by Ally Shields
Maggie took off running toward the far end of the cemetery, Josh on her heels. “Go left,” she said. “I’ll take the right.”
“No, we’re sticking together.” He wasn’t taking the chance one of them might run into an ambush.
“My bullet may have clipped him,” Maggie said as Josh caught up with her. “But with those flapping robes, it was hard to tell. It didn’t slow him.”
“Him?”
“Not sure. Didn’t see the face or actually make much body contact.”
They called the attack in with a cell phone, requesting responding units to keep an eye out for vehicles fleeing the scene at high speeds. Then they searched the area thoroughly, but it was obvious the intruders had planned their escape and gone over the back wall. If anyone was injured, he or she had gotten away without leaving an obvious trail of blood. Maggie and Josh followed as far as the street, but no one was in sight.
They scaled the back fence again and worked their way toward the front entrance, keeping a sharp eye out as they went in case any of the assailants had backtracked or remained hidden behind the stones. A police car with lights flashing pulled up at the gate.
“Damn. Holster your pistol,” Josh hissed.
They’d just gotten their weapons secured when the patrol cops turned a spotlight on them. “You inside the cemetery. This is the police. Keep your hands where we can see them and walk slowly toward us.”
They complied. As soon as Josh and Maggie identified themselves and showed their badges, the spotlight was dimmed.
“Who fired the shots?” one of the patrolmen asked.
“We both did,” Maggie admitted. She’d been preparing a story in her head to explain her presence without talking about ghosts. “I was attacked by a group we’ve been hunting on a recent occult murder case. I imagine you’ve seen some of the details in the news.”
They acknowledged they had. Hard to miss the screaming headlines about a satanic coven.
“We had a tip they were meeting in local cemeteries,” she continued, “so we’ve done a few late night checks. I saw someone inside as I drove by and stopped to investigate. But I guess they spotted me.” She described the attack by the hooded figures. “I fired one shot during a physical struggle. My attacker could have been hit, but it looks like they all went over the back wall.”
“And I fired twice,” Josh added. “Two warning shots. It put them on the run, but also meant we didn’t catch anyone.” While the patrol cops clearly doubted the wisdom of these activities, they didn’t say anything, and Josh continued in a disgusted tone, “Now I’ll spend half of tomorrow filling out reports for discharging a weapon.”
By this time, other police units had responded with flashing lights and sirens. One of the patrolmen talking to Maggie and Josh ran over to explain the situation to the new arrivals and collect reports from those who’d already been searching. The discussions were brief, and units pulled away to return to the search or to their primary assignments.
The other patrolman continued to take Josh and Maggie’s story. “So you guys were together when this started?”
“She got here first and called me for backup. I wish now we’d brought in a couple of units sooner, but it could have just as easily been kids.”
“Yeah, we’ve run off a few,” the cop said. “Usually closer to Halloween.”
His partner returned with his police radio held to his ear. “Sounds like everyone’s coming up empty,” he reported, signing off. “CS techs are on the way to do a onceover for blood evidence or anything the suspects might have ditched. When they’re finished, we’ll loop back every hour the rest of the night. Isn’t likely these guys will return, but they would for sure if we didn’t check.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Maggie said. “Thanks. Appreciate the assist.”
Josh and Maggie watched in silence as the officers walked toward the lab van that had just pulled up. As soon as they were out of hearing, she turned to look up at him. “I don’t remember calling you for backup. Why are you here?”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Josh gave her a long look. “Why do you think? I was trying to keep my partner out of trouble.” He didn’t mention he’d checked on her every evening since the threat to Annie had made the case personal or that he’d sat outside her apartment overnight after spotting someone loitering near her building. It turned into nothing, but his efforts had taken a toll. Catnaps in the car just didn’t hack it. His eyes were gritty and his temper a bit frayed. “I hope you aren’t going to tell me it wasn’t necessary.”
A half-smile curved her lips. “I don’t think you’d let me get away with it.”
“Well, that’s a surprising improvement.” He studied her, trying to judge her mood. “Look, Maggie, after we finish up here, let’s stop for coffee. I’d like to hear what happened with the ghosts. I saw enough to know it didn’t go smoothly.”
Before Maggie had a chance to answer, two crime scene techs ran up to them. “Detective York, I’m glad we caught you. Can you show us exactly where you were struggling with the suspect? We’ll start looking there for physical evidence.”
Josh couldn’t believe the timing. Would she use this interruption to avoid him again? But they both switched into to cop mode and led the techs across the cemetery grounds. Ten minutes later, the CS team concluded there were no blood drops at the scene of the scuffle and expanded their search toward the back of the cemetery.
“It looks like our suspects got away again, and we’re done for tonight.” Maggie lightly touched Josh’s arm. “A jolt of caffeine sounds good to me. If you still want to hear about my meeting with the ghosts…I confess it was a bit tricky for a while.”
“Geez, Red.” He drew in a quick breath…not only in response to her touch or the fact she wasn’t avoiding him…but suspecting that tricky was a Maggie-ism for scary and dangerous. And that had been before the five Satanists arrived. Josh shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from crushing her in a wave of protectiveness. “Sure. I’d love to.”
They turned and walked toward the cars in silence…and a growing tension. The air bristled with unfinished business. Josh darted a glance at her. She was in a different mood tonight, hadn’t even objected that he’d followed her. He decided to press his advantage. They’d been playing games too long…and he’d run out of patience.
He stepped in her path, bringing her to a halt. “I want to know about the ghosts, about everything that affects you. But we’re also having the talk that keeps getting postponed. I don’t give a damn whether the timing’s right or wrong. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
A protest flickered across her face…and died. “Yeah, OK. Whatever needs to be said, I agree it’s time to say it.”
* * *
Business lagged at Joey’s Place, a popular, all-night, corner restaurant with pumpkin-colored chairs and booths. It was those in-between hours. Tourists and ordinary citizens had gone home to bed; the bar crowd hadn’t yet wandered by. Kitchen smells were switching over from burgers and fish to bacon and fresh pastries. Maggie and Josh slid into a booth near the back and ordered a pot of coffee.
To hide her nervousness, Maggie launched into her meeting with the ghosts. Josh leaned back and watched her with unreadable eyes. He didn’t say much except a word now and then to prove he was listening. It was disconcerting.
She finished her second cup of coffee. What now? She’d been over the cemetery encounter three times and had run out of things to say.
“You’re stalling, Maggie.” A hint of amusement gleamed in his eyes.
The interruption came as a relief.
“Maybe.” She briefly met his gaze. “But the ghosts seem like a safer topic. I’m not sure I want to hear what you’ve got to say.”
“Why?” He seemed genuinely taken aback, all trace of humor gone. “Have we reached a point we can’t talk to each other except about work or ghosts?”
“It’s hard. I don’t know what to say or expect. I guess that’s
mostly my fault. But now you have Ellie. And well, I don’t want to screw up anything for you.” There. She’d said it. Given him an opening. She waited, her heart pounding.
Seconds ticked by. “Duly noted,” he finally said in a flat voice. “I obviously need to set something straight. I promised to tell you about Ellie and shouldn’t have waited this long. I’d like to correct that mistake if it isn’t too late.”
Maggie palms grew damp. “You don’t have to. I don’t have any claims on you.”
“Is that right?” His eyes were shuttered. “Then the last eight or nine months meant nothing?”
Her gaze shot up. “I didn’t say that. But you have the right to be with the person who makes you happy.” Maggie tilted her head, her heart plummeting as she realized she meant it. Even if she’d be miserable without him.
“At least we agree on something.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “Ellie’s my ex, Maggie. A childhood friend, a good friend once but nothing more. Despite her persistence and flaunting herself in front of you when she was here, I didn’t blow her off because I knew she was in some kind of trouble. The day we returned from the swamp, she finally broke down and confessed she was being blackmailed over some sexually explicit photos. He’d given her twenty-four hours to come up with such a large amount of money that she’d be forced to get it from her father. I flew to Boston to confront the blackmailer before she was smeared in the press…and in the eyes of her overly critical family. She begged me to keep it a secret.” He frowned and shook his head. “I’m telling you now because her secret has come between us. And I can’t let that continue.”
Maggie stared at him, not yet putting together all the implications, but how typical of Brandt. Off to rescue a damsel in distress. “Were you able to stop it?”
His face darkened for an instant. “It’s settled…off the books. He won’t be showing his face around town for a while. Believe me, I wouldn’t have gone, except her family has never—”
She shook her head. “Stop, Josh. You’ve told me enough. I don’t need to know any more of Ellie’s private business. She’s lucky to have you as a friend.” Maggie withdrew her hand from his. “But are you sure that’s all it is? She’s still calling.”
“Are you referring to the message you heard? She called to thank me and say everything worked out.” He gave her a rueful look. “The sweetie part was for your benefit. She knows you don’t like her.”
“Well, I…I didn’t know her well enough before to dislike her, but I definitely don’t like her now.” Maggie looked away. “But that isn’t the only time she’s called.”
“No, it isn’t. She’s being a bit clingy, kind of like an annoying kid sister. She’s made the decision to go back to school and get a job, do something with her life. Her high-society friends can’t relate to that, so she’s been calling me…” He leaned back, a smile peeking out. “Maggie, I think you’re jealous.”
She hesitated, tempted to deny it. “Wouldn’t you be?”
“Probably. But you should know better. I want a woman in my life—one woman in particular—not an irritating brat.”
“I’ll try to keep that in mind if she shows up in New Orleans again.” Maggie picked up her spoon and absently stirred her black coffee.
Josh eyed her with speculation. “There’s more, isn’t there? Ellie wasn’t the real problem that stood between us. It started before she showed up.”
Maggie set the spoon down. “Years before we met.” His brows went up, but he waited for her to elaborate, and she went on. “You’ve been patient for days—actually, I guess it’s been three weeks—waiting for me to explain how I got us sidetracked like this. I thought about it…a lot. The simple truth is I got scared.”
He jerked his head back. “What did I do?”
“Not you. Me. A shrink told me I have abandonment issues. My parents were the only family I’d known. Then came the plane crash, and I was suddenly alone. In the last six years, I’ve built a new life…by myself. I thought I’d put those fears of loss behind me, until you jumped in front of that gunman.”
She paused long enough that Josh stirred as if he was going to say something. She shook her head to stop him. “I heard that empty gun click…and was physically sick at my stomach knowing you could have been gone…like that.” She snapped her fingers and stared at them. The sharp sound hung in the air. “It was like a big black hole of emptiness opened up. And it would have been my fault. Oh, sure, guilt and anger were both part of it, but I was really afraid I couldn’t survive without you.”
Josh reached across and linked his fingers with hers. “That you were somehow less because of us?” he finished. “Do you still feel that way?”
“Still scared, yes. But the rest…not once I began to figure it out. But I was afraid to say anything…terrified I’d already driven you away.” She swallowed, knowing she was about to say the words they’d never said. “We’re stronger together…I’m stronger…because of what we have, no matter what happens tomorrow or the day after or fifty years from now.” Her lower lip trembled. “It’s too late to go back, to try to protect myself. I already love you, Josh. And I can’t find a way to stop.”
“Aw, Maggie.” Josh slid out of the booth. Ignoring the interested wait staff and other customers, he pulled Maggie to her feet and kissed her. After a long, breathless moment, he lifted his head, his eyes twinkling. “Perhaps we should take this outside.” He dropped his credit card on the table. On the way out the front door, he flashed his badge at the cashier. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to sign the bill.”
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled Maggie out the door, swung her around the corner of the building, and covered her mouth with a kiss more possessive than gentle this time.
“Maggie, Maggie,” he whispered against her hair. “What a pair we are. My life changed forever that first day I found you sneaking around my crime scene. I’m not sure when I first realized I loved you, but it was months ago. I didn’t say so, because you’ve shied away at the slightest hint.”
“My stupid fears nearly cost us everything.”
“Not even close. I was just biding my time.”
She twined her fingers in his hair and kissed her way along his jawline. “I’ve missed this…missed you…so much. I love you, Josh,” she murmured. “More than you can imagine.”
“Likewise, babe.”
The kiss she initiated was tender, and he kept it that way until her hands slid down his arms and under his shirt. She spread her fingers across his bare chest, igniting a warmth in the pit of her stomach…and apparently his. He sucked in his breath and deepened the kiss. A few moments later, he tore himself away, dropped a kiss on the tip her nose, and stepped back. “Hold that thought. I’ll pay the bill, and we can go home.”
Maggie tilted her head. “Best proposition I’ve had in three weeks. It’s time for less talk, more action.”
Josh chuckled. “Sounds like a challenge. Happy to oblige.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Maggie woke the next morning spooned against Josh’s warm chest. She sighed contentedly and would have risked Captain Jenson’s censure with a late arrival, but they had a full day of interviews. She reluctantly slipped out of his arms, left him sleeping, and hurried into the shower. If he wasn’t up by the time the coffee was made, she’d wake him then.
Returning from the shower, she tiptoed past the bed, collected her clothes, and stopped to look at him. Josh’s long, dark lashes twitched, and she was tempted to kiss him awake.
“You better run,” he said without opening his eyes, “or we won’t make it to work.”
She laughed and scuttled into the kitchen. In spite of the short night, she was…happy. That was totally Josh’s fault.
She made the coffee extra strong. For obvious reasons they hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep, and in between the more intimate moments they’d talked and talked…not about the case, but about themselves, their hopes, their fears. Although Maggie had walked ou
t three weeks ago after accusing Josh of playing the overly protective alpha male, she hadn’t realized his fears of loss went nearly as deep as hers.
“It comes with the territory of loving someone,” Josh had murmured in her ear.
She smiled to herself now and poured two cups of coffee. The shower had shut off minutes ago. “Coffee’s ready. Are you dressed?” she called.
“Almost. Can you bring me a mug?”
“Huh-uh. I’m not coming near the bedroom.”
A second later he appeared around the corner, buttoning his shirt. “Killjoy.” He stopped next to her and leaned in to kiss her on the mouth while his hands continued to adjust his clothing. “Good Morning, Red.”
Laugh lines creased her checks at the childhood nickname. “Morning, love. Playing it dangerous, huh?” But the truth was she liked the sound of it coming from Josh’s lips. “Don’t think I won’t get even with you later.”
“I look forward to it.” He reached out a hand as if to claim another kiss.
“Not so fast.” She twisted away with a smirk, thrust one of the mugs into his hand, and picked up the other. “We have to go. It’s a packed day and should be a fun one. We’re meeting the Society’s top witches.”
* * *
Late that afternoon, Maggie scowled at their list of suspects. She lounged against the corner of Josh’s desk as they compared notes and attempted to arrange names in some kind of ranking. It wasn’t easy with almost nothing to go on.
None of the seven board members they’d seen so far had been half as interesting as Maggie’s cousins or Madame L. If these women had genuine witchcraft skills—as Madame L had insisted—they’d kept them well-hidden. Oh, Maggie had felt a weird sensation a couple of times, but with one exception, the women looked and acted ordinary, even well-adjusted. Of the morning interviews, Amanda, an outgoing, late-twenties dark blonde was the youngest and friendliest; Mary C (there were two Marys), a Caucasian in her late thirties had the alibi of her daughter’s dancing recital; and Florence, a forty-two-year-old with impatient gray eyes, now claimed to have been out of town during Michaels’s attack.