by Livia Quinn
My earlier antagonism of Tempe's father had been based on a contrived background and on the very real pain his deception had caused Tempe. I'd revised my opinion of him after finding out the reason he'd faked his death, which was evidence of his devotion to his children. But the man… Djinn… whatever, was—I pinched myself again—yep, still here sitting in my bed with Jordie in the other room… Dutch was thousands of years old.
I shook my head. How could I keep Jordie in this environment? Giving my daughter stable, 'normal' surroundings to grow up in without a lot of the craziness she'd had to endure early in her life had been my Prime Objective. Unfortunately, this town epitomized crazy.
Sure, Jordie had handled the "seance" or whatever Aurora had named the gathering with remarkable composure, but what would she do when she found out some if not all of the people she knew weren't… human? When she saw Dutch or Tempe or Dylan in action? Would she turn into the rebel she'd avoided so far? Run away? God forbid, go live with her mother, wherever she was?
Well, there was nutty and strange, and then there was deranged, like my ex. That was my answer.
Things might be different here, but it was Jordie's mother's stunts that were unjustified, unbearable, and unacceptable. Like the two years she claimed to have a job on the road in sales and had left Jordie with my parents, only appearing once and even then, by accident.
I'd hired a private investigator in advance of my custody suit. He described the company she'd kept with words like strange, slimy, low-lifes, dumpster-diving scavengers and even the word creature had been thrown about. He'd never offered me photos or detailed descriptions but it had been enough for me to start the proceedings against her for abandonment.
My breath pushed out as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Right now, if I had to pick one environment over another I'd pick the caring individuals I'd met in Destiny hands down. Case in point, Tempe had been on the run, and she still took time to make sure my daughter was safe. Jordie had asked Tempe to come to her game, and she'd not only showed up but brought half the town with her to sit in Jordie's section on game night.
A lot had happened since I asked Tempe to go to the Mardi Gras ball with me. With only thirty-six hours left before the ball, it looked like I was going to be disappointed. I could live with that if we found River. But who knew what could happen between now and then?
I reached for my toothbrush. Did the man who faced me in the mirror look any different? Did I feel different? I met the steady green eyes of my ego. Yes, I decided. I felt alive and even with everything I'd learned in the last couple weeks, and the impending problems, I felt the enticing pull of excitement. I'd faced the same thing in my Navy career. Challenge. Like the forces of the world betting against you but you believe you can conquer whatever it throws at you. Yeah. I was up for it.
"Jordie," I called down the hallway. "Time to get up." Beffie, the non-dog, loped down the hall to—in a perfect imitation of a real canine—lick my hand and woof.
I looked into those intelligent eyes. "Good, d—whatever you are. You can stick around as long as Jordie wants you, or until you get another 'job'." The creature answered with another bark and I let him out to do whatever faerie guard dogs do.
* * *
Jack
1 pm What good's a genie that can't wish?
* * *
We needed more time but we weren't going to get it. Every time I looked at my watch we were that much closer to the next full moon and yet another critical juncture.
The other parishes and towns reported in with no results. When I saw Tempe at Gators Grub at lunch showing River's picture to some tourists, I could tell she'd about given up hope. She'd been up all night and was wearing the same clothes she'd been in when Dutch took off with her. "Have you had any sleep?" I asked.
She stumbled and practically fell into my arms, leaning against me, a heavy sigh breathed against my chest. "I can't sleep when…" her voice trailed off. I supported her with my arms wrapped around her and let her rest for a couple minutes. I was past the point of worrying about holding her in public. Everyone knew Tempe was about tapped out. Even Dick the flower man didn't give her a second look. That said a lot. He must figure the news about River wasn't going to be good.
I'd been surprised at the number of people who'd come out and volunteered to beat the bushes—literally—going through the government CRP land, acres of thick young tree growth, with dogs and sticks, braving the snakes and mosquitoes to look for River. There were former customers of River's, even Max; college buddies, mail carriers, and lots of Tempe's customers; some taking an active part, others just offering her support or passing out flyers. You couldn't turn down any street or highway around Storm Lake without seeing River's likeness on a pole or in a window.
By this time I was fairly sure when we did find him it was going to be when they stumbled across his body—if genies even left remains behind when they died. I didn't want to ask that question. Or, there'd be a development and we'd have to mount an emergency rescue operation to get him away from his captors. That breakthrough came late in the afternoon.
Peggy contacted me by radio and gave me two messages. "You must have been out of service. Aurora and Jordie both called."
I pulled into a convenience store and called Aurora first, curious to see if she knew anything but she just wanted me to know the gown I'd ordered for Tempe was here. "Jack, I believe we'll find River, and you need to believe it as well, for Tempe's sake as well as River's."
"Aurora, if this were a purely…" I pressed the heel of my hand to my forehead and squeezed my eyes shut. "If this were a 'human' case, and we'd run out of our leads like we have here, the search would have been suspended. The extenuating circumstances differ because of what you've called a global threat."
"That's exactly right, Jack. I know you're still uncomfortable with much that you've seen—"
I barked a laugh then sobered and came clean with Aurora. "I don't want to have to be the one to tell Tempe that River—"
Aurora said, "Shush, Jack. You've been good for her. I know you've dealt with some harsh realities in your life and at work, but don't give up on River."
What did she know about my life? Had Jordie been talking about her mother? I couldn't help but be curious. "I'll talk to you later."
"Remember, Jack—believe."
"Yeah. Right." If wishes could only make it so. Come to think of it, why couldn't Dutch just wish up River's location? Oh right, the personal restriction to wish granting. I shook my head and pulled up my phone favorites.
Jordie's ringtone sounded before I could call her back, and her excited squeal grabbed my attention.
"Daddy, we've found something on Squawker. I got a DS from an elderly lady, Ms. Elaine Johnson."
"What's a DS?" I frowned and dug my pad out of my coat pocket.
She sighed, "A direct squawk. Anyway, Mrs. Johnson said there's been some suspicious activity at an abandoned deer camp on her road. She doesn't have TV or radio, just a cell phone. She gave me her number and the directions, and I have her Squawker handle if you can't reach her by phone."
I wrote the information down. "What makes you think this is the place, Jordie?"
"Because she recognized Will Crain's truck, the red pickup with equipment in the back?"
"Sweetheart, I… owe… you, big time."
I heard her delight through the phone. "That's affirmative, Daddy-o."
I called the cell phone number but it went directly to a voicemail box that hadn't been set up. "Damn!" I got my dispatcher on the radio. "Peggy, are you familiar with a road near Hutchins Lane?" I gave her the address.
"There are several old oilfield locations out that way, boss. Most of them were abandoned twenty-five years ago."
I filled her in. "I want you to keep calling this woman and get as much detail as you can. See if she has any family in town. Contact each of our deputies on their cells, and keep it off the scanner. Don't let any of our people go near there. When we
go, we want to be sure who's on that road. If she calls, patch her through to my cell. I've got to make some calls."
I called Ryan first because he was the only one I could trust to stake out the road discreetly. "I want you to see if there's a way to get the old woman out of there without being seen or drawing suspicion. I've got Peggy checking on family as well. Get out there, and you and Peggy stay in touch by phone only."
"Roger that." After tonight Ryan would probably be taking off for the other side of the world.
I called Tempe. She answered before I heard a ring. "What?"
"Tempe, we have a lead. A good one. I'll meet you at Harmony. Keep it to yourself."
Jack
* * *
The excitement in Tempe's dining room was palpable. Tempe paced running hands through her hair. "I hate the waiting now that we know. We have to get to him."
Dutch wrapped one Hulk-ish arm around her shoulders and said, "Your sheriff is right to be sure, Tempest. We can't go off half…" he frowned.
"Half-cocked," I offered, encouraged by the 'your sheriff’. "No, we can't. Not when we're this close, Tempe. We need to isolate the area and make a plan."
Dutch kept his gaze steady on me but released Tempe. She walked over to me. "Do you think we'll be in time?"
I swallowed, looking at Dutch. His eyes were sad, but I saw the faint stirrings of hope in them. I pulled her to me, and damned if the big Djinni didn't turn away. Quoting Aurora I said, "You have to believe, Tempest Pomeroy. After all you've been through, it couldn't have been for nothing."
Dutch turned at that and met my eyes. I met his right back. "You and Phoebe put her through a lot. If this were the old world I might have challenged you to a dual." I raised a hand when I saw the heat in his eyes. "I know you thought you were doing the right thing, the only thing you knew to do, but you put Tempe through hell."
Dutch cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, daughter. If I had known…"
"Can we not do this right now?" asked Tempe, pushing out of my embrace. A knock sounded on the door and it opened as Dylan, Kat and Montana entered. I looked down to see that same Dachshund, the one who "belonged to a friend". Right.
I narrowed a look at Tempe. "Another faerie dog?"
The Dachshund changed in front of my eyes into one of the ugliest— "What is that—he?"
The creature spoke, and though he was less than a foot tall, straightened into a dignified posture and managed to put distain into his scratchy voice. "Marty is me name. I was River's familiar, actually, the family familiar. My good looks aside, I may be able to be of some help."
Good looks? I let that slide since he obviously judged his looks by a different set of guidelines than I was familiar with. Ha, familiar, pun.
So, I included the wrinkly mud colored little guy as I filled Dylan, Kat and Montana in on our situation. Montana said, "If you need to get Mrs. Johnson out of there, Rafe and I could go in the ambulance. You could create an emergency call and even broadcast it on the scanner in case they're listening. We'll take her out on the gurney so no one would be suspicious."
"That's a good plan, Montana. You might even go ahead and use the sirens to announce your presence and make sure they don't think its some kind of trick because there's no way you'll get in and out without them seeing you."
"Good idea," Dylan said. "Might lull them into complacence after they leave with Mrs. Johnson."
Tempe said, "That's why all the flyers and newspaper announcements didn't work. And the road is on the far side of the bayou so Dylan didn't pick up the scent. Have you heard from Ryan yet, Jack?" Tempe asked.
"He's got the deer camp in his sights. Will's truck is there and so is Paige's car."
"Zeus bouncing bolts! Finally!" Tempe bent over as relief surged through her. Montana rubbed her shoulder.
"Peggy has Mrs. Johnson's son at the office. She had to assure him we'd get his mother out of there safely and soon. I promised I'd call him in thirty minutes with our plan."
Montana pulled her cell phone out. "I'll go ahead and put Rafe on standby. We'll go when you say the word."
I faced Tempe's father. "Dutch, do you have both amphoras?"
"Yes, but you know we can't use the old one for River."
"I remember you mentioned that," I said. "But tell me why again?" His answer would mean the difference in my plan working or not.
Dutch went into an explanation about the power of a Djinni's force and the need for architectural integrity in a bottle. "It wouldn't work for containment." I repeated.
"Or protection," Dutch said.
"What about as a backup or temporary vessel?" I asked.
Dutch sat back, his golden gaze considering.
"I take it you have a plan," Dylan said.
I gave Tempe's hand a squeeze. "I have an idea. Dutch will have to decide if it will work."
Tempe
5:20pm
* * *
I watched through binoculars as Montana and Rafe drove down the dusty gravel road, lights flashing and pulled up to the Johnson home, next to the son's Ford Focus. Jack had changed the plan thinking it would look less suspicious if the call came from her son to 911 and was picked up on the scanner. He was fairly sure Paige and Will had been keeping track of police movement on a police scanner. Jack set up some phony police calls between Peggy and Basile and even a fake "lead" they were following, supposedly in Amity.
Ten interminable minutes later, they had Mrs. Johnson on the gurney and a worried looking son hurriedly jumped into his car and followed the ambulance. I silently thanked him for following Jack's instructions to the letter, not once looking down the road or over his shoulder. Now came the critical part of the plan.
At various locations around the perimeter of the rural "block" were Dylan, Marty and Kat. Jack had asked what good Kat would be against desperate criminals. Funny, he didn't ask about Marty. Ugly must translate to dangerous. I assured him that even though he'd seen Katerina dressed in black, he hadn't seen her "darkest" side. He'd merely nodded, synced our watches for his 6:10 appointment with Paige, and sent them off to guard the back of the property against an unlikely escape by either Will or Paige.
Ryan sat ready as backup on the road's entrance, in case either Paige or Will somehow got past the rest of us. The unexpected happened at 6:05 pm. A single gunshot rang out.
Chapter 17
Tempe
My sinkhole of a life
* * *
Jack reached for his gun, eyeing the cabin. Angry sparks danced in front of my eyes as I struggled to keep from running to River's rescue.
Dutch's voice rumbled, "Was this part of your plan?" He sounded as if he might blow any minute. I glanced over at him and decided that was an accurate assessment. Jack noticed, too.
"There are two possibilities. An internal shift of power between Will and Paige, or…"
I took that to mean either Will had shot Paige or vice versa, or River had tried to overpower them and failed, which wasn't likely in the shape he was in. "What are you going to do?" I asked as Jack walked around the car toward the cabin.
"I'm going to find out."
I grabbed his arm. My world seemed to be one big sinkhole where the people I loved kept falling into the pit. My mouth was so dry all I could do was whisper, "Please, Jack… be careful."
He put his hand on my neck, his gaze narrowed on mine. "I haven't given up on River yet and neither should you. We work the plan."
Dutch's hands settled on my shoulders. Jack looked at him. "Give me fifteen minutes before you approach, unless you hear another gunshot. If you do, bring it on—Genies, Tempestaeries, Sasquatch, whatever—otherwise, wait for me to signal you."
My stomach was in knots as I watched Jack disappear around the last stand of trees, just a few yards from the cabin. Dutch said, "Stay here, Tempest. I will make sure your man doesn't come to harm."
"To hell with that!" I hissed. "Let's go."
Jack
* * *
The cabin, wh
at was left of it, was worse than run-down, the walls so full of holes it was a wonder the structure could support even a dilapidated roof. I looked at the sagging porch and rotted steps. It wouldn't take a Tempestaerie to blow this house down. One good puff from Destiny's resident Finrir would probably do it.
But it had served its purpose in hiding River's whereabouts until now, being nearly invisible in the overgrown forest. I could feel eyes on me, whether they were from inside or our people—huh, a Freudian slip of the tongue. My neck prickled with the sixth sense that had saved my ass many a time in the air. I decided on the direct approach.
"Hello, the cabin. Sheriff's Office. Paige Whyte, if you're in there, we need to talk."
I made another step and a voice rang out through the crack in the front door. "I saw you, Sheriff. Where are your men?"
I turned as if I'd forgotten about my "men" and looked back at the cabin. "I don't have any men, Ms. Whyte. It's just me." Showing respect might get me in, where aggressiveness might not.
She seemed to be thinking about my statement and was probably looking for my backup in the distance, but except for the gravel street where I stood, there was little to see. My deputies' vehicles were over a mile away. "How about you let me in, Paige? I might be able to help you get what you want."
She was thinking again and no sounds of voices or shuffling escaped the cabin.
"Why would you want to help me?" Paige asked. Still no sign of Will; she must be calling the shots, which made sense, her being the one with some slight power.
"Eh, it's one of those 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' situations. We just need to discuss what it is you want and we can make a deal, something we can both live with."
"Leave your gun outside. Put it on the ground in front of you, very slowly. And don't try anything. I have a pistol pointed right at you."
