"Just over two weeks." I checked the bullets in my two Smith & Wesson pistols before settling them into the back of my jeans. I was wearing a pair I'd altered with elastic straps along the belt to hold the weapons in place. "Doesn't make sense to me. If she's not out in the open, then she's hiding. There is no way Arden Vervain would voluntarily keep herself out of the spotlight."
"Unless she's doing it against her will," Kyle spoke up.
I glanced at him. He didn't believe that any more than I did, but I understood he wanted to protect his aunt. He didn't want to believe Arden had a hand in kidnapping Crwys. No one did. But given the information we'd cobbled together, him being shot and taken seemed to make more sense than anything we came up with outside of the evidence. What convinced me wasn't so much the emails, but the fact Blackwood was watching Crwys's place and he sent Fetches after me, Kyle and Grey. Why? Why hang around if he knew Arden had taken Crwys and then gone in and cleaned the place out? Was he afraid of us discovering the truth?
"So, is someone going to tell Levi?" Ivan asked.
I hung my head. Crap. I hadn't even thought about involving Levi Tulose. He was Crwys's best friend, and though I wasn't exactly sure about their relationship in the past, it was evident the two had been friends for a very, very long time.
"Bringing the detective in might help," Dharma said. She still sat at the table with Ivan. "He could help you get access to things even Ivan can't get to."
Ivan made a rude noise. "That's just not feasible. There's nothing I can't break into."
I pointed at him. "And that is why I'm going to call Levi. Being cocky is going to get someone killed." I went into my office. The chaotic mess looked the same, and my computer was still on but asleep. I sat down at my desk and pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket. I caught a whiff of Crwys's scent off the leather and closed my eyes. That gnawing pit of anxiety in my stomach churned when I thought of him in pain, of him possibly being shot by the Arrow of Artemis.
My phone rang and I jumped, not expecting it. I hadn't had the thing with me in over two days. It was Levi. "Hey, I got some information for you—"
"Would it have anything to do with trying to kill a respected Ceremonial Magician with Arcane Magic?" Levi's tone was tight, and he was angry. I heard his demon's voice chiming in with the host.
And then I got mad. "I did not try to kill him with it. That bastard conjured a small army of Fetches to try to take Kyle and I out this afternoon. And why the hell is he keeping surveillance on Crwys's warehouse?"
Levi paused before he said, "Blackwood was watching Crwys's place?"
"Yeah. Sit back, boyo." I went into a fast, brief and potentially inflammatory retelling of what Kyle and I had found at Crwys's warehouse. About the ghostly images packing him up and moving him out. And about the Fetches. I didn't really go into how I used Arcane Magic to take out the car and flip it, or about how I managed to attack Blackwood. I just said I used Arcane to help identify who was there.
Levi swore when I took a breath. "So someone did move him out."
"Yes. And for some reason, Blackwood doesn't want anyone to know that. Why? What about this makes him want to make Crwys Holliard disappear?"
"You didn't get any of this recorded, did you?"
"Well of course not. You know how that kind of machinery just wigs out around magic." There had to be a reason he asked me that. "Oh hell, did he record me, Levi? Is that how you know about it?"
"I know about it because he contacted me. He knows I'm a Revenant, and he claims he has proof that you are a danger to the magical community. Proof that you use Arcane Magic on a regular basis."
Ivan's fear about Blackwood possibly recording what I'd done came back to me. It would make sense if he were keeping an eye on the place he'd have recording devices. Lots of them. And if any of them weren't Wi-Fi enabled, as Ivan said, he wouldn't be able to disable them. "Sweet Lady…"
"Yeah. He called to tell me he was going to send the recording off to Cromwell Dryden and demand an emergency meeting between them and the Ceremonial Council to discuss your termination."
My heart skipped several beats as I leaned forward on my desk. The movement brushed my mouse and my screen came to life. "There's a Ceremonial Council?"
"It operates a lot like the Parliament, but it doesn't swing the same kind of power. Except for those in the Ceremonial camp that want to create order in their society. The takeaway from this is he swears he's got something on you."
"Did you see it?"
"No. I asked him to show it to me but he refused," Levi paused.
"Why is he warning you? Why call you—and don't take offense to this but—you're just a Revenant. You're not part of either group."
"None taken. I asked the same question. When I answered the phone he made me step out of the building and away from any possible recording devices or surveillance cameras before he'd speak to me."
That was odd behavior. Was Blackwood that paranoid?
"That's when he said he considered me a neutral party, and said I'd understand Crwys Holliard's wishes not to be followed. When he said that I was instantly on guard because if Crwys wanted to not be followed he'd have come right out and told me that. He'd have called or messaged me. But he's disappeared off the grid. No cell or email. Nothing."
"What exactly did Blackwood say?"
"That he would hold that recording for safe keeping as long as we stopped looking for Crwys. Told me to call you off and order you not to look into Crwys. And not to harass him or his people."
"Then he knows something."
"Damn straight."
"Well before you order me not to investigate, let me catch you up on what we did find and then you and I can decide what we do next." I glanced at the computer screen and froze.
I have a screen saver on the computer that kicks in when it's awakened after sleep mode. That screen saver is something I can type a message on like "Blessed Be" or "Three Fold Law" or some other happy affirmation. The last time I'd changed it was back in December to read "Happy Yule Mother Fuckers!" to reflect the anger I was feeling at Parliament for keeping me warlocked so long.
But that wasn't the message I was looking at. It now read, "Help me, Sam. And you can save him."
"Sam?"
I blinked a few times. "Levi, I'll call you back, okay?" I disconnected, took in a good lung full of air and shouted, "IVAN GET IN HERE!"
TEN
Ivan, Dharma, Kyle and Grey piled into my office all at once and stopped in front of my desk. I'd jumped up and pointed at it. "Ivan, who typed that?"
He came around the computer immediately and sat in my chair. His hands never touched the keyboard but the password was typed in, the screen saver disappeared, and a plethora of windows popped up. Dharma and Kyle came around the desk to stand behind Ivan and watch as Grey lumbered around them and I knelt down to put my arms around her.
"This is interesting."
"What?" I shot back up to my feet and leaned on the back of my chair, over his shoulder. "What's interesting? 'Cause I didn't type that."
"No you didn't. In fact this computer's been asleep since you left. But it looks like there was a hack yesterday."
"Someone hacked my computer? It's because we have Wi-Fi now, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It is."
"Why did you get Wi-Fi if you didn't need it?" Dharma asked.
Kyle answered. "Because not having it and yet accessing the Internet could give one of the other businesses the idea we were stealing theirs."
Ivan put his hand on the screen then pulled it back. The screen came with it, creating a transparent three-dimensional image of the open windows.
I moved to the right and looked behind them and saw strings of code. "That's cool. Very Matrixy."
"Yeah," Ivan said but he sounded distracted. "Just…"
"Just what?"
"What did it say again? Oh never mind," he said just as he brought up the preference pane for the screen saver. "Help me, Sam. And you can save
him."
"Someone's wanting me to help them, and if I help them, then I can save Crwys. It's got to be from his kidnappers."
"Help who do what?" Kyle said. "We don't even know that Crwys is alive."
I knew he wasn't dead. I could feel he wasn't. He filled something inside me that right at that second, was brimming over with anxiety. "Who has the kind of expertise to put that message there?"
"It's obvious whoever they are, they don't know you because you never check this computer. You're rarely even in here," Kyle pointed to the machine. "Can you track who accessed it?"
"Doing that right…now…" Ivan moved his hands again and the images flew past him. Standing behind him like this, I could almost see the magic from his point of view as he traveled along several pathways, then veered right until the string of red, blue and green lights separated into five, and then two and then finally one green light. Ivan pushed his hands out and the speed slowed until a string of numbers separated by periods appeared in the air in front of him. "I got an IP."
"And?"
He moved his hands, poking each set of numbers with his fingers until they twisted into an address.
I read the address aloud.
It was Arden Vervain's home in the Garden District. "Arden did that?"
"Or someone in Arden's home or someone using her Wi-Fi connection." Ivan folded all the windows up until they were back in the computer and everything snapped into place. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at me as the green fire in them dimmed. "Someone from Arden's IP broke into your computer and made that change. But that was all they did. They targeted a message to you."
This didn't make any sense. "Why do it that way? Why not text me? Or call me?"
Dharma put her hand on Ivan's shoulder and squeezed. He put his hand over hers. "Maybe…" she said. "They didn't want anyone to know they'd sent it. These days most everyone is mobile, so we take our work, our emails and our social media with us. Hell, most of us read books or watch movies and shows on our phones or laptops. What we don't do is spend a lot of time on our desktop computers, unless we're artists or digital painters, things like that."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "I'm not sure I get your point."
"You're always on the go. Just since I've known who you are, I've rarely seen you here, in your store, for more than an hour at a time. Anyone who watched your actions would see how mobile you are and they would track your phone because that's what they always see you with. But what means could they use to send you a message where no one would bother or know to look? How many people know you have a computer in this room?"
"Damn few."
"Exactly. My guess is who ever picked this medium to send you a message was afraid their text would be seen if they sent it to your phone. So they sent it to the one thing they know about and others don't."
I looked at the desktop and thought about it. It made sense. In a twisted way. "The list of those who know this exists is pretty short. There's you guys, Crwys and Levi, Arden Vervain and Ina Devonshire. Not sure anyone else knows."
"That's a good list to start with," Kyle said. "The hack originated from Arden's house. I say Sam and I pay her a visit. She hasn't answered any of my messages over several days and I'd like to know why."
"I want to come too," Ivan said.
"No," I said. "You, Dharma and Grey stay here. Kyle and I can go and if we get into trouble, we know we can get you. Ivan, log into their security grid and see if you can see if Arden's there."
"Sure."
You're not leaving me behind.
"I'm sorry Mom, but I think it should just be us. What if Blackwood is there?"
Everyone in the room understood my random responses to Grey. They all knew I could hear her. But apparently what I said struck something.
"Good point," Kyle said as he left the office. "I'm gonna grab a few things."
"I don't like the idea of you two going alone. And if you take Grey, I'm sure she can get away if you can't communicate with us," Ivan looked up at me from the chair. His expression worried.
"Okay. Grey can come too, but right now it's just a social call. For Kyle's sake. But everyone else stays here. I trust the wards."
Dharma smiled and nodded. "I hope you find him."
I didn't say anything. I just nodded and left the office. Kyle was at his herb shelf and table in the very back. It was a place dedicated to his magic where he could mix and experiment with herbs and incenses. He zipped up a bag of stuff and set the strap over his shoulder as I approached. "Ready?"
He nodded. "You drive."
We took my Jeep. The night was both chilly and thick from the rainy drizzle during the day, but I knew soon enough the cool weather would disappear completely and we'd be wilting through the usual hot, muggy summer days and nights. Summer was brutal in New Orleans. With less than a day before Mardi Gras started, the tourists were already triple their usual number. I had to take a few work around roads over to the Garden District, so the drive took twice as long as it should have.
It was after nine o'clock by the time I pulled the Jeep in front of Arden's place. We were close to Ina's house and I crushed the idea of heading over there to see if the police had snuck in to do any illegal searches. I knew they couldn't take a look without a warrant and they couldn't get that without probable cause. So I figured I was okay for now.
The house was well lit, as always, as Grey, Kyle and I went through the iron gate and followed the concrete walk. I heard voices inside, and they didn't sound happy. When they came close to the door, Kyle and I looked at each other in the light of the house lamps and then all three of us ducked to the side into a huge azalea bush. I summoned a bit of Earth to make us blend in with the bush as the front door burst open and Edmund Blackwood stomped out.
"Edmund—"
He stopped on the walk and turned back to the door. He looked fine from what I could see from my vantage point. Whatever I'd sent at him at Crwys's place probably just grazed him. He'd been well enough to drive his car away. And damn well enough to call and threaten Levi. "The answer is still no. And if you dare change your deal with me, Miss Vervain, I will rain fire down upon your home. You promised me that land deal—so you'd better find a way to make it work. And as for Hawthorne, she's mine to deal with now. She attacked me with Arcane Magic. And no matter how you try and deny it, I know what I saw. I'm sure the Parliament would be happy knowing you've been consorting with the infected! That new title you hold so dear could be revoked just like that!" He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
Blackwood turned and stomped down the walk to the gate. He slammed it shut and after a few minutes, we heard a car start up and then squeal into the night.
"You better come on in," said a gravelly voice from the above us. "And keep that cloak on. The house is being watched."
That didn't sound like Arden, but it had her familiarity. I kept the Earth Magic in place as the three of us came out from under the bush and went up the steps through the front door. If there had been someone watching the house, they would have seen the house and stairs and nothing else. Not us. I'd made the spell to chameleon the surroundings as we moved.
Once inside, I dropped it and thanked my Gnome. She wasn't visible physically, but I'd felt her presence. Arden wasn't at the door, and we weren't greeted by any of her usual female entourage either. The house smelled like a hospital with medicinal scents like ointment and disinfectant. I also saw dirt on the floor and bits and pieces of paper here and there.
"Aunt Arden?" Kyle called out. "Where did you go?"
"Parlor."
Kyle and I looked at each other, and I could tell from his expression he agreed with me. This wasn't like Arden. She lived for show and adoration, as well as being served. I swore the house was empty except for Arden and us. Kyle led the way down the hall and then into the parlor. I'd been in this room a lot in the past few months. Arden did a quantity of business in this room. And no matter how many times I stood in the center of it, it still reminded me
of a bordello. Down to the red and gold wallpaper and Victorian furniture. Miss Kitty's home sweet home.
I looked around for Arden when we walked in, but I didn't see her. Grey headed for the large wicker fan-backed chair and stood in front of it. The chair had been turned to face the other way.
Grey growled. Something is wrong.
"I'll say," I said out loud. "We just saw Edmund Blackwood stomp out of your house and threaten you, Arden. We also know someone from this house hacked into my computer—"
"That's enough," came the graveled voice. Something in the tone of it did sound like Arden. "Kyle, cast your best and strongest concealment. And I suggest you lend him your power, Samantha."
Concealment? In a house as well warded as Arden's? Grey was right. Something was wrong.
Kyle pulled one of the short coffee tables to the side. I moved magazines and several half-eaten boxes of Valentine's Day candy as he emptied the contents of his bag on the table. There was his brazier, charcoal, several vials of incense, some dried herbs and a bottle of sand. As he prepared his spell I kept an eye on the chair. Someone was sitting in it and they were dressed in black, but from this angle, that was all I could see.
"Okay Sam. I need your Elementals, but not the other thing."
I knew what he meant by the other thing. I summoned each of them and asked them to participate. They came to me in an instant and gladly agreed to lend their power to Kyle's spell. All I had to do was be the conduit. He lit the charcoal, sprinkled them with Dragon's Blood Rede and then lit a candle for each of the Elements. My Gnome sat on the couch to watch, her axe leaned against it. The Undine dipped herself in the chalice of spring water he poured just for her. The Salamander danced around the Fire candle, and the Sylph deeply inhaled the incense.
Kyle took my hand and I channeled as much power to him as he needed, making sure it was not Arcane. I didn't want it to ever touch him. I would never let that happen.
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