“Selina, could you close up, please?” After putting Knight in his carrier, Aerilyn gathered her purse and took a last look at the shop. Everything was in order.
“Sure thing, boss.”
They walked outside, hand in hand. Aerilyn waved to Steve and his buddies who were probably walking off to the bar. “Hey, Cole. Want to go fishing this coming Saturday? We’re going off to Capital Creek. It’s an hour’s drive from here,” Steve called from across the road.
Cole took the carrier from her hand. “Some other time, guys. Thanks for the offer.”
The evening light filtered in through a bank of gray, heavy clouds. A cold wind blew through the street. Tourists and locals hurried about, mindful of the approaching rain that would drive everyone inside.
Aerilyn wished she’d brought a jacket. “I better call Raymond and check on him. Knowing him, he will be up to some other mischief.”
“How would this plan of yours work, assuming I agreed to it?” he asked as he eyed a couple of teenagers who were running on the pavement, one of them chasing the other.
Aerilyn’s heart gave a leap. Could it be that he saw merit in her plan? “We’ll have to leak the news that I’m in talks with the police about the evidence I have in my custody.”
“That can be done easily enough. My guess is that Damon’s contact in New York City would willingly share it with those he suspects of being in collaboration with the Zing brothers. But they could just as easily hire another killer.”
She was fairly confident that the brothers would treat her as a serious threat, someone who could bring them down. They would not want another failed attempt. “One or both of them will come personally. They will want to get that information. What if they hire someone and that person decides to blackmail them? No,” she decided. “They would want to do it themselves.”
“If you’re right, we would have to monitor the brothers to follow their every move.”
Excitement, coupled with dread, bubbled in her belly. “We will have to rig my cabin with cameras to record everything.”
“What if they don’t confess?”
“Yeah, that part might be tricky,” she admitted.
“They would be armed,” he said.
A shiver danced up her spine. Was it a sudden gust of wind? Or perhaps the memory of the two shots that were fired at her. “I’ll be prepared this time around. And you’ll be there.”
They ambled off to the right, their steps matching as they took their customary path up to her cabin. “I still have not agreed on this,” he reminded her as they climbed up the steps in unison, her hand still in his. She knew, as did he, that there was no other choice. If they wanted a closure on this, they would have to risk everything to achieve it – even if it meant putting her life on the line.
She trusted Cole – would he trust her enough to go ahead with this scheme?
Chapter Fourteen
Cole bent to touch his toes and stood straight. After a series of quick stretching exercises, he dropped down to do the push-ups. One, Two, Three. He counted in his head until he hit fifty and then stopped. It would have to do for now. After a quick shower, he stepped out into the living room. Aerilyn was sitting on the couch, reading on her tablet. Dressed simply in a green skirt and a white top, her magnificent hair tumbling down her shoulders, she made a pretty picture. As always, the sight of her left him breathless.
“We could have gone for a run,” she said, looking up as he went over to the counter where she’d placed his plate of thick, fluffy pancakes. He picked up the jug and dropped a generous amount of maple syrup on the trio of pancakes.
“Not while you remain a target for two crazed lunatics,” he answered. Picking up his cell phone, he took a quick inventory of his messages and emails. Nothing urgent. No news on the Zing brothers. According to the last report by Damon yesterday, they were holed up in their bar, no doubt plotting their next move.
Cole wished they would move the hell out and do something. He’d fed them enough information to make sure they headed in Aerilyn’s direction. It wasn’t something he was entirely comfortable with, but there was little choice if they intended to finish this thing once and for all. As he shoveled pancakes down his throat, Cole cast a glance in her direction. She was frowning at something on the screen of tablet.
“Bad news?”
“Not really. My Nan has sent pictures. I am pretty sure she is involved with someone in her group. This guy, Antonio, is almost in every picture with her.” She pointed at someone on the screen.
He couldn’t quite hide a smile. “What wrong with that?”
“Nothing. I suppose…they have to leave us sometime.” She sighed, looking befuddled.
Having lost his grandparents at any early age, Cole didn’t know what his reaction would have been in similar circumstances. He wondered what his own family would think of his relationship with Aerilyn. She was special. Perhaps he should take her to the farm one day when his parents returned from India?
Before that, once this threat of assassination was removed from her head, perhaps he would take Aerilyn on a trip to Pairs. It would be fun to stroll down the rustic pavements while holding her hand, take her up to the Eifel tower and drink hideously expensive coffee. And later they would retire to their suite and…
His cell rang, jarring him out of the extremely pleasurable image of the two of them intertwined with each other on the bed. “Hi, Damon. Any change?”
“Robin has booked two seats in two different airlines for tomorrow. Destination is Portland. He has used fake identities for both. He has also rented a car in Portland, using another different identity.”
An odd calm came over him. “It’s happening,” said Cole in a flat, toneless voice.
“I agree. But it’s not clear if they both intend to come or just one of them. The second airline ticket may be a backup.”
“One of them will come,” Cole predicted. “The other will remain behind to give an alibi in case any suspicion falls back on the actual murderer.”
“My men are tailing them both. We’ll keep you updated.”
“Contact Sona and Ress. Bring them up to speed.” Two of his field people were already stationed in Alby, in anticipation of such an event.
“Will do, boss.” Damon paused. “Keep safe.”
Cole said his goodbye and hung up. Now that it was finally happening, he felt both relieved and scared. Relieved because it would be over soon, and scared because he had no choice but to put Aerilyn in harm’s way. Now that he’d found her, if something happened her…
“Who was it on the phone?” He hadn’t realized when she came to stand behind him.
Cole scooped the last bit of the pancakes in his mouth. He wiped his lips with a tissue and gazed at her. “Robin got seats booked for Portland, under a fake identity, of course.”
Various expressions flickered across her face. Fear. Relief. Anger. Aerilyn’s hand on his shoulder steadied him. She kissed him lightly on the lips. “So he is coming? We’re as ready as can be. It will be alright.”
“Yes.” He nodded. It should have been his line. He should have been the one comforting her, but it was the other way round. “Promise me you’ll go away with me for a vacation once this is over. Somewhere far away from murderers and murders.”
She laughed. Picking up his plate, she walked behind the counter, opened the dishwasher, and put it in. “I promise. Now are we going to the shop?”
“Even if they head out today, it will take them a while to get here. We must stick to our usual routine. Their lookouts must be reporting to them.”
Over the past four days, his team had spotted two people who appeared to be keeping an eye on Aerilyn. Perhaps there were more. The Zing brothers wouldn’t plan a murder without doing the basic reconnaissance into Aerilyn’s daily routine. He didn’t want to arouse their suspicion by doing anything out of the ordinary. For the last three days, he had been going to the bar to hang out with Steve and his friends. He always came back a
lone, well past mid-night. It was to assure them that they had access to her alone at night.
He would do the same tonight.
They both stepped out of the cabin at their usual time and held hands as they walked to the shop. Now that she was comfortable with the security at the cabin, Aerilyn had opted to leave Knight behind.
It was business as usual, another enterprising day at Witch Central. While Aerilyn talked to the customers, gossiped, and joked, Cole found himself feeling on edge and distracted. He was too nervous and jumpy. It was hard to concentrate. Yet, he made himself go through the motions of his daily routine. He issued orders, offered suggestions and even interviewed a potential employee on Skype. And yet, his mind was on Aerilyn's every move and at the sound of her voice.
She was the center of his world right now.
Cole had never realized he could fall this hard and this fast. His parents loved each other. One of his sisters was in a committed live-in relationship. The other was married and had two kids. He’d seen them and based his calculations about love on what he’d observed. He’d thought it would take time before he could love someone to this extent – but Aerilyn had thrown all his calculations out of the window.
His love for her sprung forth with such speed that he never had the time to analyze or to plan each move. It was too spontaneous – and too damn scary.
As if on cue, she walked inside to give him a sandwich she’d ordered from a nearby café. Cole realized it was lunch time. Perhaps it was time to get another update from Damon. As he ate his sandwich, he listened to her as she talked to Selina about the two men someone called Mary Jane was juggling on the sly.
“That woman is asking for trouble. If anyone of them catches a hint, well, it’s goodbye Mary Jane,” said Selina. “And if Leila catches wind of it, we would have to scrap Mary Jane off the pavement.”
“Leila wouldn’t resort to violence.”
“She would if she knew that Mary Jane was meeting Sam behind her son’s back. I wonder what she sees in Sam. He is a drunk, a loser, and has a vicious temper.
“Some women like that type. It’s the thrill of danger.”
Selina snorted as she dug into her salad. “Yeah, I bet it’s going to be dangerous for Mary Jane. Something like this can’t be hidden for long.”
Aerilyn’s voice was stern. “You don’t go telling anyone, Selina. Nothing good is gonna come out of it.”
“You bet your pretty little ass nothing good is going to come out of it. But don’t you worry, I am not going to make trouble for her. Mary Jane has always been like this. She craves trouble. Remember the time when she was caught in the locker room with two boys. Man! That was a sight.”
“I felt bad for her parents. How her mom cried when they came to get her. She caused them a great deal of pain by flaunting all the rules in the school. You’re right; she craves trouble. But we are not going to cause her any. Hopefully she will see sense and break off with one of the two men before it’s too late,” said Aerilyn. The bell rang. Selina pressed the button and the door opened. The customer walked in and they both got busy.
Cole had never experienced life in a small town. The farm had been a different experience. He was homeschooled not only because they were too far away from the school but also because his mother preferred that. Their social interactions were limited to the occasional visit to the church, whenever their mother managed to drag them, and the annual Fourth of July picnic in the nearby town. Cole’s understanding of the social dynamics that glued a small town was limited.
Living with Aerilyn was an eye-opener. She had her finger on the pulse of her hometown. There wasn’t a single piece of news that didn’t pass her way at some point or another. She had a gift that made people gravitate towards her. He noticed the friendly waves and smiles she received as they walked to and from the shop each day. Everyone liked her. Some kept their distance, given her strange reputation – but mostly people were open with her, sharing their concerns and views with her easily.
It was because she listened. Most people wouldn’t bother about Mrs. Becker’s dislike for her neighbor, or the latest ailment which one of her cats was suffering from. Or how Leila was having trouble finding a new waitress. Or Becky, who had stopped Aerilyn on the way yesterday to complain about her son who was flunking school. She had a genuine regard and care for people and their problems. It was an endearing quality, and one of the many reasons he’d fallen for her. Aerilyn was real. She cared, she loved, and she bled. Witch or no witch, his future was sealed with hers.
He worked and thought as he finalized the plan, searching for any flaws he may have missed. In a job like this, a little mistake could cost a life. He intended to make no mistakes.
At four in the afternoon, Damon called. “James dropped Robin off at the airport in a rental car. They left Zing by the back exit. My man almost didn’t recognize Robin. He is using a disguise. Fake mustache and beard. Did some padding to his cheeks also.”
“Clever. James will claim that his brother was with him the whole time, in case there is any investigation into Robin’s whereabouts. And it won’t be easy for the police to recognize him in any camera feed at the airport in case they search back. When is the return flight?”
“Tomorrow morning from Portland. Also, Sona has reported that the lookouts in Alby left today around eleven. They are headed back to New York City by bus.”
Cole wasn’t receiving any direct reports from his people. It was a precaution he’d taken to insure that he didn’t appear suspicious to the men who were watching his every move. “He wants them out of the way so they won’t be able to place him in the scene of a crime. It will be tonight. Tell Sona and Ress to take their positions this evening.” A wave of relief washed over him. It would be over soon. “Call a meeting with your contact at the police for nine a.m. tomorrow, Damon. We’ll have lots more information to give them.”
“Alright. Be safe.” Damon switched off. Cole sat thinking for a while. He’d done all he could to prepare for this moment. Nothing would go wrong. It was his job to ensure that nothing happened to Aerilyn.
After the call ended, he finished the rest of his work. Aerilyn closed the shop and he walked her home, hand in hand. Although he informed her about the latest development, anyone still observing them wouldn’t spot anything out of the ordinary.
As they ate dinner, his cell beeped with a message. It was from Damon. “It won’t be long. His flight landed an hour ago,” he told Aerilyn.
“So he could be here any moment?” Panic coated Aerilyn’s words. She gripped the edge of the counter as if to steady herself.
Cole put his hands on her shoulders. He turned her around to face him. Now that it was finally happening, he was as calm as a block of ice. Anger would come later. For now, he couldn’t afford to mess up by losing his focus. “He will go to the bar first to make sure I am there. He won’t come here directly. I think I will be able to recognize and follow him from the bar, but if he manages to elude me, all you have to do is push this button in your hand.” He pointed to the small, coin-sized device that sat on the counter. “This device will send me a signal on my phone and I will be back here within fifteen minutes. I have timed myself. It doesn’t take longer than that. You just have to hold him for fifteen minutes. The cameras will switch on automatically when he enters the cabin. Get him to talk about the murders. Get it recorded, as planned, and it will be over.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“He is sure to have a gun, and probably a knife or two.”
“I’ll set up my protection shield. It will hold off a missile. It’s as strong as I can make it.”
Cole had seen a demonstration of the shield, and he was fairly confident it would work. It was an invisible barrier of magic that prevented anything from touching Aerilyn. He had been unable to understand it fully, but he knew it had something to do with spirits and the otherworld. She would wear the veil like a cloak, and it would stop any harm from coming to her.
He
didn’t care how she achieved the desired result. All he wanted was for her to be as safe as possible while they elicited a confession out of Robin.
Almost as if she was following his thoughts, Aerilyn pulled at the sleeve of her gown. “If I fail to get a confession…?”
“You can do it,” he assured her. It was the only part in the entire program that wasn’t as well-planned as he wanted. Aerilyn would have to wing it.
She nodded with a determined resolve. “I’ll prepare dinner.”
While she cooked pasta, Cole checked on the cameras he’d installed in various places in the house. Hidden above room lights and painting frames, they were small and barely visible. The video would be recorded in the equipment he had set up in the store. After they ate, Cole checked with his team. They were both nearby, well hidden but within walking distance from the cabin. In order to make sure that Knight didn’t scare the intruder off, he’d been locked in Aerilyn’s bedroom. It was more so for the cat’s safety than for any other reason. Aerilyn didn’t want him to get hurt if he came in the way.
After he deposited his and Aerilyn’s plate in the dishwasher, Cole gave her a hard kiss. Heat. Tongue and need. It was passionate and desperate. Rivulets of lust twisted in his belly, but mingled with it was an ocean of fear. Not for him, but for her.
“I’ll see you soon.” She nearly gripped his shirt, but let go as he took a step back.
“Take care” Snagging his jacket off the chair, he went out before he could second guess himself. This was the way it was meant to go down. He’d planned it, prepared for it meticulously. His men were ready. Aerilyn was ready. She’d enough magic to keep ensure her safety.
Nothing could go wrong.
And yet, there was a sliver of doubt, a shadow of unease, which festered in one corner of his mind. His heart protested loudly as he took the stairs and made his way to the bar. Steve and his buddies greeted him as before, with loud thumps on the back. They had started drinking over an hour ago, and he knew from experience that it would continue well into midnight, at which point one or two of them would be in danger of passing out on the pavement. He’d won the dubious honor of depositing them at their doorstep twice now in four days – but today he would not be around to see the end of this nightly ritual.
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