Vortex by Joy Brighton

Author:Joy Brighton [Brighton, Joy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sorcerer; The Magician; Native American; paranormal; Saber tooth Cat Petroglyph; Cat Necklace; Camp Verde; Jerome; Sedona; Cottonwood; Central Arizo
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2021-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Josh flipped out when I called him. “Is Grady going to arrest you?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

“No, but she’s certainly more suspicious now Manny practically busted down the door. How’d he even know I was in Grady’s office?”

“I don’t know, but remember who Manny really works for?”

I let out a low whistle. “The Magician.”

“Yeah. And George is suspicious, too. He caught Zalo foraging at our place.”

I groaned. “We need to think this through. Meet me at Newspaper Rock?”

“Be there in twenty.”

Seventeen minutes later, I slammed on Tilley’s brakes at the dirt road entrance to the ranch. Standing outside the gate, Josh waved a hand through the swirling dust. “Want to open it?” I called through the window.

“Can’t. It’s locked.” His boots crunched across the gravel, and he got in the passenger seat.

“You told me the last time we were here that it’s never locked.”

“I know.” He scratched his jaw. “And someone posted new keep out signs along the fence.”

I brushed my hair back from my eyes. “Josh, I’m worried. We need to talk to George.”

Josh stared out at the desert for a moment. I waited. He needed time to consider all the angles. Finally, he nodded and climbed in the jeep.

I revved Tilley, threw her in gear, and we headed for the Trading Post.

****

George was locking up by the time we got back to Verde. With a big smile, he waved us inside the front door. He turned the old-fashioned deadbolt and headed toward the back of the store. “Hungry?”

Stupid question. Josh was always hungry. The guy’d grown another inch last month, and now towered over both George and me. Whenever I kissed him—Josh, I mean—I had to stand on tiptoe.

We walked through the store and pushed aside the curtain into their small kitchen. George crossed his arms and waited like he knew we needed something more than a tuna sandwich.

“George knows about Zalo,” Josh said to me, and I nodded. No surprise he’d figure out his pantry was being raided every week.

It was my turn to spill it, and I heaved a breath. “Zalo isn’t the only person we’re hiding,” I blurted. “My mother’s staying with him in the Ruined City.” It’s always easier to get the worst part over with quickly. Well, almost the worst part.

George grunted. “Are they in trouble?”

“My mother is.”

“Are you? Is Josh?”

Josh and I exchanged glances, and George grunted again. “How bad?”

I let the air rush out of my lungs. “My mother was convicted of murder, for killing my father.” I held up my hands to ward off George’s exclamation. “She didn’t do it, honest, but she escaped from jail last month. The police and a really bad guy are hunting her. They may be hunting us now, too.”

Josh frowned, shaking his head, but he added. “We think he and the Magician are old enemies.”

George sucked air. “Real bad.”

****

George chopped a couple of onions and started a batch of his famous chili. The room filled with its delicious aroma, and my mouth began to water.

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