“Is there a problem, Ms.?” Harris’s sarcastic inflection brought my suspicious gaze back to him.
“No. Just taking a look around, wondering when my Aunt will be home.” Behind Harris, near the bottom of the steps, I saw Rand appear, looking a little dazed. He put his hand out and it looked like he was pushing against a wall. He brought his other hand up and then put his weight behind both hands, I could see his muscles straining from here.
“H-Harris, would you come an’ assist me for a moment, please?” Lawrence’s tremulous voice got the butler’s attention. He looked torn, as if he didn’t want to leave me unattended.
“Go ahead, Harris. I’ll just take a little walk and stretch my legs a bit while I wait. Take your time, I won’t go far.” I stood up and made a shooing motion at him, which gained me a scowl. I wanted to see what was going on with Rand, but not with these two watching.
The two men looked at each other, back at me, and then hurried inside, talking fervently in voices too low for me to hear what they were saying.
Chapter 13
Before the door slammed shut, I was already down the first level of stairs. I stopped just in front of where Rand had been standing. He had stopped pushing and was now pacing, reaching out every few feet, only to be stopped by an invisible barrier of some sort. He still looked slightly dazed.
“What’s wrong?” I whispered, glancing back at the door to make sure neither of the men were watching. The numerous windows along the front of the home made me nervous, so I took my phone out of my bag and brought it to my ear, just in case.
“I tried to get to the porch when I saw the second guy come out of the house but . . . it’s like there’s an invisible wall or something. I hit it when I was coming out of the gray. It feels like I have a concussion, if a concussion can be full body!”
How was that even possible? He didn’t have a body, so how could he be physically hurt? I reached out my hand, expecting to feel resistance, but my hand passed through just fine. Walking forward, toes first, I stepped over to where he was standing. Still nothing. Taking a few steps back and then forward again, I really hoped nobody was watching me, because it had to look odd.
“Rand, there’s nothing there.”
He stepped over to where I was standing and pushed his hand against the area again. His palm flattened against it, just as if there was a solid barrier. Trying to look casual, I waved one hand out next to his, mine passing right through again.
“Let’s walk around the house and see if this is just along the front or not.” There was a walkway that led around both sides, so I took the one on the side that had the stable type building behind it while Rand followed closely, reaching out and testing the barrier every so many feet.
The landscaping was understated but beautiful along the front of the house and the side we were on. When we reached the back, I had to stop just to take it all in. Rand must not have been paying attention, because he passed right through my shoulder and arm, chilling me to the bone. Sucking in a startled breath, I quickly stepped to the side, rubbing the affected arm vigorously.
“What the—” I started.
“Hey, my hand went through here.” He pushed again, but the barrier was still there. “There was an opening in it here, just a second ago,” he insisted.
I nodded, distracted by the backyard again. It had two levels of terraces, just like the front did, but it was all breathtaking gardens, with three separate sets of stairs leading from a large main terrace at the back of the house, into separate smaller terraces that made up the next level, then down to the backyard and the stable area beyond. There were scattered areas with an eclectic mix of cozy seating, bird feeders, potted and hanging plants, and even a couple of small burbling fountains on each terraced. The stonework alone was gorgeous, but when paired with these gardens, it was completely next level. I wasn’t big on the frou-frou magazines that featured people’s backyard oases, but this one definitely belonged in one of them. The fact that it was all located in the middle of swampland was mind boggling.
Rand finally pulled his attention from the invisible barrier and followed mine. “This would take a full-time crew to maintain. I wonder where everyone’s at. I didn’t see anyone around other than those two from the house. Did you?”
Shaking my head, I continued along the walk that led around back, stepping onto the main terrace. The back of the house was floor to ceiling windows with several sets of double doors, all of which were currently closed, spaced between them. I could picture huge gatherings happening here, with the doors thrown wide, people strolling out from the house and through the gardens. At night, twinkling strings of lights woven throughout would turn it all into an enchanting fairyland. Trailing my hand along the railing, the image was so vivid in my mind, I could almost hear the people’s voices. Wait—I could hear voices.
Following the voices over to a small open window on the other side of the terrace, I stopped short of being able to look inside. Motioning Rand over, I crouched down and whispered, “Can you make out what they’re saying?” When there was no response, I looked back to find Rand still back on the pathway, pushing against whatever was keeping him out. I was on my own.
Creeping closer, I stretched up toward the opening straining to hear, recognizing both Harris’s and Lawrence’s voices, talking to someone else.
“The Devraux broad ain’t supposed to have any living relatives! This new broad that showed up must be lying.” Lawrence wasn’t even trying to speak quietly. “We need to find out what kind of game she’s running an’ what she knows. You all know this place ain’t exactly easy to find.” Lawrence’s voice had just a hint of a southern accent, but he didn’t sound local.
“Would you like me to ask her for her I.D., Larry? How am I supposed to know who she is? Maybe somebody didn’t check our employer’s background thoroughly enough.”
“Hey, I checked everything there was to check, you two. I went back over the last forty years and there’s nothing. Unless they’ve never been documented, she doesn’t have any living relatives floating around out there, and she’s never been married. Whoever that woman is, she’s not a blood relative.” The new voice belonged to a woman who, like Harris, had no accent. “Just get her out of here before Devraux comes back. We still have a lot of rooms to go through to find out how she does all this stuff and the boss is getting impatient.”
What was going on here? As far as I knew, Stella and I were the only ones left from my mother’s side of the family, but wouldn’t my mother and I have shown up on any familial searches? My mom had passed less than five years ago, and there had been an obituary. Was it possible her married name had thrown them off? And what were they trying to find out?
“How am I supposed to do that? You want me to shove her in her car or something? Maybe just drive her out to the road?” Harris did not sound very happy with his task and that felt strangely satisfying. I wasn’t going to be pushed out of here before I had a chance to speak with my aunt, especially after I’d come so far. I would park out on the road and wait with the alligators if I had to.
“I don’t care how you do it! Just do it!” The woman must have been the one in charge. I desperately wanted to peek over the edge of the small window and see if it was only the three of them in there, or if there were more who just hadn’t said anything yet, but I didn’t want to risk being seen.
“Larry, you start searching the next room. I need to finish preparing dinner and call the boss, let her know someone else managed to find this place.” Yes, she was definitely the one in charge. “Harris, go get rid of the woman. Tell her you spoke to her aunt and she informed you she doesn’t have any nieces, so you know she’s lying. See how she responds to that.”
Both men started grumbling and I heard their voices fade as they moved away. My knees protested, creaking and popping as I slowly straightened, risking a quick look in the window. The room looked like a small storage area but it was empty of people now. I hurried back to Rand, not even
thinking as I rushed past him still testing the barrier, and grabbed at his hand to pull him along with me. And I snatched it back immediately, my fingers freezing. Apparently, I only thought I was used to ghosts.
“Wait, come back and do that again!”
“They’re coming to look for us, let’s worry about this later. We’ve got to get back.”
“Why? Didn’t you tell the two men you were going to walk around?” He had a point.
“Oh, I guess I did.” I slowed down and looked around. There was a bistro table and chairs in a shaded area on the next terrace down from us, next to one of the smaller fountains, so I headed for that. It was partially hidden from the side of the house I had originally come from, so I sat down and tried to look relaxed, taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart. Though I faced the back of the estate, Rand stood near the steps behind me, keeping watch. He would warn me when anyone came close.
My mind was spinning with everything I’d overheard. The people looked and sounded like regulars or norms, as Jeremy called them. How had they found Stella? My searches for her hadn’t turned up an actual address or any personal information on her at all. If not for Jeremy, I would never have had a clue this place was here.
Hearing a rustling noise in the greenery behind me, I looked around, expecting a snake or one of the little lizards that were all over at the resort. Instead, a large tabby cat strolled out from behind one of the potted topiaries and sat a couple feet away from me, sizing me up, from the look he—or maybe she—gave me. The cat looked up at the house, tail lashing in irritation, looked in the direction Rand was standing, then back at me again, before moving close enough for me to reach down and pet him.
“Hey there, kitty. Aren’t you handsome!” Giving the cat a quick pat on the head, I sat back again. I’d never been a cat person—we’d never had any pets when I was growing up—but, then again, until Jake and Toby, I had never been a dog person, either. My mom had a cat when she was growing up, but she would never talk about it when asked. After seeing pictures of her holding a cat very similar in coloring to this one, in fact, I had asked her if we could get a kitten. She had cried for days after that. Her reaction ensured I never asked again.
The cat gave me a reproachful look and turned away. Well, okay then.
“Maybe it’s female,” Rand suggested, “and doesn’t like being called handsome.”
The cat looked over toward Rand again, sneezed, and then proceeded to clean it’s paws.
“Are you a girl kitty? You’re a big girl, for sure, but very pretty.” That earned me a positively frosty look from the cat and it walked back toward the potted plants, flopping down in front of them. Feeling rather stupid talking to a cat, I studied the rest of the—estate really was the only description that fit. It looked as though it covered several acres. There was a waterway the size of a large river, not anywhere near as swampy as others we had seen on the way here, bordering one side. On the other side, where the lawn ended, dense woods started. I hadn’t seen a single fly or mosquito since we’d been here, either. The resort sprayed for them but there were still enough to be a nuisance at times. Overall, the place was incredibly peaceful.
The cat sat up again suddenly, looking alert, just as I heard someone coming around from the side of the house, grumbling in irritation.
“He doesn’t sound very happy,” Rand chuckled. “I don’t think he’ll be able to see you until he’s quite a bit closer. He seems to be debating on which direction to go, maybe wondering if you’re out by the stables.”
I looked back toward the small stable. It had several split stall doors leading out into the fenced pasture, but they were all closed up and the pasture was empty. The pasture was smooth and green, not looking like it had been grazed recently. Maybe Stella used to have horses but got too old to continue riding them.
“Looks like he doesn’t want to walk that far. He’s heading this way, Roxie.” As Rand was speaking, I swore the cat looked right at him and then up to where I could now see Harris scanning the top terrace for me. It looked back at me, blinked, and then trotted over and sat next to my leg. How odd.
“There you are, Madam, er, Ms. If you would please come back around to the front with me.” Harris looked like he had eaten a lemon, his expression was pinched so tight, as he came down the steps.
“Is Aunt Stella back from her errands?”
“Er, no, not yet, but if you would please follow me.”
“I’m good here, thank you, Harris.” I smiled politely at him. “Just let me know when she gets home, if you would. Oh, I wouldn’t mind a cold glass of sweet tea, though.”
He spluttered a bit, before the cat sneezed again, it’s mouth partially open, almost looking as though it was laughing. Harris’s jaw dropped when he noticed the cat. “What—how did you get out of that room, you mangy—”
The cat hissed at him, causing him to back up a few steps. Rand stepped over into the same space Harris now stood in, causing the man to jump over nearly a foot, as he rubbed his arms vigorously, looking all around. The cat flopped over onto my shoes, having another sneezing fit and rubbing its face with a paw.
Ignoring the cat’s antics, I rubbed my arms, shuddering sympathetically. “Did you feel that breeze, Harris? Is it off the river?”
Recovering, he gave me a scathing look, starting back up the stairs. “I must insist that you leave the premises at once,” he insisted. I didn’t even warrant a ‘Madam’ this time. “I’ve spoken to Madam Devraux and she has stated that she does not have a niece.”
Leaning back in my chair, I considered him. “Well, Harris, I have a blender and several small kitchen appliances Aunt Stella sent up for my wedding that say otherwise.” His eyes cut to my left hand, searching for a wedding ring. I held my hand up, wiggling my fingers and displaying the Power Ring. “Oh, I’m divorced now, but don’t worry, I got to keep the blender. So, like I said, I’ll wait for my aunt. Please call her again and put her on speakerphone. You can use my phone if you want. Or, if you would like to call the authorities, we could let them sort this out once she gets home. Either way, I’m good.”
Rand’s jaw dropped almost as far as Harris’s did. “Who are you and what have you done with Roxanne Bonacci?”
The cat rolled around on my feet making choking sounds. Was it sick? Did cats get rabies or have seizures? Bending down, I picked it up and brought it tight to my chest. The animal was far heavier than I expected. It sneezed on me, and twisted around to settle on my lap. I stroked it’s head and back as I made eye contact with Harris again. He had halted halfway up the stairs and didn’t seem to know which way to go now. Straightening his back, he turned and rushed up the rest of the steps, almost running around to the front of the house. Why didn’t he just use one of the numerous back doors? The house had at least five that I’d noted.
Turning back to me once he was assured the man was gone, Rand crossed his arms, grinning at me. “That was pretty darn good, Roxie. I don’t think he realizes what he’s up against. Where did all that bravado come from?”
He was right, I was rarely brave, but I tended to make up for it with stubbornness these days. Still stroking the cat’s back, I quietly told him about the conversation I’d overheard, not wanting to be overheard myself. The big tabby looked up at me, head tilted to the side, as if it was listening, too.
“I just hope she gets home soon. Otherwise, it’s three against one. If they decide to get physical, they could simply throw me in the river and the alligators wouldn’t even leave any evidence.”
“Three against one? Where did you learn to math? I think could easily take two of them and you’ve got your rings.”
Ahem. They can’t harm either of you here within the wards. If they tried they would be in for a very nasty surprise. And, technically, neither of you can count, because it would be even odds.
Stiffening, I looked all around. Rand was doing the same, turning in a circle, looking dangerous. “D-did you hear a voice, Rand?”
His
eyes were searching the surrounding foliage, only cutting to mine for the briefest moment. The voice had sounded close. It had almost sounded . . . like it was in my head. “I did. I just don’t know where it came from.”
It was a woman’s voice, but it didn’t sound like the woman who had been talking to Harris and Lawrence. And it had been . . . cultured would probably describe it best.
Hey, geniuses, you might want to look a bit closer. Perhaps right under your nose, even. I’m the one you insulted by saying I was a ‘big girl’, but still pretty. That was incredibly demeaning, no matter how you tried to package it. No female likes to be called a big girl, unless perhaps you’re talking to a hippopotamus. And pretty? Understatement much? I’m gorgeous!
I jumped out of the chair faster than if I had been stung by a bee. Rand and I both stared at the suddenly displaced cat in astonishment. It, no—she—sat on the patio stone, licking her ruffled fur. Or was it hair? I never knew which it was that cats had.
“You talk? How is that possible?” How I managed to keep my voice from shaking, I had no clue.
The cat paused long enough to meet my eyes. The same way you do, genius. I use words, like any other intelligent being. She went back to smoothing her fur. Her coat—I would just call it that.
“Rand, you can still hear her, right? Because it sounds like she’s talking in my head!” Those last words were said in a stage whisper. The cat looked at me again, and I swear she rolled her eyes.
I believe your kind refer to it as telepathy, dear. My vocal cords are vastly different from yours, remember. And it’s quite rude of you to discuss me as if I weren’t here. Really, I can not believe you are your mother’s daughter.
I sat back down, hard. “W-what did you just say? About my mother?”
You heard me. We’ll talk more about that when Stella arrives. She just turned onto the drive. Those two idiots are on their way, too, but remember, they can’t do anything to harm you physically, so don’t be afraid to stand your ground with them, child. I’ll be off behind those pots, keeping an eye on things. If Lawrence gets too lippy, he may just have an extra special present when he cleans my litter box in the morning.
Seeing Witchy Things Page 12
