Magic Rising (23 page)

“Gladys, did Jack ever contact Tamara? Ask for anything from her?”

“No.” Gladys squared her shoulders, readying for an argument. “He never wanted that whore hurting Lora and not once did he ask for money.” She watched the woods seemingly aware more trouble could be coming. “He knew how bad that family was. I think it surprised him when Tamara got sucked back in. Rumor has it that her family’s school used teenagers to commit crimes. They would bring them into an area then move them out before anyone could link them.”

“Do you remember the name of the school?”

“One was named Stone House. That was the first one. The Colinster family tried to do another school someplace up north but it didn’t work out. I’m not sure why they fell away from Stone House, but they did.”

Deirdre couldn’t believe this. It sounded like there were two schools, Stone House and another started by the same family up north. The northern school was probably started around the same time funding for Stone House had stopped. Although none of it explained why Tamara would have the father of her child arrested, arrive in public with another girl, while sending men after Lora. Niam didn’t fit in the picture either.

Deirdre looked down at Lora, feeling her stare. Those big brown eyes looked so innocent, not worthy of whatever devious plans either group had in mind for her. Gladys couldn’t keep her safe alone.

“I would like to make up for that mistake with your dad. I never would’ve helped Tamara if I’d known the truth.” She looked at Gladys. “We need to go now. Those men will be back and they’ll bring a lot of bad people.”

“I’ve already got our bags packed, but nowhere to take ’em.” Gladys lowered her weapon but still eyed the woods.

Deirdre looked at Lora then at Gladys. This mess wasn’t her fault but she couldn’t deny some responsibility in the death of Jack Shope. There wasn’t much she could’ve done. Even refusing the case wouldn’t have solved anything. Jack might be up for murder one without the security but she doubted the forces involved would let Lora go.

“Tell me something Gladys, why did Tamara do what she did? I’m not following her logic.”

Gladys’s old eyes took her in. “She loved Lora and I think wanted to keep her safe from the Colinsters. After a few years, family tends to reclaim what was theirs. Even a good spirit can get worn down. That left Tamara with the one mistake that could always come back.” Gladys looked down at Lora. “A mixed child. I think Tamara’s daddy wants Lora out of the way because it’s the only evidence Lora had been with a black man.”

Deirdre listened but wasn’t sure if Gladys’s beliefs were based more on personal prejudice than actual fact. If Tamara Haas simply wanted Lora dead, they’d just had their opportunity. Instead of killing the girl, they tried to kidnap her. That was more than covering up an unwanted child between a black man and a white woman.

“Let me make a phone call. Get your bags and we’ll find a safe place for you until I get all this worked out.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” spoke Gladys in a chastising tone. “I don’t want no handouts. I’m not one of those people who think everybody owes me everything. I work for what’s mine.”

“I’m sure you do, but the fact remains that I owe this little girl something.”

She went back to her car, dialing her cell phone. She’d told Tech to sleep, so it would be rude to wake him. The only person she could start with was her backup, Sabrine.

“Who in the hell is calling me this early?”

Sabrine was not a morning person, or even an afternoon person. It was nearly noon, and about three hours before she usually rolled out of bed. The fault for her bad sleeping habits resided purely with Deirdre. Long night shifts had permanently changed most of her employees sleeping schedules.

“It’s not early. It’s nearly noon, now get your ass out of bed. We’ve got a job.”

“Deirdre?” The anger faded from her voice. “What’s up?”

“Long story. The Tamara Haas case we took ended messy. You know Jack Shope was shot and killed. The details don’t add up, a gun, a picked handcuff lock, an open cop door, and an unknown female cop no one can identify as the shooter. It’s just a theory but I think that Jack Shope was set up to die. We’re responsible and now someone is after his daughter Lora.”

“Tamara Haas’ daughter?” Sabrine must’ve been filled in on a few details by Tech. “Sounds like Tamara wanted her daughter back.”

Deirdre leaned against her car and saw Gladys lugging a large duffle bag alongside Lora who had a bag bigger than her whole body slung over her shoulder. The two watched her from their porch, apparently providing Deirdre with a bit of privacy.

“There’s more to it. The girl filmed with Tamara wasn’t Lora Shope. Tamara staged that. Next my old nemesis, Niam, is involved in this and I don’t know how. The grandmother thinks Tamara wants Lora dead because she is mixed. That doesn’t make any sense when they could’ve just killed her, but tried to kidnap her instead. I’ve got a million questions and no answers. The clues aren’t falling into place.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Wait about an hour and get to Tech. By then I should have a safe place for them to crash for a few days. My house won’t work. I’ve had situations arise there too.”

“Have you tried Mooney?”

“No but that’s a perfect idea. I’ll call him next. When you get to Tech, tell him I need info fast on this Colinster family. Especially check on any Klan relations just in case the grandmother is right. I also need you to provide security for them while I investigate this.”

There was a long pause, the silence weighing on Deirdre’s nerves. Usually Sabrine helped in all her investigations, splitting the legwork. Sabrine was strong, smart, and a valuable asset, but those same qualities would put her in a better situation to watch two frightened females.

“Why not let one of the guys play watchdog?”

“One, these are two frightened women who might be put on edge by another man. Secondly, I get the distinct impression that Gladys, the grandmother, doesn’t care for white people. There are only two people with good tans working for me, and you’re the only female. You win babysitting duty.”

Sabrine laughed. “You’re just jealous because you’re so damn pale.”

She looked at her very pale skin. “That’s true. I also need you to work your magic with Tech.”

“Magic?”

On the porch the grandmother sat on the step, Lora next to her. It saddened Deirdre to take them from their home, but there was no way to keep them safe. One attempt on Lora made Deirdre ready to run to the ends of the earth to protect them.

“For the move. You know how much he hates moving equipment and, well, you’re screwing Tech. He’ll take the news better from you.” There was no reason to waste time being sensitive. “I want Tech to go with you to whatever safe house I come up with. He’ll have to bring his work with him and be careful that no one follows.”

A strange noise came from Sabrine’s end, a muffled scream. Deirdre realized that she’d covered the mouthpiece and tried to keep Deirdre from hearing her curse. It was cute, and ineffective.

“Don’t you think that will be awkward?” Before Deirdre could answer, Sabrine kept rattling questions. “Are you punishing me? Do you know how pissed he’ll be when he hears this and you want me to tell him?”

“Cool it. Someone is hunting me. That means they’ll be hunting my closest people. You could walk out of your house right now and be gunned down. This way the two of you are safe and at the same time Tech can work while you play guard.”

“What about the rest of our staff?”

“That’s the rest of your job. Call them. See if they’ve been followed. Make a list of anyone who has been approached or contacted about me or the company. Don’t give away too much information beyond a warning that trouble could be out there. I don’t trust this beyond you, me, and Tech. If we have to bring in anyone else, they go to the safe house blindfolded.”

“Who don’t you trust?”

That was a trick question. She’d been raised not to trust, breaking the habit became unusually difficult especially in stressful situations. Her staff was the best, and loyal, but with a little girl’s life in danger, there was no sense in taking chances.

“The people I trust one hundred percent are Tech and you.” She cleared her throat. “You have one hour to be at Tech’s and one hour to have him packed up. That’s all. If he can’t move it in an hour, then his equipment doesn’t go. Understand?”

“You got it.” Sabrine worked without doubts or questions when she knew a situation had turned serious and from the tone in her voice, she’d realized just that.

“I’ll call you back with our destination. Oh, steer clear of unchecked lines. Stay on our cells only if it’s secure. I don’t know how far this goes and at least these cell phones have encryption. They might get tapped but it won’t be easy.”

Deirdre hung up the phone and held a single finger in the air to indicate one more minute. Her next call was Harold Mooney. The guy was out of town but she reached him on his cell phone. She’d saved his ass twice when he crossed paths with mobsters posing as pharmaceutical companies. People wonder why prescription prices were so high. Deirdre found out first hand when prescription money, not street drugs, supplied a Hummer that tried to run over her car. Rubber burned and bullets flew all because Mooney wouldn’t agree to a sell out. Mooney had paid her bill and promised that he’d pay her back for everything she’d done to help him.

He answered, sounding pleased with her call. After waiting for Mooney to get a free moment, he instantly agreed to lend Deirdre his seven bedroom mansion complete with a security system that made Fort Knox look like the easiest place in the world to break into. He would send his maid to clean the place immediately and make sure the keys were left with the neighbor. After writing down the two different security codes it took to get through the seven-foot-tall gate and then into the steel core front door, Deirdre was ready to take Gladys and Lora to their safe house.

“Let’s go ladies. I’ve got your new accommodations waiting.”

She started toward the porch to help Gladys and Lora with their bags. Both seemed to buckle under the weight. They’d packed enough things to never come back to this little farm and Deirdre wondered if that had been their plan the entire time. Gladys ready to drop everything she’d ever known for her granddaughter.

Scorpion would’ve done the same, had probably endured more than Deirdre would ever know, all in the hopes that her Deirdre would be okay in the end. Although, it didn’t fully explain why Scorpion had faked her death and left Deirdre behind.

Focus. That doesn’t matter right now.

Right before Deirdre put her foot on the first wooden porch step, she felt it. That evil aura surrounded them and she knew that Niam was here. Eyes were on her, watching and waiting. It wasn’t possible for anyone to follow her, but there was no mistaking that sense of wickedness that hadn’t been there moments before. Somehow, one of them had to put a tracker on her car or maybe his men had her phone tapped and learned of Gladys the same time Deirdre had.

She paused, scanning the trees and amazed by how dark the denser areas could be in the middle of the day. He was there. He would strike at any moment and there was very little Deirdre could do if he fought her while one of his underlings grabbed Lora.

“Gladys, did you reload that rifle?” Deirdre reached to her side, feeling the cold metal of the pistol, and then wishing she had restocked her throwing knives. Her leg felt empty with the cloth strapped there and no metal weighting it down. She didn’t want to go around back and try to retrieve any of them that the kidnappers had dropped.

“I sure did.” Gladys looked at Deirdre then at the wood line.

“Get it ready. This could get messy.” Deirdre took Gladys’s bag and then Lora’s carrying them down the steps to her trunk. The sensation of darkness, something too thick to be eaten away by the noonday sun, held close, encompassing the house. “Keep that gun lowered and pointed toward the woods around your house.”

Gladys probably couldn’t hit Niam, but his underlings would drop like flies if they came toward Lora. That would be enough. Even if she couldn’t beat Niam, he would continue without any support.

“What’s wrong? What you see?”

“Just go back toward my car. Don’t fall. Keep alert. Lora you sit in the backseat and keep your head down. They haven’t struck yet.”

A twig snapped somewhere deeper in the woods that separated them from a field. Gladys jumped, holding the rifle at chest height. She would be no match for those men, but even one good shot might stop the onslaught.

It could arguably have been a squirrel except every bird, cricket, squirrel, and tree frog had stopped making any sound. There was someone back there and even the animals feared him.

“Deirdre, I believe you’re right. Somebody is in my woods.”

Gladys was sharp, reacting without having to be directed. Deirdre loaded Lora into the backseat while Gladys stood guard. With pistol in hand, Deirdre held it up, pointing into shrubs, trees, and shadows while Gladys slid into the passenger’s seat. After she was seated, Gladys held her rifle, using the side mirror as a gun rest while Deirdre slid inside and started the car.

That was the moment Niam appeared, clad in black from head to toe, disfigured face hidden from view. No one stepped from the shadows with him, but they were there. Deirdre considered running down Niam, watching him bounce off her hood but that would be dangerous with Lora in the car.