Original Sin (19 page)

Anthony rose from his chair. “You’re certain he left on his own? After ten weeks in a coma?”

“I saw him leave on the security tape. He’s gone. I put an APB out on him, and need to get him back in the hospital for tests, and I have to talk to him about the mission murders. He’s our only living witness.”

Anthony didn’t have to read between the lines. “And your only suspect.”

“I believe you,” she said to the question he did not ask.

“It does not sound that way.”

“Dammit, Anthony, I know that not everything in this world can be explained with scientific logic. But I’m also the sheriff and I need to follow through on the investigation. Rafe’s disappearing act isn’t going to help his cause.”

“I will look for him,” Anthony told Skye.

“I still need to talk to him,” Skye said warily.

“Of course.”

“Be careful.”

“You as well,
mia amore.”

“I’m going over to the high school to talk to Abby’s fellow students. I’m hoping that one of them will feel so damn guilty that she’s dead that they’ll spill the beans as to what really happened on the cliffs last night.”

“We know what happened,” Anthony said.

“We
think
we know what happened, but someone—someone human—was also responsible for Abby’s death. I want that person—those
people
—in jail. Someone must be punished, Anthony. Someone here on earth. God can have them after I’m done.”

FOURTEEN

Even before the Santa Louisa sheriff spoke to the general assembly at the beginning of their lunch break, there wasn’t a person at Santa Louisa High School who didn’t know that Abby Weatherby had died at the ruins on the cliffs. Everyone had a theory. Some rumors were true—that Abby was naked, for example. Others were false—like one that she’d killed herself. But as Chris Kidd sat in the last row of chairs in the auditorium and rubbed his sore neck, he knew some of what had really happened.

His girlfriend, Ari Blair, had told him.

He had mixed feelings about what she’d said, and he couldn’t help but think that Ari didn’t
really
remember what happened. She’d hedged, making him think she was lying when she caught up with him earlier at his locker between first and second period. She said she wasn’t drinking at the time of the incident, but
might
have been drugged. She also said that something “otherworldly” happened, which made him think that she’d been royally fucked up. He didn’t want Ari getting in trouble—she was a straight-A student, the student body president, and had offers from three top colleges around the country. But he told her she had to talk to the police, it was the right thing to do. She’d kissed him and run off to class, leaving Chris feeling oddly disconnected and worried.

The principal walked onstage and called for everyone to quiet down. Still concerned about his girlfriend, Chris listened to Mr. Lawrence, hoping the Sheriff’s Department had answers that didn’t involve Ari.

“I’m sure all of you know that Abigail Weatherby died last night on the cliffs near Cypress Point. There is a lot of misinformation going around, and Sheriff McPherson wanted to speak to the student body to put the rumors to rest.

“There will be counselors on site during lunch, after school, and all day tomorrow if anyone here would like to speak with someone about this tragedy. Abby will be missed by many.”

The blond sheriff walked briskly onstage, thanked the principal, and stood at the podium. Chris had forgotten the sheriff was a girl. She looked too young and too hot to be a cop.

“Thank you,” she said, breathless and distracted. “I’m Sheriff Skye McPherson. I graduated from Santa Louisa High thirteen years ago, so I know you’re thinking what the heck is going on? So I’m going to tell you what I know, and ask for your help.

“The circumstances of Abby Weatherby’s death are unclear. The Santa Louisa Medical Examiner and my office are right now processing evidence that will hopefully lead to the truth. The community deserves it, Abby’s parents deserve it.” She looked out into the audience, her expression stern.

“Abby’s body was found last night on the cliffs outside of town. There was evidence at the scene that more than one person was on the cliffs at some point prior to, or up until, her death. We know that the cliffs are a popular gathering place for young people. How do we know this? Because most of the deputies in my office grew up here, too, and I’ve been told it’s a well-known make-out spot.”

There were some giggles and nervous laughter, but the sheriff didn’t crack a smile.

“At this point, we cannot definitely say whether Abby’s death was an accident or homicide.” She let that sink in, and there were additional murmurings.

McPherson continued, “Perhaps Abby died accidentally—such as by a drug overdose or falling—or through a natural cause like an aneurysm. I can imagine how difficult it would be to witness an accidental death and not know what to do. Sometimes we might make a decision that is wrong, and then we don’t know how to make it right afterward.”

She looked out over the audience carefully, from one side to the other.

Any nervousness was gone, her voice forceful and commanding. “I want to know what happened to Abby Weatherby last night. I want to know the truth. And I
know
that at least one person in this room was with Abby last night.”

Again, she paused, but cut off the murmurs with a firm announcement: “Every teacher has a set of my business cards. They will be left all over the school. Call me day or night and I will meet with you, I’ll talk to you, I’ll keep it confidential as much as I can. If you’re a witness to something other than an accident, I can and will protect you.

“I need the truth. It’s what Abby and her family deserve.”

The sheriff walked offstage and Chris looked around for Ari. She was on the far side of the gym.

He and Ari had been exclusively dating for nearly two years. He didn’t know if he loved her, but he couldn’t stand the thought of any other guy dating her. And they all wanted to. She was gorgeous. Blond hair, blue eyes, big tits, and hot in her cheerleading uniform. He loved watching her when he was on the bench, or getting that short little skirt off her in the bed of his truck.

Other guys wanted to do the same. Like his best bud, Travis. Was that Travis talking to her now? Chris started over to the corner, but the crush of students delayed him. By the time he got over there, she was gone.

His head pounded and he squeezed his eyes shut. The image of Travis screwing Ari hit him, and he had a hard time getting rid of it. Travis wouldn’t do that to him. Ari wouldn’t. What was he thinking?

Chris left the auditorium, the damp fog and steady drizzle feeling surprisingly good on his hot skin. He felt ill; he knew better than to work out and not eat. But when he’d heard the news about Abby, he couldn’t think about food. Now he was paying for it.

He looked around. A few other students were talking outside, but most were in the cafeteria, where it was warm and dry.

Where was Ari?

Chris walked slowly around campus looking for her. When he walked out into the parking lot, he saw the sheriff getting into a cruiser. He hesitated, not wanting to get Ari in trouble, but she’d been shaking this morning. She couldn’t fake being that scared.

He walked over to Sheriff McPherson. “Sheriff? Do you have a minute?”

The cop nodded. “Why don’t you get in and stay dry?” She motioned to the passenger side.

Chris did, and began. “I’m worried about my girlfriend.”

Skye McPherson took notes as Chris told her everything Ari had said.

Anthony locked his books and papers in his small office—one of the two rooms still standing at the mission—and drove as fast as he dared in the thickening drizzle. It was as if the air had expanded; every breath he took was cold and wet, filling him. The twenty-minute drive down the winding mountain road became thirty minutes, as the slick pavement prevented him from reaching the posted limit.

He absolutely had to find Rafe before the police did. To prepare him for the inevitable questions, the accusations. Skye was only doing her job, and she would be fair, but Anthony had no idea what condition Rafe was in.

His cell phone rang with an unfamiliar number showing. “Hello,” he answered curtly, keeping his eyes on the slick road.

“It’s Moira. I’m heading out to the cliffs right now to find Raphael Cooper.”

“What?” He slowed down, his attention now divided. “What do you know about Rafe?”

“When I got back to my motel room, Lily filled me in. Everything we suspected about her adventures on the cliffs was true, except for one surprising fact. A guy in hospital scrubs walked up and created chaos during the ritual. Told Lily to get the hell out of Dodge, then disappeared. Lily identified him as Cooper when I showed her his picture.”

Anthony said, “Rafe walked out of the hospital at midnight last night. No one has seen him, yet he was way out at the ruins last night?”

“No doubt it was him. I don’t know how he got there, but he saved Lily’s life. I’m going to try to retrace his steps.”

“Maybe the coven kidnapped him,” Anthony said.
Or killed him
. He pressed the gas pedal harder.

“I don’t think so.”

“You can’t possibly know!”

“Something Fiona said this morning made me think he got away. Did your girlfriend tell you about how Fiona tried to kill me?”

He sighed. “What did Fiona say?”

“It was more the subtext of what she said. She implied that someone had stopped her from completing the ritual. Lily confirmed that demons were released, and that Rafe was trying to stop them.”

“I’ll meet you at the cliffs.”

“I’m practically there.”

“Wait for me.”

“No, I can’t stay here. There’re …
things
still going on. The electric charge is high; I smell Hell. It’s right here. No way I’m staying. I’ll call you when I find him.”

“But—”

“I wanted to tell you what Lily told me, and because she said something else and I don’t know what it means. Fiona called her the
arca
. What the hell does that mean?”

“Is Lily still at the motel? I need to send Lily away, to protect her. She’s in grave danger.”

“She’s not there. Jared’s father, a cop, tracked them to my room and took them away. He said he was taking Lily home.”

“And you let him?”

“I wasn’t going to jail again, not that it matters to you.”

Anthony asked, “Where does Lily live?”

“Foxglove—1300. What does
arca
mean?”

“She’s a spirit trap.”

“What the fuck? Humans can’t trap demons.”

“Can you speak without swearing every other sentence?”

“Fuck, no,” she snapped.

Anthony supposed he’d walked into that one, and said, “She was dedicated for the purpose at her conception. You know something about that, don’t you?” He didn’t mean to be cruel, and almost took it back. But didn’t.

“Her mother … Anthony, Jared’s father took her home more than an hour ago. Her mother must be part of it.”

“I’ll get her,” Anthony said. “You find Rafe.” His stomach churned. He didn’t want to leave Rafe in Moira’s hands, but he didn’t see what choice he had. If the coven got hold of Lily, they might be able to re-create the ritual to reunite the Seven.

“I need a place for Rafe and me to stay. My motel room is no longer safe. What about your girlfriend’s place? Is there a friendly church around here?”

Anthony considered it but knew neither idea would work. “There’s a hotel on the coast, the Santa Louisa Coastal Inn. The owner is a friend of mine. I’ll call him and register a room. I’ll put the room under your name, and I’ll let him know you’ll be coming.”

“Why can’t—”

He knew what she was going to ask. “I want to talk to Rafe before the police.”

After hanging up with Moira, Anthony put Lily’s address into Skye’s GPS system, then called Father Philip, not caring how late it was in Italy. He was surprised that the Father had already left.

“When did Father leave for Olivet?” he asked.

“One moment,” the monk said. Moments later, Bishop Pietro Aretino came on the phone.

“Anthony,” Bishop Aretino said, “Philip isn’t going to Olivet. He’s on his way to Santa Louisa.”

“Why? He told me—”

The bishop interrupted. “He has his reasons. But he left before dawn, without his assigned escort.”

“What?” Dread filled Anthony. That Father Philip was leaving the sanctuary for Olivet was dangerous in itself, but that he would come here without a bodyguard was foolhardy. Both he and Father Philip knew that his life was in grave danger. He was on the inner council, was privy to information that few had. Information that the covens would love to have, and would be pleased to torture out of the old priest.

“We don’t know exactly when he left, and John is leaving now. We hope he can catch up with Philip before …”

“That’s not soon enough! We have a crisis here,” Anthony said. “The Seven Deadly Sins have been released.”

“You think Santa Louisa is the only major problem we’re facing?” Pietro admonished him. “Our ranks are thinner than ever. I’d send Rico, but he has to protect his people or we have no hope. You have more people in Santa Louisa to help than any of our other hot spots. Be careful, Anthony. God bless you.”

He needed all the blessings he could get. But the motto of St. Michael’s was
God helps those who help themselves
.

He had his work cut out for him. Finally off the treacherous mountain, Anthony sped up, and hoped that he wasn’t too late to save Lily Ellis, the
arca
.

FIFTEEN

within my envy, within my envy, within my envy grows

—CALM, “Envy”

Chris couldn’t find Ari after school, and several of her friends said she hadn’t come back after lunch. He tried her cell phone, but there was no answer. He wanted to explain that he’d talked to the sheriff because he was worried about Ari, not because he wanted to get her into any trouble.