A few hours later, Gill emailed me back.
I’ve gone through all of Marie’s family papers, but I found nothing like what you need. She was a very neat person, so it’s not likely I’ll stumble across the damned thing later. Sorry, but I’ll keep thinking about where the key could be hidden.
Chapter 12
Sullivan’s Animal Hospital, Boulder, Colorado
I WAS SURPRISED TO get a call from Diana about the horseback ride with Oran. I’d hoped that idea had died a well-deserved death.
“Why is he doing this, again?” I asked.
“My best guess,” Diana said, “is that he’s bored, or he loves the idea that this makes us crazy. He knows we can’t tell Zack no. I did get a blood oath that he wouldn’t attack you today. The ride is set up for this afternoon. Herman will bring down two horses with their tack. The sooner you get this over with, the better.”
At 3:30 p.m., I met Oran at a Boulder County trailhead north of the city. The mountains were still covered with plenty of snow, but the plains were mostly dry at the moment. We met at an open-space park that included some interesting sandstone formations. A large meadow provided great trails that wound their way past the sandstone formations and led into the foothills. Herman had brought Hercules for me and a gentle mare for Oran.
While I was driving up, I expected, but didn’t get, a blast from the amulet. Apparently, the sorcerer wasn’t feeling hostile at the moment.
He was waiting for me at the main display board, which included a large trail map. I shook his hand and felt like I was a fly being pulled into his web, but that couldn’t be helped. Zack was too important an ally to risk offending him.
As Oran and I approached the horses, I asked, “Why are you doing this?” I didn’t expect the truth, but still, I had to ask.
He was wearing a long, expensive wool coat, and his smile was frightening. “I love horseback riding. Is that so difficult to accept?”
I shook my head. “But we’re like cowboys and Indians, or the French and the English. We don’t get along.”
“Are you talking about the pro-Ian crowd versus the anti-Ian crowd?”
He wasn’t going to admit the obvious.
“I’m talking about light and dark magicians.”
“What makes you think I’m a dark magician?”
I thought for a second. Just to make sure I hadn’t made some horrible mistake, I touched his hand again. His aura definitely was evil, like every sorcerer’s I’d met so far. The only good feeling he emitted was his genuine love for horses.
“Diana and I both recognized you immediately. She, at least, has had plenty of practice picking you people out. I’ve fought quite a few sorcerers, and they all gave off the same vibe as you.”
“Maybe you’re both overreacting? What have I ever done to harm you, or anyone, as far as you know?”
We mounted up and rode out side-by-side toward the sandstone rock formations. I didn’t want to reveal how I well I could sense auras these days. “How about we cut the crap. I’m still wondering what you’re doing here.”
“I wanted to enjoy some of that western hospitality I’ve heard so much about.”
What hit me harder at that moment was his refusal to speak the truth. I cleared my throat. “You know, I have a very low tolerance for bullshit. You’re wasting my time.”
He stopped his horse. “Okay, I’ll stop teasing you. As it happens, I have a bit of a cash flow problem. A temporary liquidity crisis. I was hoping that in return for not bothering your clan, you’d be so grateful that you’d shower me with cash.”
I didn’t know what I’d expected, but it definitely wasn’t a shakedown. “You’re trying to extort money by threatening us?”
“Not at all. What I’m saying is, I want a truce with you and your colleagues in Boulder. I simply thought you’d jump at the chance to sleep better at night.”
I paused, speechless, for a moment. “Before I answer, I have to know how much you think your threats are worth.”
Neither of us said anything for a while as we rode along the trail and approached the sandstone spires. Despite being an asshole of the first order, I realized he was also an experienced horseman. That didn’t make him a good person, but it was a small point in his favor. The only one I’d seen so far.
“You must be getting tired of constantly looking over your shoulder. I thought that a bargain price for peace of mind would be…let’s say five thousand a week. Of course, I’ll be leaving soon, so I don’t expect you’ll pay more than twenty grand.”
I turned around and headed back to the parking area. “Why go through this elaborate effort to hold me up instead of talking to the person who’ll make the decision?”
“I’m fonder of you.”
-o-o-o-
THAT EVENING, I ATE dinner in a private room at the commons with Diana, Crystal, Katie, and Tess. I relayed my conversation with Oran as best I could.
Tess gasped when I mentioned that Oran had asked for money.
“I was just as surprised,” I said.
After I’d finished my summary, Diana said, “I don’t trust him one bit. Maybe he really does need funds, but I think this is more likely a long-term shakedown. The amount will keep going up.”
Tess sighed. “This can’t end well. None of us is strong enough to beat him, and we can’t afford much more than he’s asking now.”
Diana scowled. “Until Ian gets strong enough to protect us, we have to pay.”
-o-o-o-
Friday, December 13th
Kyokushin Karate Dojo, Denver, Colorado
ON MY WAY TO my next karate lesson, I reminded myself to leave no traces of my presence in Denver. The Boulder cops were no doubt watching my cell phone and credit card on behalf of Eastwood. The judge would love nothing more than to prove I’d violated my bail agreement. But I needed Don’s help more than ever, and I couldn’t talk him into coming to me.
When I arrived at the dojo, he smiled. “I know you’re anxious to get beat up again, Farm Boy.”
After I put my gi on, I meditated for ten minutes. Then he offered me padding for my head and arms. “Your choice.”
Stupidly, I was too macho to take the hint.
He showed me two more basic punching techniques, namely the lunging punch and the reverse punch. His teaching method was to alternate between slowly demonstrating the steps and then hitting hit me with a full-force punch. His first full-speed lunging punch smashed into my chin and knocked me completely off my feet.
He demonstrated each punch in slow motion a dozen times, but I still learned something new each time. The full-force blows taught me to keep my guard up or he’d knock my head off my shoulders. Street fighting wasn’t for sissies, that was for damned sure.
Once again, I ended the session covered with bruises, but fewer on my face this time. I kept telling myself that that was progress as I limped back to Holly for healing.
-o-o-o-
Saturday, December 14th
Gardner Open Space Park, Boulder County, Colorado
DIANA DEMANDED THAT I convey our response at the same park as before. I had no choice but to oblige. This time, I drove the truck and trailer to the trailhead. Before I saddled the horses, I wanted to give our answer. Hopefully, Oran wouldn’t actually want a ride.
When he drove up in a late-model BMW sports coupe, I said, “We’re willing to pay five grand a week for up to a month. No more than that.”
I handed him a check for the first installment.
“Yes,” Oran said. “I thought you’d see the value in this arrangement. In addition, I so enjoyed our last ride that I insist on another.”
I blew out a deep breath and saddle the horses. We both mounted and guided them up the trail.
I already knew he was spinning lies, because his brow was furrowed like he was worried.
“As I said before,” he told me, “You must be getting damned tired of looking over your sh
oulder all the time.”
I had nothing to say, so we silently continued our ride up the wide valley that led to the foothills.
I watched Lazarus circling in the sky for a moment and knew he’d warn me if other sorcerers lay in wait up ahead.
Finally, I asked, “What’s the point of this game? You can arrange for horse rides at plenty of places in town. Why not leave me out of this entirely?”
Oran shook his head. “I insist that you be involved at every step. I want your personal promise on everything. You have a very expressive face that makes spotting lies easy.”
The less I had to do with him, the better, but I couldn’t refuse Diana’s orders. We rode for a half-hour up into the foothills and then back without saying much of anything. It was the weirdest experience of my life.
Chapter 13
THAT EVENING, I RECAPPED my discussion with Oran for Diana, Tess, Katie, and Crystal. At the end, I said, “I’m sure this is going to end up in disaster.”
“Of course you are,” Tess said. “But until you can take him on, we’ve got no choice.”
Crystal nodded. “You have sworn to keep us safe. Get stronger so you can keep your promise.”
-o-o-o-
Sunday, December 15th
THE NEXT MORNING, I came in from a cross-country ski outing with Laura and Christina. As usual, our little girl had gotten a great kick out of skiing much better than the big guy. After the fast run in the freezing cold morning, we all savored hot mulled cider with breakfast. The perfect way to warm our insides.
I worked all day at the animal hospital, and I’d invited Laura to a special dinner that evening, but I didn’t tell her why. We went to our favorite French restaurant, Musique de l’eau. Again, a fragrant oriental lily was waiting on our table, and the fragrance triggered my fond memories of first getting to know her.
Toward the end of dinner, I said, “I have something special planned for later.”
“I’m sure you do.” She beamed at me. “I’m looking forward to it, too.”
I smiled. “I mean something special before that something special. I made our reservation here early because I hoped we could shop for a ring tonight.”
She bit her lip, and a tear trickled down her cheek. “Couples who handfast don’t do that.”
Still, her reaction told me I’d pleased her. To be sure, I said, “We’ll start our own tradition. A diamond ring would look lovely on your hand.”
She glanced at her left hand.
Yeah, she loves the idea. “Holly happens to know the owner of a jewelry store in town,” I said. “We’ve both worked on their collie with cancer. So far, we’ve beaten it back. He’s very grateful. We can get a good deal on a ring.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? Any promise we make to each other will only last for a year and a day.”
“You mean our first promise. I’m sure we’ll renew that promise every year for the rest of our lives. Yeah, I want to exchange rings.”
After our dinner, she drove us to the jewelry store I had in mind. The owner couldn’t have been more generous. Laura and I left the mall holding hands, blending our magical cores. I could feel the glow in my heart as we drew closer.
-o-o-o-
Monday, December 16th
Brigid’s Community Ranch, Boulder County, Colorado
BREAKFAST WAS A PARTICULARLY cheerful affair. Laura and I had enjoyed the night, and Christina was happy because she was out of school for two weeks for the winter solstice break. She and I were battling at speed chess, and she’d kicked my ass once already.
Every time I started to feel full of myself, this six-year-old came along and challenged me to some contest requiring skill or brains. It never took her long to put me back in my place.
Then Diana dropped by with a typically glum face. She pointed at me. “I need to speak with you for a moment.”
I wasn’t going to let my eggs get cold, so I pointed to an empty seat across the table from me. “Fire at will, Your Majesty.”
She sat and grabbed my saucer half-full of bacon. I doubted she was even hungry. It was just another way to show me who was boss, although I already knew.
While she was crunching and chewing, she said, “Your services are required for another rescue mission, this time in an old mining town called Leadville. A sorcerer there, Frank Forsberg, is pressuring an old witch named Anita Edwards to give her property to him. She has no fighting power, and she’s asked us to save her from Forsberg’s greed.”
“How far away does she live?”
“Several hours by car,” Diana said. “I offered her a place here, but Anita is quite old. She would rather die than to move from the house where she grew up. I fear another Maggie Haldeman situation is likely.”
Maggie was an old friend of my Grandma Norrie’s who’d moved to Colorado decades ago. After I was forced off my farm and had fled for my life, Maggie was the first witch to give me safe harbor. She was later attacked and almost killed by a sorcerer.
“We definitely don’t want any more nightmares like Maggie’s,” I said.
Diana provided me with more details, and I realized I’d be leaving Boulder County without permission once more, but it couldn’t be helped.
I met Juan Ortiz, our private eye, outside the commons building, and we took off for Anita Edwards’ place. He was driving an old Ford Explorer with bad shocks. At every curve, it seemed ready to roll over. On top of that, new snow had fallen overnight, so the traffic on the freeway into the mountains was terrible.
“What do you know about our client?” I asked.
“Not much. She’s kept her magic to herself, and she’s not sure how the sorcerer first pegged her for a witch. I asked her if her house was worth dying for, and she claimed Leadville is on the verge of a boom. I’m skeptical. It’s glory days were fifty years ago. The mines have all shut down, and real estate is dirt cheap there now.”
“It sounds like she’s set in her ways.”
“I think she’ll be fine—if you can get rid of the sorcerer.”
-o-o-o-
THE SCENERY ALONG INTERSTATE 70 was fabulous. All the evergreens were covered with snow. We had to cross two alpine passes, both over eleven thousand feet, and the views on the approaches were stunning. Majestic peaks crowded the horizon in every direction.
Juan pointed out lots of landmarks along the way, and I asked him dozens of questions about how folks could live up so high year-round. He claimed that some folks preferred the cold and didn’t mind eight months of winter. I found that hard to believe.
Shortly before noon, we pulled into Leadville. The thermometer in the SUV said that it was 3°F outside.
When I mentioned that fact to Juan, he laughed. “The elevation here is over ten thousand feet. Fascinating fact: this the highest incorporated city in the country.”
It surely wasn’t prosperous. The streets were mostly empty, and the storefronts looked old and tired. Many buildings were vacant, and I got the sense that folks were staying home to avoid freezing to death.
Juan found our client’s liquor store on the main drag near the center of the town. Only two cars were sitting in the parking lot, one of them presumably Anita’s, so business wasn’t booming today. When we stepped outside Juan’s rig, my nose and lungs burned as I drew in a breath.
We entered the store, and a brunette sales clerk about thirty years old smiled at us. “Can I help you find anything?”
I nodded. “Ms. Edwards.”
“Grandma’s in the storeroom. I’ll go get her. Who can I say is asking?”
Juan and I gave her our names. The clerk returned a minute later with an elderly woman who looked confused.
“I’m Anita Edwards.”
“Diana sent us,” I replied.
Anita turned to her granddaughter. “Kitty, we’re not to be disturbed.”
“Gotcha. No problem.”
Anita took us to a small office in the back wa
rehouse area and closed the door. “I’m so glad you’re here. Forsberg told me he’s coming by for my deed at five o’clock. If I don’t give it to him, he’s going to report me to one of their sorcerer gang leaders in Denver.”
“We can’t have that, can we?” I said. “Where can we find him?”
She handed me a business card. “Probably at his house. He’s supposedly a real estate agent and a financial advisor. He really specializes in selling worthless old mines to gullible tourists.”
Anita gave us directions to Forsberg’s property. Along the way, I called him to make sure he was there. For my cover story, I told him a stockbroker in Denver had recommended him as a real estate agent. I told him I’d just moved to Denver, and I was looking for vacation property to build a nice home.
“Fantastic,” he said. “You can see how stunningly beautiful this area is, and it’s surprisingly affordable.”
He sounded like a typical bullshit artist, so I was even happier than before to take him down.
The houses in his neighborhood were mostly old and falling apart, but his house looked like it belonged in Aspen. It was made of cedar, and the front room included a high vaulted ceiling with a series of windows pointing southwest. His long, circular drive was the only one in the neighborhood free of snow.
Juan parked his van in the driveway and stayed in it. I headed to the extra-large oak door. The doorbell rang a series of chimes to the tune of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
A tall, blond, blue-eyed man with a dazzling smile answered the door. “I’m Frank Forsberg.”
He stuck out his hand. I knew that as soon as I touched it, my cover story would fall apart, so I pushed him back into the house and slammed the door behind me.
“I challenge you for magical power,” I said before I froze.
His eyes opened wide. Then he stepped back a few yards and grabbed an ornate black staff leaning against a wall near the door.
Although I couldn’t move, my senses still worked fine. His ward had surrounded him, so I created my own ward and waited for the battle to begin.
He pointed the staff at me, and as soon the buzzing began in my ears, he hit me with a bolt of lightning. Luckily, I’d gotten my protection up in time, because his spell was powerful enough to wipe it out. The bolt was a lot stronger than I’d expected from a dark magician in an out-of-the-way place like Leadville.
Sanctuary: The Sorcerers' Scourge: Book Two Page 15