Cross Keys

by Ally Shields

  Kam thought the witch story was unlikely, but this was New Orleans—if strange things were going to happen, it would be here—and whether it was a serial killer or witch or another paranormal entity, there seemed to be victims. It was possible the wanderer had been one of them.

  Her search was stalled. The only potential leads were the intruder from the wharf and Seth Lormarc, who hadn’t been around in more than a week. She’d returned to the LEID warehouse, but there’d been no new activity.

  Saturday night Kam went home to her apartment early, determined to take a long bath and soak off the frustration of the last few days. When the phone rang, she had just sprinkled aromatic oils into the steaming tub. She cocked her head, tempted to ignored it. On the fourth ring, she gave in to curiosity.

  “You asked me to call if I saw anything next door.” The Ryndel Guild Master sounded excited. “There is a light moving around inside. Do you want me to go check?”

  “No, don’t do that. I’ll be right there. Don’t let them see you looking.” She hung up, gave a regretful look at the tub, then threw on her black outfit, quickly armed herself with weapons and amulets, and dashed out the side door. She leaped onto the nearest rooftop and raced toward the wharfs. When buildings became farther apart, she dropped onto the street and sped through the streets and courtyards, sticking to the shadows as much as possible. She didn’t bother with the guards or the gates—not dressed like this—and vaulted over the fence and the flood walls.

  With the Ryndel Guild in sight, she circled around to the back and approached the green LEID warehouse from the rear. The loading dock was open; a black van and small white truck were parked outside. Kam crouched close to a stack of large cargo containers where she could watch.

  Oh, no. Her stomach clenched. Elves. One dark-haired and three crossbreeds with offshades of blond. The four elves and three humans were transferring barrels between the two vehicles and occasionally carrying one inside. The men closed and locked the back of their van and climbed into the front seats.

  “See you in two weeks,” the human driver called. He started the engine and began to drive away.

  Police sirens rent the air. Official cars tore down the wharf and between the container stacks. They screeched to a halt, blocking both ends of the truck access. The van driver didn’t hesitate but barreled into the police cruiser in his path. The van spun to one side, then righted itself and raced up the wharf. A third police car just pulling up gave chase. The elves jumped into the truck, wheeled it around, and followed the escape route already opened by the van.

  Most of the police officers had exited from their vehicles and used the cars and car doors as shields, firing at the departing truck. Bullets peppered the back, but the elves kept going. The only police car giving chase was closing on them.

  Kam’s pulse hammered against her temples as she weighed her options. Whatever the elves were doing, criminal or not, she couldn’t stand by and let them be captured by human authorities. That would be disastrous for Elvenrude. She grabbed her crossbow, aimed, and shot out the police car’s tires with two invisible arrows. The cruiser skidded to a halt, and Kam whirled to retreat into the shadows. She moved swiftly, anxious to make her own escape.

  A large figure loomed in front of her. She spun to change direction.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.”

  He tackled her from behind. She kicked and jabbed. They rolled over twice. Kam’s assailant was taller and heavier, and he caught her arms in a vice-like grip. They rolled again, and he came up on top, his body trapping her. “What in Hades are you doing?” he hissed.

  Her heart hammered. She stared up at Seth Lormarc and grasped for an acceptable answer.

  “That’s a good question.” A blinding flashlight hid the new speaker standing only a few feet away. “I’m wondering what you’re both doing here.”

  Seth’s fingers tightened on her arms, and Kam’s pulse raced in overtime. Despite the insidious awareness of him that was flooding her system, her mind concentrated on the more frightening problem. Had she helped the other elves escape only to get caught herself? And now Lormarc too?

  “Turn off the damned light.” Seth levered himself to his feet and offered her a hand. “I don’t see that what we do is anyone’s business but our own.” He confronted the stranger, displaying nothing but annoyance at the interruption. “Who are you?”

  The man stepped forward into the dim light from the street and waved the gun in his hand. “It doesn’t matter who I am, but this makes it my business.”

  Kam sucked in her breath. The gunman was shorter than Seth, and she calculated she could take him. But guns were unpredictable. Someone might get shot in a struggle, and she certainly didn’t want it to be her. Or the gunman. Not until he answered a few questions. This was the intruder who had been spying on her with the binoculars.

  “Steady, man. There’s no need for guns.” Seth put up a hand to shield his eyes. “Can you turn off that damned light?” he repeated. “We were just having an argument.” Seth shrugged his shoulders. “She isn’t always the easiest girlfriend to have.”

  Kam stifled an angry denial and played along. “As if you were any better. I just want to go home. I’ve had enough of you, and now this. What’s going on around here?”

  The gunman made a rude noise in his throat. He clearly didn’t believe them and motioned toward the police scene with the gun barrel. “Convince me you’re not part of that. What are you doing on the wharfs?” But he switched off the flashlight. “Keep in mind I still have the gun aimed where it will do the most damage.”

  Kam doubted if he’d shoot or that he could hit both of them in the near dark, but she was intrigued that he’d turned off the light. He didn’t want to be seen anymore than they did. Before she could comment, Seth began to spin his story.

  “We don’t know anything. I sometimes work down here, so I knew I could get in, and my girlfriend wanted to see the river. You know, watch the boats. We were headed back to the gates when we heard the sirens, and she just had to see what was happening. I told her to stay out of it, but you know women. Never listen. She took off, then the shooting started.” He pointed at the nearest patrol car. “She was running into their line of fire, so I tackled her.”

  “Uh-huh. That’s your story?” The gun barrel glinted in the dim light, as he must have moved it.

  “That’s about it.”

  “So who shot out the police car’s tires?”

  “Is that why they stopped?” Kam hoped she sounded curious rather than guilty. “I thought it was odd.”

  “You saying you didn’t see what happened?”

  The stranger’s wry tone grated on Kam’s nerves. His eyes darted toward the warehouse as additional police cars arrived. The officers got out and started searching the area.

  “Nothing,” Seth shook his head. “I thought the officer just lost control.”

  The stranger looked at the police, then at Seth. “You should get your girlfriend out of here. Unless you want to get caught in a police net.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  The gunman disappeared. Seth grabbed Kam’s arm and pulled her toward the gates. He bent close to her face, his eyes locking with hers. “We still have some talking to do.”

  “Let go of me.”

  “Is that all you can ever say to me?”

  “I wouldn’t have to if you’d quit grabbing me.”

  “If I let go, are you going to run? We’re going to talk this time, one way or another.”

  “Fine. Can it wait until we get far enough away that our newest friend doesn’t decide to shoot us or turn us over to the police?”

  “He won’t shoot us or he already would have. As for the police…” Seth looked over his shoulder. “He was no more anxious to talk with them than we are.”

  “You seem awfully sure of that.”

  “I’m sure he’s gone.” Seth tightened his grip on her arm. “Are you going to run?”

  “No. It’s time we talked.�
� She would have said almost anything to have him step back. His touch was way too pleasant, so utterly male—and he smelled good, a musky cologne that made her stomach flutter. She tried to pull her arm away.

  He released her. “I hope you mean that.”

  Kam breathed a sigh of relief and turned away. “I want answers as badly as you do.”

  They exited the nearest gate and walked for almost two blocks without speaking, putting distance between them and the police scene.

  “Any idea who the guy with the gun was?” he finally asked.

  She glanced at him. “Until tonight, I thought he worked for you. He’s been outside our guild on two different occasions that I know of. Once he had binoculars. The other time I chased him, and he ducked inside that green warehouse behind us.” She nodded in the direction of the police raid. “He got away from me by running out the back door. I guess he isn’t one of yours.”

  “He’s not. I have no reason to spy on your guild house.”

  “Yeah, right.” She stopped walking. “Yet you’ve had no qualms about spying on me.”

  “That’s different. But do you really want to discuss this on the street? The Wharf isn’t far from here.”

  “Whatever.” She started walking again, thinking rapidly. If Seth was telling the truth—in no way a given, but if he was, then way too many people were involved in this mess.

  He held the door as they entered the darkened bar where they’d met briefly a few days earlier. This time they chose a secluded booth in the back.

  Once they were settled and the barkeep had delivered a pinot noir to her and a beer to him, Seth leaned forward. “If your company is transporting something illegal, you need to tell me now before your activities put Elvenrude at risk. We can still fix this. What is it? Drugs?”

  “It’s not us. I told you, I don’t know those men. We’d never resort to anything illegal.” She snapped the words but kept her voice low. “Can you say the same? And be telling the truth?”

  He cocked his head. “Then how did you know they’d be there?”

  “How did you get there? Following me again?”

  “Why’d you shoot the tires out?”

  “I thought the answer to that was obvious.” She sighed and leaned back. “We’re not going to get very far if we just keep answering questions with more questions.”

  “That’s true.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “I’m willing to consider that you might be telling the truth. If you’ll do me the same courtesy, maybe we could share information.” When she frowned, he suggested a compromise. “We could take turns. You answer a question of mine, then I’ll answer one.”

  “OK. I shot out the tires so the police wouldn’t catch the elves.”

  “Doesn’t count. I already knew that.” The corner of his mouth twitched.

  “Then why did you ask?” She glared at him. The man acted like he enjoyed the verbal sparring with her.

  “You still owe me an answer to a question. How do you leap onto buildings?”

  Her lips tightened. The question had caught her by surprise. “How did you—?” She stopped herself. “You really have been watching me.” Kam held his gaze for a moment, then held out her right wrist, revealing the silver band. “A gift from my godmother.”

  He cradled her wrist in the palm of his hand. “I suspected it was some kind of magical charm.”

  Vibrations from the band went back and forth between them, but Kam knew that wasn’t the only reason her skin was prickling. When Seth held on longer than she thought necessary, she drew back. “My turn. How do you keep finding me?”

  He smiled, a boyish look, like he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and pulled a silver object the size of a coin out of his pocket. It was fastened to a long chain, so it could be worn around the neck like her invisibility charm. It emitted a faint glow; when she reached out a finger to touch it, it brightened.

  “The magical equivalent of a tracking device,” he explained. “It only works Cityside and only on our people, but I can locate any elf I can picture in my mind.”

  “Very handy, if you’re a spy. But why are you following me?”

  He put the charm away. “Because you were in the courtyard that day. Now I’ve answered two in a row, and it’s my turn again. But at this rate we’re going to be here all night.” He took a sip of his beer and set it down. “Perhaps we need to start with that day the elf was shot. Why was he killed?”

  “I honestly don’t know. That was the first time I’d seen him or the men in the van. Where were you taking him?”

  “Elvenrude, of course.” He arched a brow in surprise. “He didn’t belong over here. Our workers had seen him twice that morning, walking around down by the wharf. My cousin and I were trying to get him home when you came charging after us. Then the van…”

  “But you acted so furtive concealed in those hoodies. You tripped me, and you interfered with my spotter. She was only trying to tag him.”

  “Rhyden tripped you.” He was quiet for several moments and raised his hand to signal the barkeep for another beer. “We didn’t know what was happening or who you were. This wasn’t the first wanderer.”

  “I know of one other, a very old man. Were there more?”

  He shrugged. “Why are you involved in this? I thought you were some kind of art collector.”

  “Acquisitions Agent. I authenticate finds for the king’s museum. But in this matter, I’m on special assignment with his majesty’s Guard. I can’t give you more details than that.”

  He waited while a waitress delivered his beer. “I’m looking into this on behalf of the House of Lormarc.” His smile was somewhat rueful. “But like you, that’s all I can freely share.”

  Kam blinked and finally chuckled. “So, not only do we not trust each other, we’ve both been sworn to secrecy. Can you tell me what happened to the other wanderer?”

  “He’s dead.” She gave him a startled glance, and he explained. “At least I think he is. I haven’t seen the body, but the tracking amulet cannot find him or the elf that was shot. They no longer exist as sentient beings.”

  “Oh.” She sat back and thought about it, trying to ignore the distraction of his intense gaze. The warmth on her skin was unnerving. “How can you be sure they didn’t find their way back to Elvenrude?”

  “With all the portals being watched?”

  She sighed. “I kept hoping I’d find them among the homeless.”

  He gave her a sympathetic look, his eyes warm with understanding. “I’ve watched your search. That’s when I realized you weren’t responsible for their deaths.”

  She stiffened in surprise. “You thought I killed them? Why?”

  “Probably the same reason you thought I was up to no good.”

  The feud. Distrust was bred deep into both of their families.

  “Why didn’t you report any of this to the king?” she asked.

  Seth took a drink of his beer and set it down. “I don’t work for him.”

  Her voice sharpened. “It didn’t occur to you to just be a good citizen?”

  “I was trying to be a good citizen by returning the wanderer to his home, and I got shot for my efforts.”

  Now he sounded like a Lormarc. Arrogant, self-centered. She pointedly looked him over. “You look fine to me, so it must not have been serious. And it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t interfered with my spotter. The elf would be at home with his family, and we’d know what this was all about.”

  “Unlikely. They’d have caught him before he reached a portal.”

  “I guess we’ll never know.” Seth’s overly confident attitude always made her want to argue with him, but he might be right on this point. If the men wanted the wanderer badly enough to take him from Seth at gunpoint, they certainly would have snatched him off the streets. “Why didn’t they kill you? Why’d they take his body?”

  He grimaced. “You think I haven’t wondered? I can’t come up with even an arguable explanation.” He ra
n a hand through his hair. “One other thing…I didn’t get a good look, but I thought I saw a portal glow from the van driver. If they were part of the people we saw tonight—a mixture of humans and elves—they won’t want authorities aware of our people any more than we do.”

  “It would explain taking his corpse—to hide it. But these elves have placed us all at risk. Stopping them is a real priority.” She looked up to see his scowl. “What’s wrong now? Do you disagree or are you back to thinking I want to kill them? Well, I don’t.” She clicked her fingernails against the wine glass. “But frankly, I don’t care what you think. As a private citizen, you have no authority in the matter. So this time I’m telling you to stay out of it.”

  He slowly began to smile, a devastating look that made her nearly forget what they were discussing. “You won’t get rid of me that easily. Somebody shot me. I am involved. You’ll have to get used to having me around.”

  “Actually, I won’t.” She started to slide out of the booth. “You’ll have to excuse me. I have a job to do.”

  “Don’t you want to know why I was at the warehouse tonight?”

  She paused. “Didn’t you follow me?”

  “No. Your presence came as a complete surprise.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “If that’s true, yes, I’d like to know why you were there. Have you found a connection between the warehouse exchange and the courtyard?”

  “No more freebies. Not unless you’re willing to share.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “I already told you I can’t. You’re here for some private motive, and that isn’t excuse enough for me to share the details of my case with you.” She stood this time. “I have no reason to trust you, Mr. Lormarc. So, I guess we’ve nothing more to say. Thanks for the drink.”

  * * *

  Seth watched her walked away, a smile playing across his lips. The short jacket covering her stiff shoulders didn’t begin to conceal the view of her tight black pants. What a fascinating and irritating woman.