The Curse Keepers Collection (137 page)

My breath caught in my throat and my hairs stood on end. “One could argue that I spend too much time with you,” I forced out.

“I don’t know, honey,” Collin said a little louder, wrapping an arm around my back, resting his hand comfortably on my hip. He ran his free hand slowly down a carpet display. “I was thinking something more brown for the family room.”

I tried to ignore the flutter in my stomach. “I know what you want, sweetie. But Aunt Melba has a nice cream color in her bedroom that I just love.”

Collin’s grip tightened when I mentioned the word “bedroom” and he lowered his mouth to my ear. “I can assure you that I wouldn’t notice the carpet color if I was in your bedroom.”

My mouth went dry and I broke loose of his hold, moving on to another display rack. “Or maybe we should go with hardwood.” I immediately jerked my head up, my eyes widening in warning when I realized I’d set him up for the perfect sleazy comment. “Don’t go there.”

His eyes twinkled. “I didn’t say a word, Ellie. You’re the one with your mind in the gutter.” He moved next to me again but kept his hands to himself this time. “I say we give him fifteen minutes before we get worried.”

I nodded, guilt washing over me. David was in danger and my hormones were getting all wonky while I was talking to Collin about flooring choices. Some girlfriend I was.

“I know a place where we can watch the building. Let’s go.” Without waiting for an answer, he headed for the door.

I glanced at an employee who stood several rows away. “Thank you.”

She nodded, and I followed him out the door. He stood at the corner of the building, looking in the opposite direction of the office. When I approached him, he put an arm around my back and led me around the corner.

I took two steps away from him. “Is all the touching necessary?”

“Just trying to make us look like the happy couple so we don’t arouse anyone’s suspicions.”

“Well no one’s watching us here, so it’s not necessary. Besides, David dropped me off. Doesn’t that look more suspicious?”

“I can guarantee you that no one noticed him dropping you off. But you’re a beautiful woman, Ellie, which means they definitely noticed you coming into the store.”

“Knock it off, Collin.”

“It’s true. If you’re going to learn the art of the stakeout, you need to learn the art of blending in.
You
do not blend in. You shine, demanding attention.”

“Cut the bullshit.”

“
Ellie
.” He stopped at the corner of the building.

I reluctantly turned around. “What?”

“I’m serious. I suspect you’re about to dig yourself into a shitload of crap, and you’re going to need to be more careful.” The earnestness in his eyes told me he was telling me the truth. “If you’re going to try playing private investigator, you need to stick to the background and make sure no one notices you.”

“Okay.” What he said made sense, as hard as it was to admit that he was right.

“Come on, this way.” He turned down the alley, heading in the direction of the office. We were on the backside of the strip mall, a warehouse on the opposite side of us.

I followed. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere we can get a better view without being seen.”

We walked in silence halfway down the long building until we approached a Dumpster. “This is where we go up.”

I looked from the Dumpster to the roofline five feet above it. “Okay.” It made sense to be on the roof across from the office. In fact, it was brilliant, not that I was about to tell him so. Collin had a big enough ego as it was.

He stood next to the trash bin and squatted, lacing his hands together and glancing at me with a grin. “Too bad you don’t have on one of those skirts you’re so fond of wearing.”

I was suddenly glad I was wearing a pair of denim shorts. I put my foot in his hands and reached for the edge of the metal box so I could pull myself up as he boosted. When I was on top, he grabbed the edge and hoisted himself up with little effort. Once he was on the trash bin, he repeated the process, helping me up onto the roof first before pulling himself over the edge.

We stopped when we reached the edge at the front of the building, and I was surprised to see he already had a blanket spread out, topped with a bottle of water and binoculars.

“You’ve already been up here?”

“For a couple of hours, actually. I wanted to keep track of how many people were in the warehouse in case your professor got into trouble.”

“He has a name. David.” At least Collin was proving to be useful, which made me feel better about going against David’s wishes. “So what have you seen?”

“Two guys showed up at around nine. I’ve been watching since seven and hadn’t seen any other activity until then, so I think it was empty. It looked like they turned off an alarm when they entered. There’s a front office and they entered the code to get into the back. The front door only requires a key.”

“So just the two men?”

“No. A woman showed up around nine forty-five. Very well dressed—heels, expensive skirt, and blouse. I’d say her purse cost more than your car and my truck put together.”

I chuckled. “That’s not saying much.”

“True enough.”

“Allison said she met a well-dressed older woman named Miriam. I bet that was her.” I narrowed my eyes mockingly. “And for the record, may I state that I’m more than a little concerned that you recognize a high-quality purse.”

This time he laughed. “Fancy purse or not, the two guys were expecting her.”

“Any idea who they might be? Had you heard of Miriam?”

“No.”

“Would you tell me if you knew?”

He glanced over at me, his grin fading. “Yes.”

I believed him, but it surprised me that he was being so forthcoming. That wasn’t exactly characteristic of the Collin I had come to know.

“What about the back?” I asked. If he’d staked out the front, he’d definitely know about the back.

“There’s a warehouse next to the office. The public record says it’s available for rent, but I think they’re using it for short-term storage. The office has been leased to the Henderson Foundation for less than a month.”

“The people who called David to set up this meeting said they were from the Henderson Foundation.” The fact we were finally connecting dots made me feel like we were making progress. “So they’re using the warehouse without paying for it?”

“No. The warehouse is owned by the same corporation that owns the office. I called this morning to ask about seeing the warehouse for my imaginary business, and they told me it was under renovation and wouldn’t be able to be seen for another week. Which tells us two things . . . ” He turned to me with a grin. “How about giving it a guess, my little prodigy?”

“They rented the building to the foundation, but it was an under-the-table deal.”

“Exactly. If they rent a warehouse, it draws suspicion. Now, what’s the other?”

“If you can see it in a week, they’re planning to move the stash soon.”

“Exactly. I should have texted you to have Dr. Preston try and find out where it’s going and when.”

“The less he knows, the better, Collin. He’s out of his element in there. David grew up in highbrow London. He’s not used to people like this.”

“Then what’s he doing down there?”

I lifted my eyebrows. “You and I both know that he knows what to look for better than either of us do. We need him. Admit it.”

He scowled and turned to look back at the building.

I took his lack of comment as an admission of truth.

“I wish we had a better view of the back.” He picked up his binoculars and scanned the front of the building. “It’s been ten minutes and there’s no one in the office. I say we give him five more minutes, then I’m going to do some investigating of my own.”

“And how do you propose we do that?”

“Not we, me.” When I started to protest, he interrupted. “I want to go out back to make sure nothing’s going on. I need you to stay here and watch the front.”

“Why don’t we just try to get on top of that building so we can see both exits?”

He grinned. “Good question, young apprentice. I’m saving that for a last resort. It’s harder to access, and I honestly think all the action is going to take place in the front.” His grin turned wicked. “Kind of like how you enjoy all the action on top.”

I flushed. “Shut up, Collin.”

Still grinning, he turned back to his stakeout.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for a fight. “I don’t want David to know you’re here.”

He kept his gaze on the building. “I’m no relationship expert—”

“
Obviously
.”

“—but I think that’s an unhealthy sign.”

“He has a large amount of disdain for you.”

“You mean he hates me?” He chuckled.

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“Again, I’m no expert, but he must not be very secure if he feels so threatened by me.”

“He doesn’t trust you. On my behalf.” I held out my right hand, the pink scar reflecting in the sunshine.

Collin looked from my palm to my face, all teasing gone from his expression. “You know I wish things had gone differently.”

No apology. No regret for his actions. Only the outcome. Typical Collin. “Nevertheless, in David’s eyes you betrayed me after vowing to protect me, putting me in unnecessary danger and risking my life.”

He remained silent.

“No witty retort?”

He shook his head. “No, he’s right.”

It took me a second to recover from the shock of his admission. “And on top of that, multiple innocent people have died since you released the spirits.”

He swallowed.

“No rebuttal?”

“No. Like I said, he’s right.” He turned back to his surveillance.

I wasn’t sure what to do. I had been prepared for a fight.

We were silent for several moments before he asked, “Did you really fight Raven Mockers?”

His question caught me off guard. “Yes.”

“They could have killed you, Ellie. Your Manitou is safe, but they can still kill you.”

“What do you expect me to do? I can’t sit around and let those things torture people.”

“I know,” he whispered.

“People have died because of the objects inside that building. I want you to tell me what you know about them. And quit the bullshit about how it’s better if I don’t know. We both know it’s too late for that.”

His back tensed; then he set the binoculars on the blanket. “I told you that my father found out about the estate and then brought Marino on board. That’s pure speculation, but I’d bet money I’m right. Rumor has it that the collection disappeared soon after my father did. The next time it was heard of was when the family of the private collector, Emilio Ricardo, announced it was going to New York for auction a few months ago. Then it disappeared again. Marino got preview photos from Ricardo’s attorney, but it was gone before he could see it. Marino asked me to find out what had happened. I wanted to know the truth because of my father’s involvement. And, like I said, the Manteo Keepers knew a couple of weapons had been created by a Dare Keeper, but I never knew the specifics until I asked my grandmother.”

“And what did she say?”

“She said it was a given that the curse would eventually break. The real question was when it would happen. The Dare descendant realized the spirits and gods would be upset and had weapons blessed at the gate to Popogusso that would help defeat the demons.”

“The letters David found insinuated that Ahone was the one who instigated the creation of the weapons. He knew the curse would break, and they were his way of sealing the gate permanently.”

Collin shook his head. “We already did that.”

“Ahone wants me to use this ring at the gate.” I held up my hand, the gold glittering in the sunlight. “And I’d bet money it has something to do with my power as a witness to creation.”

Collin’s mouth twisted as he considered what I’d said.

“Did you know that a group called the Guardians owns this collection? That they’ve been collecting weapons for centuries to fight demons?”

He scowled. “No.”

“David pieced it together. They’ve been preparing for the end of the world, but Tsagasi says they’re thieves and liars. I don’t trust them.”

“It’s safer not to trust
anyone
, Ellie.”

“Including you?”

He looked up at me. “I used to tell you
especially
me. I’m trying to change that.”

“And yet you still keep a shitload of secrets from me. What do you know that you’re not telling me?”

A grin spread across his face. “That could fill an entire encyclopedia set.”

“What aren’t you telling me about the curse? What Ahone really has in store for me?”

“I’m completely clueless about what Ahone has planned. I had no idea that he wanted you to use the ring next to the gate. But I’m not surprised he wants to use you for his own purposes. Both he and Okeus have their own agendas. They always have.”

I believed him, not that I liked it. If he didn’t know, who did? Maybe I needed to press Tsagasi more. “Then I’m just as clueless as I was before. Everyone wants to use me for something, and I’m not sure how to stop them.”

“I’m sorry.”

I looked up into his face. “You keep telling me that you’re sorry, and while I realize that your apologies are as rare as a full solar eclipse, what exactly are you sorry
for
?”

He swallowed, his eyes turning glassy, his right hand grabbing my left one. “How about I tell you what I’m not sorry for? I’m not sorry you were persistent about getting me into bed. And I’m not sorry I gave in. And I’ll never be sorry that our souls are bound together. I’m sure that makes me a bastard, but you want honesty, so there it is.”

I fought my warring emotions.

“I’m not sorry I met you, and if it took breaking the fucking curse to do it, I’d do it again in an instant.”

I tried to jerk my hand from his hold, but he held tight.

“Now how about what I
am
sorry for? I’m sorry I met the one person in this world who makes me believe I’m actually worth a shit, but I completely and hopelessly fucked it up.” He dropped my hand and narrowed his gaze at the building. “And I know how much David means to you, so I’m going to go down there and make sure he’s okay.”