Cora shut the door to her office and ran around the corner to Leena’s office. She dumped the armful of papers on her desk. “You’re sure you don’t mind? I can stay and finish.”
Leena shook her head. “Go. I know you want to whip up something scrumptious to dazzle us for the meeting.”
“I still don’t know what possessed me to suggest my apartment. Really, where am I going to put everyone?”
“It’s not that small, Cora.” She watched her friend wringing her hands together. “Tell you what, go grab Kasey as soon as the line shuts down, then pull Rach off that damn forklift. Get them to help you move some stuff around to make more space.” She nodded to the pile on the desk. “I’ll put the packs together for the tours tomorrow. How many?”
Cora dropped another sheet on her desk. “Three classes of fifth-grade kids. The head count is there, too.” She smiled, “You are a gem, you know that?”
“Sure, sure... just make me something sweet and sinful for later.”
“Absolutely, and I’ll even stop bugging you for details on your gardening with Owen for this.”
“Small sacrifice. Go!” Leena sat down and picked up the neatly separated pages. She loved the tour days, well, the children really. It gave her the chance to astonish them with all the facts she’d learned about the recycling industry to get the job. Sighing, she stapled the first of many packets together.
It didn’t take quite as long as she’d anticipated to finish up her paperwork and get the handouts ready for the next day. She still had plenty of time to get to Cora’s. Digging in her purse for her keys, she smiled, realizing she hadn’t seen Owen since Sunday. He’d sent her several text messages though, each hinting at wanting to come see her. She was looking forward to seeing him, that was new.
When she reached her car, she glanced up. The parking lot was empty except for her car and one other. She was going to wave when she realized everyone was already gone for the night. The person was just a shadow in the parked car. The face wasn’t visible. A shiver ran up her spine and her heart was pounding as she opened the door to her car.
She immediately put the key in the ignition and started the car, quickly locking the door and reaching for her purse. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she dug in it for her phone. Glancing back, she saw she was being followed. She hit call. Cora answered. “Cor, someone’s following me from the plant.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know, but I was the last one there. I made sure before I locked up.”
“Don’t panic, Lee. I’m going to put out an all-call to the group and see who’s closest. Ah, keep driving, and don’t stop for any reason.”
“I won’t.” Leena’s hand was shaking on the steering wheel. Glancing in her mirror, she saw the dark car closing the distance between them. When her phone buzzed in her hand, she almost dropped it as she fumbled to flip it open.
“Leena, it’s Dade. I’m five minutes away from the factory. Tell me where you are.”
“Dade.” His name seemed like a talisman. “Um...” she glanced around, “I just went past that old warehouse where they used to store the railway equipment.”
“Got it. I’ll be coming up behind you in a few minutes. Just keep going. What’s the car look like that’s following you?”
“It’s a dark…. blue... ah... some sort of Pontiac I think.”
“Okay, honey, don’t panic. I’ll be there soon.”
“Dade?”
“Ya.”
“Just stay on the phone until I see you.”
“I’ll put you on speaker so I can hear you if you need to tell me any dark secrets, honey.”
“Okay.” She gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white and glanced in her mirror again. “I can see you coming over the hill.”
“Well, I’m your white knight today,” he laughed. “You’re doing fine. I’m going to try to get the plate number, and then I’ll pull in behind you.”
“Okay, I’m going to hang up and call Cora. She’ll be frantic.”
“Sounds good, Lee. Just keep heading to her place even if I stop.”
“But...”
“Just do it, okay?”
“Yes.” She flipped the phone closed then opened it again and dialed Cora.
“Lee?”
“It’s me. Dade is pulling in behind me in front of the other car now. Cor, I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
“Just get here. Everyone else is starting to arrive.”
“Okay, we’re about fifteen minutes away now, maybe less with Dade’s driving.” Her voice was shaking.
“Why don’t you stop and get a ride with him?”
“He told me to keep going even if he stopped.”
“What? I’ll beat that man upside the brain if he tries something stupid.”
“I don’t think he will, Cora.” She glanced in her mirror to see him following close behind her. “He’s right on my bumper now; I’ll see you shortly.”
“Okay. Be safe.”
Leena was still shaking when they pulled up outside Cora’s apartment building. She parked and got out, knees shaking, her cell phone still clutched in her hand and leaned against her car to steady herself.
Dade walked up beside her placed a calming hand on her shoulder. “You did fine. Bastard followed us until about two blocks back.” He held up his hand with a piece of paper in it. “I got the plate; we’ll give it to Chris.” He sneered. “The windows were too dark to see who was behind the wheel.”
“Thank you.” She took a breath and pushed herself away from the car. As they started to walk toward the entrance, Owen flew out the door running toward her as his eyes were looking over every inch. She took two steps and launched herself into his arms. She had never felt safer in her life than she did right now, surrounded by his big arms.
“Are you okay, baby?”
She nodded against his chest. Owen stroked his hand down her hair. “Let’s go inside and get you a drink.” He sheltered her under his arm and started walking her to the door Dade held open.
Dade raised his eyebrows at Owen and smirked at the woman all but hidden in his arm when they walked past. “Got the plate number.”
“Good.”
“Smart lady you’re holding onto right now, my friend. Most would have panicked, but not Leena. She was driving at one hell of a clip heading straight here when I broke every speed record trying to catch up to her.”
Owen kissed the top of her head. “I owe you one. Chris almost had to hold me down so I didn’t take off when I got here.”
They didn’t make it all the way in before Cora was pulling Leena out of his arms and hugging her, then Rachel and Kasey, too. “It’s all our fault. We shouldn’t have just left you there alone.” Cora hugged her again.
“I told you to go. It’s no one’s fault. Dade got the plate. We’re here. Everything is fine.” She didn’t feel fine though, still shaking, she watched Dade hand Chris a scrap of paper. Chris took his cell phone out of his pocket then walked down the hallway. Raising her hands at everyone surrounding her, Leena took a quick breath, “I just need a minute, please.” She walked into the kitchen.
Owen was right behind her. “You want some tea, or something stronger?”
“Stronger.”
“I’ll go see what Cora has.”
He was back in less than a minute with two bottles in his hands. “Wine or vodka?” Leena pointed to the wine. Nodding, he set the bottles down and searched for a glass.
He poured her some and handed it to her with a shaking hand.
Leaning back against the counter, she took a gulp and let the burn distract her. Owen stood there with his hands in his pockets watching her, his eyes roaming over her continuously. Setting the glass down, she stepped over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She smiled when his arms went around her immediately.
“My heart stopped when Cora sent that message, baby. I’ve never been so scared.”
She could feel him shaking. “I’m okay now. It really threw me when I looked up and saw him just sitting there looking at me.” She leaned back and looked up into Owen’s eyes. “Before that, I was pretty excited about seeing you tonight.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Miss me a little then?”
She shrugged. “A little.”
Owen grinned then leaned down to kiss her long and hard. She needed to feel his body close to hers.
“I really hate to break this up, but everyone else is still out here pacing.”
Leena turned in his arms to see Cora standing there with a grin on her face looking very relieved. “We’ll come out. I feel fine now.”
“I wonder why. Must be my good wine.” Cora smirked at Owen.
“Cora, I will be your slave for eternity if you would come and cook for me every day for the rest of our lives.” Steven winked at her.
“Not a chance, Doc. With the hours you keep, everything would go to waste.” Cora laughed.
Leena cleared her throat. “With my interesting drive, I almost forgot. I spoke to Gwen and Justin last night.”
Everyone turned and looked at her.
“What are they planning on doing, Leena?” Rachel mumbled, in between bites.
“They’re still planning a Solstice gathering. They are going to keep it smaller than normal, and keep it to those we all know, which will be hard.”
Cora sat forward. “How are they dealing with everything from Beltane?”
Leena set her glass down. “Gwen is still pretty upset. The police have encouraged them to have the next one. Apparently, they’re going to try to get someone in to keep an eye on things.” She paused and looked down at her plate for a moment. “Justin has the idea that if they make up a story to warn attendees of a loose animal, he can encourage everyone to travel around in small groups instead of ones or twos. I told him it might work.” Leena looked around the room at each person individually trying to gauge their reactions. “They asked if we would still attend. I told them I would, and was pretty sure the rest of us would support them.” She held her breath waiting for their replies.
Chris spoke first. “As long as we stick together like we did at Beltane, I don’t see a problem.”
“Maybe we could request cabins closer to each other as well,” Steven suggested.
Everyone nodded, and Leena smiled. “Good, I’ll let them know to expect eight with two cabins side by side. The location is still unknown, but I’ll get it as soon as they know it.”
Steven stood up and looked around at everyone. “That’s settled. I’m looking for volunteers, people.”
Dade groaned. “No hospital stuff, please.”
Steven grinned. “No. I’ve been asked to help with a children’s charity fair in two weeks. It’s only an hour away, and only one day of your time. I need volunteers to run grills and games.”
Rachel put up her hand. “I’m in.”
Kasey giggled. “Oh, me too.”
Leena smiled. “Me too.”
Cora put up her hand. “Put me behind a grill.”
Dade threw a napkin at Steven. “You know that we now have to go to keep an eye on everyone and keep us all together.”
Steven sat down and nodded. “Yep. Hoped it would work out that way. Excellent! Seven volunteers.”
“How many kids, Doc?” Rachel asked, bouncing slightly in her chair.
He grinned just for her. “Last count was around a hundred and fifty.”
Chris groaned and put his head in his hands just as his phone rang. As he pulled it from his pocket, he was still glaring at Steven. He flipped it open. “Larkin.” He nodded. “Let me grab a pen.” Cora jumped up and grabbed a pen and paper and handed it to him. “Yeah, okay, where? Did you run that? Can you? Appreciate it.” He flipped the phone closed and rubbed his jaw as he looked at what he’d written.
Owen sat up from his sprawled position. “That the car’s info?”
Chris nodded. “Yes, but, unfortunately, it’s registered to a corporation three hours from here.” He handed the paper to Leena. “You ever heard of this place?” She looked at it and shook her head, then handed it to Owen.
When the paper came back around to Chris he tucked it in his pocket. “I’ll do some checking on the corporation, and I’ve got a buddy who’s going to look deeper into the records for the car.”
Dade got up and strolled over to Cora. Without giving her warning he leaned over and kissed her cheek softly. “Amazing food as always, Coralee.” She smiled at him and bowed her head. Then he turned back to everyone else. “No more being caught alone.” He looked at each woman there for a moment. “If you need to be somewhere or go somewhere, there are seven others. Call around and see who’s doing what.” He placed his hand over his chest. “My heart can’t take another night like tonight.” He glanced at Leena when he said that. Then he looked at Owen, he didn’t need to say anything out loud, he understood what he was saying loud and clear.
Cora stood up. “I would really like to see if I can get a look. I haven’t felt anything since we left Beltane, but I’d like to try to see. Sometimes I’ll get little hints and signs. It might help lead us in the right direction.” She glanced at Dade. “Then we could maybe point the police in the right direction. Gwen and Justin could help us with that.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at her. “I need to try, Dade, please,” she whispered.
Dade let out a slow breath and looked around. “Only if everyone agrees. You’ll have more protection than last time.”
“Oh, yes!” Rachel jumped up and grabbed her bag from the corner. She started pulling out big candles and setting them beside her.
Chris laughed. “I think we were set up.” Kasey walked past him smiling and patted his cheek. “Definitely set up.” He watched Leena and Cora drag a round copper table from the corner toward the middle of the room. “So, what’s the game plan?”
Kasey smiled at Chris as she came out of the kitchen with bowls. “Could you roll up the carpet and move the chairs back?”
Leena walked by Owen and pulled his sleeve. “I could use your muscle.”
He flexed. “My muscle is yours anytime you want it.” He followed her to a closet. She filled his arms with three-foot iron candelabra. When his arms were full, he turned to go back into the living room.
Leena rubbed her hand over his butt and grinned at him as he spun back around. “Does that go with the muscle?”
Owen groaned. “You would wait until my arms are full. But, yes, that and every other part goes with it.” He leaned over and kissed her quickly, then headed off with his armload of supplies.
Cora came out of her bedroom in a white gown carrying a small drum covered in animal skin. She offered it to Dade.
“Your grandfather’s?” Dade asked softly. Cora nodded. He took it and pulled her closer to kiss her gently. “I’m honored.”
When Steven pulled the drapes closed, he went to stand beside Leena. “A wall of air?”
Leena thought for a moment and nodded. “Solid one, but not moving. Cora will get grumpy if we blew everything around the apartment.” Steven nodded and went to take his place across from her.
Owen watched everyone setting up, and looked at Dade. “Same as last time?” Dade nodded as he rubbed his hand over the top of the drum. He watched Rachel as she placed a white candle on each stand he’d carried. Chris went along behind her and mumbled something until each wick burst into flame.
Dade sat on the floor across from Cora and nodded to Leena. Not wanting to miss his cue if he was needed, Owen went and stood a few feet behind Cora and watched. When Leena and Steven turned away from everyone, he could have sworn it got brighter inside the circle. The candles seemed to be reflecting off the wall of air that was now surrounding them.
Kasey bent down and lit four candles sitting on the copper table as Dade began to softly drum. When Cora stepped up to the copper table, she began chanting in time to the drumming.
Chris raised his hand over the candles and closed his eyes. The four flames joined together, becoming one large flame. Owen was careful to remain silent and remember everything.
Swaying gently, Cora leaned over the flames and held her hands out to the sides. She spoke so softly he couldn’t hear the words. He glanced at Dade, who had his eyes open this time, staring intently at Cora. His lips were moving in a silent chant. Cora’s whole body jerked, but she continued to sway.
Not sure if he should touch her, Owen stepped closer and held his hands a few inches from her back, ready if he was needed.
Kasey let go of Chris’s hand and stepped up to drop something onto the flames. They rose higher and sparked, broadening the width of the flames’ radius by almost a foot.
Cora faltered in the rhythm of her swaying. Catching Dade looking at him, Owen gently placed his hands against her back, careful not to interrupt her movement. He stared into the flames over her shoulder and saw flashes of what looked like metal, a knife. Focusing harder, so he’d remember everything that was visible to him. It had, he thought, a light wood handle with a cross burned into it.
Cora jerked again and leaned heavier against his hands.
He looked over to Dade, who shook his head slightly. They would continue. Owen looked into the flames again. He clearly saw a hand on a Bible as if it were in the room with them. On the hand was a ring with a blue stone. She jerked again, hissing out a breath.
“Enough!” Dade boomed then looked to Owen as he stopped the drumming.
At his words, Cora slumped back against him, but she was taking deep breaths and recovering much faster than the last time he’d had to catch her. As she straightened away from him, Chris moved in to calm the flames and extinguish the candles, never actually touching anything.
As soon as the flames were gone, Steven and Leena brought their hands up toward the ceiling, then slowly lowered them as if they were pushing the something to the floor.
“Stay inside the outer circle of candles and sit,” Kasey said quietly.
Owen stepped over to Leena and pulled her down to the floor beside him by her hand.
“What was seen?” Rachel asked when everyone was finally sitting.
Cora put up her hand and then looked at Owen. “How much do you see when you touch me?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s all a bunch of pretty flames until I touched you, then it’s like a slide show. I don’t know how much of it I picked up, though.”
Kasey pushed a notebook over to him. “Write it out before it’s gone.”
Nodding, Owen picked up the pen.
Cora turned back to Dade. “As soon as Owen touches me, it amplifies what I see. If it was jumbled before, it clears when he touches me.”
Owen frowned, “so, you saw it, too?”
Dade was running his hand up and down Cora’s back. “He probably draws any unnecessary emotion you’re feeling at that time away, which clears your mind to accept the vision. Ma used to have a friend that could do the same for her.”
“Of course,” Cora smiled, “I’d forgotten.” She let out a long breath. “Well, we saw a knife. It was clean and shining. The handle was pale or at least light wood, and a cross was...” She turned to Owen, “would you say burned into it or carved?”
Owen tried to picture it. “Pretty sure it was burned.”
“Yes, I thought so, too.” She took the cup Chris offered her. “There was a hand on a Bible, Gideon’s, if I’m not mistaken, and on the hand was a ring of silver with a blue stone...”
“A sapphire blue or turquoise blue?” Kasey asked.
“It was kind of a swirled blue. Not the ones you mentioned, kind of flat and it was on the left hand, middle finger.”
Owen quickly sketched the ring and then slid the notebook over toward her. “That’s what I saw.”
Cora picked up the book and looked down drawing. “Exactly that.” She passed the book to Kasey.
Kasey studied it. “The swirl kind of reminds me of tourmaline, but without color, it’s hard to say.” She glanced at Owen, then Cora. “I can e-mail you a few pictures of stones similar to this and you can tell us if any match.” They both nodded. “I think we can safely put out the candles now,” Chris suggested.
“Allow me.” Leena smiled and waved her hand in a big, arching circle.
The candles went out one after the other, and then Owen felt a gentle breeze tickle the back of his neck. Grinning, he looked at Leena and she smiled innocently back at him. “Okay then, who lives closest to Leena?”
Kasey stuck up her hand. He shook his head. “That doesn’t work if she’s giving you a ride home.”
Everyone realized where he was going. “Okay then, I’ll follow Kasey and Leena tonight. I’m the only one that doesn’t have to actually get up and leave the house to work in the morning.”
“Yeah,” Rachel agreed. “We need to have these meetings on nights when I don’t have to get up early or during a day on the weekend.”
“A Sunday brunch?” Chris mused.
Kasey laughed. “Yeah, we could all bring something for potluck.”
Steven shrugged. “Well, I’ll get Cora to bring my contribution then.” He winked at her. “All I’m good at is programming the microwave.” Then got up to gather up the candles.
Cora grinned. “No problem. When and where?”
Chris raised his hand. “Guess it’s my turn next.”
Kasey giggled. “We’ll be brunching in the refined neighborhood of Russle.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Gee, do new jeans or old jeans go with your tapestries, Chris?”
Chris smirked and tossed up his hands in defeat. “Come dressed in your ritual robes and pointy hat if you must.”
“Did he just call me a witch?” Rachel’s mouth dropped open.
“Christopher Larkin…you did not.” Kasey stood with her hands on her hips and glared at him.
“I’d do it again to get a rise out of you, fierce little thing that you are.” Chris laughed at her.
Dade swallowed a grin. “Brave man.”
Leena raised a hand. “Enough, children. I have to get going. I’m about ready to drop where I sit.”
Cora nodded at Leena’s statement.
Kasey dropped her head and closed her eyes, and everyone stared at her until Chris yelped.
“Hey!” Chris was rubbing his stomach. “Sneaky witch punched me in the gut. I think I’m in love.” He grinned weakly at her.
“Poor baby,” Kasey said. “You could get Owen to rub it better.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I’ll take the pain, thanks.”
Owen shook his head. “We need to go before this gets worse.” He glanced at Leena. “Get your sneaky friend in the car, Lee.” She nodded and stood up, looking at Cora. “Do you need a hand putting your place back in order?”
Rachel stood up. “I’ll stay and give her a hand.”
Chris walked over to kiss Kasey on the cheek. “I’ll hang around and give Rach a lift home when you’re done.” He rubbed a hand over Kasey’s spiked head. “I’ll see you for brunch, sneaky witch.”
Kasey smiled. “I’ll be there.”
Leena stood at her car as he pulled up behind her. She walked over as he climbed out. She smiled. “I’d ask you in, but I have school tours all day tomorrow...”
“I know. Cora told me why you stayed late.” He pulled her into his arms and held her. “If I come in, I doubt I’d leave tonight, and I don’t want you drooping tomorrow while you’re wrangling kids.” He kissed the top of her head and then lifted her chin to look at her. “Call me if you need to.”
She nodded. “Are you going to steal a kiss before you go?”
“I think you’re beginning to enjoy that.” His lips hovered over hers for a moment.
“Maybe.” Then she closed the space to touch her lips to his briefly. “I would enjoy some of those good sensations again soon, too.”
His mouth crushed hers in a desperate kiss, he could never have enough of her. Owen pulled his mouth away just as quickly. “Get in the house, woman. My restraint is almost nonexistent right now,” he growled.
Leena smiled and touched her lips lightly to his. “I’ll see you at brunch.”