Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot)

by Amsden, Christine

  I kept hearing Isaac’s frightened voice over and over again: Are you going to let them put me in jail?

  Edward frowned, but did not immediately move to action. “That doesn’t make sense, Cassandra. Why would Isaac rob anyone?”

  That was between Isaac and them, I decided. From me, they would get only the facts. “You’ll have to ask him about that. All I know is that last week, the sheriff hired me to find the ‘ghost’ who robbed a bank. Well, it wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on when the ‘ghost’ disabled the security cameras, but I swear I didn’t know it was Isaac until the deputies arrested him just now. By then, there wasn’t anything I could do.”

  I could see understanding beginning to transform Edward’s face from confusion to shock. “How did the deputies manage to find Isaac, if he was invisible?”

  “I found him.” I didn’t meet his eyes, knowing that I had betrayed a secret. “Video camera.”

  “I see.” His eyes were beginning to glow. “Did you share this information with the police?”

  I took a step back, wondering how badly I had broken our time-honored code of secrets and lies.

  “I, um–” I looked around. Juliana looked afraid. Most of the younger children just looked confused. Finally, I mustered my courage. “Your son was robbing people. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

  Edward closed his eyes tightly and rubbed them with his fingers. “I-I have to think.” With that, he hurried out of the room.

  * * *

  Sheriff Adams called me not five minutes later, wanting to know where the hell I was.

  “I had to tell my family about Isaac.” I remembered his earlier reservations about hiring me, and wondered, fleetingly, if maybe he’d had a point. After all, with my family threatened, I hadn’t gone straight to the station, as I probably should have.

  He cursed under his breath. “What are the chances I’m going to remember any of this tomorrow?”

  A few weeks ago, Sheriff Adams had confided that he often wrote things like this down in a journal, in case he forgot about them later, so I figured the chances of him remembering were pretty good. I couldn’t say the same for anyone else.

  The sheriff seemed to take my silence as answer enough. “That’s what I figured. Will he even be punished for this?”

  “Yes.” I would make sure of that. I might not be able to do anything about the McClellans of the world, but Isaac Walter Nostradamus Edward Scot was another matter entirely.

  There was a sound from the other end of the line like fingers drumming on a desktop. “I’ve got a copy of that video where no one’s likely to look for it. Now, I might be willing to keep it buried, given that Isaac’s a minor with no prior record and frankly, I think every one of you has issues right now, but I want your father to understand something.”

  “What?” I asked, weakly.

  “First, the stores that were robbed will be reimbursed. Second, Isaac will be under house arrest for the foreseeable future. I don’t want him going anywhere that’s not school.”

  “My parents won’t like being dictated to,” I said.

  “And finally,” Sheriff Adams said over my protest, “he owes me.”

  That much, he would probably understand. “All right.”

  * * *

  As it turned out, the day wasn’t through with me yet. Edward returned to our cozy waiting room about three hours later, dragging a shell-shocked Isaac along with him. Nobody spoke to Isaac and he didn’t speak to anyone else; he simply went to an isolated corner and curled himself into a chair.

  “What happened?” Nicolas asked. I’m glad he did, because I wouldn’t have dared.

  Edward sighed, heavily. “The money is back and nobody remembers the ghost thief.”

  He made the whole thing sound so simple, but I knew it wasn’t. My family didn’t know how to wield the kind of mind magic that would cause dozens of people to forget a series of robberies. They’d done something similar a few weeks before, when I’d been accused of murder, but that time they’d called in a favor. I doubted they had another one to call in.

  “I’m hungry,” Christina whispered. It seemed even she had been afraid to speak, but I realized that it was the middle of the afternoon and no one had eaten lunch.

  “Let’s all go down to the cafeteria,” Nicolas suggested.

  “Not me,” Edward said. “I’m expecting someone. Go on.”

  Nicolas began herding the younger children out. Isaac didn’t want to go with him, but Nicolas dragged him, possibly using magic to aid his cause. I trailed behind, but just as I was about to leave the room, Edward stopped me.

  “I owe someone for this,” he told me.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to have done.

  “Unfortunately, I think you will be.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

  “It means that I have a feeling I know what price I’m going to have to pay for this favor, and that you won’t like it at all.”

  I studied him for a moment, not sure if he was threatening me or just making a statement of fact. Either way, he seemed to be blaming me. “You act like I did something terrible, but all I did was try to protect this town from people like you.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “People like me?”

  “Yeah, people like you. Your son robbed a bank and a jewelry store – probably a few others. That’s not some misdemeanor law he broke, that’s a felony. Multiple felonies. And you’re mad at me for what? For mentioning to a few people that there’s a way to see invisible people? You’ll have to excuse me, but for some of us, that’s all the advantage we have.”

  To my surprise, he didn’t get angry with me. Instead, he asked me a surprising question. “Why did you leave the sheriff’s department last year?”

  “Um...” I wasn’t sure what to say about that. I’d quit because I had learned the hard way that sorcerers really were above the law. And as much as I didn’t want to see Isaac in real trouble, the fact that my father had swept it all under the rug in a few short hours proved my point.

  Edward went on, even though I didn’t answer. “I think you only returned for the money, but it was a good decision. I know it can be frustrating sometimes, but this town needs you.”

  “If you say so. Which reminds me, the sheriff wants to make sure Isaac’s going to get punished for this.”

  “The sheriff doesn’t remember anything.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.” I didn’t give him any details, though. “You may end up owing him a favor one of these days, too.”

  He studied my face for a long time, then nodded, slowly. “I can assure you that Isaac’s not going anywhere but school for a long, long time.”

  “All right.”

  There was a long silence “Vera called yesterday,” Edward said. “Apparently, she was a bit put off by your business card.”

  “I noticed. I think she wanted someone to magic her daughter back to her.”

  “I can’t blame her for wanting that.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “That your talents were uniquely suited to helping her.”

  I fought back a smile. The last thing I needed was for him to think his compliments meant anything to me now. So I changed the subject. “You should ask Isaac why he did it,”

  “Do you know?”

  “Yes. You should ask him.”

  “All right, I will. Now go get some lunch, and don’t argue with Nicolas when he insists on paying.”

  * * *

  The person Edward had been waiting for turned out to be Henry Wolf, and when we all filed back into the waiting room it looked as though the two men had been having an argument. Their faces were red, their eyes wide, and my father’s fists were tightly balled. They calmed down when they saw the children, but there was still heat in their words.

  “I’m trying to save your family,” Mr. Wolf said.

  “You’re trying to interfere,” Edward shot
back.

  “Do you want my help or don’t you?” Mr. Wolf asked.

  Dad’s eyes darted over to us and he sighed. “Fine, but you’re going to have to convince her.”

  “Convince who?” I asked.

  In answer, both Edward and Mr. Wolf turned their eyes on me.

  “Let’s have a private chat,” Mr. Wolf said, motioning toward the door.

  Nervously, I preceded him to a small, private alcove near the elevators. I’d never had much contact with Mr. Wolf before. Frankly, the man made me nervous. Nobody knew exactly how old he was, but despite his shabby appearance and modest dwelling, everyone believed he had a massive amount of power. I’d met it head-on a few weeks earlier when one of his wards totaled my car.

  “Your dad don’t believe me, but you’re the only one can save your mom.”

  I blinked a few times. “Me? She’s not even my mother anymore. She disowned me.”

  “Heh,” Mr. Wolf said. “I told you before you can’t break a bond of love. I told your dad that just now and he’s pissed at me, but he shoulda asked me before he did that spell. I’d a told him then if he’d asked.”

  “Told him what, exactly?” I asked.

  “It’s tearing the family apart. Ain’t nobody’s gift’s working right. They’re all bleeding in there.”

  “And I’m not?”

  “Course you are,” he said, “but you’re the one who can fix it.”

  “Why me? Shouldn’t it be my parents who fix it?”

  “If life was fair, maybe, but it ain’t. You’re mom’s not gonna respond to anyone but you.”

  I remembered the way she’d moved slightly and barely whispered my name the other day, but I pushed the image from my mind.

  “What do you want me to do?” I asked.

  “Forgive her.”

  I laughed. “Just like that?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “I don’t think I have that power,” I started to turn on my heels, but an invisible barrier prevented me from leaving. In frustration, I turned back to face Henry Wolf.

  “You do,” he said, “if you try.”

  “What happens if I don’t?” I asked.

  Mr. Wolf shrugged. “Who knows? She could come out of it on her own. I don’t think she’ll die. I think she’s in shock. She may even be just now realizing for herself that she made a terrible mistake.”

  “Good. Then she doesn’t need me.”

  “Cassie,” Mr. Wolf said. “She might die. I don’t know.”

  “You just said–”

  “I said I don’t think she’ll die. I’m not a seer.”

  “I’m sure Edward can hire one,” I said dismissively.

  “He already has. The future is murky.”

  “That’s helpful.” I knew I was avoiding the point, but I simply wasn’t sure how to handle this whole conversation. “Mr. Wolf, I can’t forgive her. I just can’t.”

  He frowned deeply for a long minute. “Maybe before forgiveness, you need a dose of understanding.”

  “Understanding?” I echoed.

  “Helps to forgive people if you can get in their heads for a bit. How ‘bout it? Spell’s gotta be cast at sunup.”

  “What does the spell do, exactly?”

  “Put you inside your mom’s head. Maybe then, you’ll understand.”

  The thought made me cringe. “Do you understand?”

  “A bit, but only cause I’ve been around long enough to see lots of evil done to lots of people, including your mom.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t give me some childhood abuse sob story. My mom told me she had a perfectly normal childhood. Worst that happened to her was her parents dying when she and her twin sister were sixteen.”

  “Never could abide secrets and lies,” Henry Wolf said. He stuck his hands in his pockets. “See you tomorrow at sunup.” Then he walked away.

  24

  I FOUND MYSELF ON EVAN’S DOORSTEP an hour early for our date, but I needed him. I had never wanted to feel that way about him, but this wasn’t about magical protection. This was about protecting my heart from further breakage. Tonight, I needed a best friend.

  When Evan opened the front door, however; I wasn’t sure I had found one. His expression, fixed and unfathomable, held none of the warmth I had glimpsed the last few times we had been together.

  “I know I’m early,” I began, “but I really need someone to talk to.”

  He stepped aside, allowing me entrance, but no clues as to his mood. When I brushed against him, he stepped back, and when I tried to look into his eyes, he looked away.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, temporarily pushing my own worries to the back of my mind.

  “What makes you think anything’s wrong?” Evan preceded me into his den, heading for a bar along one side with a mini fridge and selection of drinks.

  “Can I get you something?” he asked.

  “Um. Water.”

  He removed two bottles of cold water from the fridge, along with a metal thermos. Without looking my way, he twisted off the lid of the thermos.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “I’ll just need a hair sample,” Evan said, still not looking at me.

  “What are you talking about?”

  He lifted the thermos, rotating it until he found an index card taped to the side. Then he began to read. “Cassie – add a lock of hair. Shake well. No more than three drops orally. Effects last about an hour. Love, Nicolas.”

  I still didn’t understand. “Where did you get that?”

  “It was on your kitchen counter last night.”

  “Oh.” I had a sudden flash of Nicolas showing up with that thermos, but with Kaitlin’s troubles, I had neither asked what it was nor given it much thought. Now, I recalled asking Nicolas if there was any such thing as an anti-love potion. Apparently, there was.

  “Did you ask him to make this?”

  “Sort of.”

  “You can’t sort of ask someone to make a potion. Did you or didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” I said, “but it was days ago. And a bad idea. I didn’t even think he could make an anti-love potion.”

  “Oh trust me, he can’t.” Evan slammed the thermos down on the counter. “This potion doesn’t deal with love, it deals with lust. And then, he chose the wrong counter-agent.”

  “Which means?” I was almost afraid to ask.

  “He strengthened it, instead of negating it.”

  I had a sudden flash of Evan in the woods, out of control and tearing at my clothes. My eyes widened, and I shuddered.

  “I see you remember what happened the last time I lost control.” Evan’s voice remained cool, though I could feel his tension in the stirring of the air around the room.

  “I wasn’t going to use it!”

  “That’s a relief. But why did you ask him to make it in the first place?”

  I couldn’t think of a good answer. Grace Blair had just gotten through with her dire warnings, but that hadn’t been it. I still didn’t know what to make of her predictions, or whether to believe them.

  “Are you so afraid of me you thought you needed this to keep me away from you?”

  I shook my head. That hadn’t been it at all. If anything, I had been afraid of myself, because I could so easily see myself giving in to his advances.

  “If you’re desperate for me to fall out of love with you,” Evan said, “I can think of some better ways to manage it.”

  I shook my head wildly, my heart thudding in my chest. No. Oh no! Is this what Grace had meant about his breaking my heart? Had I pushed him so far?

  “Please, no,” I said. “I’m sorry about the potion. Give me another chance.”

  “Another chance to do what?”

  He stared at me, and I stared back, knowing I couldn’t back down. Knowing it was important. Around me, the breeze had grown in intensity, whipping my hair around me in stinging tendrils.

  “Another chance to love you,” I said, my voice barely a whisper
as I finally let the admission escape. There would be no taking it back now, but I didn’t want to take it back. The words didn’t erase our problems, but they meant I was willing to try.

  Gradually, the air began to still, but Evan’s expression grew warier.

  “I love you,” I repeated. “I don’t know why you wouldn’t let me say so the other night, but I’m saying it now. And I mean it.”

  “Do you?” Evan sounded doubtful. Of all his possible reactions, I had not expected this one. Wasn’t this exactly what he wanted?

  “You think I’m lying? What motive would I possibly have? I still want to prove I can get on just fine without magic, and believe me, this isn’t going to help.”

  I spun around, facing the window, not wanting him to see the emotions I felt sure were plainly stamped across my face. So much for escaping magic. So much for withstanding his charms.

  I didn’t sense his nearness until his arms came around me from behind, encircling my waist and pressing me back against his chest. He kissed the top of my head, and made me long to feel his lips on mine once again. He had called the kiss “addictive” once. That wasn’t the half of it.

  “I don’t think you’re lying,” Evan said. “I’m just afraid you’re mistaken. I’ve been trying to pretend it didn’t matter, and that somehow, when the time came, I’d just know the truth. But I don’t. The life-debt compulsion is strong, and I don’t know how to be sure it’s not the reason you’re saying you love me.”

  I looked inside myself for assurances that I really did love him. That what he said wasn’t true. But I didn’t know how to give them voice. I only knew how I felt.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Evan said. “I really ought to take your brother up on his offer to buy the debt.”

  “No.”

  He went on as if he hadn’t heard me. “I didn’t want to, but I don’t know how else to be sure.”

  “No.” This time, I wrenched myself away from him and spun to face him. “I’ll tell you what I told my brother. I owe you the debt. Not him. I do. I won’t let somebody else pay it off. It wouldn’t be right, and it wouldn’t feel real.”

  “Then how do we know for sure?” Evan asked.