by Jill Nojack
"Not so long as they have no intent to harm me. Getting a sense of anything else?"
"There are certainly other little traps here…." She suddenly flings an arm out to hold me back. The same movement a mother makes—my mother made—to keep her child safe when she slams on the brakes in traffic. "Don't step there," she says.
I stop dead in my tracks.
"I think that's an alarm. Magical sort, of course. Like a land mine but connected to a signal in the house instead of to an explosive device. It won't hurt you, but it'll let Robert know we're here. I expect there are more of those scattered about. Let me map out a path for you. You'll need to follow it precisely."
I stay put while she wanders, sometimes closing her eyes and, at others, reaching out through the air with her fingers wide, an intense look on her face. Gillian feels things other people can't feel, hidden things. If she wants to, she can discover all your secrets. If anyone can wrangle a way around Robert's wards, it's my ex-wife. It's not a power she likes to use, though. She says knowing people's secrets has turned many a witch in her family into a bitter old cynic. I can't really see that happening to Gillian.
I squat down to make myself less visible as Gillian explores. That may be a mistake. Cat's got my nose tilted up in the air, sniffing at the tantalizing fragrance of wildness that blows my way on the breeze. That's definitely a mouse. A tiny, furry, juicy, tasty mouse. My haunches tense, I gear up for the chase. And then I grab my body back from Cat's influence and stand up. "Gillian," I whisper. "Have you got enough yet?"
"Just a tick, Tom," she whispers back. All I see is a shadowy form twenty or so feet off, between me and the house, which is still half a football field away.
Looking out at Robert's house and land, it's easy to see he has done well in Giles. His house and its grounds are a showpiece, and now he's won Gillian, too. Yes, Robert has done very well for himself.
And you know what? Robert's no better than I am. He's made his mistakes in life, he wasn't perfect. And like him, I deserve a chance at a good life, too, with Cassie by my side. I was punished long enough. I paid my dues when Eunice held me hostage, and I became a better man.
Damn it! I've earned my right to slip that ring on her finger.
I give Cat back my nose and he sticks it into the air to breathe in the heady soup of animal scents in the dark. I'm better off leaving him in control of things right now. He never, ever feels one speck of self-pity.
I memorized the map Gillian made last night during breakfast, darting glances at Cassie over the top, hoping for a smile or a sign she missed me, too.
Now, back at Robert's with Cassie safely warded into her room again, it's hit or miss whether or not I'm getting it right. I should have kept my attention on the map. When I veer a little out of line, I'm sure I hear a sharp intake of breath from behind the fence line where Gillian waits. It's midday now, and she crouches in the bushes to avoid being seen. There's nothing else out this way, but better safe than sorry. Beyond Robert's is forest land, leading off to Corey Woods. Secluded. Just the kind of situation you want if you're bent on breaking in and don't want to be discovered.
I make my way through the minefield. There's really no way to know if I've set something off, so from here on in, I need to scramble. For all I know, Robert is on his way home with the entire police force in tow.
I've got a handful of herbs to spread across one final barrier. Gillian says it should void the magic long enough for me to get in and the barrier would never hamper me from getting out. But if it doesn't work? I could be dragging myself out of here on broken legs.
I sprinkle. I need to just do it now. Take that step.
Seriously, I wish she hadn't told me what could happen. Because I'm really fond of my skinny gams exactly as they are.
I close my eyes and tense for it. I take the step.
My foot makes contact with the firm earth on the other side of the barrier. And then the other one joins it.
I let out a giant gush of the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Whew. Legs still intact.
I dance the bugaloo for a step or two, happy to have the boys still functioning, then I sprint to the house and try the back door.
Obviously, it can't be that easy to get in and get out with my prize. Gillian could get through the locks, but we agreed she needed to stay behind. If one of us gets caught, the other one of us needs to continue working on getting the others free, keeping Cassie safe, and trying to figure out what Anat has planned. Without magic, I'm obviously the least useful person in that plan.
Looks like I'm on my own with the breaking part of the entering. So, what the heck, I go for the obvious. I grab a decent-sized rock from the tidily kept bed around the foundation landscaping and pitch it through the window of the ground floor room where I stayed during Anat's possession of Cassie. At least this time around, Anat didn't take her with a full-blown possession. As difficult as it was to get her back, it was still a whole lot easier to get her out from under Anat's influence this time.
A not-so-magical alarm blares. I need to get in and out as quickly as possible now.
I pick the glass off the sill and away from the frame, then boost myself through when it's clear. There's no point in using Cat for this even though he could get in and out more quickly: I need to pick up my package and it's going to take a man-shaped me to carry it.
I head for the closet, and the "empty" bag I forgot to take with me when I moved back to the shop is still on the top shelf of the closet where I left it. I reach inside and pull out a hefty handful of nothing. I dress myself by feel, stepping in to the invisible coveralls, then I pull the hood and filmy face mask up over my head to hide myself completely.
Even if the cops burst in through the door now, they won't be able to identify me. Or see me. Or stop me from making rude gestures with both hands.
Man, I wish I'd had one of these things when I was in high school.
I pass a mirror and take a look. With the film attached to the coverall hood pulled down over my head, there's no one there.
I get back out through the window and sprint to where my partner in crime waits. I ignore the mines now. Who cares if a few more alarms go off? Everyone's already been alerted.
I spring across the fence and land heavily in the bushes near Gillian. She startles as the bushes part with a loud crackling sound. I lift my hood, wondering what my disembodied grin must look like. "Let's go."
We haul butt into the woods, heading for the unpaved turnaround where we left the car.
***
I'm making a couple of assumptions when I stroll into city hall in my Invisible Man suit. The first is that no one can see me. That one seems to be true.
The second is that city hall isn't somehow warded against invisible or magical threats. But I pass right along, ghosting by all the open doorways as I shadow along behind the Chief of Police. He's hurrying along the corridor toward the back—maybe going to Robert's office and maybe not. I'm as stealthy as Cat, treading lightly, silently. The suit makes me invisible, it doesn't make me inaudible.
Yes, Robert was the Chief's target, like I'd guessed. I saunter in behind as he enters the mayor's office. It's obvious Robert doesn't know I'm here, and his pup is napping next to the desk.
I've lucked out. It's possible animals aren't taken in by the suit because Cat can see it even though I can't. I don't know if other animals can also see it. Eunice might have created it specifically so that only Cat could see it as part of some long-term plan. Or, it might be visible to all non-humans. In that case, I hope demon doggy takes a long, long nap.
Because I always have luck like that. Sure I do. This will all go off without a hitch. All I have to do is stay completely silent and wait for Robert to blurt out Anat's nefarious plan to some evil co-conspirator.
I mean, that would be nice. But barring that, I'm looking for another chance to get the dog away from Robert and free him the way I freed Cassie.
***
I move to a posi
tion at the side of the room where I can see all the players easily—Robert, cop, and dog. If any one of them make a suspicious move, I need to know about it.
Robert rolls up a large paper he's had spread across his desk and greets the Chief saying, "I've been looking over the plans for the Faire, and it's sure to be successful if it goes as I think it will." He gets this odd look on his face then, mischievous almost. It makes my heart fall. It's not a look that belongs on Robert's face: my friend is not the mischievous type. As he places the rolled plans into a locked cupboard, he continues, "But first things first…did you find out what happened at the house?
"Your house is secure. It looks like the alarm scared the thief off. Nothing looks disturbed other than a broken window in one of the bedrooms on the ground floor," the Chief replies.
Giles's Police Chief is a skinny guy, and he's getting long in the tooth now, too, but I've seen him put a drunk twice his size in a headlock and take him down without even breaking a sweat. A guy's got to admire a thing like that. If I didn't know different, I might think he was drawing on some magical super powers. But he's just a non-magical who's really good at his job. He finishes his report with, "Of course, we won't know for sure that nothing's missing until you've been back there to check things out. You want me to leave the patrol on site?"
"The basement and study are still locked?"
"We checked those per your instructions. Still locked."
Robert motions to the officer to sit across the desk. "Thanks, Karl. I don't expect any further trouble."
I know the Chief has to have some knowledge of Giles's secrets. Enough to keep them to himself and cover up the worst of the witchy whoopses, as Nat calls them. I'd bet he owes Robert in some way. He sure seems devoted to him. I wonder idly if that would change if he knew that the small black pup sleeping just to the side of Robert's desk is actually calling the shots?
Robert settles into his own chair after the Chief settles in to his. "How's the force's prep for the Faire coming along?"
"We're ready. Excited about it. Our spouses are already making plans for what they'll do with the old Stanford place if they win. It's the talk of the town. The turnout is going to be huge."
Robert's head nods slowly up and down as he steeples his fingers in front of his face. His expression doesn't give a hint of emotion. "Everyone on the force needs to be there for something as big as this."
"Everyone's scheduled. Who could resist overtime pay heading into the holidays?"
"Excellent. One last thing, then. I'm sure your force won't object to a small celebratory drink beforehand?"
The chief's face opens up into a broad smile. "Can't think why anyone would." In the office before the event?" Robert nods to his question. The chief lifts his chin in acknowledgement. "We'll be here."
Robert stands up and walks around the desk. I expect him to head for a parting handshake. But instead he half-squats, half-bends down, looking uncomfortable—he's stuck with limited range of motion from arthritis that even the best magic hasn't been able to cure—and gives the sleeping dog beside his desk a scratch behind the ears.
Its eyes open in response.
And they snap straight to me. High-pitched yaps puts a fire under me as it springs to its feet.
I bolt for the exit.
Robert's tone is still even and emotionless when he says, "Scot, get the door. We've got a guest."
The door slams shut behind me. Too late. But I can hear the pup make it out just in time, too. His claws clack on the hallway tile as he follows behind.
I could scoop the stupid thing up, tuck it under my arm like a football, and slam dunk it into the cement sidewalk when I get across the goal line. But with a visible passenger, I could also get caught, trapped, and prevented from telling Gillian that it looks like the pain party Anat has planned is definitely going to go down at the annual Witching Faire.
I can't take this opportunity to try to free Robert. The pup gets a pass this time as I burst through the doors of city hall and barrel through the parking lot on my way to safety.
I don't stop to catch my breath until City Hall is no longer in sight.
"Don't put that flap up when you talk to me. It gives me the willies when I look over and see your face hanging in thin air like that." I smile as I pull the suit's face film back down and Gillian drives on.
"If you kept your eyes on the road, it wouldn't be a problem."
"It's only natural to at least dart your eyes over when you're talking to someone." Which she immediately does. "Oh Goddess, that's worse. Anyone watching me will think I've taken to having conversations with invisible men."
I grin an evil grin. Which is, of course, completely wasted at the moment. "Is this when I remind you that you have?"
"Just get on with it." She rolls her eyes and her head twitches in frustration. "Since you've managed to leave Robert behind again, did you learn anything?"
I sigh. I know she's worried about him. "Sorry, Gilly. And yes and no…not much. More than we knew before. He's going to have the entire police force into his office for a drink prior to the Faire, so I think we can pretty much count them out as being any help. I'd like to think a drink is just a drink, some good ol' boy bonding thing they always do before an event, but he's Kevin's father, after all, and way more powerful. Kevin kept the Giles police enthralled with his elixirs for years. Imagine what his high priest father can do with a flask of rum."
"Excellent point. Unless we can interfere with that somehow. It's something to put on the list, at least. Although the list is starting to get long. Anything else?"
"I think there may be an written plan for whatever it is Anat's got cooked up."
"Written?" She stops a little too quickly at a red light. We both bob forward in our seats. "Sorry. It's just that's exactly what Robert would do. He leaves a paper trail at breakfast. The man's a visual planner."
"That was my thought, but to know for sure, I'll need to get into a locked cabinet without leaving evidence that I've been there to get it." We're far enough away from town hall now, so I peel the suit down off my shoulders, then sluff it off at my feet. I grab in the back for the bag and stick the suit inside so I don't lose it.
Gillian shakes an idea loose as the car squeals around a corner too fast and my head goes bobbing again. "Do you have any portable lock magic? Something that would work for anyone? Because I can't just walk in behind someone again."
Her brow furrows with thought. "I can cook something up even a non-magical could use. Easy peasy. Probably the simplest thing I'll have to deal with in all this mess. When do you plan on going back?"
"Tonight seems like a good time. The Faire is less than a week away now."
"We need to go to Salem for our necessaries, then, what with the Magical Shoppe being off limits. I haven't got everything I need to cook you up the right kind of charm for opening locks." She makes an abrupt right toward the road out of town instead of heading south to her place. "Goldenseal is relatively rare these days and not something I keep on hand. Even the Magical Shoppe only has a small store and practitioners have to ask for it."
I really want to call Cassie just to make sure things are okay with her, but her cell phone is still in her purse at the Magical Shoppe. First thing she noticed after she insisted on her own room.
"You think there'll be a place to pick up a temporary phone for Cassie on the way to Salem?" I ask. "I'd feel more secure if I could check on her and make sure she's okay when we're away like this."
Gillian nods. "We'll stop at the first place we see."
***
This place isn't set up as nicely as the Magical Shop, that's for sure, but Gillian says it's the best option for what we want. It's all t-shirts and haunted house snow globes at the front, junk for tourists. And in the next row, there are packets of ready-mix spices and crystals for playing at being a witch.
The real stuff will be in the back, under the heavy scent of incense and decay. Like a lot of Salem shops, you have to k
now someone to get it. Fortunately, Gillian knows everyone.
She tells the kid with the kohl-rimmed eyes at the counter what she wants, but she doesn't like the answer she gets back.
She leans in to rest on her arms, all smiles. "If Priestess Higgins says you're not to sell wild goldenseal without explicit permission from her, then I think you need to contact her and get permission."
"But she's taking the day off. I'm not supposed to bother her."
"I've known Lettie enough years to know that her bark is worse than her bite. You've noticed she's nearly toothless?" The girl's eyes widen in shock. Lettie is missing a tooth in front, but wise people don't mention it if they value their health. Gillian continues, "And she certainly loves her profit. Tell her Gillian Winterforth has an urgent need for goldenseal. I won't even dicker on the price."
The girl hesitates, then picks up the phone and dials, carrying it back to the farthest end of the counter and turning away from prying eyes, whispering. The voice on the other end has no such volume control. It returns loud and angry. The shop girl has to hold the phone away from her ear while her boss rants.
Gillian fidgets at the counter, unconcerned, poking idly at a bowl of rodent skulls. Too bad they've been boiled so clean they are completely uninteresting.
The girl returns, looking upset. "Priestess Higgins told me to tell you, and I'm supposed to quote her…" The girl swallows hard. "…you can get your fat, aging hippie ass out of my shop before I come down there and blast it off for you."
"Fine. Tell her that I'm sorry I missed her."
Gillian heads toward the door, her head held high, and I follow her out.
"Great," I say. "I didn't know you and the High Priestess of the old Danvers coven were at odds. How are we going to get the goldenseal? Do you absolutely need it?"