Chapter 14
“All right, run it by me one more time. You think Russel Lauren and Charlene killed Evan?”
I cringed at the skeptical note in Caleb’s voice. It wasn’t the best timing, considering we’d just made up over our spat, but I knew that if I went poking around deeper, it could very well break us apart. So, veering on the side of caution, I’d shown him the picture on my phone and let him read the texts from Patrick.
A deep line appeared along his brow.
“I know, I know, it sounds crazy,” I said, holding up my hands. “And, no, I don’t know how he could have pulled it off. But maybe he hired someone to put something in the drink?”
“There were seven groomsmen,” Caleb pointed out. “And the two fathers. Someone would have seen something.”
“Not if he hired one of Francois’s cater-waiters. They could have slipped it in on the way downstairs.”
“But how would they know which drink to lace?”
I frowned.
“Patrick might be right, Ana. You do watch too many true crime shows.”
I scowled at him.
“Listen, Caleb sighed, “we still have Guy in custody. He looks good for it. He lawyered up, of course, but we pulled his transcripts from his academy. He was top of his class in potion work.”
I grimaced. “Naturally.”
“He had the skillset, the ingredients, and the opportunity,” Caleb continued. “Motive is a little shaky, but our prosecutor assures me he can build a case. The academy sent over other records and let’s just say, the rivalry between Guy and Evan was well known on campus. The two weren’t friends, and even as recently as a year ago, at a reunion, the two exchanged words and made a little bit of a scene.”
Crestfallen, I nodded and put my phone aside.
Caleb gestured at it. “This affair between Charlene and Russel is unseemly, I’ll grant you that, but it doesn’t make them killers.”
“I know that.”
Caleb ran his hand along my arm. “I’ll look into it, all right?”
“Okay,” I grumbled, tugging the sheets as I moved to the edge of the bed.
Caleb’s phone chirped and he cursed under his breath. “What now?”
I scurried to the closet and tugged on a pair of leggings and an oversize t-shirt. When I reappeared, Caleb was gone. I followed his voice out to the living room. He’d dressed and was slinging the gym bag over his shoulder as he spoke to whoever had called. “—be there in five minutes.”
He hung up and turned back to me.
“Duty calls?”
“Guy is insisting on taking truth serum,” Caleb said, clearly agitated. “His lawyer is advising against it, but he says he wants to prove he’s innocent.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
Truth serum could only be used in extreme cases, and even then, there was a mountain of red tape that had to be cut through in order to administer it. The Haven Council was reluctant to use any kind of mind magic, on supernaturals and humans alike.
“I don’t care if he wants to take the stuff, hell, it makes my job a lot easier, but it means a long night doing paperwork and making sure I’ve crossed all my t’s and dotted the i’s just so.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. His jawline and neck were coated with stubble. I didn’t want to know the last time he’d gotten more than a few hours of sleep. High profile cases always meant all hands on deck, and the agency powers that be tended not to care about their agents’ basic needs.
“Wish I could help,” I said.
Caleb smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks. I’ll call when I get a chance. Who knows, by tomorrow night this could all be over and we could go on a regular date.”
“I’d like that.”
I crossed the living room and kissed him goodbye before ushering him out the door. When he was gone, I reset the security wards and wandered back to the kitchen. Peaches poked her head out of the bedroom and meowed, as if asking whether or not the coast was clear.
I rolled my eyes at her. “You know, I’m planning on keeping him around. How long is it going to take for you to get over this … well, whatever it is!”
She meowed.
“Helpful.” I cracked open a can of food and served it to her on her customary crystal plate. “Brat.”
It was half past four. There was still time left in the day to work on my business plan, maybe even make some phone calls before businesses started shutting down for the night. I hadn’t seen Harmony since the night before, but had smelled her perfume in the bathroom and knew she’d come home to shower and change—and hopefully sleep—at some point during the night. Was she at work now? I considered going to Luna for an early dinner. I hadn’t eaten lunch, and then had gotten distracted with Caleb. My stomach rumbled at the idea of digging into a plate of pasta.
I backtracked to the closet, changed into slacks, a polka-dotted shirt, and matching shoes. I stopped to clean up after her furry highness and then left the condo. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. I hopped on a Shimmer Bus and rode it to the stop nearest Luna. As I rounded the block, I realized I was only a few blocks away from the Lakewood Tower. Before I could fully form a plan in my head, my feet started in the opposite direction of the restaurant, and within a few minutes, I stood in front of the luxury high rise.
Too bad I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing.
I shouldn’t get involved in this, I told myself in a harsh voice. What did I honestly think would happen? I’d go charging in and get Charlene to confess to the whole thing in a sobbing mess of words and apologies?
Yeah. Right.
Shaking my head at my own stupidity, I turned away and started back toward Luna.
Lasagna, Ana. Think lasagna.
“Anastasia? Is that you?”
Crap.
I turned in slow motion and found Charlene and Clive striding in my direction, her arm looped through his. “It is you,” Charlene said.
I was honestly surprised she remembered my name. Charlene was almost like an infant, in that unless something—preferably shiny—was dangling right in front of her, she tended to forget it existed.
“Coming to drop off another card?” Clive asked, a severe arch to his brow.
“Uh, no. I was just walking through. I’m on my way to Luna for dinner. My sister is a hostess there.”
“Oh,” Charlene replied, her face pinched with pity.
I fought back the urge to roll my eyes.
“What about you two? Enjoying the sunshine?”
Clive lifted his chin. “As much as we can enjoy anything, now that Evan is gone.”
What? Who did he think he was kidding with that act? Two days ago he acted like Evan’s murder was a mere inconvenience.
Charlene glanced at him and mirrored his posture. “We’re doing our best,” she added. “We’ve been out making preparations for the funeral most of the day. Are you planning to attend?”
“I wasn’t invited.”
“Oh.” Charlene shrugged. “It’s probably just as well. It’s going to be a zoo. Evan’s parents have invited the whole haven, it seems.”
“Even Russel Lauren?”
Holy hex. Where had that come from?
Clive’s eyes darkened. “I can assure you he will not be there.”
“Oh?” I looked to Charlene. “It was my understanding you two are friends.”
Clive barked a cold laugh. “What a ridiculous idea.”
I waved my hand casually through the space between us. “I just thought I saw you two together, that’s all.”
If Charlene’s eyes could shoot fire, I’d be a pile of ash on the sidewalk.
“You were with Russel?” Clive said, his tone solid ice.
“It was in a trashy part of town. No one who’s anyone would have seen us,” Charlene whined.
Okay. Ouch.
“What were you doing with him?” Clive demanded.
Charlene looked at me, a fire still blazing in her ey
es. “Nothing.”
She was daring me to contradict her.
“I really need to go,” I said, backing away a step. “I’m late for my reservation.”
Clive clamped onto Charlene’s arm and steered her into the building, and I hurried away, practically sprinting the rest of the way to Luna.
Harmony was at the host station when I stepped inside. She glanced up with a surprised smile. “What are you doing here, Stace?”
“Hoping for a big plate of lasagna,” I replied.
She laughed and glanced over her shoulder. “I think we can arrange that. Do you need a menu?”
I shook my head. I had the whole thing memorized.
Harmony showed me to a table for two on the second level of the upscale restaurant. I tucked the creamy white linen napkin on my lap. “How was your class the other night?” I asked as she poured me a glass of ice water.
“Good,” she said, placing it in front of me. “Next term, I’m going to have to try and lighten my class load. I think I bit off a little more than I could chew this time around.”
I smiled. “You were excited about starting school again. I’m sure that’s normal.”
“Maybe so. Luca will be your server,” she told me, glancing down at the host station where a few couples waited for early reservations.
“Thanks.”
Before too long, I had a glass of wine, a basket of hot bread, and a plate of lasagna. All was right in the world. When Harmony approached my table, I wondered if she was on break and wanted to join me, but as she neared, I saw the look on her face. Something was wrong.
“Harmony, what’s—”
“You need to come with me,” she said, her eyes round.
“What is it?”
She jerked her head and grabbed at my elbow. “Come on.”
I placed my napkin on the table and followed her downstairs, through the kitchen, and into a small break room. “Uh, Harmony, I don’t think I’m really supposed to be in here.”
“Look!” She pointed at a small TV screen. The nightly news was playing.
“Authorities have Lakewood Tower surrounded and we’re being told there is a hostage situation taking place inside. As of right now, no one is coming in or out of that iconic building.”
“What in the Otherworld?”
Caleb passed by in the background, barking orders at the other agents in their SPA jackets.
“The SPA is on the scene and has attempted to open a negotiation dialogue with whoever is behind this sudden attack. It all started after shots were abruptly fired just half an hour ago. At this time, we do not know the identity of the attacker or what kinds of demands he or she have made, but we will be watching this closely—”
I didn’t wait for more information.
“Stace!” Harmony called after me.
I raced through Luna and threw open the front door. It took a block before I caught my reflection in a passing window and realized Harmony was a few yards behind, arms flailing. “Stace!” she called. “Wait up!”
“Go back!” I yelled, my breathing hard.
“Not a chance!”
I huffed but kept running. Within minutes, we arrived at the scene in front of Lakewood Tower. The SPA had a magical perimeter erected, keeping the media and pedestrians away from the building. Looking up at the building, I saw the bullet holes in the windows on the top floor.
The penthouse level.
Stars.
I tried to pass through the barrier, but a jolt of magic kicked me back. Hard.
“Caleb!” I screamed above the chatter and noise of the crowd gathered to watch. “Caleb, over here!”
He marched toward me, his face set in stone. “What are you doing here? Go home. Both of you. It’s not safe.”
The cameras swung in our direction, trying to catch a glimpse of drama for their viewers at home.
“It’s Clive, isn’t it?” I asked.
Caleb glanced to his left and then inclined his head. “He has Charlene,” he said, keeping his voice low.
His radio crackled. “Boss.”
It was Meryl’s voice on the other end.
“Yes?”
“Boss, he’s saying he wants to talk to her.”
“Her, who?”
“Anastasia.”
Caleb went stiff, every muscle in his jaw and shoulders tensed. “Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did …”
Heat crept up my neck.
“It’s out of the question,” Caleb barked into his radio. “Find another way.”
Across the sidewalk, Meryl raised a phone to her ear and spoke into it, her words swallowed by the noise. Her face fell and she glanced at the phone in her hand.
Shots rang out from above. The crowd screamed and ran from the scene. SPA agents took cover and someone sent a magic shield above those gathered.
Caleb swore loudly.
“Send me up there,” I said. “I can talk to him. I know I can get him to let Charlene go.”
“She’s right,” Harmony said. “Think about it, Caleb. Her entire career is basically prep for this. She knows how to keep people cool.”
“Oh, so now being a wedding planner is the prerequisite to being a hostage negotiator?”
“Put me on the phone, Caleb. Your people can protect me.”
Caleb’s eyes were calculating and devoid of emotion as he glanced around, assessing the situation. “Fine. But you’re not going up to that penthouse. We’re waiting for backup. End of story.”
“Got it.”
Caleb waved a hand and made a space in the magic barrier for me. Harmony slipped in after me. He groaned but let her through before replacing the ward.
“Who is this guy?” Harmony asked.
“I’ll explain later,” I said.
Meryl handed me the phone and I pressed it up to my ear.
Clive was screaming in the background. “After everything I did for you, for us! All these years of looking out for you and making sure you had everything you could ever want, and in the end you still can’t see me!”
“I see you, Clive!” Charlene argued, her voice throaty like she’d been crying.
“Has he hurt her?” I whispered at Meryl.
“We don’t think so.”
I gulped.
“No!” he bellowed. “You don’t. Not really.”
“Clive!” I barked, trying to get his attention off Charlene. “This is Anastasia Winters. You wanted to speak to me?”
“I told them to send you up here,” Clive growled.
“That’s not going to be possible,” I said, my gaze catching on Caleb as he spoke with an agent. The man held a small crystal and with a flick of his wrist, he sent it soaring up the side of the building. Caleb looked up at me and rolled his fingers. “Keep him talking,” he mouthed.
“Clive, I see you. So, why don’t you talk to me,” I said. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“You wouldn’t understand,” he said. “You’re beautiful and probably just like Charlene, overlooking the good guys, the ones who would actually give a damn about you, all so you can chase some bad boy image. Is that what you’re like, Anastasia?”
The crystal flew out of sight. Meryl stilled, her hands out, ready for something.
“No, Clive. I don’t chase bad boys. I like nice guys. Like—like you.”
Caleb continued rolling his fingers, urging me on. He handed Meryl a pair of strange looking glasses and she slid them on, one hand hovering in midair.
I struggled to force my attention back on the call. “You—you’re the kind of guy who sends flowers and calls for no reason. Right, Clive?”
“That’s right. Charlene, did you hear that?”
Suddenly, a crack echoed, cutting through the noise around me like the sound of a frozen lake breaking underfoot. A pane of glass, a perfect circle, fell from the sky. It was huge, at least six feet in diameter. And it was headed right for a cluster of agents.
Harmony whipped out her hands, sending a pulse
of magic across the way. Another agent was one step ahead, and together, they provided an invisible net for the glass to land in. Harmony breathed a sigh of relief and backed off, letting the other agent bring it safely to the ground without shattering.
“What are you trying to do?” Clive screamed. “What kind of—”
Beside me, Meryl waved her hand, sending a bolt of magic streaking up the front of the looming building. The spell whipped up the side of the building like lightning and blasted through a cut-out window pane. A second explosion of light flashed, this time with a loud pop.
“Got him!” Meryl declared, pumping her free hand into a triumphant fist. “Here fishy, fishy.”
She worked her hands, the gestures the same as if reeling in a prized trout. My gaze bounced between her movements and the building. I had no idea what we were waiting for. Then, I saw it. A glowing bubble, six feet across, floated from the window, using the cut-out as an exit, and slid down the building. Inside the giant orb was Clive Errol.
Harmony’s jaw dropped. “What. Was. That?!”
Caleb took the phone from my hand and hung it up. “That was a crafty little piece of spellwork, courtesy of the SPA. The goggles allowed Meryl to control the crystal which first cut the necessary hole in the glass, then sighted on Clive so she could aim the spell properly.”
Meryl took the glasses off and handed them to Harmony. “Check it out. It’s pretty sweet.”
Harmony slid them on and her mouth dropped open again. “This is awesome!”
I smiled at her awe but it quickly slid away when I looked at Clive, hovering in his bubble prison. He flailed and kicked, but nothing he did worked to break the spell’s hold on him. When I was confident he wasn’t about to burst out, I took a step closer. “Where were we?” I asked. “Oh, that’s right. You were telling me all the nice things you do for the woman you love. Tell me, does that include killing? Would you kill for the woman you love?”
Clive’s teeth flashed and for the first time, I realized how pointy they were. Almost beast-like. I shuddered. “You killed Evan Stimpton because you knew that Charlene didn’t want to marry him, and you thought that with him out of the way, she’d realize she was supposed to be with you.”
“He didn’t deserve her,” he growled. “He was just a pretty face and a trust fund. That’s all he had to offer her. He was cheating on her with at least three other women. I tried to tell her, to warn her that he was a loser, but she wouldn’t listen. Well, I’ve got her attention now! Now she knows that I’m not some weakling. Some pushover!”
Wedding Bells and Deadly Spells Page 10