Trial By Fire by M. Scott Snelten

Author:M. Scott Snelten [Snelten, M. Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14 – The Code

The storm clouds parted, and the moon beamed like a flashlight on Riberia Street as Bishop Calderón walked Clara home. Now she needed a “Grandma explanation” to justify the bishop’s escort. Lying would be easier, but doing so in front of the bishop, even if he was dressed in plain clothes now, wouldn’t do.

The sidewalk in front of her house glistened from the earlier rain, and the calm was shattered by black cloud that darted between Clara and the bishop. She felt the shifting air and gasped, but the screeching hiss that followed alerted her that Mrs. Fellini’s cat was resuming guard duty. Clara warned the bishop to tread carefully.

Calderón placed his palms together and said a prayer. When he pulled them apart, they sparkled a faint blue. He kneeled and touched the sidewalk, and a blue charge flowed from his hands, through the yard, climbed the trees, and outlined the house.

“That’s a real upgrade to your security system. A spiritual firewall to block any of Martí’s tricks.” Calderón rubbed his hands. “Time to talk with your grandmother.”

When Ellie saw Clara drenched, she told Zandra to fetch a towel.

“I just knew Clara got caught in the storm. I kept calling your cell phone, Clara.” Ellie kept patting down the sides of her robe. “Why didn’t you pick up, darlin’?”

“Uh,” Clara bit her lip, “my battery died.”

“What really happened was Clara tried to outrun the sudden storm, but she had quite a fall in front of the Cathedral-Basilica. When the storm was over,” he smiled at Clara, “I walked her home.”

“I am so grateful.” Ellie examined Clara’s face. “She was already stung today.”

Zandra blurted, “A big, fat stinger to the head.”

Ellie added, “She seems to be a target for trouble.”

Clara touched her forehead. “Grandma, really?”

“No need for alarm, Mrs. Dune. I gave her a token necklace for her troubles.”

Ellie’s glasses magnified the pendant. “I just love what they do with sea shells.”

“You never know what will wash up on our shores. Anyway,” Calderón’s tone changed directions, “tonight Clara made a little confession to me.”

Zandra’s head tipped. “She did?”

Clara’s head tipped too. I did?

“Yes, she confessed, in the interest of her father, she has the Bottle of Asturias.”

“Clara?” Ellie’s face crinkled, and a green flake from an earlier mud mask fell from her earlobe to her shoulder. “Darlin’, what is he talking about?”

Clara froze. “I took it that day when Mr. Lechaine was here. I was afraid …”

“That it wouldn’t end up in safe hands.” His own hands opened like dove’s wings. “It appears Clara’s intuition proved right when Mr. Lechaine was …”

Zandra interrupted. “Whacked on the head like the mole game at the county fair.”

“Where have you been hiding it?” Ellie asked.

She slowly thumped her purse, and Ellie shook her head.

“Clara told me that it has become, well, her … bottle of troubles. I advised her to visit the Binding Word Bookstore to learn more about the bottle.” Calderón assured Ellie that everything would work out. He

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