Squeezing her friend, Amanda smiled and said, “You’re welcome, but it was a group effort.” She turned toward the house, keeping her arm around Lucille. Catching Kyle’s eye over her shoulder, she tilted her head, suggesting he follow. “Let’s go see how it looks on the inside.”
Amanda checked the interior from top to bottom with Kyle and Lucille, but they found no evidence of fire lingering within the walls or ceiling. The entire house smelled like smoke, but it was strongest near the entryway, indicating that most of the odor had originated from outside. While they searched, the fire department arrived.
Two firemen hurried inside the house and chastised them for going back in. In the end, the firemen didn’t find anything to justify their concerns.
Lucille cringed at the sound of siding being torn away from the side of the house outside. When Amanda went out with her to investigate, they found that the firemen were making sure the fire wasn’t smoldering within the walls.
The crew lieutenant lifted his helmet and literally scratched his head as his gaze followed the line of damage along the side of the house. “This is the strangest fire I’ve ever seen,” he commented. “I can’t tell where it started. It almost looks like it started everywhere at once.” He glanced at Lucille. “I’d suspect arson, but I don’t smell any accelerant.”
Lucille drew herself up. “I did not try to burn down my own house, young man.”
“Oh, I believe you, ma’am,” the lieutenant answered quickly. “But I’d like to know what happened here. Do you have any thoughts as to how the fire might have started or who might want to harm you?”
Amanda’s first reaction was to laugh, but she kept her expression under control. She was sure the fire had magical origins, and she had a good idea of whom to pin it on. She didn’t share those thoughts with the lieutenant.
“It’s an old house with old wiring,” Lucille said with a shrug.
The lieutenant pursed his lips and shook his head. “If you think of anything else, let me know,” he said, dismissing himself. He rejoined his crew and directed the paramedics who’d just arrived toward Noreen and the three younger witches.
“I hate lying to them,” Lucille said after the lieutenant walked away.
“The truth wouldn’t have made him happier,” Amanda said.
“It rarely does.” The deep sigh that followed Lucille’s response hinted at a broader meaning. After years of giving tarot readings, she would understand better than anyone that truth seekers often needed to be careful what they wished for.
Kyle was speaking with the firemen who had gone inside. He ended his conversation and came over to stand with Amanda and Lucille. “Those guys are a little weirded-out by the fire,” he said, glancing toward the lieutenant. “They can’t make sense of it.”
“We noticed,” Amanda said, grabbing Kyle’s arm. “C’mon, we’re going to do a little investigating of our own.” She guided him toward her coven sisters while she kept an eye on the firemen and paramedics. When she was sure that everyone had their attention focused elsewhere, she changed direction away from the house. She didn’t want the paramedics to delay her while they checked her out.
As they walked, Kyle looked around. “Hey, where’s Blackstone? His rig is gone.”
“I have no idea,” Amanda answered in a tone that revealed how little she cared. She had too many other things to worry about. Blackstone might have put Kyle and her on his team, but the man sure wasn’t keeping them informed about what he planned or where he went. It wasn’t the first time he’d disappeared without an explanation.
She probably should have informed Noreen of her intentions, but Amanda was getting tired of needing permission for every move. The fire had nearly destroyed her friend’s home and could have killed everyone she cared about. She was going to get to the bottom of the incident while the evidence was still fresh.
Chapter 12
Private Eye
Nathaniel Blackstone adjusted his night-vision goggles and blew out a sigh of frustration. It was nearly impossible to find a good vantage point that would let him observe the Rutlinger Foundation from outside the block wall that surrounded the facility.
If he wanted to trespass, the wall wasn’t much of an impediment. It wasn’t designed to secure the grounds so much as identify the boundaries. He’d found more than one access point where natural features had been integrated into the perimeter, possibly to give wildlife access to the property.
The only wildlife he’d detected that evening had been a few deer and a large dog or, more likely, a wolf.
The canine had appeared out of nowhere while he debated crossing over a rocky prominence that interrupted the wall. They both froze at the same moment. He stood absolutely still, hoping the top of his head would blend in with the stones he hid behind. He prayed that the wind would not carry his scent to the animal. After more than a full minute of tense immobility, the creature finally sniffed at the ground and loped off.
The encounter had convinced him to stay outside the wall. If the dark coven was indeed hiding out at the Foundation, he couldn’t afford to have them discover his presence just yet. The patrolling wolf would know he had been on the grounds even if he managed to get in and out without a direct confrontation. The last thing he wanted to do was spook the dark coven into changing location.
Amanda and Kyle had warned him that the Foundation was well hidden by the natural features of the mountain. The building rested in a glacial bowl near the base of a steep mountainside to the north. A sharp cliff sheared off the western edge of the property, and a jagged ridge protected the eastern boundary. An elevated plateau to the south offered the only vehicular access, with a gated road that wound through tall trees before sloping into the depression where the Foundation building was located.
After reviewing a topographic map of the area, Blackstone had concluded that the east ridge was his best bet for a clear view. It was a reasonable theory, but the sunken elevation of the building and the thick forest around it conspired against him.
Disappointed with his lack of success, he decided to call it a night and headed back toward his SUV.
He retreated as silently as he’d arrived, not wanting to alert the wolf, which could have been prowling anywhere. In spite of his high-tech goggles, negotiating the rugged terrain in the dark commanded all of his attention. He was so consumed with his cautious trek that he nearly stepped out of the forest and into the open before he spotted the glow of the floodlights at the front gate.
Easing back from the edge of the forest, he changed direction to travel alongside the driveway and stay out of range of the camera at the front gate. He’d only gone a few paces before the low rumble of an approaching car came from the direction of the county road. He paused and crouched behind a large tree. His position near the gate would give him a good view of whoever was returning.
The gate began to roll open as soon as the dark four-door sedan crested the plateau. The glare of the car’s headlights prevented Nathaniel from seeing inside at first, but then the vehicle came to a stop while it waited for the gate to fully open. The floodlights angling into the passenger compartment revealed three profiles. Based on the dossiers Nathanial had acquired from the Order, the driver looked like Fenris Kellen, Selkirk Pack member and local litigation lawyer.
Blackstone’s skin tingled and one corner of his mouth lifted in a self-congratulatory smile when he recognized the woman in the passenger seat. He had finally caught up to Marcella Pedroso, the dark witch who had murdered Donna Jansen, a talented member of his team and a good friend. Donna made the mistake of getting too close to the Red Claw Coven before backup had arrived. By the time Nathaniel had reached her, the Order’s forensics team was already processing Jansen’s cooling corpse, and the dark coven was long gone.
The dark witch turned her head to look directly at him, and he froze, holding his breath. He reassured himself that there was no way she could possibly see him. The floodlights would have ruined her night vision, an
d the contrast from the well-lit driveway would only deepen the cloaking shadows of the forest. However, there was no telling how sensitive she might be to the intense attention he’d focused on her.
After a quick scan of the trees, the witch turned to speak with Kellen. Nathaniel let out his breath slowly. As the car started to roll forward through the open gateway, he tried to identify the third passenger. Seated in the back, the male figure presented not much more than a dark silhouette, but he was willing to bet it was Cyrus Fleming. The dark warlock was reputed to be Pedroso’s right-hand man and possibly her lover.
Nathaniel thanked God for delivering the confirmation that he’d been unable to manage through his own efforts. He may have failed to find a suitable location for spying on the Foundation, but his search for one had placed him right were he needed to be at the right moment in time. Some might call it coincidence, but he’d learned long before that his faith was most often rewarded by unexpected assistance while he was trying to solve problems for himself. It had made him a firm believer in the saying, “God helps those who help themselves.”
As soon as the car was out of sight behind the wall of the Foundation, Nathaniel stood and resumed his journey back to his vehicle. As he walked, a sense of urgency took hold of him and he quickened his stride.
The Order, and his team specifically, had been hunting the Red Claw Coven for nearly a decade. The coven was extremely cautious and always moved secretly, often escaping the traps he laid for them with only minutes to spare. The dark witch would not have ventured forth from her hiding place without good reason. Where had she been? What had she been doing? What was her involvement with the Selkirk Pack?
Nathaniel reached the base of the Foundation’s driveway and followed Pack River Road to the rough logging road where he’d parked. Along the way, his concerns grew about what the dark witch might have been up to. By the time his black Suburban came into view, he was practically running. He jumped into the huge SUV and started the engine. Throwing it into reverse, he backed up to the county road and then drove out of the mountains dangerously fast.
A strong feeling of foreboding pushed him to get back to the farm as quickly as possible. The dark coven had an astonishing knack for taking action when he wasn’t around. Somehow, they had always managed to stay one step ahead of him.
But the game had changed … he knew where they were hiding.
Chapter 13
Evidence
Amanda skirted the side of the farmhouse with Kyle at her side and went past the garden. She stopped abruptly when a figure resolved out of the darkness.
“It’s just me,” said Jonathan. “One of my men is missing.”
“Uh-oh,” Kyle said.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. He never showed up to help with the fire, and this is the first moment I’ve had to go look for him.”
“We’ll help,” Amanda volunteered.
“Thanks. I’m guessing you’re out here for another reason?” Jonathan asked.
“Whoever did this had to get fairly close.”
“Could the spell have been planted when your moon shrine was vandalized and then triggered later?”
Amanda considered his suggestion, but then shook her head. “Unlikely. It took a lot of power to make that spell work the way your men described. That and the timing make me think it was a response to our bringing the coven here for protection.”
“The fault is mine,” Jonathan said bitterly. “I’m supposed to be keeping you safe.”
“Don’t blame yourself.” Amanda placed a hand on his arm. “We’re all facing new challenges here. It may take some time to figure out how to best protect ourselves.”
“We’d better figure it out fast,” Kyle put in. “This dark coven seems pretty serious.”
“No kidding,” Amanda agreed. “And the person with the most experience is our fearless leader Nathaniel Blackstone, who is conspicuously absent. Again. If I blame anyone for failing to protect us properly, it’s him.”
Jonathan nodded. “I’ll sit down with him when he returns and come up with some improvements to our security.” In a wry tone, he added, “We have all these witches hanging around. Maybe we can put some of them to work.”
“Hey, I’m game,” Amanda said. “I’m tired of sitting around waiting to be attacked. Maybe next time, we’ll be ready for them and do more than just stamp out the latest fire.”
“I hear that,” Jonathan said somewhat absently as he looked over his shoulder. “But right now, I need to find Mike.”
Jonathan walked through the damp brown grass toward the horse pasture. Amanda followed with Kyle close behind. The already dim landscape darkened as the moon went partly behind a cloud, and Amanda started to wonder if it was such a good idea for them to be out there all alone. What if the attackers were still nearby?
As if he was reading her mind, Jonathan drew his sidearm.
Kyle swore in pain as he stubbed his toe. “Do you have a night-vision spell or something?”
Amanda smiled. “Not with me.”
Kyle was silent for a moment. “There really is a night-vision spell?”
“Sure. I tried it during my studies, but the tech solutions for night vision are more practical.”
“How come?”
“The spell works by enhancing the sensitivity of your retina, which is fine if you can stay in the dark until the effect wears off. Normal light levels are excruciating until then.”
“Bummer.”
“Yeah. Night-vision goggles work better, and you can take them off.”
The moon emerged again, and Amanda came to a stop. “Jonathan,” she called, pointing toward a disturbed area of grass off to their right.
Jonathan hurried toward the spot she indicated and then swore in anger. He holstered his gun and knelt.
Amanda wasn’t sure she wanted to see what he had found, but moved forward slowly after Kyle went past her. Standing at Jonathan’s side, Kyle covered his mouth with his hand.
When she was close enough to see over the grass, she took a reflexive step backward and swallowed an urge to gag. Blood glistened in dark, thick droplets on Mike’s cheek, and his neck was awash with it. He lay on his back with his head turned a little too far to the left for the pose to be natural. “Is he … ?”
Jonathan looked up into her eyes and simply nodded. Stupid question. Of course Mike was dead.
Jonathan took the radio off his belt and called for help.
Kyle came over and put his arms around her. “You don’t need to see this,” he said. “Let’s go back to the house.”
Amanda shook her head. “No. I’m okay.” She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and glanced toward the gate of the horse pasture. Anger swelled to replace her revulsion. “We aren’t done here.”
She eased out of Kyle’s embrace and approached the pasture gate.
“You think they worked from here?” he asked.
“Probably. It’s the closest spot to the house that has any kind of cover and isn’t near the animals.” Amanda slowly scanned the ground near the gate, but all she found was her own boot prints and the scrape mark from the gate being opened and closed.
“What are we looking for?” Kyle asked.
“Anything unusual. Watch where you step.”
Amanda squatted and turned a pearl ring she wore on her right hand until the stone was reversed toward her palm. Although she was just starting to recover from the drain of her earlier efforts to put out the fire, the ring didn’t take much energy to operate. She spoke a short incantation and the pearl began to glow. She adjusted the trickle of power she was feeding the ring until it produced enough light to clearly see the ground.
Cupping her hand to direct the light source, she searched for signs of interlopers.
“Check this out,” Kyle said from a few feet away.
Amanda directed the light on the spot he indicated. It was a set of canine prints. Big ones. The edges of the prints were still crisp, indicating they were f
resh. Some were oriented toward the gate and some away from it, and in both cases, they ended several feet away from the gate itself.
“I’ll bet this is what attacked Mike,” Kyle said, echoing Amanda’s own thoughts. “It jumped over the gate, killed him, and then jumped back.” He looked toward the copse of trees along the far fence line and his brow creased in concern. “I sure hope it’s gone now.”
Amanda rubbed her forehead with her free hand. “This doesn’t make sense. The wards are still up. I’d have known if anyone had tampered with them. How could a werewolf have gotten past them without me knowing?”
“Are you sure they’re working?”
“Of course I’m sure.” Did Kyle really think she was that incompetent? “Remember Reggie’s little visit a couple of months ago? When he sparked along the fence line, I felt that like it was nails on a chalkboard.”
“Well, something changed,” Kyle said in a musing tone.
“Brilliant deduction,” Amanda said, letting her frustration tinge her voice with sarcasm. She immediately regretted her thoughtless comment. “Sorry. The whole point of the wards was to prevent what happened here tonight or at least give us fair warning. I guess I didn’t do a good enough job.”
Kyle silently processed her remarks and then gave her the look that always presaged a logical pronouncement. “This may not be about the quality of your wards so much as the strength and ingenuity of your opponent. The wards are important because they make things harder for our enemies, but we need to add another layer of protection.”
Amanda nodded once, calmed by his objectivity. Kyle’s support and passions often emerged in unexpected or unusual ways, but he always seemed to have her back. “Thanks. You’re probably right.” She turned back toward the gate. “Let’s see what else we can find.”
Inside the gate, Amanda finally discovered something of interest. Glittering droplets of clear liquid and a scattering of wet spots spread across a roughly swept area of ground. A partial hand print lingered at an edge of the swipe, and a faint outline hinted at the remains of a circular indentation. Unfamiliar boot prints marked the ground on either side.
Demon Witch (The Ternion Order Book 2) Page 9
