Peace Piper

by Allie Burton

  I relaxed. I was done with this task and could continue with my plans. Shifting, I started to stand. “Thank you. I’ll be on my way.”

  “First, make the call to the Soul Warrior.” Aaron handed my phone back.

  I sunk onto the couch. “What? Why?”

  “I still need you to send the warrior on a false trail.”

  “But you have photos of the real thieves.” I stood again, trying to make my point stronger.

  “The Soul Warriors are great detectives. They realized the trumpet was at your uncle’s shop. What if they find it first?” Aaron’s demanding tone didn’t expect an answer. His gaze blazed, signaling danger if I was to refuse. “The medicine I provide your mother won’t keep her alive forever. She needs the trumpet for the final cure.”

  Lightning struck, jolting me into a realization. I was still under Aaron’s control. Still had to abide by his commands.

  “You’ll call this warrior and pretend to work with him, or your mother will die.”

  Chapter Four

  Math

  Math waited in a coffee shop on Castro Street near Piper’s uncle’s pawn shop. He breathed in the sharp smell of coffee. It was nothing like the hot drinks from his time period, which tended to be strong in taste and in fermented alcohol. He didn’t miss the drinks or the food, or the food poisoning that came with both.

  He tapped on his cell phone while trying to avoid the rips in the vinyl seats in the booth. Piper was late. He jiggled his legs, trying to shake out his impatience. For the waiting. For seeing Piper again.

  Shaking his legs harder, he pushed down the last thought. Piper was part of his mission. He wouldn’t let attraction distract him. Knowing her relationship to the pawn shop owner, he’d been surprised she’d called.

  Not that he could say anything. He wasn’t supposed to know anything about Piper. He’d already messed up during their first encounter, calling it her uncle’s shop. He was supposed to be playing dumb, which was hard to do for a guy with his intelligence.

  Math was not short for Matthew. It was a name the other Soul Warriors had given him because of his unusual understanding of math and science. He hated the name, wanted to be recognized as a strong warrior, not just a brainiac. Retrieving Tut’s silver trumpet was his first assignment as a warrior fighting for goodness and light and love.

  The other warriors had teased him about getting an easy assignment, making him feel unworthy of the warrior title. How dangerous could a trumpet of peace be? If he could bring in the silver trumpet using his brawn, he’d be given other assignments, more dangerous and physically demanding missions. Except he’d already missed two opportunities to recover the trumpet. Once on a loading dock and again at the pawn shop. He had to make sure the third time was the final time.

  Piper slipped into the booth opposite him. She wore all black. Her shoulder-length hair appeared to have been hacked by a knife and the maroon-colored dye clashed with her dusty-colored skin.

  Yet, something drew him to her.

  “Where’s the other guy?” Her question shot him with a jealousy arrow.

  Obviously, she was more interested in Falcon.

  The arrow splintered into resentment, hardening his heart. “Falcon’s busy following another lead.”

  “On the silver trumpet?” Her dark eyebrows—not dyed—rose, the right one hiding beneath the side bangs.

  The skin on her arms and face were smooth. The jolt of healing power Math had sent into her skin yesterday had helped. He didn’t buy the broken mirror story. Something more sinister had happened. His protective instincts rose and so did his surprise. He wanted to fight her battles.

  Except he couldn’t. He had his own quest.

  “No. Something else.” Math planned to tell her little. This wasn’t going to be a partnership like she’d suggested on the phone. He needed to know what she knew, and then end their alliance.

  They both ordered coffee from the waitress. While waiting, Piper fiddled with the small jukebox sitting on the table. The old-fashioned music machine actually held the latest songs.

  “There.” Piper punched one of the buttons and music streamed around their table, making the scene more intimate. “My favorite song.”

  The fact her favorite was an upbeat pop song confounded him. It didn’t go along with her hair and attitude. He examined the music machine, taking in the song selection, buttons, and coin drop. Formulas formed in his head about how the machine worked and what she’d done didn’t compute.

  His brain whirred. Curiosity a constant companion. “Doesn’t the machine need money?”

  Her bow-shaped mouth teased into a mischievous grin, and her deep-brown eyes lit with a secret.

  The waitress set two steaming cups of coffee on the table.

  Piper took a sip and set down the cup. “Let’s get started.”

  She wasn’t going to answer his question. He’d have to research these music machines and figure out how she got it to work without money. That wasn’t important now. It wasn’t why he was here.

  “Tell me everything you know. How did your uncle come into possession of the trumpet? Who was he supposed to give or sell it to? Did you recognize the men who stole the trumpet?” His curiosity and impatience showed in his list of questions. He wanted to get on with his quest because sitting in a coffee shop wouldn’t prove anything to his brothers.

  She leaned back in the booth. Her expressive eyebrows flew up again. “How did you know the trumpet was stolen?”

  Super sarcophagus. He wasn’t supposed to know the trumpet was stolen. Something about Piper scattered his brains. He needed to get the information and get away from her chocolatey-brown eyes and sensual smile.

  How should he play this? “It was obvious from your uncle’s messy office. The papers on the floor, the smashed items.”

  Good thing I have a photographic memory.

  She nodded her head slowly, indicating her thought processes were at work. “Two men stole the trumpet. They were in the office when I arrived. I have a video on my phone.”

  “Groovy.”

  Her head jerked and she stared at him as if he was from another planet, not just another century.

  Wrong decade, Math.

  Shrugging, he waved a hand around. “This coffee shop is soooo nineteen-seventies.” And now he sounded like he was from the nineteen-eighties. He really needed to watch more current television shows.

  Her gaze stayed glued to him. He tried not to fidget or shift or look uncomfortable while she judged, even though sweat poured from his pits. He wasn’t an actor and he hated lying to her.

  The Soul Warriors had researched her and her uncle’s background. Low-life Uncle Louie had a rap sheet as long as a rolled parchment. A San Francisco police officer and friend of the Soul Warriors had given them the information.

  Information about Piper was harder to find. She didn’t attend any local schools. There were no birth record or doctor or hospital visits recorded. Either she’d been the healthiest kid in the world or everything had been done under the table. She didn’t even have an official address. Math assumed she lived with her uncle.

  He could handle calculated guesses or theories based on fact. He hated assumptions. She became a larger curiosity than the music machine.

  “I’ll come sit over there to show you the video.” She slid from her seat and moved to sit next to him on his side of the booth. “Excuse me?”

  “Yeah, right.” Shaking himself out of his stupor, he slid farther into the corner, feeling boxed in by her body and her fragrant scent of lotus oil.

  Sucking in another whiff of her scent—for scientific reasons—he analyzed the smell. The lotus flower symbolized creation and rebirth. Why would a modern-day girl smell similar to an ancient Egyptian flower?

  She opened the app on her phone.

  The scent wove around him, entrapping him and reminding him of the plant’s ability to flower and fruit at the same time. Piper seemed amazing like that. Her warmth invigorated his sk
in. He should move away, except he wanted to move closer. His confusion about her multiplied to the nth degree.

  “That’s it.” She closed the app.

  He’d missed the entire video because he’d been distracted. Disgusted with himself, his voice came out harsh. “Play it again.”

  “Sure.” Studying him with a narrowed gaze, she hit the play button.

  The screech of the trumpet was heard first. A close-up of her uncle falling asleep in the chair.

  The screeching sound scraped his brain, causing shivers down his spine. He’d seen the effects of the war trumpet on Falcon, seen the pain he suffered.

  “Who’s playing the trumpet?” Math hoped the peace trumpet didn’t cause the player as much torture as the war trumpet had.

  “One of the thieves.” She paused the video and pointed at a mark on the player’s neck. “Do you see this?”

  “Yes.”

  “That is the mark of this organization my uncle conducts business with.” She sounded stiff and formal.

  How much did Piper know about her Uncle’s deals with the Magical Order of Crucis? Was Piper involved? He wanted to know more about her, and yet he was afraid of the answers.

  “Do you think someone from this organization stole the trumpet?”

  She stared at the phone screen avoiding eye contact. “Yes.”

  “Do you know the name of the organization?” Math believed she had to know the name and possibly some of what they were involved in.

  “It’s a religious order in the south bay called the Order of Crucis.” Her mouth puckered in distaste. “I searched my uncle’s paperwork and found the address. They are based out of a museum.”

  All things Math knew. His constant companion of curiosity poked and prodded. If she worked for, or was loyal to her uncle, why was Piper giving this information? He’d need to ponder the thought more. Could he trust Piper?

  “Wasn’t your uncle selling it to that organization?” Math reasoned through the situation because it was more important than Piper’s motivation, although his heart would rather puzzle her out.

  Focus, Math. Use your brain to focus on the trumpet, not your heart to think about Piper.

  If Uncle Louie was the middleman for the Order, why would they steal the trumpet? Math’s original premise that the Order was having the trumpet shipped from Egypt to fulfill a prophecy might not be correct. Maybe Uncle Louie worked for both the Order and the Society of Aten. The two Egyptian sects were in competition for members and money.

  Math would text Olivia and Xander at the Soul Warriors’ base with this conflicting information. They could work their sources and find out more.

  Grazing Piper’s hand, Math put the video back in motion. He ignored the cascading tingles from her touch. “What’re you doing while the trumpet is playing?”

  “Standing by the door to my uncle’s office, peering inside.”

  Jerking, he studied her. Why hadn’t Piper fallen asleep if the trumpet was being played? Only a few people knew the secret for resisting the trumpet’s draw. He forced his gaze back to the video, his mind jumbled.

  “But I…um…fell asleep or something. You’ll see in the video.” She pushed the non-truth at him.

  Why was she lying? Piper was a bigger mystery than the missing trumpet. She had no history. Was associated with her uncle who dealt with the Order, one of Math’s major enemies. Smelled like ancient Egypt. And wasn’t affected by the trumpet.

  He continued to watch the video, his thoughts structuring in his mind.

  A side view of two men, one of whom played the trumpet. One of the men talked as they veered toward the camera. The camera angle changed.

  “What happened here?”

  The crinkles on her forehead smoothed. “This is where I fell asleep like everyone else. I woke up lying on the ground.” Her flat tone held no inflection.

  Lying.

  He could read her as easy as hieroglyphics. Did she know about the trumpet’s powers? Had her uncle suspected something? “Good thing the camera stayed face up.”

  “Yeah, good thing.” She clicked off the video and scooted away. “When I woke, I rushed to the front door. The thieves were gone.”

  Math mulled his options. The video was real, her statements false. His plan to get the information and leave might not work. He believed in keeping his enemies close. Was Piper his enemy? He couldn’t tell yet, and would be disappointed if she was. “Why did you decide to help?”

  He watched her expression changing. She hadn’t expected the question from the stiffness around her lips or the sudden coldness in her eyes. Wariness set in his bones. Between her truths and her lies, and her scent and her smile, he felt at a total loss. Which didn’t happen very often.

  Piper firmed her mouth and her shoulders as if preparing for war. “The thieves took something else. Something of my mother’s.”

  Chapter Five

  Piper

  The thieves stole my mom’s chance to live.

  My statement wasn’t exactly a lie. I didn’t want Math to dump me as soon as I gave him information. Not that I wanted to work with Math either. He was evil and way too cute. The combination sent battling shivers of cold and hot down my spine. If I told him everything he’d drop me faster than a pharaoh drops his first wife. I had to stay with Math to lead him away from the trumpet. Aaron’s men would follow their own leads, or any information I could gather, and beat Math to the trumpet.

  I heard the triumphant blare in my head. If the trumpet cured Mom, we could run away. And if the trumpet didn’t cure Mom, she would lose faith in the Order and agree to see a doctor and still run away. I’d win either way.

  “What did the thieves take of your mother’s?” A genuine, concerned expression softened Math’s features. It was similar to the look he’d given me when he’d asked if I was hurt yesterday.

  My initial reaction was not to believe him, but for some reason I did. I didn’t know why. Something about his interest and compassion, his curiosity and intelligence, and maybe his good looks.

  “It’s a semi-precious stone. A lapis lazuli jewel that belonged to my father.” Pitching the lie I’d rehearsed with Aaron, nerves danced in my midsection. Aaron had said the Soul Warrior would trust me more if I wasn’t after the same prize. “The stone was hidden inside the case the trumpet was transported in.”

  Math’s gaze narrowed, making me squirm under his scowl of suspicion. “Why would anyone hide something meaningful in a trumpet case?”

  “To escape government detection. It’s considered a cultural artifact, similar to the trumpet, and illegal to take out of Egypt.” The squirming moved to my stomach, as if I’d eaten live worms.

  “So you knew your uncle was dealing in illegal goods.” Math sounded disappointed.

  The worms shifted into a different movement. No longer squirming but sagging with shame. Did Math think less of me? Did he think I was involved with the illegal activities at the pawn shop? I hadn’t done anything illegal, yet, except exist completely off the radar. I could steal a car, a technique I’d been practicing on the Order’s cars. Maybe it would be better if he thought I was a criminal and not part of the Order.

  Not wanting to lie anymore, I moved on. “What’s our first step?” I closed the recording app and slipped the phone back in my pocket.

  When I’d shown the recording to Aaron I’d thought that would be the end of my involvement. I’d been wrong. Aaron wanted me to show the Soul Warrior the recording to prove my trust, but mislead them into who the thieves were working for.

  Math slid deeper into the booth, as far from me as possible. “Our?”

  Aaron said the Soul Warrior would try to ditch me. I’d have to stick to Math like a gasket in an engine. “I’m working with you.”

  “I don’t work with anyone.” His tone didn’t hold conviction.

  Plus, I knew he worked with the other Soul Warriors. He didn’t want to work with me. Which was smart because he knew nothing about me.

  �
�If you want more information, then we’ll be partners.” I held my breath, waiting for his response. If he said no, what could I do? Panicked thoughts circled similar to complicated circuitry. I know what Aaron would want me to do. He’d want me to persuade Math with whatever means I could. Logic, flirtation, or downright threats. That’s how Aaron would handle the situation.

  “Do you have more information?” Math leaned slightly forward. His interest piqued.

  My instantaneous smirk twisted into a phony smile. “Of course.” I had a pyramid-full of knowledge. Not that I’d share it. Just parcel out as needed. I knew when to stay quiet.

  He rubbed the darker patch of skin on his neck and his brow furrowed as if thinking. Then, his expression cleared and his hand calmed. “Have you ever heard of the Magical Order of Crucis?”

  Not many normal people knew the word magical was at the beginning of the Order’s name.

  “Magical?” I pretended to question the name. “Don’t they have a museum?”

  “Yes. And we’ll be breaking in tonight.”

  * * *

  Both dressed in black, Math and I perused the area around the outside of the Crucis Museum late that night. Most of the sensors and security cameras were off so I wasn’t too nervous. Aaron was aware and had encouraged the plan. With full security, I never would’ve attempted breaking into the museum. This place was guarded like an ancient pyramid, except for the ghostly souls.

  Math carried a black satchel with clanging tools inside. “I analyzed the museum maps and the best way to get in is going to be a small side door by the loading dock.”

  I’d analyzed a few maps myself and had left a bathroom window open on the ground floor. I couldn’t tell Math. I couldn’t tell him this was where I lived and the Order was aware of our break-in plans.

  Aaron believed this outing would take an entire night. An entire night the Order would be ahead in the pursuit of the trumpet. An entire night closer to my ultimate goal of leaving the Order.

  Math bent over the security pad by the door. He plugged a couple of wires into the panel to try to decode the system. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. If I can’t figure out the code I’ll break the door down.”