum’s drunken tale.”

  “But it’s a believable tale. Why else was there a website recruiting members with any sort of magical powers?” she replied as confidently as she could. Thinking about it from Jenny’s point of view spurred a bit of doubt on her judgment for a second but she refused to let it take root.

  “The one that disappeared? The website we can no longer find online? You’ve dragged me all around town, following this idiot on a whim.”

  Cait grabbed Jenny’s arm, not letting her escape the car. “It’s not a whim. I know you’ve been paying attention. We’ve been discussing what he’s been doing all day. We both know he’s tailing that redhead. He let it slip she’s the assignment he’s been given. Even if it turns out not to be connected to something paranormal, aren’t you the least bit curious as to why he’s following this woman? What if he plans to hurt her?”

  “Then shouldn’t we tell the authorities, let them handle it? What are we going to do? Stop him?”

  “If it looks like he’s going to do her any harm,” Cait paused and looked around, “I’ll run him over with the car.”

  Jenny burst out laughing. “He’ll do more damage to this old thing than it’ll do to him.”

  “Probably,” Cait agreed with a laugh. Jenny wasn’t too far off when it came to the 1963 Volkswagen Bug. But she loved it, duct-taped rear bumper, faded gray paint, rust spots and all. “But at least we’ll get his attention and give her time to escape if nothing else.”

  Jenny cleared her throat. “You know, we’ve researched a lot of strange, unexplainable things since we started this magazine, but we’ve never tailed anyone before. It’s kind of got me a bit on edge.”

  “Me too,” Cait admitted as she shifted in her seat to face Jenny better. “You’ve got to admit it’s been fun. No. More than fun. It’s a thrill and you know it. Kind of like when we discovered the truth about the college campus ghost and exposed it in the Campus Tribune. Remember?”

  “How could I forget? That was the start of our paranormal sleuthing career.” Jenny sighed. “Hard to believe it turned out to be a sleepwalking professor dressed as a woman.”

  “You and I were the only ones brave enough to get close enough to realize it was a man in dr
ag. We did our research and found out the ghost showed up after a student died in a hit-and-run accident two years before we started school there. You discovered he was the professor who reported his car stolen two days after the accident. If we hadn’t put two and two together and written a damn good article, he may have gotten away with it,” Cait stated smugly.

  “Guess he never realized how much a guilty conscience can fuck with one’s psyche,” Jenny replied. “You’re right. Our article did make the police question him to the point he confessed and even gave up the location of the car he’d dumped in the lake.”

  “We went chasing a ghost and caught a murderer. It’s what gave us the bug to start our magazine. We write articles about ghosts and paranormal activities and determine between fact and fiction. Granted, the professor was the only bad guy we’ve helped catch.” Cait nodded toward their suspect. “What if he’s up to something just as sinister? You and I might be the only ones to save the woman he’s tailing. If we call in the authorities now, what proof do we have to give them that he’s up to no good?”

  “We’ve got nothing.” Jenny’s tone took on a determined edge. “How do we handle this? What if he really is a killer? Or worse, what if this brotherhood wants him to kidnap this woman as a sacrifice for some demonic ritual?”

  “So now you’re getting on board with the devil-worshiping brotherhood,” Cait teased.

  “I’m leaning that way. It’d make a much better headline. Demonic Brotherhood Attempted Sacrifice of Woman. Anything else is newspaper fodder.”

  Cait laughed. “Now that’s the Jenny I know. Put a catchy header on it and sell, sell, sell.”

  “Damn right. Gotta keep our small-time mag going.” Jenny burst out laughing right along with Cait. After a moment her laughter stopped suddenly as she said, “It just hit me, Cait. What was he doing in the bar if he was supposed to be following that woman? Shouldn’t he have been watching her in case she moved instead of sitting on a stool beside you drinking?”

  “I asked him that last night.” Cait swallowed any remaining laughter. “He told me and I quote, ‘The old bat’s in bed for the night’. And he needed a drink to cope with the loneliness. Can you believe he even hit on me, wanting me to hang out with him while he sat watch?”

  “Really.” Jenny nearly squealed as she spoke. “Bet he wanted to do the backseat bongo with you to pass the time. You could’ve fucked the info out of him, Cait, instead of having us traipse all over town today.”

  Cait pffted then said, “Like that was going to happen.” Laughter broke out between the giddy pair again.

  When a man in a wheelchair and a redheaded woman exited the restaurant, the pair’s laughter quieted.

  “Is that her?” Jenny asked. “I can’t get a good look at her.”

  “Aye,” Cait answered.

  A sleek van was brought around. The driver got out. Cait noted he walked with a distinguishable limp as he moved around the van and lowered a lift gate from the side to accommodate the chair. The man rolled onto the lift and was placed into the van, and then the woman was escorted to the opposite side. She got into the passenger seat. Once they were settled, the driver took his position behind the wheel. The second it pulled into traffic, the man they were watching pulled out behind it. Cait followed suit. She couldn’t help but pick on Jenny.

  “Looks like the game’s afoot, Watson.”

  Jenny jested in return, “Okay, Sherlock wannabe. Let’s just hope Moriarty doesn’t beat us again this time.”

  Though she loved Cait’s enthusiasm, this adventure had her stomach in knots. They’d never done anything this thrilling, as Cait called it. The campus ghost story just happened to have a happy ending. This one might not. She wasn’t cut out for that type of crime-related journalism. Catching murderers wasn’t her thing. It was why they followed the paranormal route. Jenny adjusted her seat belt and settled in for the ride.

  Discussing their first paranormal investigation had her thinking of how they met. She could still picture Cait as a young exchange student at The University of Texas at Austin who was assigned as Jenny’s dorm roommate. Cait’s voluptuous shape was a stark contrast to Jenny’s long, lean frame. The feisty-spirited brunette with deep-brown eyes that always held a sparkle of laughter in them was the complete opposite of Jenny’s mild-mannered frankness with a twist of “let’s not do that, we might get hurt” attitude. If it wasn’t for Cait’s adventurous nature, she might still be a meek scaredy-cat, sitting in her room reading about paranormal adventures instead of living them.

  Cait had changed her. Made her more outgoing. She snorted. With older brothers, you would’ve thought she’d be a tough tomboy, but no. Her mom wanted a girl and made sure she was a girly-girl. She’d never had to fight for anything ever. Her brothers protected her as if she were some sort of fragile flower. Jenny leaned her head against the seat rest as she kept her eyes on the taillights of the suspect’s car. What would her overprotective brothers think of her now, chasing after a weirdo? They’d tell her not to do it, that’s what.

  She shot a sideways glance at Cait—a disorganized, outgoing mess paired with a detail-oriented, shy individual. Definitely not a perfect pairing for an everlasting friendship, but somehow they’d made it work. Thanks to their mutual curiosity about all things paranormal. The night Cait caught her reading a book on Bigfoot broke the strained existence between them.

  As a child, she’d dreamt of being the first to find proof that Nessie truly existed. When Cait admitted she’d had that same dream, Scotland was the logical choice for them to start their new life after college. Having a native as a best friend made the transition easier for Jenny. Her move hadn’t thrilled her family. That discussion replayed in her head on occasion. She shivered. Confrontation wasn’t her strong suit, especially where her family was concerned. She was her mother’s only daughter. Jenny’s six siblings were boys. Her mother resisted any sort of change when it came to her angel, but finally accepted it when she realized how happy this job made her little girl. Jenny made a mental note to call home as soon as possible.

  Eventually she knew she’d have to tell her mom that she and Cait had taken a small flat in London. That was a conversation she did her best to avoid. As long as her mom believed they were staying with Cait’s grandmother outside Edinburgh, Scotland, they were considered safe. But the moment she found out they were living in a big city… Jenny tried to convince herself that she hadn’t told her mother because she didn’t want her to worry. In truth, she just didn’t want to have to deal with the arguments about her safety her brothers would have started if they knew.

  Not wanting to lose sight of the vehicle up ahead, Cait increased the car’s speed, causing Jenny to lean into the seat. The acid in her stomach churned and her thoughts flipped back to the issue of the moment. What if he really did intend to harm the redhead? What the hell were they going to do about it?

  What would her brothers do? They’d punch him, that’s what. But she wasn’t a fighter. On reflex, she pulled her cell phone out and checked the signal bars. Three. Good. At least there was a possibility of calling for help as long as they didn’t wander too far out of their provider’s range. She rolled her eyes. Cell phones sucked sometimes.

  Chapter Three

  Her gut twisted into a knot and she could barely speak as a mixture of emotions sprang to life. Excitement, anxiety, fear and anticipation swirled into a potent concoction that made her insides churn. She’d seen the curse in action. She knew what to expect but with Jameson at her side, uncertainty tainted her steps. What if she was wrong? What if this pair of statues weren’t who she thought they were? She’d look like a fool in front of him. After all, she’d only seen them in the background of a press picture in a newspaper. Never up close.

  He handed her the key when they reached the door. Her fingers trembled as she inserted it in the lock while he pressed the code to deactivate the alarms. She cut a sideways glance at him. She’d asked him to believe the unbelievable and he’d agree
d. What if she couldn’t back it up? Would he change his opinion of her and call her a crazy coot like the ladies who were supposed to be her friends at the club?

  When he looked at her and smiled, her fears vanished. Nope. He’d still believe in her even if she was wrong about these statues being the lost MacKinnon twins. She took a breath and turned the key. The lock clicked and she twisted the knob, pushing the door open wide enough for his wheelchair to pass. Once inside, she closed it behind them.

  Jameson flicked a switch and the warehouse brightened with light. May blinked at the sudden change. The moment she regained focus, he waved his arm gallantly in front of him and pointed toward a wide pathway between two rows of large crates.

  “The treasure you seek is at the far end near the loading dock.”

  May forced her uncertainties away. She smiled and prayed she was right about this. “You lead and I shall follow.”

  As he rolled down the pathway, he grabbed a crowbar from a tool cart and explained, “I had them recrated for transport to the gallery. I planned to place them on display next month. But if they are what you claim—” He shot her a drop-dead sexy grin across his shoulder that refortified her trust that her first thought was correct. The “sleeping twins”, as he called them, were truly the cursed MacKinnon brothers.

  “They are,” she replied. “I just know it.”

  At the end of the row, he turned right and shoved the crowbar into the edge of an oversized crate. It was wider than it was tall, which accommodated the statues’ reclined positions. May couldn’t help but admire Jameson’s upper body strength. It took him mere minutes to open the crate. She held the side until he rolled out of its way, then released it when he nodded. It landed with a bang, which made her jump even though she knew it was going to happen.