Gorgon

by Mary Ann Poll

  “I’m sure they’d take me out at the first chance—I would if the tables were turned. I have you, though. You know about this X-rated thing and the group who worship it.”

  “I do. And I know the only way to make sure I don’t end up as the morgue’s next client, is to keep my mouth shut.” And to find what my friends are looking for.”

  “I’ll take my chances. Now, about the girl. She saw me once as a decrepit old woman. Look at me. Do you see any resemblance?”

  Watermill took in the dark blonde hair and wrinkle-free skin. “No.”

  “Then she won’t either. She’s not a threat.”

  “You forgot about the fingerprints. It won’t take long to put two and two together.”

  “So what do you want me to do about it?”

  “I want you to take care of her.”

  “You mean kill her?”

  “What do you think?”

  “Tempting. I do so enjoy that line of work, but I need to lie low after Oregon.”

  “Dayton’s going to eventually find out about the fingerprints. I can throw him off the trail of the old lady but not Ivy June Coistrell. Getting you out of town kills two birds with one stone—you get lost, and the one person who can possibly identify you gets silenced.”

  “And what do I get out of it?”

  “You can have the statue. I’ll give you a contact for a sale.”

  Ivy June smiled. “When do I leave?”

  “I’ve booked you on a tour bus tomorrow morning under the name of Etta Torrent.”

  “Sounds like another old lady. How boring!”

  “This isn’t a game! You’d stand out like a sore thumb if you go as yourself. Who’d suspect another old lady on a tour bus?”

  “I guess.” Ivy June looked Watermill in the eye. “After the job’s done, I’ll need to get out of there in a hurry.”

  “Already covered. I took a couple of days’ leave. I’ll be there twenty minutes after you call.”

  Ivy June jumped to her feet. “Then get out of here. I need to pack and get a good night’s sleep—I like to be well-rested before I hunt.”

  “You’re sick.”

  “Right now you need sick. Get out!”

  Chapter 4

  Lost and Found

  The silver Subaru rolled to a stop in front of a mint-green fifties-style ranch.

  “Exactly one week to the day,” Kat said as she dropped the keys into Wendy’s hand.

  “Good thing. I was getting ready to report a stolen vehicle.” Wendy walked around the Subaru.

  “Where is your trust, Winsome? Don’t you think I’d call if there was any damage to report?”

  “No. But it looks as good as when you left. Except it could use a wash.” She raised expectant eyes to Kat.

  “It’s the least I can do. I will wash it myself before winter sets in.”

  Mandy joined them. “Hey, Wendy.”

  “Hey, yourself. How long are you staying this time?”

  “I told Kat three months.”

  “Well, we’ll see. This all your earthly possessions?” Wendy pointed to the back of the tiny low-rider. Cardboard boxes lined the rear windows. An old pink and white quilt and various articles of clothing peeked out from between the stacks.

  “They’ll do for now.”

  “You got food?”

  “Soup and some crackers.”

  “I’ll drop you, Kat, and then I’ll take her,” Wendy pointed her chin at Mandy, “to the store in Clayton.”

  “I can get there myself.”

  “How much money have you got on you?”

  Mandy’s eyes fell to the ground. “Twenty bucks.”

  “You can get an apple and some milk if you’re lucky. I’ll take you.”

  “I’ll make do.”

  “We’re not fighting about this, Amanda Hareling-Thomas.”

  “You disowned me. Why do you care?”

  “You disowned me first. But you are still my sister. And you’re back in the Cove, which makes you my responsibility, little sister! You wouldn’t be in this mess if you’d stayed like I told you to. So help me…”

  “Can you finish this feud after I get home? If you haven’t noticed, it’s raining—and hard.” Kat threw up the windbreaker hood and crossed her arms.

  “I’m done for now.” Wendy ducked into the driver’s side of the Subaru, then yelled at Mandy. “Take yourself into my house and stay there. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

  The familiar sound of crunching gravel flooded Kat with the thrill of being home. She jumped out of the car and snatched her small suitcase from the back.

  “Thanks, Wendy. Ouch!” Angry green eyes met her emerald ones. BC’s four black feet were firmly attached to Kat’s jeans. She shook her leg; the claws went deeper.

  “How’d Houdini get out? I’m sure I locked his escape route.” Wendy pointed to the flap-covered exit cut into the cabin’s heavy wood door.

  “Don’ know. Right now, I need you to help me get him off.”

  Wendy threw open the car door and jogged toward the cabin’s deck.

  “I got it.”

  Kat’s head shot sideways. “Ken!” She started to run, but was stopped by the feline weight and the pain shooting up her leg.

  Ken Melbourne bounded off the porch steps. He gently pushed the soft pad of BC’s front and back feet until BC released his grip and dropped to the ground. His attention remained on Kat’s leg.

  BC launched himself at Kat’s thigh. Ken caught him in midair and cradled him in the crook of his arm. “I’m sorry. I forgot to relock the cat door. He was out before I even heard the car.”

  Kat stood statue-still and stared at her fiancé. “You’re here,” she whispered.

  “He’s here alright. Melbourne, what in the world are you trying to do? Kill her before you can collect the life insurance?”

  Ken flashed white, straight teeth at Wendy. “Not my intention.” He turned to Kat. “I didn’t call because I didn’t even know I could come until yesterday.”

  “How?” Kat found a little more of her voice. In a familiar move, she held out her arm. BC walked from Ken to Kat. He kneaded her left lower arm. The gentle rhythm soothed Kat’s shocked emotions.

  “After what happened in Anchorage.” Ken looked around. “Where is this Mandy person, anyway?”

  “She’s at my house. Don’t change the subject, FBI,” Wendy said.

  “You still here?”

  “Darn right. Will be until I get to hear this story. So, hurry it along, will you? Then I’ll leave, and you can get to whatever you two do when you get to be alone.”

  “Hug.”

  “Right. Still don’t understand your need to wait until you’re married. Go on, Melbourne. The town’s waiting.” Wendy referred to her informal job as the procurer and announcer of any new gossip in the Cove. Since the death of the town’s only reporter during the last demon siege, Wendy was the residents’ only hope of getting news in a timely manner.

  “You should consider taking over at the newspaper.”

  “You’re changing the subject again.”

  “Right.” Ken took Kat’s shoulders in a gentle hold. Her fiery eyes warned him an emotional storm was on the horizon, and he was going to be the lightning rod if he didn’t talk fast.

  “I know you can take care of yourself. I am as surprised to be here as you are to see me. But when I found out The Book of Fallen Angels had been tied to the Anchorage murder, I couldn’t rest. Worse, I couldn’t shake the feeling something bad’s heading this way.”

  Wendy raised her eyebrows. “You’re here because of a feeling?”

  “Call it my FBI intuition.”

  “You don’t act on feelings, Ken.” Kat’s eyes had softened, but the storm still played around the edges.

  “It isn’t logical. Neither was the call I made to Binnings two days ago requesting a return to the Anchorage office. After a long debate of the pros and cons for my return, we reached an impasse. So I did all I knew
to do.”

  “Which was?”

  “I told him I wanted an extended leave of absence. I told him I’m considering a career in small-town law enforcement.”

  “Why? You always wanted to be in the Bureau. You don’t want to be a small-town cop!”

  “Maybe I do; maybe I don’t. It gives Binnings a solution to an impossible problem—me. It’s the least I can do. Any other boss would have tossed me out on my ear years ago instead of working to salvage my career.” Ken remembered the first time he had tried to explain the supernatural events in Ravens Cove. The disbelief and pity in his boss’s eyes were almost too much to take. “The man has given me a lot of rope, and you know it.”

  “It’s not your fault he doesn’t believe the deaths in Ravens Cove weren’t by a human’s hands.”

  “It sure would have been easier to explain if they had been. Binnings ended the phone call by giving me six months to make a decision.”

  Kat sighed, dropped BC to the ground, and threw herself against Ken. She took a deep breath. His smell permeated her senses. She felt safe and secure for the first time in months. Ken lifted stiff arms, pulled her head to his chest, and caressed thick auburn curls.

  “Alright, I’m out of here. I can’t take much more of this mushy stuff. Talk later, KittyKat. Welcome aboard, police chief.” Wendy gave a quick wave as she climbed into her Subaru.

  “Not police chief—consultant.” Ken yelled at the back of the retreating car.

  The car slid to a stop and reversed course. Wendy leaned out the window. “Think what you will, police chief!” she sped onto the road.

  Kat slapped a lone tear from her cheek. “Does Bart know you’re back?”

  “No. Think I better let him know there’s a new police chief, I mean consultant, in town? If he’ll still have me.”

  “He’ll still have you and yes, you’d better let him know—and, Josiah and Gram and—”

  “I get the picture. Let’s move. Wendy’s got a head start.”

  Kat smiled at him, then dropped her eyes to where BC had been. She scanned the open field and gravel pad in front of her cabin. “Where’d he go? I’d like him in the house. Here kitty, kitty, kitty… BC, WHERE ARE YOU!” Kat’s voice cracked with emotion.

  The distant waves of the Cook Inlet and the cawing of a raven were the only response.

  “Stupid animal.” Kat stopped herself before she kicked the gravel like a two-year old.

  “He’s alright. Just mad you left him.”

  “You’re probably right.” Kat fought back the terror BC’s absence provoked. Please God, let him be safe. She took a resigned breath.

  “If you’re so concerned, let’s go looking.” Ken headed to the back of the cabin.

  “No, you’re right. He’ll come home. He always has. We’d better get to Bart.” Kat headed for Ken’s navy-blue SUV.

  Chapter 5

  Gains and Losses

  Carson Watermill shoved a piece of paper into Ivy June Coistrell’s hand. “When you get to Ravens Cove, head out of town and find a place to hide until dusk. Then go to this address, and get rid of Mandy Thomas.”

  “What about her boyfriend?” Ivy June asked.

  “I have friends who will take care of Justin. He’s become a liability to their, umm, corporation.”

  “You mean their cult, right?”

  “Mind your own business, and keep those thoughts to yourself—unless you want to end up like Spawldine.”

  “Not me. I plan on getting out of this in one piece and a little richer.”

  “If you do what you are told to do, you will. Now get on the bus before it leaves without you.”

  Ivy June blew Watermill a kiss and hobbled up the bus steps. To an onlooker it was a sweet old mom saying goodbye to her son. Ever the actress, Ivy June immersed herself in her new character. Her bent body and well-rehearsed limp disguised her youth. She smiled and nodded at the other travelers before lowering herself into a seat next to the window.

  A silver-haired man with thick glasses plopped into the chair next to hers. “First time to Alaska?” he asked.

  “No, I live here. It is my first time going to Ravens Cove, though. I thought it was time to see small-town Alaska—before I can’t travel anymore.” Ivy June let out a shrill cackle.

  The older man leaned back, nodded, and dug a book from his carry-on.

  Ivy June turned toward the window and smiled. The old crone’s laugh is the best part of this character. Just enough so people think I’m a little crazy. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. She jolted awake in response to the earsplitting volume of the intercom.

  The portly driver waved to the steps. “Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Ravens Cove. You have two hours to look through the shops and have some lunch. We depart for Clayton at two o’clock. Don’t be late.”

  “It’s show time.” Excitement flooded Ivy June Coistrell. She slipped out of character and jumped up with the vigor of her true age. The older man leaned back and gave her a wide-eyed stare. She feigned a loss of balance, grasped her cane, and planted it to her left. “You think I’d remember my age.” She hunched over the cane and smiled at those going past her on the aisle. A young man took her arm and guided her to the steps.

  Ivy June melted into the tour group until the bus and its driver were out of sight. She hobbled across Main Street and sat on a bench contemplating her next move. She paid attention to the individuals as they scattered in different directions. Some ducked into a local pottery shop and some into the hardware store. An overweight fifty-something man headed through a door. The lettering identified it as Jo’s Bakery. Ivy June smiled. “Just what you don’t need old guy—but it’ll sure work for me. Ivy June hobbled back across Main.

  “What can I get for you?” A flushed and hurried Josephina Latrell asked.

  “I need a bathroom.” Ivy June croaked.

  Josephina took in the stooped figure and sighed.“Usually don’t let anyone but patrons use it—but I’ll make an exception in your case. It’s all the way in the back.”

  “Thanks so much. You are kind.”

  Ivy June locked the door of the one-person restroom. She whipped the gray wig off her head, pulled the pins from her hair and shook her head. Her dark blond hair fell to her shoulders. She stripped off the brown wool sweater and broom skirt. She yanked the lid off the domed trashcan and dug a hole in the wet paper towels. She pulled a long-barreled revolver from the skirt’s lining and stuffed her disguise in the receptacle. “So glad they don’t check for weapons on tour busses to Ravens Cove.” She patted the gun and stuffed it deep into her purse.

  Ivy June ambled through the crowded bakery. She walked faster as she passed the deli counter. Once on Main, she turned left and headed toward the police station. A birch wood bowl and matching walking stick in the antique store’s window caught her eye. Ruby eyes glittered from a sterling silver wolf’s head atop the cane. I want it! She looked at her watch. Later. I’ll pick it up on my way out of town.

  She followed the well-used footpath to Ravens Ravine. The dirt trail disappeared into rust-colored moss and tan pine needles. Ivy June trudged the spongy carpet to a forest of gnarled trees and low bushes. She picked her way through the black spruce and alders.

  By the time she reached the edge of the forest it was night. The full moon spotlighted a rotting wooden bridge. A wide black river coursed past the structure, making it impossible to cross.

  “I was sure this was the way to Thomas’s house,” she said.

  “Are you lost?” A disembodied voice gurgled up from the tar-colored water.

  Ivy June fixed her eyes on the murky depths. “No,” she answered.

  “Oh but you are! You’ve been lost for a very long time, Ivy June Coistrell.”

  Ivy June yanked the handgun from her purse and pointed it toward the water. “I don’t know how you know my name. You can be sure I’m gonna find out. Come out right now or I’ll kill you.” She shot an I-mean-business round into the river.

&
nbsp; Malevolent laughter filled the air. Ivy June raised the firearm, spun in a circle, and emptied the bullets into the surrounding forest.

  “Your puny weapon will not help you.” The river churned up into a waterspout. A mummified woman with dark brown skin and shocking pink eyes surfaced. She grinned. A sticky fluid oozed from cracks in the dry lips. The liquid stretched like a rubberband, then dropped into the dark water with a heavy plunk. Ivy June dropped the gun and scurried backwards. Her heel caught on a tree root, and she tumbled to the ground.

  “You asked who I am. I am Lilith, and I am hungry.” Lilith seized hold of the younger woman’s neck and yanked her forward.

  Ivy June ran in place above the river. “Let me go. I’ll get you anything you need,” she croaked.

  “Oh, how considerate. Still, I can’t let you go. I want you to know how very bad I feel about you becoming my first meal in centuries.”

  “Not if I kill you first.” Ivy June grabbed hold of the leathery arms and yanked. Rotted flesh filled her hands, then slid into the river.

  “You can’t kill what’s already dead, foolish girl.” Lilith tightened her grip. Ivy June stopped struggling and hung like a ragdoll in midair.

  “I don’t usually feast on women. After all, we are sisters in so many ways. So, it’s unfortunate you happened upon my place of hiding before a man or tender child.” Lilith turned Ivy June until they were face-to-face.

  “To make it up to you, your death will be quick, and you won’t die; you will have a place of honor as my servant—forever.” Lilith dug her fangs into Ivy June’s neck. Dark eyes turned a cloud blue. Lilith threw the corpse to the ground and sighed. “Kumrande come!”

  Nihilist clip-clopped out from black woods and bowed. “As you wish, great one.”

  “Take this shell and destroy it. Leave it where it will be found.”

  Nihilist smiled. “I will enjoy it.”

  “Eat none of her! She gave her life so I am stronger, nothing more.”

  Anger filled Nihilist’s eyes. “You told me I could have your leftovers!”