“Thanks. I’ll see you at Emerson’s in a few.”
“Emerson’s?” She pauses for a moment. “Why do I see myself breaking into a police station?”
“We’ll talk about it when you get here,” he says with a smile in his voice. Then he ends the call and comes into the living room where I’m working. “She’s on her way over.”
“She doesn’t sound too thrilled about breaking and entering,” I say, looking up from my essay.
“Once I explain it to her, she’ll come around.” He takes a seat on my couch, and then looks back at me, his eyebrows furrowed. “How did you know what she said?”
“I heard her.” I look back down at my paper, which consists of one sentence. There’s no way I’m going to be able to concentrate on this.
“How? I was all the way down the hall.”
I look back at him and shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. You guys weren’t exactly whispering.”
Caiden continues looking at me strangely but I ignore him. I have to get something written for tomorrow.
Twenty minutes later, I’m up to four sentences when the doorbell rings. I sit up, grateful for the chance to stretch my legs. Caiden pulled out some of his own homework and is focusing on a particularly difficult Calc problem, so I leave him to it and answer the door.
Lydia’s standing there, nervously shifting from one foot to the other.
“Hi.” I try to sound friendly. After all, I’m going to be asking for a pretty big favor.
She gives me a brief smile. “Hi. Is Caiden here?”
“Yeah, back here.” I lead her into the living room where Caiden is still bent over his Math book, hands threaded through his dark hair in frustration. Lydia walks over to him and peaks over his shoulder.
“You’re differentiating a composite function.”
Caiden’s face is pinched in frustration. “Yeah, but I can’t figure out how to–”
“Here, just multiply the derivative of the outside function by x2.” She takes his pencil and jots something down. “Then all you have to do is plug the terms back in, like this, and there you go.”
I stare at her blankly. It’s like she’s speaking another language. Which, admittedly, she is. Calculus? I was lucky to pass Algebra 2.
He shakes his head. “I’m going to fail this test on Thursday.”
“No you won’t. I can help you study.” She glances in my direction and blushes a deep red. “That is, if you want.”
As I watch her make doe eyes at Caiden, a flash of something streaks through me. Pity? Annoyance? I’m not sure.
He runs his hand through his hair again and smiles slightly at her. “Yeah, maybe.” He flips his book closed. “But Calculus isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Lydia glances at me again. “I saw.”
Caiden explains to her why we want to sneak a peek at the police files. I can see by her expression that she’s unsure.
“So you don’t believe Caroline?” She asks me, her eyebrows raised.
“It’s not that I don’t believe her, it’s just that something isn’t right about the story.” A thought occurs to me. “Hey, you were in the coven three years ago, right?”
She nods warily.
“Then you must have seen my mom the night she died; Caiden said she showed up and started yelling at Caroline during your circle. Don’t you think it’s strange that my mom would kill herself and leave me under Caroline’s protection, when she was just fighting with her?”
“Wait, what do you mean she showed up?”
“The night she died,” Caiden answers. “We had a circle, and she drove up to that field we used to use for rituals.” He rubs his forehead, his eyes narrowed.
“I remember the circle,” Lydia says, confusion in her eyes. “But Elizabeth wasn’t there that night.”
“Yes she was. She was hysterical, telling everyone to run...” He massages his temples, his eyes squeezed shut.
“Huh? I don’t remember that... Are you sure it was that night?”
He shakes his head, eyes still closed. “I think so, but it was so long ago... I don’t know. Maybe it was a different night...”
“Look, it doesn't matter when it was,” I interrupt. “The point is, my mom would not have left my safety in the hands of a relative stranger. Say what you want about Caroline, but my mom only knew her for a few short months. She had us packed up, ready to run. Why would she do that if she was going out to kill herself?”
I only realize I’m yelling when a nearby vase wobbles on the end table. I take a deep breath to calm myself.
“Alright,” Lydia answers, eyeing the vase cautiously. “I’ll help you. But we need Arianna too. Between the two of you, the deputies should be distracted long enough for me and Caiden to find the file and get out.”
“No. Not Arianna,” I say.
Both Caiden and Lydia look at me in shock.
“Why not? I thought you liked her?” Caiden asks.
“Of course I like her. But Ethan is still annoyed about Sunday. He’ll be really pissed if I drag her into this mess.”
Lydia’s eyebrows disappear into her hairline. *So it’s alright to drag me into this, but not precious Arianna?*
I’m so stunned by the anger in her voice that it takes me a moment to realize she didn’t say that out loud.
“Alright. No Arianna.” Lydia shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal.
“Lydia, if you don’t want to do this, you don’t have to. We’ll understand.”
She looks at me, puzzled. “It’s fine. I’ll do it.”
She turns to Caiden and smiles slightly, her face so calm I almost think I imagined her hostility. My telepathy must really be improving if I’m picking up on people’s unconscious thoughts. Olivia, Caiden, and now Lydia.
“Will you be able to get in carrying me?” Caiden asks her.
“Carrying you where?” I absurdly picture Lydia trying to give Caiden a piggyback ride, struggling under his weight.
“Carrying him with me when I travel,” Lydia answers without looking at me. “As long as I know where I’m going, I should be fine. I can’t go very far yet, but I’ve been practicing. I’ve been able to carry Arianna a few times, but only a few yards at a time.”
Caiden stares off in thought. “A few yards may be all we need. Em, the room with the files, that was all the way in the back, right? Against the outside wall?”
“Yeah,” I call up the layout I saw. “The room is in the far right corner of the building. No windows, but it does share an outside wall.”
“Perfect. Emerson will go in through the front while you and I sneak around the side of the building. Then you only need to move us a few yards, through the wall. Think you can do it?”
She contemplates it for a moment. “Yes, I’m pretty sure. You’ll keep us from being seen?”
“Of course. But with any luck, Em will distract them enough that we won’t have to deal with that. How are you going to keep them busy?” He asks, looking back to me.
“Don’t worry about that. I can handle it.” He looks like he wants to argue, but changes his mind.
“Okay Lydia, I’ll show you where we’re going.” Caiden puts his hands on Lydia’s shoulders and looks deep into her eyes.
I know he’s only showing her the layout of the place, like I showed him, but I don’t like seeing his hands on her. And I really don’t like the way she’s staring at him. I have the irrational urge to tear his hands off her. I ball my hands into fists to stop myself. What is wrong with me?
I turn my back on them so I don’t have to watch anymore.
“You see it?” I hear Caiden ask from behind me.
“Yeah, I saw it.”
“Think you can make it?”
“Absolutely. That won’t be a problem.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before I face them.
“Em?” Caiden says, taking a few steps towards me. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I lie. “Let’s go.” I lead the way out the door, not looking at either one of them.
* * *
Caiden parks a few blocks down from the sheriff’s station. Before we get out to walk the rest of the way, I flip open the small mirror on the visor and study my reflection. Remembering Arianna’s lesson on glamours, I close my eyes and concentrate on my hair, my eyes, the shape of my face.
I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold onto the glamour, I just pray it’ll be long enough for Caiden and Lydia to get in and get the file.
The gasps around me tell me that it’s working. I keep my eyes closed, staying focused until I’m sure I have it down perfectly.
When I open my eyes, the stranger looking back at me in the mirror is just as I pictured her: bleach blonde hair a little past the shoulders, big, baby blue eyes, and a heart shaped face, softer and less angular than my own sharp features.
“Where did you learn to do that?” Lydia asks in awe.
“I knew it wasn’t a good idea for you and Arianna to hang out...” Caiden mutters, shaking his head. “I shudder to think of what else she taught you.”
I grin at him. “What, you don’t like my new look?” I ask innocently.
“No, I don’t,” he says, studying my face, half smiling. “I guess I prefer dark hair.”
I smile wider at him, but the moment is broken by the slamming of the back door.
“Are you guys coming or what?” Barks Lydia.
I look at her light blond hair and smile smugly to myself. I guess she didn’t like the dark hair comment...
Caiden does his thing to make him and Lydia all but invisible and we begin the two block walk to the station.
I know that Caiden and Lydia are next to me, but they look strange. Not completely solid, more like pale shadows shifting and changing. Caiden says that if I didn’t know they were there, I wouldn’t even be able to see that much.
The sun is sinking below the horizon and the wind is howling around us. We hurry our steps, trying to make it before the sky opens up on us. As the old brick building looms into sight, a couple of high school girls turn onto Main Street and begin walking toward us, one with bright copper colored hair, the other blonde with pink highlights.
Crap! What are Olivia and Kayla doing out here?
Chapter 18
I freeze, watching in panic as they get closer. I feel a hand on the back of my shoulder, probably Caiden, and reluctantly continue forward. I brace myself for an ugly confrontation, trying to figure out the quickest way to get rid of them. Olivia turns sharply towards me, her green eyes flashing gold with the fading light, but she doesn’t say anything, just continues walking past me. Kayla doesn't even glance in our direction.
I turn to watch them, baffled, until I remember that with my current glamour, neither of them will recognize me, and Caiden and Lydia are invisible to them. So why is Olivia still staring at me like that?
I face forward again and walk briskly to the sheriff station. Caiden and Lydia take off down the alley, getting into position. As I reach for the handle of the door, I take a peek back down the road to see where Olivia and Kayla went.
They’re still walking in the other direction, but Olivia looks back over her shoulder again. I take a breath to steady myself. There’s no way she could recognize me. I’m being paranoid again. I open the door and saunter in, glad I’m still in my short skirt and tight sweater.
“Can I help you, miss?” A tubby, middle aged man jumps up from his desk, his bald head gleaming under the fluorescent lights. His name tag identifies him as Sergeant O'Brien.
“I hope so,” I say breathily, batting my eyelashes and giving him a shy smile. “You see, my friend told me about this great little restaurant around here, but I can’t seem to find it.”
As I prattle on, I see another officer walk in from the back, a Deputy Stevens, according to his badge. Hopefully there’s no one in the file room. I wonder how long Caiden will take...
“Well, what was the name of this restaurant?” O'Brien asks, darting a quick glance down to my chest and back up. He takes a few steps toward me, his beer gut hanging over his belt.
“I think she said it was ‘Annie’s’, but now I’m not so sure...” I walk forward to the tall counter between us and lean over slightly. “She said it was on this street, but I’ve been up and down it twice and can’t seem to find it.”
O'Brien looks down at me and licks his thick lips. “Well, I don’t know of any place called Annie’s, but there is Amy’s Cafe, over on Plum Street.”
Stevens purses his lips in thought. “There’s also Annabelle’s Diner, but that’s another town over.”
“Hmmm, I think it might have been Annabelle’s. I don’t know how I ended up in the wrong town!” I pout dramatically, thankful Lydia and Caiden aren’t around to see this.
A muted thump comes from the back room. Stevens turns around and looks toward the back of the office. “Is anyone back in the file room?”
“Not that I know of,” O'Brien answers distractedly, still stealing glances down my shirt.
“Huh. I’m gonna go check it out.” Stevens turns and starts making his way toward the back room.
Shit! I have to do something.
“Well thanks for your help.” Turning to leave, I pretend to stumble in my heeled boots, falling to the ground with a girly shriek.
O'Brien and Stevens are next to me in a blink, both reaching to help me up.
“You okay?”
“Oh gosh, I’m so clumsy sometimes. I think I’m alright.” I try to take a step and hiss when I put my weight on my right ankle. “Ow, I think I might have sprained it...”
“Stevens, go get some ice,” O'Brien barks, putting an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. “Here, miss, let me help you.” He presses up against me while helping me over to a chair.
“Thank you, I don’t know what happened.”
“I can take a look at it if you want me to,” he says, eyeing my short skirt lasciviously. Ugh, no thank you. I cross my legs, discreetly trying to tug the hem down a little further.
“No, I think I’ll be fine. I just need to rest a moment.”
I beam at him even though the look in his eyes is starting to make me uncomfortable. I wanted to distract him, but that doesn’t mean I want his hands on me.
Stevens comes back holding an ice pack.
“Here ya go, ma’am. Are you gonna be okay?” He asks, handing me the ice pack.
“Yes, I’ll be fine in a moment,” I say, pressing the cold pack to my ankle. “While I’m waiting, do you think you could give me directions to Annabelle’s?”
I focus my attention on Stevens, who isn’t giving off any creep vibes. O'Brien stays right by my side, so close I can smell his stale deodorant.
“Sure thing. Let me get a pen and write it down for you.”
I smile sweetly up at him, pressing the ice against my ankle, which really is stinging. I may have tripped on purpose, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
O'Brien squats down next to me, so we’re on eye level. “I really would feel better if I could take a look at it. I’d hate to think of a pretty thing like you leaving here injured.”
I smile as politely as I can, Forcing myself to stay still and not recoil from him. “Really, it’s just a little sore. I’ll be fine.”
“Well, if you’re ever in town again, we should-”
“Here it is ma’am.” Stevens comes to my rescue, handing a small sheet of paper over to me. “It’s only a few turns. Shouldn’t take you long at all.”
I leap up, careful not to put too much weight on my ankle, only now realizing how exhausted I am. I’ve never held a glamour for this long.
“Thank you both so much.” I hand the ice pack back to Stevens and take a step toward the door.
“Let me help you, miss.” O'Brien takes my arm and I try not to pull away in disgust.
I let him help me to the door, but insist on walking back to my car on my own. He final
ly relents, standing by the door and watching me make my way back down the road.
Each step gets harder and harder. Not only is my ankle throbbing, but the strain of the glamour is really taking its toll. I can feel some of my control slip, and I allow my face to change back to normal, only keeping up the blonde locks until I’m sure I’m far enough away from the station that O’Brian can’t see me anymore.
By the time I get to the car, I’m limping badly. I stumble against the car, exhausted.
The door opens and Caiden jumps out. “Em? What the hell happened? You look awful.”
“Thanks Caid, you really know how to sweet talk a girl.”
I close my eyes for a second to gather my strength. Caiden presses his hand against my cheek and I notice that fluttery feeling again.
“What did you do to your ankle? Lydia, help me get her into the car, she shouldn’t be walking on it. Jesus Em, what happened to you?”
“Tripped,” I slur, still keeping my eyes closed. I just want to go to sleep.
Lydia and Caiden help me into the back of his Toyota. I close my eyes and relax into the seat. The next time I open my eyes, Caiden’s leaning over me, helping me up.
“Come on, let’s get you inside so I can take a look at that ankle.”
He helps me out of the car, then bends down and picks me up like a child. I’m too tired to protest, so I just loop my arms around his neck and rest my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes and breathing in his spicy scent as he carries me up the driveway and into my living room, settling me on the sofa.
“What’s wrong with her? Is she drugged?” Lydia asks in a hushed voice.
“Nah, she’s just wiped out. That glamour took a lot out of her. I’m more concerned about her ankle.”
I open my eyes when I feel his hands gently probing my leg, inspecting the bone. He unzips my boot and takes it off, then begins moving my foot around in circles. I wince as pain shoots up my leg.
“Alright Em, tell me what happened.”
“The cops heard a bang from the back room,” I pause to yawn and Caiden glances at Lydia, who looks back guiltily.
“They were gonna check it out, so I tripped to distract them.” I close my eyes again and lean my head back against the couch.
Deceitful Circle (Silent Circle Book 2) Page 12