Cross Keys

by Ally Shields

He tried the door, confirmed it was locked, and reached into an inner pocket of his jacket to pull out a small cylinder. As Kam watched, he fastened it to his gun, stepped back and shot the lock. Before she could more than register the pop, Seth slammed his shoulder against the door and entered the warehouse. She sprang after him, and her fingers quickly found the lights. She flipped them on and hit the floor, holding the gun in front of her.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Empty. Kam scanned the warehouse in dismay. Except for the black SUV, they were alone. She looked at Seth, also sprawled on the floor. “Let’s be sure.” She sprang to her feet and checked out the vehicle, while Seth ran to check a small office and utility room at the back.

  The SUV was squeaky clean. No elves. No cargo. She turned to look at Seth.

  “Nothing back here.” He walked toward her. “Where did they go?”

  She was just about to ask the same. “I don’t like the only answer I can think of,” Kam said, as he came up beside her.

  They both stared at the empty car.

  She drew in a breath. “They must have used a portal.”

  “There’d have to be an Elite keyholder involved.”

  “Working with them, and probably running the operation. Everyone, including their illegal cargo, could be in Elvenrude.”

  Seth stared at her, his mouth half open. “What cargo? Which group has the guns?”

  Her stomach knotted. “I don’t know.”

  The distant wail of a siren seemed to drag Seth out of his daze. “We better get out of here. Sounds carry on the docks. The pop of a silencer is distinctive to cops, and the lights must have been noticed by now.”

  “Just one more minute.” Kam’s gaze darted around the floor, searching for a tell-tale sign. “If they left in a hurry, maybe the portal symbol is still here, and we can follow them.”

  Seth motioned her to hurry, and they searched the room. He finally dropped to a squat and ran his hand over the floor. “Here. I can feel the residuals. But they’ve erased it.”

  Kam knelt beside him. She felt a faint warmth, but not even a outline of the symbol was visible. Damn. Every keyholder had a unique symbol. Like a human fingerprint, it would have been positive identification of the Elite criminal involved.

  Seth turned to look over his shoulder. “Was that a car door? We have to go.” He leaped across the room and doused the lights. “Come on. There’s a back way.”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  “Who’s in here?” The dark figure of a police officer loomed in the side doorway, and light from a Maglite began to sweep the room.

  Kam froze, then clamped her fingers around the invisibility amulet hanging at her throat and ran for the back door that Seth had left standing open. The overhead lights came on, but she kept running, praying the amulet’s magic wouldn’t fail her now.

  She reached the exit without discovery and raced into the dark. A half mile later she stopped in the shadows of a five-level container stack, released her hold on the amulet, and leaned against the metal wall to wait. Seth would find her.

  It took him less than five minutes. “Just how did you get out of there without them seeing you?”

  “I’m just that good.” When he made a throaty sound, she added, “OK, I had a little help.” Kam stepped into the dim light and showed him the amulet. “It makes the user invisible.”

  “Your godmother again? She must really like you.”

  “She loved my mother. They were like sisters, and Amelda had no children.”

  “Was she a mystic?”

  Kam cocked her head. “How did you know?”

  He shrugged. “The magics don’t come to just anyone. Anything else I should know about you?”

  “Not a thing. It’s time we got out of here. The king needs to hear everything that’s happened.”

  “We’ll have to get past the police first. Will the amulet hide two of us?”

  “We’ll figure it out when we get there.”

  A police cruiser came around the corner, ending the conversation as Seth and Kam returned to the shadows. They kept moving west, in the direction of the Ryndel Guild. If they couldn’t get around the police barricades and the gates to return to town, they could use the guild’s portal to disappear into Elvenrude. She grinned in the dark, thinking this would be the first time a Lormarc had crossed their threshold. Would it make him uncomfortable? He didn’t have much choice. His own guild was on the other side of the fence.

  Gunfire erupted on their left.

  Now what? Kam stopped abruptly, and Seth sidestepped to avoid a collision.

  She listened. “That came from the waterfront.”

  “I hope they haven’t found any of our people.” Seth’s voice was tense.

  “I guess we’d better find out.” She took off running toward the sounds of shooting.

  He caught up and threw her a grin. “You’re really into this cops and robbers stuff.”

  “It’s what I trained for.”

  “But never imagined you’d have to use,” he speculated, as they moved quickly across an open area. “When I was in the Academy training, it was more like a game.”

  “True.” That was how they’d all felt, but after the last few days, the fantasies of Academy days were long behind her. “That was before all of this.” She stopped when they reached the shadows again and held out a restraining hand. “Before we do this, tell me one thing. Are you prepared to kill someone?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “To save us or Elvenrude? Yes. And you?”

  She nodded and dropped her hand. “It doesn’t mean I’ll like it.”

  They moved forward, the sounds of renewed gunfire leading them to an area of stacks surrounded by police vehicles. They backed way far enough to avoid detection, and Kam sprang to the top of the nearest stack. It took Seth a little longer to climb up the three levels, then they lay on top watching events unfolding about a football-field distance away.

  “Is that another officer?” Seth pointed toward the water, where a crouched figure was moving toward the shootout. He carried a rifle.

  The man raised the weapon and fired rapid rounds into the police lines.

  “Not police,” she said.

  Two figures from the stacks under fire dashed toward the newcomer, one of them reaching the water, the other shot by return fire from police. The rifleman backed up laying down a constant barrage until he took a hit in the leg. He crawled to the edge of the water and went over the side of the dock.

  Kam stood up for a better view.

  “Get down.” Seth grabbed her leg. “They’ll see you.”

  She shook him off. “Nobody’s looking at me. I want to see this. Someone’s coming across the river to get them.”

  He grunted his dissatisfaction but got up to stand beside her. A small motor boat picked up the two men, then shot through the water, running close to the wharf. A group of police officers sprinted toward the dock, scattering when they were peppered with gunfire from the smugglers holed up in the stacks.

  A Coast Guard boat appeared on the horizon.

  “It isn’t going to get here in time to catch them.” Seth pointed toward the smugglers’ boat that had cut back toward the wharf. “They’re going to ditch the boat.”

  Two men jumped out of the small watercraft and raced toward the cover of the storage units. They disappeared from view.

  “I don’t think anyone on the police boat saw that,” Seth said. “What happened to the third man?”

  “Is he still in the boat? Maybe he’s too injured to run. If so, they’ll get him. I’m going to follow the other two.”

  Before Seth could say anything, Kam took off, leaping from stack to stack, taking to the dock when necessary. She found the two men checking out a locked storage unit, looking for a way inside. When they turned the corner, she jumped to the roof and listened to their progress as they walked around the structure.

  Waiting until they were directly beneath her, she dropped over the edge, and took bot
h to the ground. She kicked one in the groin, doubling him over, and grabbed the other by the hair holding a knife to his throat until he quit struggling. Once she had the advantage, she used her scarf to tie his hands and feet together. The other man still writhed on the ground, clutching between his legs.

  She started toward him. What was she going to use for restraints? He suddenly lunged for her legs, and she leaped back, pulling her pistol. The guy’s eyes widened, but Kam didn’t plan to shoot him. Mimicking Seth’s earlier methods on Crain, she struck the man with the gun butt. He groaned, his eyes fluttered, and he crumpled to the ground.

  Kam stared at him, her heart hammering. Had she killed him? She bent over his body, letting out a breath of relief when she saw the faint rising of his chest. He was out cold. But for how long? The other man would eventually wriggle out of the makeshift restraints. Well, there was one way to make sure the police came running and captured them. She lifted the gun again and pulled the trigger twice. This time she didn’t flinch at the loud reports.

  The response was almost too quick. Kam had just vaulted to the roof, when the exterior lights of the larger storage unit in the next row went on. “What’s going on out there?” a voiced shouted. “I’ve called the police.”

  A night watchman. Satisfied the two men would soon be in custody, she started back to locate Seth again. She was almost to the scene of the shootout, when a spotlight nearly blinded her.

  “I told you someone was up there.”

  “Stop! Police! Identify yourself.”

  Kam dropped to street level, stepped into the shadows, and grabbed the amulet at her throat. She moved quickly out of the area. Where was Seth? She circled the scene twice, dodging police cars and officers on foot. The gunfight was over; officers swarmed the cluster of stacks where the humans had been killed or captured. Did they also have Seth in custody? He wasn’t on the roof where she’d left him or anywhere within fifty yards. Not unless he was sitting in restraints inside one of the police cruisers. She was about ready to start searching those, when she heard him whisper.

  “Kam, where are you? Dammit, I know you’re here somewhere. Show yourself.”

  She followed the sound and took her hand off the amulet, making her visible again.

  “I’m right here.”

  He turned, making a rough noise in his throat. “I was afraid they’d caught you.”

  She nodded. “Same thought I had about you. I vote for getting out of here before it happens. I’ve had enough.”

  “What about the men you were chasing?”

  “Taken care of.”

  Five minutes later they slipped in the back door of the Ryndel Guild. Workers turned to stare at them, and Guild Master Thom Barrott hurried forward. “Kam, I’m surprised to see you. Is everything OK?” He looked at her companion. “Mr. Lor—” He stopped when Kam shook her head. “Uh, perhaps we should go to my office.”

  “Good idea, since we’ve been nowhere near here tonight.” She spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. The workmen caught her meaning and went back to work. She felt the prickle of curious eyes follow them to Thom’s office.

  “It won’t be safe for us to stay long,” she said. “The police are looking for us.”

  “For you?” Thom’s eyes opened wide before he caught himself. “They’ve already been here twice, but I didn’t know they were looking for you.”

  “They might not have been earlier.” She offered no further explanation. “Unless you can think of a safe way to get us into town, we need to use your portal. But before we do, I have to make an untraceable phone call. Any ideas?”

  “Who are you calling?” Seth asked.

  “Agent Crain. I want to know what merchandise they found when they captured the humans. If they have the firearms, then maybe the elves had something relatively harmless, like electronics. I want to be able to tell the king what to look for.”

  He raised a brow. “You think Crain’s going to tell you?”

  “I don’t know, but I did him a favor by catching those last two guys, so maybe.”

  “Then just use your cell phone. He already knows we’re involved.”

  “I didn’t bring it.”

  Seth pulled his phone from his jacket pocket and handed it to her; his fingers brushed against hers in the exchange. Kam ignored the rush of warmth.

  Thom had been listening, his face filled with confusion. “I don’t understand any of this.”

  “It’s good that you don’t.” Kam looked at him, a frown wrinkling her forehead. “I’m sorry we had to come here and put you in this position. But if you’re going to lie for us, the less you know the better.”

  Thom took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll step outside and keep watch while you do whatever you need to do.”

  When the door closed, Kam took the business card from her pocket and called Crain. Seth moved closer, so he could hear both ends of the conversation. Kam tensed, but he was careful not to touch her. She suppressed a sigh. Neither of them needed further distractions.

  The agent answered immediately. “Well, Lormarc, you’re the last person I expected to hear from. Where are you?”

  “What makes you think this is—” She stopped when Seth mouthed, Caller ID.

  “Ah, it’s Ms. Ryndel. I assume Lormarc’s with you.”

  “Did you pick up the men I left for you?”

  “You don’t fight like a lady. Kicking him in the nuts?”

  Seth turned his head away as a small laugh escaped. Kam glared at the back of his head.

  “Never mind that, but you owe me now. Tell me what was in the van.”

  Crain was silent for a moment. “Are you telling me you don’t know?”

  “I’m only interested in knowing whether you recovered the firearms.”

  “Friends holding out on you? The exchange had already been made.” He still sounded puzzled, as if her questions were not only suspicious but confusing. He finally added, “Your associates have the guns.”

  Kam’s blood pounded in her ears. She looked at Seth, almost paralyzed by what she’d heard. The guns could be in Elvenrude. She didn’t know what to say.

  “Um, they’re not our associates. I’ve got to go.”

  “Don’t hang up. We should talk. If you and Lormarc turn yourselves in, I’ll try to work a deal fo—”

  Kam hit the disconnect.

  Seth took the phone and removed the battery. “We have to talk to Seliwyn.”

  She nodded numbly. This was catastrophic news. There wasn’t any good reason for taking guns into Elvenrude. Not unless someone wanted to start a war.

  As they stepped into the portal, they placed their guns and the dismantled phone into the portal safe. The forbidden items would stay hidden within the portal until reclaimed. Seth paused at the last instant and glanced back at Thom. “Thank you.” He quirked his lips at the Ryndels’ guild master. “Try not to look so guilty. You’re about to have official visitors.”

  * * *

  It was almost dawn in Elvenrude, and they beat on the door of Captain Brunic’s small tree house cottage until he got out of bed and answered the door. He blinked at them, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes, clearly astonished to see Kam and Seth on his doorstep at such an early hour. Kam told him they had terrible news that threatened Elvenrude, but he waved off the details.

  “Not now,” he said groggily. “Short night. I’ll meet you in my office. Ten minutes.”

  It was less than that. He arrived only minutes behind them, and half an hour later, he still acted stunned. He’d begun shaking his head when they were only half-way through, and by the end he was striding up and down the room in agitation. Once they finished, he didn’t say anything for several moments.

  “I can’t believe you took all those risks.”

  “What choice did we have?” Kam hadn’t expected him to start with a reprimand. “Did you want the human authorities to have a bunch of elves in their lock up? How long do you think it would have been before they knew eve
rything they wanted about our world?”

  “I hope even crossbreeds would have enough integrity to maintain our secrets.”

  Kam stared at him. “Because they’ve proven to be such upstanding citizens?” She sounded insubordinate, but she didn’t care.

  “Captain Brunic, you must know she’s right.” Seth had stayed quiet except for adding a detail here and there. He had leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed, as he watched the two guard officers argue. “They crossed the portals illegally, they’ve dealt in illegal arms. These are not honorable men. They’d do anything that worked to their personal advantage, including talking with the authorities.”

  Brunic had mostly ignored Seth until now, but he drew himself up and turned as if to dispute whatever Seth said. They locked eyes, Seth’s expression remaining bland, then Brunic shrugged. “The important thing is to find these men, including the keyholder.” He dropped his stiff posture and shook his head again. “Do you really think they’ve brought firearms into Elvenrude?”

  “It’s a distinct possibility,” Seth said.

  “And they’ll bring more if we don’t stop them.” Kam drummed her fingers impatiently on the arm of her chair. “It’s time for the king to do something.”

  “We’ve been trying,” Brunic snapped. “Even before we knew about any guns, we were looking for the rogue keyholder, but no one has said a word. What’s the connection with the wanderers?” When Kam shrugged, he turned away, scratching his head. “How did the crossbreeds keep this quiet until now? What are they planning? A civil war?” He seemed to be muttering to himself. Suddenly he looked up. “Did you get a good enough look to identify any of them?”

  “I did,” Kam volunteered. “It was fairly dark but they weren’t more than fifty feet away. I’ll know them if I see them again.”

  “Good. That gives us a place to start. We’ll make the rounds of the lesser houses that employ crossbreeds. Ryndel would never use them, but I’ve heard they can be decent workers if properly directed. If you can point out which ones are involved, I’ll make them name the keyholder. That would solve all our problems.”