Casting Shadows (The Ash Grove Chronicles)

by Amanda DeWees

  “The latter, sadly. I do have a brace of lawyers going over the paperwork, but so far there’s no joy.” His regret was mild enough to be convincing; he didn’t seem heartbroken, nor would Tan have expected him to be. “It’s especially exasperating because in certain other areas I practically have carte blanche. She had already placed a certain amount of trust in me before her, ah, dissolution, so I have access to practically everything I need in order to take over operations in her cosmetics company.”

  “So you’ve actually done quite well for yourself. You can set yourself up as CEO of everything now and enjoy all the profits.” While I work for an hourly wage and try to support a wife and child.

  Raven beckoned, and the maid reappeared to pour iced tea into frosted tumblers for the two of them. Tanner thought he remembered her face, but most of his time in this house had been spent in a languid haze, and he couldn’t be certain. When the maid had withdrawn, Raven said, “I readily admit I’m out for what I can get. I was in indentured servitude to the creature for many years, after all. Do you blame me?”

  “I guess not.” Swirling the ice cubes in his glass, Tanner added casually, “Knowing that her remains are safely locked away must be as big a relief to you as it is to me.”

  Although he watched him closely, Tanner could see no change in Raven’s expression. “Indeed it is,” he said. “The most difficult thing is pretending to the board that she’s still alive—and, of course, that she was human. The charade becomes wearing, but it’s a necessary evil.”

  So either he didn’t know that the husk had gone AWOL, or he was an excellent actor—or both. Tanner wasn’t going to find out anything from Raven unless Raven wanted him to know it. He fought back a surge of frustration and changed the subject. “The real reason I came here, apart from the money, is to see if anything can be done about this crazy movement to dedicate a song to her at the solstice concert. It gives me a bad feeling.”

  “I feel the same way.” Raven shook his head in dismay and reached for another hors d’oeuvre. “Of course, if we could simply reveal the true nature of their idol, we could halt them in their tracks, but that, obviously, is not an option.” He chewed thoughtfully, then added, “Although in some quarters it might actually increase her following to out her as a demon.”

  Tanner set down his glass. He had no intention of drinking or eating anything prepared in this house, and he might as well give up the pretense. “I really believe we need to call a halt to it,” he said. “The more attention that’s directed at her, the more people are going to start asking questions. And sooner or later it’s going to be bad for us. I for one don’t want to be arrested on suspicion of murder when it’s discovered that she hasn’t been seen since the night I was admitted to the hospital with a mysterious knife wound. And you would come under just as much suspicion, after taking over her business concerns.”

  Raven’s eyebrows rose. “I announced her retirement. That should allay any suspicions about her not having been seen in public.”

  “It’s one thing to scale back public appearances, but to stop them altogether?”

  “As you may recall, I mentioned health considerations in her decision to retire,” Raven pointed out. “That’s the standard euphemism for being in rehab or having a nervous breakdown, both perfectly normal reasons for a celebrity to go into seclusion.”

  “Well, apparently it’s not that good a cover story. That Billups guy definitely suspects something. I think it’s in both our best interests to keep her out of the public’s mind.”

  But if Tanner hoped the appeal to his sense of pragmatism would produce results, he was disappointed. “Still, though, what can we do?” asked Raven, with a sigh. “You can’t stop the signal, as they say. I can’t find an origin point for this movement, a place where one could go and simply tell them to stop. It’s got a life of its own, and any efforts of mine—like making a statement to the press about her not wanting the attention, or some such—would merely keep her name on everyone’s lips.”

  On everyone’s lips. Without warning Tanner felt the memory of her lips on his, soft and coaxing, then trailing lightly down his chest. He stood abruptly. “Well, I guess I’ve wasted both our time,” he said, brusque because he wanted to be out of that haunted house. “I suppose I’ll see you around.”

  “Oh, I’ll be at the concert,” Raven assured him, standing to see him out. “I wouldn’t miss it. I’ve enjoyed following your success. And I promise, if I do have any sudden inspiration about how to put a halt to this tribute business, I’ll let you know.”

  I’m sure you will, thought Tanner, but he shook hands and forced a pleasant smile onto his face. The only thing he thought Raven was definitely telling the truth about was his own self-interest. In everything else, the man was still an enigma to him—and still a potential enemy.

  Chapter 26

  The opening day of the solstice music festival found Maddie jittery and on edge. In two days all the students still remaining at Ash Grove would disperse for the holidays. If Sheila was going to make a move on William, it would be tonight or tomorrow.

  Unless she was going to keep him from leaving campus when school closed. Or unless the future that Maddie had seen was more distant—like next year. She still hadn’t seen Sheila wearing a sweater like the one in her vision. It was making her crazy. She hung around the theater building all day as it was set up for the concert, getting underfoot and receiving a lot of resentful glares from Sheila, who as usual was no more than a few steps away from William at any given moment.

  It didn’t do her any good, though. By the time everyone left to have supper and change, she had no more evidence than before of Sheila’s intentions. Nevertheless, she loaded up the pockets of her cargo pants, determined to be prepared.

  On her way back across campus a sudden impulse seized her, and she detoured to stop by the bronze statue of old Josiah Cavanaugh. Like every other drama student, she had often tossed a quarter into his hat for luck before a show. Some luck wouldn’t hurt now, that was for sure. She dug in her pockets and purse, found some change, and tossed the coins in one at a time. They rang cheerfully against the metal, and she felt lighter as she continued to the theater.

  But luck didn’t seem to be on her side after all. As soon as she walked through the theater doors, the metal detector buzzed. Once the security guard realized how much equipment she was carrying, he pulled her aside and called Dr. Aysgarth.

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Maddie demanded, as the principal went through her gear, now unloaded onto a table. “You can’t seriously mean you’re going to take all protection away from me.”

  “A stun gun. Brass knuckles. A seven-inch Bowie knife. Just what are you protecting yourself against?” inquired Dr. Aysgarth. “Al-Qaeda?”

  Maddie had to admit it was a damning display. She watched yearningly as other students streamed into the building unhindered, and on impulse decided to be honest.

  “Sheila Hardesty is planning on attacking William Russell,” she said. “Don’t ask me how I know. But she’s got something terrible in mind for him.”

  Dr. Aysgarth looked startled. “Tonight?”

  “Um. Well. I don’t know just when.”

  The principal sighed. She was dressed more casually than Maddie had ever seen her, in a cowlneck sweater, a suede skirt, and boots, and Maddie realized guiltily that she had probably come to the concert expecting to enjoy it as an audience member rather than to police it in her capacity as school principal. “You know I can’t let you take weapons into the theater, Maddie. The pepper spray you can have back, and the police whistle. These handcuffs, though—”

  “Oh, those are just if I get lucky,” said Maddie, trying for a risqué grin, but Dr. Aysgarth leveled such a blistering look at her that she shut up.

  “Don’t insult me, Maddie. Have you had training in using handcuffs?”

  “Who needs training? I’ve been watching Law and Order reruns for years.”

  “I thought as
much. You’re not getting them back.”

  Maddie was starting to bounce on the balls of her feet with impatience. “Dr. Aysgarth, call my parents if you like, suspend me tomorrow, whatever, but I really have to be at the concert.”

  “To protect William.”

  “Yes.”

  “From Sheila.”

  “Yes!”

  “Who will have smuggled a weapon into the building how, exactly?”

  She stopped bouncing. “Uh…”

  “Right.” The principal gave her a long, considering look. “Okay, Maddie, here’s what I’m going to do. I’ll let you go to the concert, without this arsenal, and tomorrow morning you meet with me to explain in detail what you think is going on with Sheila and William, and why you think it’s okay to walk around kitted out like Rambo instead of coming to me in the first place.”

  “Okay. But if you see her tonight, I don’t care if she got through the metal detector, pat her down. I’m serious.”

  “I’ll keep it in mind,” said Dr. Aysgarth, and Maddie immediately darted off, scanning the crowd for the carroty hair of the detestable Sheila.

  * * *

  Tanner’s phone vibrated. This close to the band’s entrance, he should have had it turned off, but always there was the possibility that it could be Joy. He checked the number: an Atlanta area code. Just maybe…

  “Hello?”

  “Tan?” It was Joy. Happiness flooded through him.

  “Babe, how are you? Where are you?”

  “I’ll tell you in a sec. But first there’s something really important you need to know. Are you with anyone?”

  The backstage area was busy as an anthill. Out in the audience, the crowd was getting noisier. He tried to find a quiet corner so he could hear her better, but there was no such thing. “Nobody important. What’s up?”

  “The shapeshifter,” she said. “It’s Raven.”

  It took a second for him to get on the same page. “Are you sure?”

  “He called me ‘cupcake,’ that day in the kitchen. That’s what Raven called me that time last summer when I tried to get into Melisande’s compound to see you. I don’t know why it took me so long to remember. He’s the only person—well, the only thing ever to call me that.” Her voice was hurried. “So if it’s him, and if he’s the one who stole what’s left of Melisande—”

  “He wants to try to revive her.” He felt cold all over. “Of course he will, he was her most loyal follower. I can’t believe the council took him into their confidence.”

  “Well, he was a really plausible turncoat, you have to admit. Fake silver jewelry and all—he seemed totally human.” There was an audible wince, and he heard her expel a shaky breath. “I had to let you know so you can warn the council and everybody else you can to keep an eye out for him. He is still there in North Carolina, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah, thank god. I saw him just a half hour ago, hitting on a girl in the lobby. I’m so glad we got you away from here.” He waved urgently at the closest stagehand to get his attention, asked where Mo was, was told he was in the sound booth. Then he stopped short. “I wonder why he gave up so quickly on using you as a battery charger. That’s not like him.”

  “He must be working another angle.” Then they both said at once, “The tribute number.”

  His mouth had gone dry. “That ‘grassroots’ movement. He must be behind it.”

  “If he gets enough people thinking about her at the same time, wishing her back, pouring out all that adoration at once—” Her voice caught, and she broke off.

  “God, it’ll be like a magnifying glass focusing light onto a match,” he said, and again the cold seemed to close around him. “I’ve got to stop the concert.” She didn’t answer at once. “Joy? Are you okay?”

  There was a slightly breathless laugh. “Oh, I’m fine,” she said. “Just in labor.”

  He froze. “In labor.”

  “Yeah. Don’t worry, Donna’s with me, and everything seems to be going fine. It’s just—ugh!—just that I’m going to need to hang up now. I’ll call you when it’s over.”

  “The hell you will! Tell me where you are. I am not letting you go through this alone.”

  “Tanner, no.” She could still be stubborn. “You’ve got to make sure Raven doesn’t succeed in reviving Melisande.”

  “I’ll delegate. Now tell me where you are, wife.” He was running down the aisle now toward the back of the auditorium where the sound booth was. Two men in headphones were standing inside, but he couldn’t tell yet if either was Mo.

  “You’re sure they won’t—”

  “Now!”

  “All right, all right. I never thought when I married you that you’d be so bossy.” But he could hear the smile in her voice as she gave him the name of a health center he’d never heard of in an Atlanta suburb.

  He was almost at the sound booth now, looking through the glass wall, and neither of the techs inside was Mo. Dammit. “Let me get this out of the way and I’ll be there in no time. Don’t have our baby without me.”

  “I can’t make any promises there,” she said. “Drive safe. Don’t speed.”

  “Yeah, whatever. I love you.”

  “Me too,” she said, and broke the connection.

  Tanner pushed through the crowds milling around the lobby to beat against the window in the sound booth door until he got their attention. “Where’s Mo?” he demanded of the one who opened the door.

  “I dunno, maybe backstage?”

  “I just came from there. This is urgent. We’ve got to call off the show. Where else—”

  “Call off the show?”

  It was Mo, who had come up behind him unobserved. Tanner had never been happier to see his homely face. “Raven is planning on using the ‘Mesmerize’ number to recharge Melisande’s battery. We’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

  Mo took this calmly. “Does anyone else know?”

  “Not yet. I was looking for Dr. Aysgarth to tell her, but I can’t hang around. Joy’s having the baby, and I’ve got to be with her.”

  “I’ll take care of everything on this end,” said Mo at once. “You go be with your wife. I’ll talk to the band and give them some reason to cancel the show.”

  Tanner gripped his hand briefly. “Thanks, Mo!”

  As the teacher headed toward the auditorium, Tanner started for the outer doors, but then stopped abruptly. He hadn’t passed on a vital bit of info. He cursed silently for the loss of more time, and turned back to catch up with Mo.

  The auditorium was jammed with students, and he couldn’t catch sight of the teacher. Fortunately Maddie was standing just inside the entrance to the auditorium, with other students who were evidently looking for empty seats. She was straining to see over people’s heads as if looking for somebody. “Maddie, have you seen Dr. Aysgarth?” he demanded.

  “Have I ever,” was the gloomy reply.

  “Where did she go?”

  “I didn’t notice. What’s up? Why are you out here instead of backstage? You guys go on in a minute, don’t you?”

  He scanned the crowd again, but he didn’t see either the principal or Mo. “Can you do something for me?” he asked. He didn’t have to lower his voice; the noise level inside the auditorium was cover enough, especially now that the crowd had started to chant “Aerosol Cheese!” to hurry the band onstage.

  “Well, sure, I guess so.”

  “I forgot to tell Mo something important, and I’ve got to leave right now. Will you find him or Dr. Aysgarth and tell them that Raven is the shapeshifter?” He sent up a silent prayer that she’d accept such a crazy statement and trust him.

  That was too much to ask of anyone, though, who hadn’t met a demon firsthand. He wasn’t surprised when she repeated blankly, “A shapeshifter?”

  “Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe, but—”

  “Can he take on any form? Say, Sheila?”

  Caught off balance, he said, “I… guess so.”

 
“Shit,” said Maddie, eyes wide.

  “Why? Is Sheila mixed up in this?”

  “I don’t know. I thought so, but maybe I was wrong.” She tuned in to his impatience. “Why do you have to go?”

  “Joy’s having the baby and I’m going to be with her.” Maddie’s eyes lit up, and she started to speak, but he rushed on. “The important thing is that everyone’s got to be on their guard for Raven, or anyone whose skin he could be wearing. He’s going to try to keep the concert going forward, but it’s got to be stopped.” The startled look she gave him told him how crazy he sounded. “I can’t go into why right now,” he said desperately. “Just take my word that it’s important, really important.”

  She considered this. “With you gone, I don’t see how the guys could go on anyway,” she said. “I mean, it’s not like you have an understudy.”

  “You’re right.” Relief washed through him. He had been so caught up in anxiety that he hadn’t thought through the consequences of his leaving. Of course the guys couldn’t play without him. Strange that Mo hadn’t pointed that out, though.

  Through his racing thoughts Maddie’s voice came again, but now with a note of tension.

  “Tanner?”

  “Yeah?”

  She was staring over his shoulder with a kind of frozen fascination. “You’re really you, right? You’re not Raven pulling some kind of double bluff?”

  “Of course not. What—”

  She gripped his arm painfully. “On stage,” she hissed. “You’re on stage right now.”

  He whipped around just as a voice very like his own came over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing a few technical difficulties.” The false Tanner, standing onstage by a mike, was wearing what looked like the same jeans and t-shirt that Tanner wore now, and a shiver crawled up his neck as he saw the gleam of a gold wedding band on the impostor’s left hand. The level of detail was unnerving. But the seductive smile he offered the whistling, stamping audience was pure Raven. “We’re worth the wait, I promise,” he purred.