Web of Lies

by Jennifer Estep

  mound of earth and stone—and the way I’d cut the

  “What did you say?” Warren asked.

  dwarf’s wrist just to make sure. “Yeah, Dawson’s dead I smiled. “I told him I was working for Mab Monroe. and buried.”

  That she wanted him dead.”

  “I’m just glad you didn’t end up the same way,” WarSomething sparked in Jo-Jo’s eyes, but she masked the ren said.

  emotion before I could figure out what it was. I stared at the wreckage on the television. The sound

  “Then what happened?” Jo-Jo asked.

  of the earth rumbling and the stone shrieking rang in my I shrugged. “I figured I wasn’t getting out of there alive ears. “Me too.”

  and that I might as well take Dawson and his goons with Jo-Jo went to call Finn and Sophia and tell them that I me. So I used my Stone and Ice magic to collapse the ceilwas finally awake, leaving me alone in the den with Waring. That’s why he needed your land, Warren. The cavern ren. The old coot heaved himself out of his recliner, bones was right under the creek, and the ceiling was too fragile cracking, and disappeared. I watched the news coverage for him to go ahead and mine the diamonds without you of the mine disaster.

  knowing about it.”

  Warren came back a minute later carrying a small picWarren nodded. ture frame. He stared at it a moment, then shoved it into

  “After the dust settled, I was still alive, and they weren’t. my hands. “Here. I know I can’t pay you for what you So I looked for a way out of the cavern, and I found one. did with Dawson and all that you suffered. But I’d like to End of story.”

  give you something, and I thought you might want this.”

  I didn’t tell Jo-Jo about my hands, about the fact I I stared at the picture. A fine layer of dust covered the seemed to have more Ice magic now than ever before. frame, which I wiped away with the edge of my T-shirt. That I could feel the cool power rippling through my The picture might have been in color at one time, but veins. There would be time enough to do that later. After it had long ago faded to a dull yellow. Two young men, I’d figured out for myself whether it was just a fluke. little more than teenagers, looked up at me. The shorter I jerked my head at the television. “What are they sayman was obviously Warren T. Fox. He’d stared into the ing?”

  camera with a serious expression, as though he didn’t like Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 374-375

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  having his picture taken. The other man was Fletcher,

  “All right,” I said. “There’s an empty spot on the wall whose wide grin more than made up for Warren’s lack at the Pork Pit. I think this will go nicely there.”

  of one. They both wore work shirts and overalls. Fishing Warren nodded. I walked over, leaned down, and rods and tackle boxes lay at their feet, along with a string kissed his wrinkled cheek. He smelled of old Spice and of fish. Trees ringed the area behind them. peppermint.

  “Is this you and Fletcher?” I asked.

  “Thank you for this.”

  Warren settled into his recliner and started rocking He didn’t look at me, but a blush crept up the side of again. “It is. Taken a couple of months before he started his neck. “It’s nothing.”

  up the Pork Pit. Last photo we ever took together.”

  “No,” I said in a quiet voice, staring at Fletcher’s smil“Don’t you want to keep it then?”

  ing face. “It’s everything to me.”

  Warren shrugged. “I don’t need a photo to remind me of Fletcher. Never have.”

  Embarrassed, Warren made some excuse about checking He stared at the television, but I still spotted the sheen on the store, leaving me alone in the den. I sat there starof moisture in his dark eyes. In that moment, I knew ing at the photo of him and Fletcher until Jo-Jo Deveraux Warren missed Fletcher Lane as much as I did, even if came back in.

  he’d never admit it. And I knew the photo had to be one

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  of his prized possessions. Because it was a symbol of their I showed her the picture.

  friendship, of their childhood growing up together, and

  “Nice of him to give it to you,” the dwarf replied, sitall the good times and hopes and dreams they’d shared. ting on the sofa.

  I had photos of Fletcher, but none like this. None that

  “Yes, it was.”

  showed him being so easy and carefree. None that showed We didn’t speak for a few moments. Finally, Jo-Jo him as he really was, without the calm mask he’d prebroke the silence. sented to so many people, including me, over the years.

  “You want to talk about it?” she asked in a soft voice. For the first time, I felt like I was seeing the real Fletcher

  “About what happened in the mountain? About your Lane.

  magic? About how you’re stronger now?”

  And now Warren was giving the photo to me. His gesMy head snapped. “How the hell do you know that?”

  ture touched me in a way nothing had done in a long Her pale eyes were old and knowing in her made-up time. I might have been an assassin for seventeen years, face. “I could feel it when I was healing you. Your Ice might have killed a lot of people, but helping Warren and magic, it’s stronger now, isn’t it?”

  Violet Fox was definitely one of the best things I’d ever I sighed and told her what had happened in the cavdone. ern. About how I’d felt something give inside me and the Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 376-377

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  fact the spider rune scars on my hands glowed brighter Air is the same way. But Fire and Ice are different. Most than a flashlight. I even gave her a demonstration. elementals release those two types of magic through their Jo-Jo leaned over and studied my silvery palms. Then hands. It’s just easier and quicker to form a fireball in your she nodded and sat back on the sofa.

  hand than it is to shoot it out of your eyes or your ass.”

  “So what happened to me? Is it temporary? PermaI smiled at her interesting imagery. nent? Did I break my magic or something?”

  “But you had silverstone melted into your hands. So, Jo-Jo chuckled. “Nothing like that, Gin. But yes, I do in a sense, the metal choked your Ice magic every time believe it’s permanent.” She gave me a steady look. “Have you tried to release it through your hands. Like a bottleyou wondered why your Stone magic is so much stronger neck. Make sense?”

  than your Ice power?”

  I thought about all those times I’d formed a cube or I shrugged. “Not really. It’s rare enough to be able to a pair of Ice picks. Jo-Jo was right. I almost always used control two elements. I always assumed my Ice magic was my hands to do those things, but most of the time when just weaker.”

  I drew on my Stone magic to harden my skin, the power Jo-Jo shook her head. “No, darling, your Ice magic almost always came from within. “I think I get it now. isn’t weaker. It’s just been contained—until now.”

  But how was I able to draw on so much Ice magic in the I frowned. “How?”

  cavern if the silverstone was blocking it?”

  She jerked her head at my palms. “By that silverstone Jo-Jo stared at me. “Because you finally brought in your hands. You know as well as I do that silverstone enough of your Ice magic to bear to overpower the silveris a magical metal, that it can hold and absorb elemental stone. You blasted right through that metal, broke down magic.”

  that barrier. Your Ice magic’s always been as strong as your

  “So what?”

  Stone magic, Gin. Now, it’s finally risen to the surface

  “So silverstone can also block magic. In your case, the where you can use it. That’s why your spider rune scars metal in your hands kept you from fully realizing your look brighter, more of a silver color now. Because your Ice potential.”

  Ice magic is right there waiting for you to tap
into it.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Because your power is in the silverstone now, instead of Jo-Jo propped her heels up on the coffee table. Her feet being blocked by it.”

  were bare, her toes painted pink, just like always. “You

  “You knew, didn’t you?” I asked. “You knew the know there’s a lot of duality in elemental magic. A lot of whole time why my Ice magic was weaker. Why didn’t likes and dislikes between all four of the elements. Now, you tell me?”

  Stone is more of an internal magic. You don’t have to do

  “Because you had to break through the silverstone by anything to hear the vibrations of the rocks around you. yourself,” Jo-Jo said. “I couldn’t do it for you.”

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  I sat there and stared at the matching scars that decoBut I got up and hugged my foster brother anyway. He rated my palms. A small circle surrounded by eight thin hugged me back as tight as he could.

  rays. one on either hand. A spider rune. The symbol for

  “You ready to leave?” Finn asked.

  patience.

  I looked up at the tin sign mounted over the front

  “You’re only going to get stronger now, Gin,” Jo-Jo door. Country Daze. Yeah, dazed was one way of putting said in a quiet tone. “one day soon, you’ll be the stroneverything I’d gone through the last few days. I stared gest elemental in Ashland. Even stronger than Mab Monat the gleaming sign a moment longer, then turned and roe herself.”

  smiled at Finn. “Let’s blow this gin joint. Take me home. Stronger than Mab? I didn’t know if that was a good Take me to the Pork Pit.”

  thing, seeing as how the Fire elemental only used her power for destruction. All Mab used her magic for was to kill, hurt, and burn everyone who stood in her way. I might have been an assassin, but I didn’t want to be like her. Not now, not ever.

  I curled my hands into fists, hiding the scars from sight, and tried to ignore the shiver that shook my body.

  I spent the rest of the night at the Foxes’, resting up, and Finn came to get me the next day just before the crack of noon, as was his style. I was sitting on the front porch of Country Daze in some of Violet Fox’s borrowed clothes when he pulled up in his Cadillac Escalade. I’d already said my good-byes to Warren T. Fox, who was still inside with Jo-Jo Deveraux. Sophia was coming up later to pick up her older sister, who wanted to spend a few more hours gossiping with Warren.

  Finn got out of the car and walked over to me. He slid his designer sunglasses down so he could peer over the top of the lenses. “Nice clothes.”

  “Lovely to see you too, Finn,” I replied in a wry tone. Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 380-381

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  mine, and Grayson was quoted as saying he wasn’t in a rush to make a decision. Either way, I’d destroyed the diamonds in the cavern, so no one would be sniffing around 34

  there anytime soon. Which meant Warren T. Fox, his granddaughter, Violet, and their store, land, and house were safe for now and the foreseeable future. I was glad I’d been able to help the Foxes, glad I’d been able to do something for someone who had once meant so much to Fletcher Lane. I thought the old man would have approved of me helping Warren, even if the two of them had parted on bad terms all those years ago. As for me, I lapsed gracefully back into retirement. Auditing classes at Ashland Community College. Reading. Cooking. Running the Pork Pit.

  The incident at the coal mine played out for the next That last one was easier now, since Jake McAllister week. Folks worked around the clock for days, digging, was out of the picture. The incident at the mine shaft moving, and hauling earth and stone out of the way behad dominated the news, of course, but there was a small fore they finally recovered Tobias Dawson’s body, along mention about Jake and the fact he’d been found dead with those of his two giant workers. The coroner said at his father’s home. The coroner blamed it on natural both the giants and Dawson died of blunt force trauma. causes caused by an undetected heart defect—or some Yeah, the cave-in had taken out the giants, but Dawson such nonsense. There was no mention of Jake being at had died from those Ice daggers I’d launched into his the party at Mab Monroe’s house, and no mention of him torso. Too bad the evidence had melted away—just like being found stabbed to death in one of the bathrooms. always. Something I was grateful for.

  But with Jake dead, his father, Jonah McAllister, had After the rescue workers recovered the bodies, there no real reason to squeeze me anymore. At least, not about wasn’t much else to do. So they closed down the mine the robbery and pressing charges again his son. oh, I and went home. A couple of days later, Finn showed imagined Jonah was still angry at me over what had hapme a business article in the Ashland Trumpet that said pened the day he had come to the restaurant and that owen Grayson had bought Tobias Dawson’s company he’d get back around to harassing me sooner or later, if for a song—lock, stock, and barrel. No plans had been only because he enjoyed that sort of thing. But for now, announced about what would happen to the collapsed the Pork Pit was back up to its regular flow of customers. Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 382-383

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  Still, I kept an eye out for trouble. If Jonah McAllister a bad plan, if I hadn’t collapsed the whole mountain in ever connected me with the blond hooker who’d been at the process.

  Mab’s party, he’d get his giants, come to the Pork Pit, and I didn’t know the Fire elemental’s reasoning, and I’d raze the restaurant to the ground—with me inside it. never believed much in luck. But I knew that I’d dodged Which is why I had Finn make some discreet inquiries my own death that night. But now she was actively into the matter. Jonah McAllister was said to be seething searching for me, and I had no illusions about what with rage over the murder of his son—and the fact the inwould happen if she ever discovered my real identity. cident had taken place at Mab Monroe’s mansion. McAlThe fact was I’d have to be more careful for the forelister had vowed to find his son’s killer and take care of her seeable future—at least until someone else caught Mab himself—with his bare hands. Mab Monroe was also said Monroe’s interest.

  to be livid at the fact someone had dared to murder her lawyer’s son in her own home.

  Two weeks after the incident at the mine, I perched on Mab was also said to be quietly searching for a blond my stool at the Pork Pit reading The Adventures of Huck- hooker who’d attended her party and had been seen leav leberry Finn by Mark Twain. Fletcher’s copy of Where the ing with Tobias Dawson. According to Finn, the Fire el Red Fern Grows adorned the wall beside the cash register, emental had sent Elliot Slater and a couple of his giant of course, but it had been joined by something new—the goons to question Roslyn Phillips about the mysterious picture of him and Warren T. Fox. I think Fletcher would hooker. But Slater had eventually been satisfied that have liked having it in the restaurant.

  the invitation and rune necklace had been stolen from It was a Monday night again and quiet except for my Northern Aggression without Roslyn’s knowledge. Still, two customers—Eva Grayson and Violet Fox. The two I had Finn wire Roslyn a significant amount of money college girls sat at the counter, slurping down chocolate to help make up for what I was sure had been a forceful milkshakes and studying. Their books covered a good interview.

  portion of the countertop. Eva and Violet had started And I still wondered about that night at the party coming into the Pork Pit at least once a week when they and why Mab hadn’t just killed me herself when I’d been had an hour or two to kill between classes. Sometimes, knocked out cold on the ground in front of her. It would Cassidy, Eva’s other friend, joined them. But more often have been easy enough for her to do. Why make Dawthan not it was just the two girls. son do it? Why make him take me somewhere else? Had


  “So when are you going to go out with my big brother?”

  Mab known he would take me to the mine? Maybe she’d Eva said, pushing aside her empty milkshake glass. thought I’d kill Dawson for her, and she could step in and I looked up from my book. “Why do you ask?”

  have all the diamonds for herself. It wouldn’t have been Eva stared at me. “Because every time I mention I’ve Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 384-385

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  been in here, he asks me how you are, Gin. Why don’t fort to contact me. People always talked about the stages you give the poor guy a break?”

  of grief you went through when something traumatic I raised my eyebrow. “If your big brother wants to ask happened. Hah. I’d pretty much moved from hurt to just me out, he can come down here and do it himself, instead plain pissed, with no stops in between. Still, I was curiof getting his little sister to plead his case to me.”

  ous as to why Donovan had come, what he wanted to say Eva waved her hand. “I’m just filling you in on owen’s to me now, two weeks too late. Fucking curiosity. Just good qualities. Not pleading his case.”

  wouldn’t let me be.

  “What was it you told me you were majoring in again?”

  “Sure. Let’s chat.” I turned my gray eyes to Violet and

  “Marketing,” Eva replied with a grin.

  Eva. “Why don’t you girls go in the back for a few min“I rest my case.”

  utes and convince Sophia to make you some fresh milkViolet just laughed and took another swig of her own shakes? on the house.”

  milkshake.

  Violet shrugged and walked around the far end of the The front door opened, causing the bell to chime. I counter. Eva Grayson studied Donovan Caine with open looked up, ready to greet a potential customer. interest. She sniffed, clearly telling me she didn’t think And he walked into the restaurant.

  the detective had anything on her big brother. Then she Detective Donovan Caine. Black hair, golden eyes, folowed Violet.

  bronze skin. The Hispanic detective looked the same as I waited until the two college girls had disappeared I remembered, except for the lines on his face. For once, through the swinging doors and were out of earshot bethey seemed to have smoothed out, as though some great fore I looked back at the detective. “I saw you on TV at weight had been lifted off his lean shoulders. As though the coal mine. Looked like you had your hands full recovhe’d made some decision that had finally brought him a ering Tobias Dawson’s body.”