Captured by M N Jolley

Author:M N Jolley [Jolley, M. N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M N Jolley

Chapter Fourteen

“No,” Garret said after I finished the story of what had happened. “You’re wrong.”

“The physical description fits,” I objected, “And we both know Lydia was gunning for action. She knew you would never consent to working as a group and decided to go renegade.”

“I would have—” he started.

“You lied to her about the lockpick,” I shot. “Don’t try to tell me you were willing to budge.”

The van fell silent, save for the whoosh of highway traffic. We’d made it free and nobody had followed us. The illusion over Mariah’s minivan ensured the police couldn’t trace it back to her. As far as I knew, we were in the clear, but that was cold comfort.

The argument with Garret had died, but I held onto my anger. “Emma. Question for you.”

“Yuh-huh?” she asked.

“Why the hell did you set a real fire?” I demanded. “You could have gotten someone killed.”

“The factory’s main output is pretty much tinder, and they’ve got a great suppression system. There were too many folks chin-wagging around the fire alarm. I couldn’t have pulled it without being seen.” She shrugged. “We were in a rush. I improvised.”

“And you didn’t worry about safety? About hurting the employees?”

“Screw ‘em,” Mariah called back. “The whole company is trash. Even if we didn’t get what we came for, I’m glad we bloodied their nose on the way out.”

Emma looked me in the eye and nodded. “What she said.”

“There’s a problem with your theory,” Garret said. “Lydia wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

He was right, but the hole didn’t sink my theory’s ship. “I don’t know. I didn’t get a chance to ask what happened to Roger. Maybe he attacked her and Lydia had to defend herself. Maybe Regina was just looking for an excuse to pin us with more blame. I couldn’t tell you one way or another.”

He stopped arguing. Whether he knew he was wrong, or just lacked the energy to fight, he sat back in the van.

“Have you tried to find her with a spell?” Ben asked. “Some kind of tracking evocation?”

“Yes,” Garret said.

“What did you do? Maybe—”

“I’ve tried everything,” Garret snapped. “I’ve tried with her blood, her hair. I’ve tried looking for the trace energy of her curse. I’m not some learner still getting my license.”

“Anything I could assist with?” Ben offered, unphased by the barbs. “Add an extra voice to the spell and amplify it?”

“Maybe.” If I had a correct reading of his face, Garret had his doubts, but Ben’s offer of straws to grasp gave him a glimmer of hope. “The aura of her curse would be the hardest to conceal. We can try casting a wider net if I’ve got your help. You’ve practiced group rituals?”

“One of the first things we did in class,” Ben confirmed. “I’m no master, but I can pitch in.”

“Okay.”

Mariah turned on her blinker and took the exit to Garret’s property. “I’m going home after this,” she said. “I can’t help with the research, and Lydia’s going to need another potion once we get her back.

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