Raven, Red

by Connie Suttle

Darnell considered calling Belhar, but he was already perturbed enough to yell at him and yelling at a good servant wasn't the best idea. Belhar had been avoiding him for days, or so it seemed, and Darnell was pissed about it.

  After all, Benny Killebrew had seen Belhar several times in the interim, and had passed messages along to Darnell. Belhar should be speaking directly to him, Darnell snorted, causing Phyllis, Benny's wife, to jump as she set a mug of fresh coffee on his desk.

  "Sorry," Phyllis apologized. "Benny's out on an errand, and we're nearly out of coffee and a few other things," Phyllis said timidly, her hands betraying her nervousness in Darnell's presence.

  "You're telling me we need groceries?"

  "Yes, sir, Governor, sir."

  "Here," Darnell pulled a wad of cash from a pocket, along with keys to his SUV. "Go get coffee and whatever else we need. I'll tell Benny I sent you out if he asks."

  "All right," Phyllis' voice trembled. Turning away, she headed for the door.

  "Get some toasted and salted pecans if you can find any," Darnell called after her.

  "I will."

  "Maybe I'll have a few words with Benny when he gets back, letting the pantry get low like that," Darnell grumped before unlocking his cell phone and placing a call to his current—and soon-to-be-gone—Chief of Staff, Gerri Dean.

  He still didn't have an answer from his wife on whether she'd be at the funeral and dammit, he wanted an answer. Gerri had already called several times, but his wife had put off answering every time.

  Maybe I ought to bring her out here and let her see how things really are, he mused.

  "No," he said aloud. "She'd bring the kids. That won't do."

  Phyllis gripped the steering wheel so hard her hands began to sweat. Benny kept her driver's license in a desk drawer; it was the only thing other than Cheatham's cash and keys she'd carried out of the lodge. She had two hours, perhaps, to disappear and abandon the SUV before somebody started looking for her.

  Cheatham's pocket money had turned out to be nearly three hundred dollars. She'd never had that much cash in her life; Benny always controlled the money and the checkbook.

  She needed shelter—a hiding place. Where could she go?

  "Go to the grocery store and leave the car. Maybe they'll think I was kidnapped," she mumbled as if to reassure herself. "There's a bus station not far from the store," she added. "I can walk there and buy a ticket for the first bus going anywhere."

  With that plan in mind, Phyllis set her course for Virgil's Supermarket in Fredericksburg.

  "I've reserved Sang's private room—it'll hold all of us. Barely," Burke dropped onto the chaise next to Janie's and reached out to pat her hand.

  "Ari can get us there—we just need a good place to appear and disappear," Janie leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "I forgot how restful it is, here," she told him.

  "I keep inviting you to visit," Burke's voice was gruff. All his life, he'd been envious of his older brother—who'd gotten the ranch and the best woman he'd ever met. He'd built everything he had from the ground up, and now owned one of the most prestigious law firms in Dallas.

  Plus, he'd built this home with Janie in mind. He'd added all the things she loved but couldn't have at the ranch, for the times his brother and sister-in-law came to visit. When Brett died, however, Janie closed herself off and focused solely on Val and the ranch. Lately, though, she'd come out of her shell—when Ari and the others needed her.

  "I know," Janie responded to Burke's previous statement, breaking into his thoughts. "I haven't thanked you for taking such good care of Mary Kate and Francine."

  "They're family," Burke said.

  "Yes, they are. Keeping them safe is a priority."

  Burke jerked slightly when Mac's voice sounded in his head, with the following words: You can now say things in private this way, you know.

  Burke, momentarily stunned, took a moment to take a deep breath before letting it out. Janie? he sent, as an exploratory attempt.

  Burke? Janie's mental response revealed her surprise.

  Janie, I ah, Burke floundered.

  I know you love me, Janie told him. I love you, too. I think we just had to wait until the right time to say that.

  Thank the First Wolf, Burke whispered into her mind. What are we going to do about it?

  I was hoping Val would find someone for himself, she said. But after this mess is over, maybe we can talk about it? Just the two of us? We're not too old to ah, you know.

  I know. And I like that idea. A lot.

  Please don't sound too desperate, Phyllis chastised herself as she spoke with the attendant. The bus station wasn't a station—it was pick up and drop off only. At a service station.

  "You can buy a ticket online, but the next bus to Austin won't be here until tomorrow," the service station attendant told her.

  "I really need to get there sooner," Phyllis said, attempting to slow the rapid beating of her heart and the trembling of her hands.

  "There's somebody local who drives for one of those—you know, pick up and drop off services—like a taxi, except they drive their own cars."

  "I only have cash." Phyllis was so frightened by now she nearly burst into tears. Cheatham's SUV was in the grocery store parking lot several blocks away, and she'd dropped the keys in a trash barrel between there and what should have been a bus station but wasn't.

  "He may be willing to drive you, but it's nearly eighty miles. I figure that could cost close to a hundred."

  "I'd pay him a hundred, if he's willing to take me now," Phyllis warbled. Her throat felt as if it were closing; she gulped shallow breaths as her panic increased.

  "Let me call him," the cashier offered and lifted the receiver of the phone at her elbow.

  "Sang's is five blocks from my gallery," Ari explained to the group gathered in Burke's spacious foyer. "I still have the alarm codes and an extra key hidden inside; we can land inside and leave from there, too."

  Claudio beamed at her; he was the only vampire who'd allowed his excitement to show regarding their outing. The others had dampened their eagerness to go out for a meal; some of them had never had the experience, they were so old.

  "Maybe this is a good reason to hold onto the gallery," Burke smiled at her. "Don't worry about the rent—I've already covered it for the next six months. Maybe by then, we'll have everything sorted out."

  Ari's cheeks pinkened as she digested the information. "Thank you," she breathed.

  "I have a confession to make to you, Ari," Claudio dipped his head to her. "I had an agent contact the buyer for your last painting. I offered him a generous increase to sell it to me. It now hangs in my home—in Tulsa."

  "You didn't," Ari's eyes were wide with astonishment.

  "I did. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to have it. The light falling upon the rock formation is astounding. You captured it perfectly."

  "They call that the Lighthouse," Ari explained. "It's a hoodoo."

  "I did some research on the subject," Claudio smiled. "It was informative."

  "I still can't believe you bought it," Ari told him. "Okay, are we ready to go?"

  "I'm ready," Mac said. "My stomach has been growling for half an hour."

  "All right—we'll hurry, since you're about to cave in and all."

  "Where's Phyllis?" Benny Killebrew stalked into Darnell's office, interrupting a phone call.

  "Just tell her to meet me in the sanctuary at nine-thirty," Darnell shouted into the phone before ending the call. "What the hell, Rev?" Darnell snapped at Killebrew. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

  "Where's Phyllis?" Killebrew repeated his question.

  "We ran out of coffee and some other stuff. I sent her to the grocery store."

  "When?"

  "I don't know." Darnell checked his Rolex. "Three—four hours ago, maybe."

  "She should be back by now. How the hell was she getting to the store, anyway?"

  "I gave her keys to my car and some cash to buy what we n
eeded. You ought to keep a closer eye on the pantry, Rev. I won't tolerate not having coffee when I want it."

  Killebrew looked as if he were ready to explode. "That bitch has run off—I guarantee it, and you let her go."

  "Chill out, Rev. She doesn't know to jump until you tell her to. Besides, I can call my service for the SUV—they can tell me where it is at any moment."

  "Then you ought to call," Killebrew hissed so forcefully spittle flew from his mouth. "I'm telling you she never made it to the grocery store."

  "Fine." Darnell lifted his cell and scrolled through his contacts before tapping one and putting the phone on speaker.

  "Hello, Mr. Cheatham, how can I help you today?" The call was answered by an actual person.

  "I need to know where my SUV is," Darnell said.

  "Hold on and I check on that. Ah, it's at Virgil's Supermarket in Fredericksburg, Texas. Has the vehicle been stolen? I can report it to the police."

  "No, no, I loaned it to someone and that's where they should be. Thanks for the info." Darnell ended the call.

  "Didn't make it to the store, huh? I told you she's too afraid to do anything that upsets you."

  "Maybe she's been abducted, then," Killebrew said. "Or murdered for the cash you gave her."

  "Call the store. Have them page her," Darnell was more than done with the conversation. "I have other calls to make, so do it elsewhere."

  "Thank you," Phyllis handed her driver a hundred dollars in twenties. He'd dropped her off at the bus station in Austin, as she'd asked.

  "No problem," Jack, her driver, said as he stuffed the cash in his pocket. "I think I'll grab something to eat before I go back home."

  "Enjoy your meal," Phyllis said and shut the door. Feeling like her legs were made of rubber, Phyllis forced herself upright and walked into the bus station. Glancing around, she located the ticket counter and the agent standing behind it.

  "I'd like to buy a ticket to Dallas, please," she told the young man.

  "What date and time?"

  "Next bus out."

  "I have one seat left on the bus leaving in ten minutes," he told her after tapping on a computer.

  "How much?"

  "It's economy—twenty-nine dollars plus tax."

  "I'll take it."

  "That was excellent," Mac sighed. Everyone else sitting at the private room table appeared more than satisfied with their meals, too.

  "Told ya," Nico prodded Mac with an elbow.

  "I'm glad they let us order extra steak," Ari said.

  Yeah, Nico responded. Full moon coming up, huh?

  Exactly, Ari replied. I'm glad it's two days after the funeral, too. Could become a real mess if that wasn't the case.

  "Please, allow me to pay for the meal," First Scholar argued gently with Burke, who was reaching for his wallet. "I insist, and I have cash."

  "All right, but I'll get the check next time," Burke told him.

  "This was such a pleasure," Second Scholar said. "It is only fair that we conclude the experience with something else we've never done—tipped for an excellent meal and service."

  "Claudio, I have an announcement to make," First said after laying several hundred-dollar bills on the small tray holding the check.

  "What is that, First Scholar?" Claudio asked.

  "I am promoting Fourth, Fifth and Seventh. Fourth is now Third, Fifth is Fourth, and you are now Fifth Scholar."

  "I am twice honored," Claudio dipped his head to First. "I would also like to congratulate my brother Scholars on their promotions as well."

  "Way to go, Claudio," Everette raised her glass of wine to the newly-appointed Fifth Scholar.

  "Well deserved," Alejandro followed Everette's example.

  "As it should be," Renault said and lifted his glass to Claudio, and then to the new Third and Fourth Scholars. "Well deserved all around."

  "To our friends," Mac lifted his glass. "May all your endeavors succeed."

  "The keys are missing and there's no sign of Phyllis," Benny Killebrew snapped. He and Billy Ray walked around Cheatham's SUV, searching for any sign of a struggle.

  "Locked up, like she left it to go inside and never made it," Billy Ray muttered. Phyllis had parked mid-row on the east side of the parking lot.

  A nearby pole lamp flickered erratically in the night air, ramping up the Reverend's anger. Had the bitch run off, or was she abducted? Either way, he didn't want her talking—she knew too much.

  "Is there a bus station here?" Billy Ray asked.

  "How the hell should I know? Phyllis liked to shop here for groceries. I never came with her—that's woman's work."

  "I'll go inside and ask." Billy Ray loped toward the supermarket entrance. He was back in less than five minutes while Killebrew continued to fume.

  "No bus station here, just pick up and drop off. Can't buy a ticket there—has to be done online."

  "I guess that rules out the bus, then. Dammit, what happened?"

  "I don't know, but even if she did escape, you think she'd talk to anybody? Phyllis is a scaredy cat. Besides, she knows that somebody will come after her if she even hints at talking to the police."

  "You'd know about that, wouldn't you?" Killebrew hissed.

  "Yeah. I know about that. I heard they're still trying to get the jail fixed."

  "And still wondering if you're dead or alive. You and that parasite, Denton Franks."

  "Look—how hard will it be to ask Belhar to send one of his servants after Phyllis if she shows up somewhere?"

  "Not hard, I suppose."

  "Then let's use Cheatham's extra keys and drive this thing back to the ranch."

  "We better buy coffee, first, or he'll be pissed."

  "Sounds like a fine idea."

  "Burke? I haven't seen you in forever." A man walked up as Burke and the others prepared to leave Sang's. "I got your message the other day; I just haven't had time to get back with you."

  "Hey, Marlon," Burke readily shook the man's hand. "I was just checking on that property next to my nephew's ranch. Has it gone back to the bank, yet?"

  "Just about. Sorry the deal fell through the first time. Franks turned out to be just as squirrely as you said he was. Last I heard, he was missing and presumed dead—him and that idiot he hired to burn down the house."

  "Well, we'll be interested if it goes up for auction."

  "Already have feelers out," Marlon Keating grinned at Burke. "Let me know if you need anything else, all right?"

  "Will do," Burke said. "Good to see you, Marlon."

  "You, too."

  Ari and Nico, shielded by Mac and Renault, walked out of the restaurant behind Burke and Janie, while the others followed.

  We'll do some research on Marlon, Del announced as he and Mona walked out together.

  Marlon Keating—he's in real estate, Burke replied. I have a number and an address if you want it.

  I do, Del replied. Can't be too careful, you know.

  "Don't tell me there's a snag with the property this late in the game," Darnell didn't bother saying hello when he answered Marlon Keating's call.

  "Nope. You're squeaky clean," Marlon replied. "But I may have information about a cover-up."

  "Cover-up?"

  "Well, I've had my eye on some property in Deep Ellum—have a client who's interested, you know. It's that property where the Mexican food place was blown up—remember that one?"

  "Yeah. Everybody died."

  "Including the son. I've been looking into all this, you know, trying to find out who's dealing with it. Turns out, an old friend, Burke Jordan, has been handling all the legal stuff on that property and the art gallery across the street. Well, I saw Burke and a bunch of other people tonight at one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Guess what? One of the people with him looked to be in his late teens or early twenties. Had dyed hair, but he's the right age and everything to be that kid everybody thinks is dead. Now, once you sit in the Governor's seat, would you mind doing a bit of research on tha
t? Somebody's hiding something, I think."

  "I can look into it, for sure," Darnell replied. "You did me a big favor with this place, so it's only fair."

  "Thanks. My client really wants that property—to build a nicer restaurant, you understand."

  "Sure thing. I'll get back to you. Is Wednesday soon enough?"

  "Oh, yeah."

  Darnell ended the call and looked up as Killebrew walked in with Billy Ray. "We found your SUV," Benny said. "Phyllis is probably dead in a ditch somewhere, and the cash you gave her is in somebody else's pocket. We bought coffee, though, and I'll send somebody else out tomorrow morning to get the rest. Don't worry," Killebrew held up a hand before Darnell could protest. "Belhar will find her if she turns up."

  "Where is Belhar?" Darnell demanded. "I thought I'd see him by now."

  "Don't worry, he's putting everything together, so it all goes without a hitch," Killebrew soothed. "You'll see him when everything is in place."

  Phyllis began to panic after stepping off the bus at the station in Dallas. Where could she stay? Adrenalin had run its course and she felt beyond weary.

  "You all right?" The woman who'd sat on the opposite side of the aisle approached her as she stood at the center of the concrete loading area, quietly panicking.

  "I ah," Phyllis' voice trembled.

  "You need a place to stay? Are those bruises on your arm and neck the reason you're here?"

  "I uh," Phyllis swallowed with difficulty.

  "There's a women's shelter not far from here. Come with me; I'll put you in a cab."

  "But," Phyllis whispered.

  "If it's not for you, you can leave tomorrow. Tonight, I think you need a warm bath and a bed."

  "Th-thank you," Phyllis stuttered.

  "Come on. Let's find that cab."

  "Security will be tight in the church parking lot, but there'll be some who park nearby to stay away from the common herd," Shank tapped the paper map of the church in Austin.