Talisman (82 page)

I’ve always liked her,
I thought as I bolted out the door and dashed into the woods, headed in the direction of the Riverside estate.  My next stop —
the guesthouse
…

Chapter  24 — A Girl’s Best Friend

Colorful, fresh
fallen leaves swirled around me as I barreled across the mountainside. I couldn’t help but notice what a particularly beautiful fall day it had turned out to be.  It made me wonder where Bea would be taking me. 
Would there be an autumn?
  We could be going to some deserted island for all I knew, or worse —
another cave
.  Tonight’s fall sunset may be my last. 
I’d better drink it in before we leave this evening
, I noted when I spotted the Riverside estate up ahead and reduced my speed down to a light jog.

I approached the
palatial estate with the same sense of awe I always did.  An intimidating, wrought iron fence wrapped around all eighty-four acres of the wooded and secluded grounds.  Towering brick columns connected the sections of iron and gave the stately property the appearance of an impregnable fortress.

I know what part I’ll be scaling,
I thought confidently.

As soon as
I spotted the automated entry gate, I veered to the right and followed along the perimeter of the landscape, staying well hidden amongst the bushes.  I could see the main house off to my left.  It was just as grand as I remembered from the countless company parties and events my family had attended over the years.  Though there weren’t any festive decorations hanging or white lights twinkling, the house was still impressive nonetheless.  The massive Neoclassical home had been custom built by Harper Riverside about ten years ago.  A timeless, deep crimson brick covered its façade while a decorative copper roof sat atop the magnificent mansion like a shiny crown.  The entrance welcomed its visitors with a pretentiously embellished portico supported by eight colossal, fluted columns that I swear were bigger than most of their trees.  Ornate pediments topped rows and rows of meticulously framed windows — and I would bet my right hand that the elaborate black shutters flanking them had never swung the first daggone inch.  As always, the grounds of the estate looked just as immaculate as the home.  Its landscaping was constantly being updated by their gardeners.  Today, I could see a variety of colorful mums placed in every fancy planter and sprinkled in all the surrounding beds.  It was truly breathtaking.  I could stand here all day and fantasize about what it would be like to live in a house like that, but there were other
sights
to be seen.  Particularly, another grand but smaller building located on the property —
the guesthouse
.

The guesthouse was located towards the rear of the property, nestled beside a small pond.  It was a mini
ature version of the main house — same brick, roof, and finishing touches, but only a fourth its size.  I crept towards the gate to scope out the scene.  There were no black SUV’s parked outside or vehicles of any kind for that matter.  It appeared that no one was there, but I decided to maintain my stealth-like approach, just in case.

Climbing the wrought iron
rails would be a
huge
mistake.  With no time to waste, I hurried over to one of the brick columns that linked the sections and scaled the twelve-foot pillar.  I jumped down and landed in a cluster of bushes on the other side.

With a watchful eye, I dashed over to the rear of the guesthouse.
  Cautiously, I peeked into all the windows as I made a sweep of the perimeter.  I found myself doing a double-take when I passed by an electricity meter.  From out of the corner of my eye, I’d noticed the numbers on the analog display spinning rapidly.  I was fascinated, so I laid my hand on it.  The numbers rotated even faster.

W
eird.  I guess it’s registering…ME?
  The whirling dial slowed back down as soon as I removed my hand, but I noticed that I’d accidently turned the thing over.  I stared at the panel that now read: 000014 kWh. 
Ooops!
  Immediately, I felt kind of bad about the unforeseen mishap, but then again —
I think the Riversides’ can afford it
.

I
hadn’t spied anyone stirring inside the house, so the coast seemed clear, at least for now. A shiny brass knob on the front door greeted my eyes when I arrived at the main entry.  I allowed my hand to pause over the decorative oval-shaped knob, which had been engraved with the initial, “R”.

Let’s see if Tanner’s right
.  I clutched the brass knob and after a few seconds, I felt a subtle vibration, followed by a distinct
“pop”
that rang out.  I grinned and thought,
Cool
, as I turned the knob of the now
unlocked
door.  With utmost caution, I edged inside.

I didn’t have any time to waste.  It was already p
ushing 4 o’clock, so a thorough but speedy search would be prudent.  Immediately, I spotted several large suitcases and trunks stacked up in the corner of the foyer.

That’s as good a place as any to start
.  I went to rummaging through the bags (all 18 of them). 
Not here
, I thought as I kicked the side of a large Louis Vuitton trunk.

Next, I headed into the front parlor.  I’d wasted so much time on the luggage I thought,
Screw it
, and went to ransacking the pristine and posh room.  I checked under the sofa and chairs, inside drawers, looked in every decorative container, and behind pictures that were hanging on the walls.  Clearly desperate, I even rooted around in the dirt of a large planter that held a massive ficus tree. 
Still nothing
.

I darted across the foyer to check the study.  Swiftly, my eyes traveled around the room
, scrutinizing every inch of it.  I automatically honed in on a fancy mahogany desk that sat off to the side of the room.  Lying on top of it was an unusual looking small chest, so I hurried over for a closer inspection.

Though the Riversides’ had decorated the house with numerous opulent accessories, this container didn’t strike me as something Elisa Riverside would pick out to go with the home’s décor. 
This has to be it
.  It was crafted from a strange wood and seemed ancient.  The markings on the chest looked more like a hodgepodge of foreign symbols, rather than a patterned design.  It was certainly a grandiose container but not overly gaudy like most of the other accessories I’d seen.

Always in last place you look
…

I took a deep breath and slowly raised the lid. 
Empty!
  However, the interior of the chest had been lined with a soft, burgundy velvet fabric.  A distinct impression was left behind by what had been stored inside.  I ran my fingers along the velvety, cross-like outline.  The shape and size of the indentation was identical to the object in my dream.

The hilt
, I thought. 
It did lead him here.  He must have it with him
, I rationalized, empty-handed and crestfallen.

As I lowered the lid, my ears alerted me to the familiar and uneasy sound of a gun cocking.  My
head flew up instantly.  There in the doorway of the study stood one of Lazarus Xcavare’s men, pointing a revolver at me.

“Well, well, well…
We’ve been looking
everywhere
for you…
Ms. Wallace
, isn’t it?” the man asked.

I was more startled by his acknowledgement of who “I” was, than by the fact
that he was pointing a gun at me (which I felt confident
wouldn’t
pose a problem).

I guess the cat’s officially out of the freaking bag now
.

“Are you going to come quietly?” the man sneered.
“Or am I going to have to use this on you.”

I knew
this guy was human because he wasn’t putting out any sort of supernatural “vibe” like I’d sensed coming from Ferrol.  Though realistically, if he were a Talisman —
why would he need a gun?
  What I couldn’t understand was how he’d managed to sneak up on me like that.

In an insolent manner, I replied, “Go ahead,” and flashed a fearless grin.

“If that’s what the lady wants,” Lazarus’ henchman replied casually.

As I heard the shot ring out, I thought,
I’ll take care of you in a second
.

Suddenly, my eyes
exploded when I felt the bullet pierce my shoulder, and then a horrible burning sensation coursed through my body like a flame racing along a line of gasoline.  The fiery pain sent me stumbling backward.  I crashed down into a chair sitting behind the desk and looked over at my shoulder.

Damn
…I’m bleeding…
  I was blown away,
literally
. 
That bastard actually shot me!
  The bullet was lodged deep in my shoulder.  Carving a diamond from my skin felt like a slight scratch compared to this savage agony.  I struggled to prop myself up on the desk. My body was growing weaker by the second and my mind was racing, trying to stay ahead of the horrific pain.

How
could this have happened?

Out of breath
and grappling with bullet’s hellish sting, I looked over at my assailant, who was taking out his cell phone and laughing.

“
Oh, I forgot to mention that these are
special
bullets.
Iron bullets…
with a
diamond-powder
coating.  Very expensive to make, but I guess Lazarus was right when he said that, ‘you’d be
worth
their cost’.  Only
the best
for you,” he announced with a devilish laugh.

I scowled at the man who seemed to find a sick kind of pleasure in
watching me suffer.  The sharp, burning ache from the diamond powder was starting to subside, but I was now left with feeling the grueling, power-draining effects of the wretched iron.

The man started
punching keys on his phone.  “Oh, I’m
Karl
.  I should’ve introduced myself properly…
before
I shot you. 
That was rude
.  You’ll have to excuse me.  I don’t have Lazarus’
manners
.”

His call was short and sweet.  Helplessly, I listened to Karl inform the party on the other
end that, “he had found me”, made a few cracks about my current frail state, and then hung up the phone.  He tucked his cell back inside his jacket and holstered his gun.

“Okay, time to go for a little ride,” Karl announced.

Just as he began to approach me, there was a knock at the door.  Karl headed into the foyer.  He reappeared and pointed to me.

“Not word!”
Karl ordered with a stern glare and then charged back into the foyer to greet the unexpected visitor.

As I wrestled with the crippling pain, I
prayed it was Tanner, though I seriously doubted that he would
knock
.

I knew
who it was the second I heard their voice. 
Harper Riverside
.

“
WHERE
is Lazarus?” Harper Riverside demanded, who I could tell had entered the house.  “I know he’s backing out of the sale, and I need to speak with him
TODAY!
  It’s awfully funny how he spent all day
yesterday
going over safety records that were almost impeccable, and then the mine has several explosions out of the blue…
THIS MORNING!
  Hell, all the air level readings were normal!  I demand to speak to him
NOW!”

“He’s not here, Mr. Riverside,” Karl insisted, “
and as you can see by our luggage, we’ll be departing today.  Mr. Xcavare truly regrets that the mine didn’t meet his criteria.  He’s a stickler when it comes to the safety of his mining operations.  He values the lives of his workers just as much as his own.”

I gripped the desk so hard my knuckles turned white
. 
What a crock!

“My mine
is
SAFE!”
Harper Riverside raged, clearly offended.  “I don’t know what happened.  I’m ready to retire, and I won’t allow this deal to fall through because of some
freak
explosion.  I’ll hold him to it! 
I SWEAR!
  My attorney’s already told me to ‘say the word’ and we’ll hold his ass to the fire!”

Harper Riverside
stepped into the doorway of the study. Karl grabbed his arm swiftly and attempted to pull him back.

“I think you had
better wait for him up at
your house
,
Sir
,” Karl warned.

Harper Riverside jerked his arm away from him. 
“This is
MY HOUSE!
” he roared, “and don’t tell me
where
I’m going to wait for someone.  I’ll wait for him wherever I
DAMN
WELL PLEASE!  You’re a guest in
my home
…Don’t you forget
THAT!
  Now, I suggest you call him and tell him that I’m here!  I’m not leaving until I speak to him…and neither are
YOU!”
he added and poked Karl firmly with his finger.