Chapter 23

Kendra took a deep breath and answered. “Hello.”

“Kendra, it’s Thaddeus.”

“Thaddeus, hi.”

“I’m calling to apologize for last night. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m fine. I’m the one who should apologize. I feel awful about running away like that. It’s just, well, Minerva’s exhibit really upset me, and I just freaked.”

“I totally understand. I hadn’t seen the exhibit and had no idea how graphic it was. I’d like to take you to dinner to make it up to you. That is if you want to see me again.”

“Dinner?” She turned to Loren and Deanne for their reaction. They both vigorously nodded. “Of course I want to see you again, and dinner sounds nice. I’m working tonight, so I have to be done by eight-thirty.”

“No problem. I’ll pick you up in half-an-hour.”

Kendra ended the call and let out a breath. “Okay, hopefully I’ll find out some answers. But I have to tell you, thanks to Jared, the entire time I’m with Thaddeus I’ll be wondering if he’s some kind of psychopath.”

Deanne knitted her brows. “Should we follow you?”

“I don’t think that will be necessary. I have my unicorn.” She touched the glass figure at her neck. “And we’ll be in a restaurant. But to be on the safe side, Loren, can you put some protection together for me?”

“Sure, I’ll run downstairs and make an herb sachet for your purse. If we haven’t sold it, we have a bracelet of amber, amethyst and red tiger’s eye you can wear.”

A short time later, Kendra opened her door to admit Thaddeus. “Hi, come on in. I have to feed Clementine. I’ll just be a minute.”

Thaddeus stepped into the apartment. “That’s fine, take your time.” He glanced around the room. “Do you realize I’ve yet to meet your cat?”

Kendra turned to where Clementine had been sitting by her dish patiently waiting for her dinner. “That’s strange, she was right there a minute ago. She never leaves when she thinks food is coming.” Kendra shrugged. “She must have seen a bird or something and is in the bedroom window.”

“I’m glad to see your roses are still holding up.” Thaddeus nodded to where the vase sat on the coffee table.

“They’re perfect, thank you again.” She gazed into his soft brown eyes and had the sensation of being drawn into their dark depths. Jared is wrong about him. He’s a kind, decent man who would never harm me. When he held her in his arms and kissed her, she sighed and opened her mouth to him. He deepened the kiss and held her close, caressing the back of her neck. A floating sensation came over her, as well as a sudden overwhelming need for sexual release.

The tension inside her built until she dug her nails into his shoulders. From a far distance she heard him whisper, “That’s it, feel my pleasure, let it surround you, now let it come.”

She could do nothing but cling to him while the orgasm that erupted throughout her body consumed her.

The next thing she knew she was standing in her bedroom, blinking in confusion. She heard a high- pitched howl followed by Thaddeus’s cries of pain. In horror, she saw Clementine wrapped around Thaddeus’s leg, her claws penetrating through his slacks.

“Clementine, no, stop that.” She hurried to pull the cat away. “Oh, Thaddeus, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over her. She’s never done anything like that before. Sit down and let me see how bad it is.”

Visibly holding onto his patience, Thaddeus waved her away. “I’m fine. I’ll just go into the bathroom and take care of it.”

“It’s through there.” She pointed. “Again, I’m sorry.”

He gave her a tight smile. “Don’t worry about it. We must have startled her, that’s all.”

When Thaddeus shut the bathroom door, Kendra knelt next to the cat and stroked her trembling body. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Did he scare you? I’m a little shook-up myself.” Embarrassment over her reaction to Thaddeus’s kiss mixed with her unease. She’d had some pretty explosive orgasms with Jared, but nothing like that. Especially over a kiss. It had been almost scary in its intensity.

“Are you ready to go?” Thaddeus asked.

Startled, she winced. “What?”

“I asked if you were ready to leave.”

She stood. “Sure. Are you all right?”

This time his smile was full of warmth. “I’m fine. Please don’t let it bother you.”

Kendra licked dry lips. She had to mention the kiss and her reaction. “Thaddeus, about…” She felt the color staining her cheeks.

He took her hand in his. “Kendra, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’re two adults attracted to one another, though I’m afraid Clementine has spoiled the mood. Let’s go on and have a nice dinner.”

She nodded gratefully. “Let me get my purse.” With Thaddeus behind her, she headed out the door.

Once they were down on the street, he said, “We’ll go to Dickie Brennan’s, if that’s okay with you?”

She hesitated. The restaurant was around the corner from the Dupre Hotel and a favorite of hers and Jared’s. Could she take a chance they’d run into him?

“If you don’t like it there, we can go somewhere else,” he was saying.

“No, Dickie Brennan’s is fine.” If they saw Jared, well, then she’d have to deal with it.

“It’s quite a ways.” He took her arm and steered her toward a black BMW. “I thought we’d drive.”

When he opened the passenger door, a jolt of fear and foreboding startled her and she paused.

“Is there a problem?”

She tamped down the urge to jerk her arm from his grasp. What was wrong with her? Wasn’t she just in his arms? If he wanted to harm her, he’d had the perfect opportunity. She frowned. All Jared’s wild accusations had her emotions whirling like some crazed carnival ride. Still, a voice in her head told her to be cautious. She turned to Thaddeus and smiled. “I’ve been indoors all day and would love to stretch my legs. Do you mind?”

He shrugged. “Whatever you like.”

They made their way up Chartres and turned right onto Iberville. Kendra kept her eyes straight ahead as they passed Royal and the Dupre Hotel. Once in the restaurant they headed down the steps to their table, waiters and hostesses greeting Kendra.

“You seem to be well known here,” Thaddeus said.

“Ahh, yes, well.” Kendra stammered. “You happened to choose one of my favorite places to eat.”

Thaddeus smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. Would you like a glass of wine?”

She shook her head. “Since I have to work tonight, I’ll just have a soda, thanks.”

After the waiter took their order. Thaddeus clasped her hand. “Kendra, again, I’d like to apologize for taking you to Minerva’s. If I’d had any idea the exhibit would upset you that much, I would have never invited you to go.”

Here was the opening she’d been waiting for. “Thaddeus, it wasn’t your fault. Minerva is a little weird, and I should have expected the worst, but there is something I’d like to ask you about.”

“Sure, what is it?”

She gazed directly into his eyes. “Did Minerva spike the punch with some kind of hallucinogenic herb?”

His brows rose. “What?”

“Minerva. Did she put something in the punch to heighten our experience viewing the exhibits?”

Thaddeus shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of. Why are you asking me such a thing? Not only would that be dangerous, I’d think it would also be illegal.”

Kendra sipped her water. He truly seemed outraged. She set down her glass. “So you felt no ill effects from the punch?”

“No, why? Did you?”

She nodded. “If it wasn’t Minerva, then someone else did. Because I was certainly drugged.”

Consternation filled his face. “Are you telling me your behavior was caused by a hallucinogenic herb?”

She shrugged. “Or something.”

“Kendra, please, I’m trying to understand, but why would someone give you drugs?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea. I assumed they were given to everyone, but evidently not. Thaddeus, I was so out of it, I hardly remember anything.”

He stared into his wine glass before replying. “Your behavior was odd, but I thought you were just agitated over the exhibits. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize what was happening.” His mouth formed a thin line. “And you’d better believe I’m going to ask Minerva about it. I’ve never heard of anything so reprehensible.”

Kendra folded and unfolded her napkin. How could someone as evil as Thaddeus was supposed to be sound so sincere? She’d never experienced the dark side of magic, but on the other hand her instincts were usually pretty good. She thought Thaddeus was exactly what he seemed, a nice guy who cared for her.

Thaddeus sipped his wine. “I wonder though.”

“What’s that?”

“If it turns out not to have been Minerva, then who?” He studied her closely. “Kendra, I don’t want you to think I’m doubting you, but you’re sure you weren’t just reacting to the exhibits?”

“Definitely not. But you bring up a good point, that anyone there could have done it. Again, I have to ask, why? Some people have a strange idea of what’s fun. Maybe I should be the one who talks to Minerva. She may not even know what happened.”

He hesitated. “If you like, but do you honestly want to go back there?”

The thought of going anywhere near Minerva’s shop made her skin crawl, but she wanted to discover the truth. “Not really, but if she or someone she knows is drugging people with her punch, they need to be stopped.”

“How about if we go together? I’d like to hear what she has to say. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

He took a deep breath. “Unless you’d rather go with Dupre.”

Kendra couldn’t speak. He must have seen her with Jared. Before she could think of a response, he continued.

“When you ran out of the museum I was concerned, so I followed and saw you get into his car.” He paused, looked away, then back. “Kendra, I enjoy being with you, but I don’t want to be in competition with Dupre. So if you two are trying to patch things up, perhaps I should step aside.”

The hurt in his eyes tore at Kendra’s heart. Her earlier apprehension was nothing more than jumpy nerves. She placed her hand on his arm. “Thaddeus, last night I was scared and not in my right mind. Jared happened to be there and I let him take me home, that’s all.” She saw the skepticism on his face, but she continued. “Jared is under the impression that we’ll eventually get back together but considering that I’m not sure I can ever trust him again, I don’t see how that’s possible.”

Thaddeus smiled. “So I can take that to mean I might have a chance?”

Before she could respond a female voice said, “Why, Kendra, hello.”

Kendra turned to see Monique Frost, a member of her coven, standing next to the table.

“Hey, Monique, how are you?”

“Fine, thanks. I’m here with Barb, Sherry, and Shelley and I saw you sitting here.” Without waiting for Kendra to introduce her, she held out her hand to Thaddeus. “Hi, I’m Monique Frost.”

Thaddeus smiled and took her hand. “Thaddeus Marsh.”

“Nice to meet you,” Monique continued. “Are you visiting New Orleans?”

He nodded. “For a while.”

“Great, I’m sure Kendra can show you all our wonderful sights.”

Thaddeus squeezed Kendra’s hand. “I'm hoping to take up a lot of Kendra’s time.”

Monique’s smile suddenly turned brittle. “Well, I’d better get back. Enjoy your dinner.”

Kendra watched as Monique wove her way to her table until, taking a seat with her back to them, she took her cell from her purse and made a call.

“Is she a friend of yours?”

“She’s part of my coven.”

“I don’t think she likes me being with you. Is she also a friend of Dupre’s?”

“We’ve known her for years, and she’s usually very friendly.”

“Kendra, I…”

“Thaddeus, it’s all right.” She stopped him before he could continue. “Jared and I were together for a long time, and people don’t know how to react when they see us with someone else. What I don’t understand is why I’m the one getting the icy stares? It wasn’t me who left Jared.” The servers arrived with their food and Kendra was glad for the distraction.

After coffee and a rich mousse Kendra knew she shouldn’t have had, she glanced at her watch. “Dinner was wonderful. Thank you, but I need to get going.”

“I was wondering if I could join the tour. I’d naturally pay for my ticket. I think visiting haunted hotels would be interesting.” He smiled. “Especially if you’re the guide.”

Kendra silently groaned. Since her mother added the Dupre Hotel to their list of stops, they’d decided to begin the tours there. Seeing the eager expression on his face, she cursed Jared for putting her in this position. Damn him anyway. If Thaddeus wanted to go on her tour and Jared didn’t like it, then that was too bad. “I’d love to have you join us, but I have to warn you that we begin the tour at the Dupre.”

Thaddeus shrugged. “I have no problem with that if you don’t.”

“Then let’s go.”

As soon as they turned the corner onto Royal, Kendra was surprised to see police cars parked in front of the hotel. “I wonder what’s going on. We have a few minutes before people start arriving for the tour—let’s see if we can find out anything.” She led Thaddeus across the street and halted on the sidewalk where she spotted Jared speaking with a police officer. When Jared turned and saw her with Thaddeus, she braced herself.

Jared said something to the officer, then headed their way. “What the hell are you doing with him?”

Kendra bristled. “Jared, that’s enough. For your information, I’m waiting to begin my tour, and Thaddeus is joining us.”

“Isn’t that nice. You don’t listen very well, do you?”

Kendra gritted her teeth. “You’re not my keeper.”

Thaddeus touched her arm. “Kendra, I should leave.”

Jared stood, his body tense. Anger blazed in his eyes and his mouth had a grim set to it. “Good idea, fucker. Leave.”

“Jared, stop it. You’re acting like an ass. And Thaddeus, stay right there.”

“You know what, Kendra, I’ve got other problems right now. So go have fun, and if he turns you into one of his zombies, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

As Jared turned away, Kendra grabbed his leather-jacketed arm. “What’s going on? Why are the police here?”

“Kathleen LeBlanc is missing.”

“What?”

“She didn’t show up for work this afternoon, and her family hasn’t heard from her since she left yesterday. It seems I may have been one of the last people to see her.”

Even though she disliked Kathleen, Kendra didn’t want any harm to come to her. “Is there anything we can do?”

“Considering she’s an adult, normally the police wouldn’t put out a missing person’s report on her for seventy-two hours, but her parents are so worried they agreed to investigate. I’ve notified the coven, and there are groups out searching for her.”

“Does anyone know where she hangs out? Or who her friends are?” Kendra asked.

“Carla said she was seeing someone but didn’t know who. She said Kathleen was being extremely secretive about this man. Carla also was afraid she’d gotten mixed up with some bad people.” Jared’s attention shifted to Thaddeus.

“You wouldn’t know anything about this, would you?”

“Jared, why would he?”

“Because controlling and hurting women is something he likes to do, that’s why.”

The hostile sparks of energy pulsating from the two men were frightening.

Thaddeus’s face was rigid with anger when he said, “Dupre, I don’t know who you think I am, but I don’t hurt women. I’m getting tired of you trying to convince Kendra I’m some kind of monster, so back off.”

“You lying son-of-a-bitch.” As the two men lunged at each other, Kendra threw up her arms to block them with an energy shield. “Stop it. Both of you just stop it. For the love of Odin, we’re out on a public street, there’re police officers a few feet away, and I’m sure the last thing they want is a couple of witches battling it out in front of this crowd.”

The NOPD and the Wiccan community got along well enough as long as the witches were discreet and didn’t interfere with the mortal members of the community or flaunt their magical abilities in front of tourists. Kendra glanced quickly over to where the police stood to see if they had observed their tiff and let out a breath of relief when she saw their backs were to them.

Jared and Thaddeus glowered at her as if this was all her fault. Well, she’d had enough. “You know what, I have a tour to conduct, so I’m leaving.” She turned to Thaddeus. “You’re still welcome to join us, if you’d like.”

Thaddeus looked from her to Jared and nodded.

“Good.” She turned to Jared. “Please let me know if there’s any word on Kathleen.”

“Sure thing. You two have a nice night.”

Kendra opened her mouth to respond, decided to ignore his sarcasm, and crossed the street to join her group.