“Shouldn’t I provide a statement?”
Mr tall, dark, and broody jumped in. “That won’t be necessary for now. We have it under control. I need to get this guy back to the station and get ice on his ugly mug. You can give us your number, and if we need anything, we’ll give you a call.”
“Okay, but I have an Australian number. I’ll need to activate roaming. It should be working by tomorrow.”
Grey eyes pulled out his phone. “Shoot.”
“My name’s Lily Bianchi and my number’s +61416344988.”
He punched the information in then gave a curt nod. “Are you staying near here?”
“Yes, just down there.” I pointed. My street wasn’t that far from where I’d ended up.
He looked at me like he was my angry father rather than a guy not much older than me. “Maybe go straight home, just in case they come back.” I was shaken, and admittedly, concerned they might return, but I didn’t want my adventure to be over, and damned if I didn’t want the criminals to win by scaring me into hiding. I still had things to check out. He must’ve seen the expression on my face. “Promise me you’ll go home. It’s just for one afternoon.” He narrowed his eyes.
I huffed out a breath and rolled my eyes. Not my most mature moment ever, but I had things to do, and his bossiness made me want to rebel. I didn’t have time to be locked up all afternoon. I had magic to explore so I could hopefully save my brother. His narrowed gaze squinted further.
“All right, all right, don’t strain your face. I’ll go home right now.”
He smirked. “Good. Now stay safe, Lily.”
I gave him my crankiest face then turned and smiled at Blondie. “Thanks again.”
Blondie gave me a careful smile. “Anytime.”
They got into their car as I crossed the road and headed home. What the hell had just happened? And what were the odds of a policeman passing by right when you needed one? Maybe there were more per capita over here. Were they really police? Oh my God, what if I’d just given my number to some crazy psychos, but then, why would they have helped me if they weren’t detectives? My head hurt.
As I walked down our narrow tree-lined street, I intermittently looked over my shoulder. I wouldn’t be taken by surprise again. What just happened was crazy. True, crazy had become my life, apparently. Nothing like that had ever happened to me in twenty-four years in Sydney. I hadn’t even been here for twenty-four hours. And what was I going to tell Millicent and Angelica? If they heard about this, they’d never let me go for a walk alone again, and I valued my solitary time. But if I didn’t tell them and they found out later, there’d be hell to pay. Even if there was some connection between James being kidnapped and what just happened, which I refused to believe, I needed to be the person who made decisions about where I went and what I did. I sighed. I didn’t want to live my life in fear.
With one last check to make sure I hadn’t been followed, I turned into our driveway and stopped to take a deep breath and just be. So much had happened in a short time that I needed to figure out where I was at. I shut my eyes and relished the cold air filling my nose and lungs. What could I smell? Damp earth and magnolia blooms. What could I hear? Distant cars, a jumbo jet, and a dog barking next door. I opened my eyes. The gravel drive was just as pretty as when we arrived, with blooming magnolia trees lining one side and a low box hedge the other. Behind the magnolias was a head-high brick boundary fence, the textured brick peeking out from under the dark green leaves of a jasmine vine. It wasn’t flowering, but it was still pretty.
I flicked the camera switch to on and snapped shots of the garden, showing the lines of the trees and wall. The close-ups of the magnolia flowers filled my lens with stunning pink tones fading to white. Wow, a ladybug was sitting on the outside of a petal. Click, click, click. I moved further down the drive and aimed my camera at the house, but before I could snap anything, Millicent came running out.
“Lily, are you okay?”
She couldn’t know, could she? I thought she could only read animal minds. Also, I wasn’t transmitting right now, was I? I checked, and my blue bubble was still there. “Ah, yeah, but I do have something to tell you. Why don’t we go inside?”
Her eyes widened. “I knew something had happened. I could feel it. I’m tuned into the feelings of those around me.”
Oh God, not another secret power I’d have to watch out for. “Like an empath, but better?”
“Yes, just like that. I sensed great stress and panic.”
“Just for the record, there was no panicking. I was calm the whole time, at least I think I was.” We’d reached the living area, and I sat on the Chesterfield. “When I was out, this man tried to grab me. I got away and then some other guy came and beat him up.” The abbreviated version would have to do. I didn’t want this to get blown out of proportion.
“What?!” she shrieked. Her face paled, as if that were even possible.
But then I realised she’d already been through all of this. “Hey, I’m okay. Sorry. I don’t want you to freak out on my account. Honestly, I’m fine. It was random, just wrong place, wrong time. You know?”
“You really think it was random?” Millicent looked so innocent and was normally softly spoken, so her shrewd assessment was unexpected.
She definitely made a good point, one I had considered briefly but didn’t want to think about. What were the odds that two siblings would get randomly kidnapped within one week—probably worse than a policeman showing up at the right time?
Crap. Now I couldn’t ignore the small voice that said someone might be after me too.
“I’m calling Angelica.” Millicent walked to a semi-circular table sitting under the window. An old-fashioned green phone sat on it. She picked up the receiver and dialled by sticking her index finger into the different circles one at a time and spinning the dial around. Why wouldn’t she just use a mobile? “Angelica, we have a problem.” She stared out the window, leaning forward so her face was almost pressed against the glass. Was she looking for bad guys? “Lily was almost kidnapped. She says a policeman just happened to be there at the right time, and he saved her… yes. Yes, I know.” She straightened and turned to look at me. “Okay, fine. We’ll be here. See you soon.” She hung up.
I hated being the subject of a conversation I couldn’t hear. “So, what’s happening?”
“Angelica is sending the car. It should be here shortly. We’re going to headquarters. She doesn’t want you out of her sight.”
Ah, crap. This wasn’t even my fault, and it was like I was being punished. Yes, she wanted to keep me safe, but I still couldn’t be happy about it. Headquarters was probably some kind of bunker, like they showed on TV. But I knew there’d be no point arguing. Stuff it. I’d make the most of my time by editing some of Tracy’s photos while I was there. “I’m just going to grab my laptop. Be right back.”
“Okay.” She was back to staring out the window, her shoulders drooping, and her voice sounding down. Gah, I was supposed to be all out of cuddles, but she looked so sad. I went and wrapped my arms around her.
“It’ll be okay. We’ll find James. You’ll see.”
She sniffed and nodded. “I’ll be okay.” She stood straight. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. “Go get your stuff. He’ll be here soon.”
I ducked to the toilet, because who knew how far it was to the Bureau’s headquarters. By the time I grabbed my laptop and returned downstairs, the driver, a middle-aged man wearing a dark suit and dark cap, was standing in the vestibule. Millicent walked past me on her way to the front door. “Let’s go.”
I followed her, and the driver came next, locking the door behind him. He rushed to open the car door for us. I climbed into the back first, so Millicent didn’t have to climb across the seat. I knew deep down that she was strong, but this afternoon, she appeared fragile, and I didn’t want to make anything harder for her. Not that climbing across a back seat was an Olympic event, but you know.
We drov
e west for around twenty-five minutes before turning down another narrow road. A high brick wall with barbwire on the top ran parallel to the road. Partway along, we pulled into a driveway that stopped at wrought-iron gates. The sign posted on the wall proclaimed Vision Industries Pty Ltd. About thirty metres behind the gates was a compact shed with a small window, and a camera mounted on the roof. Security.
Our driver pulled a two-way, walkie-talkie thing from his front seat and spoke into it. “It’s Jones. We’re here.”
The gates clicked then slowly opened inwards. A guard came out of his little shed and waved as we went past. Jones waved back. We continued to a massive white concrete and glass two-storey building that looked more like a science lab than anything else. Vision Industries must be a front, unless PIB was renting space from them?
“Is this where you and James work?”
She turned to me. “Yes. It’s also where we met.” Her small smile was like a glimpse of sun on a cloudy day.
“I remember him calling to tell me he’d met the love of his life. He was always vague about work, but he couldn’t stop talking about you.” They were so great together: they loved animals, spicy food, hiking, and their jobs, and they were both witches. All I knew was that James, for the most part, had been ridiculously happy since he’d met Millicent, and she’d been nothing but kind to me, even if it was via long distance.
Jones opened the car door for Millicent, and I let myself out my own door. Patience was not one of my virtues. Millicent walked around to my side of the car and to the wide glass entry doors. Security personnel guarded the doors—one machine-gun toting muscleman on each side. Why did they need guns if everyone had magic? Maybe you had to shoot people who were stronger magically than you. Interesting.
Millicent’s court shoes clicked on the polished concrete floor as she made her way to a security checkpoint. We had to place anything metal on a table and walk through an airport-style scanner. My sister-in-law pulled a handgun from a holster under her arm before going through. Wow, since when was she armed? I tried to hide my surprise. I only had my harmless laptop, phone, and camera to put on the table. I felt like I didn’t fit in, and we hadn’t even cleared security. I was the protectee, not the protector. That didn’t sit well with me. I hated relying on anyone else. It conjured feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Maybe I should see a therapist when I got home.
Once we made it through there, minus Jones, we were signed in at a glowing white counter. Everything was alabaster and shiny, except for the dark-tinted windows at the front of the building. Millicent and I were then handed off to an older man in a black suit and tie. He had the body and stature of someone much younger, but his grey hair was thinning at the temples, and deep lines creased his brow. He wore an earpiece, like the secret service guys on TV. Millicent introduced us. “Hi, Gus. This is my sister-in-law, Lily.”
I smiled and held out my hand. “Pleased to meet you, Gus.”
He shook my hand. “The pleasure is all mine. Your brother’s a hell of a guy.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m your liaison while you’re here. Anything you need, just ask. I’ll try and stay in the background as much as possible, but I’m never too far away.”
“Thanks.” I think. I’m sure that was code for “We’re always watching.”
Gus used his security tag to get us through one door, one corridor, a lift to the first floor, then another heavy door followed by another corridor. The people we passed were either dressed in black suits, white shirts, and black ties—the uniform designer here must have loved Men in Black—or they wore street clothes—jeans, jumpers, and T-shirts. A few waved to Gus or said hello, and a couple had liaison-looking people following them.
We turned a few corners until I had no idea which way was north and which way south. Millicent and Gus chatted the whole time. I found out Gus’s wife had just had her gallbladder removed but was doing well, he had successfully cooked a beef stew in her absence, and his dog had vomited on the rug this morning. Ew. We came to a door marked M3 and stopped. Gus swiped, and the door lock clicked.
Millicent turned to me. “Can you just wait out here with Gus for a few minutes? There’s a meeting taking place, and I’m not sure when Angelica wants you to come in.”
“Not a prob.”
Gus held the door open for her then shut it as soon as she entered. I didn’t see much, except that the walls were pale blue rather than white. So, what now? Gus folded his arms and alternated between staring down the corridor and staring at his shoes. There were no chairs out here, no TV, nothing to do except stand awkwardly and notice how awkward Gus was now that Millicent had gone and left two apparent introverts together. I thought of trying to start a conversation, but then I realised how tired I was, and I didn’t want to hear any more about dogs vomiting.
What time was it? I checked my phone. 2:00 p.m. That meant it was 11:00 p.m. at home. Close to my bedtime. I yawned. Stuff decorum. I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. It was cold on my backside, but I was beyond caring. I was about to check Facebook when I remembered I had no roaming set up, so it would have cost a small fortune. Grrr. I could start editing, but what if I was called into the meeting. Then I’d have to shut down the laptop quickly—it wasn’t safe to carry it while it was on. You could wreck the hard drive, and I loved my laptop almost as much as my camera. I was such a sucker for technology.
I wondered what they were discussing in there—if it was random or James related. Tears burnt my eyes. What if he were dead? Or what if he were alive but badly hurt and being tortured? Considering his line of work, that was a distinct possibility. How could I help find him? Hopelessness washed over me, just like when I was fourteen. I hung my head and hugged my knees. My parents went missing while they were over here. Were they targeted because they used to work at the Bureau? The police reported they had just disappeared, but there were no suspicious circumstances—except the fact they actually disappeared. Had the Bureau tried to find them? And if they had, did they have a file I could look at? My heart hurt whenever I thought about my parents. Not knowing what happened left a gaping wound. Were they dead or living as prisoners somewhere? I could never believe they had willingly walked away from my brother and me. But if they were dead, how did they die? Were their last few minutes filled with pain and terror, or had it been quick? Where were their bodies? I thought of them every day, and I knew that would never change. James and I hadn’t had a day of peace, not really, since it had happened. Now I was reliving that nightmare all over again.
“Lily?”
I jumped. Jesus! Millicent had snuck out and was standing next to me. Maybe she hadn’t snuck. I’d kind of been in my own world.
“They’re ready to see you.”
I stood and followed her through the door, curious as to who the “we” would be, and why they wanted to meet me. I still didn’t see how I could help.
Sitting around an eight-seat oval table were Angelica, a young woman in a stylish black suit jacket and mint-green shirt, her blonde hair up in a French roll who managed to make her reading glasses look sexy, a man in his forties with thick, wavy dark hair, and a thin man in his fifties, whose grey hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. His thick grey beard was neatly trimmed, and even though his white shirt only had one top button undone, his chest hair still managed to sneak out, and he wore a silver bracelet on one wrist.
They stared at me, not even trying to hide their assessing gazes. I was sure Angelica had already made her judgement, but she probably saw how I reacted to this situation. They supposedly wanted me here to help, but where were the friendly smiles and comments welcoming me to England? What about a little sympathy and enquiries as to how I was holding up, considering my brother was missing? Cold-hearted witches.
The guy with the mauve tie—the dark-haired one—had a cocky confidence, and he sat at the head of the table, so he was probably the boss. I narrowed my eyes ever so slightly and let my anger slide to the surface. I walke
d to his seat and looked down at him, meeting his calculating stare with a you-can-stick-your-opinion-up-your-you-know-what-you-heartless-bastard stare. I owed these people nothing, and so far, they hadn’t done anything to help me or my brother. He was still missing, and I was twenty-four hours from home with no one who really cared, except for Millicent, but she had her own crap to deal with. My anger had been building since yesterday, and I had only just realised it. It took a lot to piss me off, and I hated to say, they’d gotten me there.
He steepled his fingers. “She has got some spunk, Angelica. My word, what a good find.” What the? What was I: a showjumping horse or an antiquity? I levelled my stare at Angelica, and she gave it right back, with interest. How could she sell me out so quickly? Had this meeting just been a table of people dissecting James’s sister? What were they sizing me up for? I didn’t think I wanted to know. If it weren’t for a chance at finding James, I would have turned, left, and not stopped until I was on a plane home.
The modelesque woman stood and walked around the table. She offered her right hand. “I’m Snezana. Pleased to meet you, Lily.” I hesitated to shake her hand, but then she smiled, and I felt guilty, so I followed the niceties. “Why don’t you come and sit next to me. We were just discussing a new lead on the case and were hoping you could help.”
I let her lead me to the seat next to hers. “Would you like a glass of water or a coffee?” Gee, she really was nice. Bad Lily.
“Nothing, but thanks anyway.” I hated being a bother.
Millicent sat across from me but wouldn’t meet my gaze. I couldn’t blame her. If I could shoot lasers from my eyes, there’d be two dead people already. I’d have to find out if that was a viable witch skill.
The guy at the head of the table straightened his already straight tie—hmm, had I rattled him just a little? Nice. “Now that Lily’s here, we can do the rest of the introductions.” His accent was as posh as they came. He spoke just loud enough to give his words gravity while not appearing to be trying too hard. I actually had to lean forward to hear him—everyone did. We looked ridiculous, like we were waiting on him to reveal what happens after you die, or the spell for the laser death glare. I could almost guarantee he was doing it on purpose. Jerk. “As you’ve just learned, that’s Snezana. She’s James’s assistant and the lead coordinator on this case. You obviously know Angelica, our head of operations, and Millicent, one of our top investigators, and then there’s Timothy, head of IT, and James’s direct report”—Timothy gave me a sad smile, so he was probably one of the good ones. Three out of five was actually pretty good. “And I'm the big boss around here. Drake Pembleton the Third. Despite how it seems, we’re happy to have you here, and I can assure you, we’re doing all we can to get your brother back, including asking for your help. We pride ourselves on a job well done at PIB. I’ll let Snezana take it from here.” He leaned back and folded his hands across his slightly rounded tummy.
Witchnapped in Westerham (Paranormal Investigation Bureau Book 1) Page 6