She sighed, but continued to stare out the window. “Not really.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Her shoulders slumped. “There’s nothing to say. He’s gone.”
“He’s coming back. As soon as he gets Channie, he’ll bring her home.”
“But then he’ll just leave again.” Tears leaked out of the corners of Kassie’s eyes. “I don’t know why I care. He’s not worth it.”
“Why don’t you just admit that you’re in love with him?”
“What good would that do?” She swiped the tears off her cheeks.
“He loves you, too.”
“Maybe. But he loves Channie more.”
~***~
As soon as Josh got back to school, he went to the administration office and asked to speak with Principal Whitcomb. He was ushered right in.
“So, Mr. Abrim, you have some explaining to do.”
“I heard Eric Rickmond was spreading some pretty vicious rumors about me and thought I better check it out.”
“Are you denying that you attacked him with a taser?”
“How would I get a taser?”
“Yes or no, Josh. Did you use a taser on Eric Rickmond?”
“No.” Josh took a deep breath to focus his mind. You want to believe me. “Eric is a bully and a liar and if I had a taser I would have used it on him. But I don’t and I didn’t.”
Mr. Whitcomb nodded. “I’ve already looked at the footage from the security camera in the west hall and I’m inclined to believe you. But something happened. Something made Eric fall into,” he glanced at a note on his desk, “Mr. Hunter Brown.”
“Maybe Eric’s as clumsy as he is mean.”
“He also claimed that Mr. Brown restrained him during your attack.”
“Is there any evidence of that?”
“No.” Mr. Whitcomb shook his head. “In fact, it appears that Mr. Brown was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. I need to get his story, but no one’s seen him since the incident. Have you?”
“No.”
“all right, you’re free to go.”
The loudspeaker came on as Josh walked to his fourth period class. The announcement made him smile. “Eric Rickmond, report to the administration office, immediately.”
The rest of Josh’s day passed without incident. Kassie declined his offer to hang out and went home, claiming she had a headache. Josh suspected it was her heart that was aching, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. His own heart continued to glow and pulse with painful light every time he thought about Channie. Which was all the freaking time.
He tossed his backpack on the floor next to the stairs and went into the kitchen to scrounge around for something to eat. The pan of cornbread was still on the counter. But all that remained was one small yellow square. Josh smiled as the flashback washed over him. The extra energy was so much better than the headaches he’d suffered before he used magic to change the effects of the random memories.
He held the treat beneath his nose and closed his eyes as he inhaled it’s sweet, buttery fragrance. I want to remember cornbread.
He laughed out loud as he remembered. This time it was a real memory instead of a flashback. It didn’t unfold in realtime, like their kiss. But he could still see Channie, standing in the middle of a tiny shack, covered in cornmeal, and royally pissed off at the mice that had chewed a hole in the sack.
Josh considered wrapping the cornbread in foil and freezing it but that showed a lack of faith. He didn’t need to save it. Channie would make more when she got home. He shoved the entire square in his mouth and nearly choked. According to his memory, it should have melted in his mouth, but it was as dry as cardboard. He chugged half a quart of orange juice straight out of the carton then sat down and brushed the crumbs off his shirt.
He decided to call Dad and check on Liz. But when he pulled his phone out of his pocket, he noticed that he had a voice message waiting for him. From Dad.
I suppose you have your phone turned off because you’re at school. And that’s a good thing. I just wanted to give you an update on Liz. They’ve moved her to the burn unit at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. She’s in critical but stable condition. The greatest danger right now is infection. She woke up and asked for me so the nurses helped me scrub up and let me in to see her for fifteen minutes. Dad’s voice cracked. There was a long pause before he continued.
She said to give you and Channie her love.
Josh called Dad with one hand and put the juice up with the other.
“Josh?”
“Hey, Dad. I just got your message. How’s Liz?”
“About as good as can be expected. She’s in quite a bit of pain so they’re keeping her sedated. If they can’t get it to a manageable level, they’re going to put her in a medically induced coma.”
“Have they let you see her again?”
“No. In fact I won’t get to go in again until tomorrow.”
“Do you want to come home and get some rest? I’m happy to swap places with you for awhile.”
“I checked into a hotel across the street from the hospital. I don’t want to be too far from Liz. Are you and Channie doing okay?”
Josh wanted to tell Dad the truth, or at least as much of the truth as he could, but he didn’t want to add to his worries. “I think I might go to a race tomorrow. But just for fun.”
“I think that’s a great idea. I miss watching you race.”
“You can watch me race when Liz is able to come with you. Give her my love and tell her I’m thinking about her.”
“I’ll do that.”
“You sound exhausted.”
“I am. I was just heading into the shower when you called. I’m going to order some room service, look over a couple of briefs and go to bed.”
“Sounds good. I’ll call you when I get home from the track tomorrow if I don’t hear from you before then.”
Josh continued to stare at his phone even after they said their good-byes. He was glad that Hunter was on his way to rescue Channie, but he was lonely. “Maybe I should call Mom and see what she’s up to?”
The sound of his voice echoing through the empty house depressed him. Calling Mom was a stupid idea. She’d know something was wrong as soon as she heard his voice. And Mom was a lot harder to fool than Dad.
Josh had plenty of homework to keep him busy, but he wasn’t ready to tackle it just yet. He needed to work on his bike if he planned to race the next day.
~***~
Josh replaced the tires on his old bike and tuned it in record time. It was too early to go to bed so he decided he might as well get a little of his homework out of the way. “I wonder if I can use magic to help me study?”
Josh closed his eyes and murmured, “I want to remember everything I read,” then opened his World History text book. He did the same thing with Statistics, French and Calculus. “Man, I wish I’d known about magic all along. This is too easy. Ah, crap. It’s probably cheating.”
Josh was still debating the morality of using magic to help him study when stripper music poured out of his phone.
His heart leapt into his throat then settled into a steady, but rapid beat. There was no way Hunter had made it to Arkansas yet. “What’s up?”
“I just about got blown to bits. I swear there’re more trackers in Kansas than cops. They’re everywhere. I got two speeding tickets I couldn’t magic my way out of and a warning.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, but that damn tracker ain’t.”
“What are you saying? Did you…kill him?”
“No clue. I didn’t hang around to see if he was still breathing.”
“Man! It sounds like you’re the one that needs to be careful.”
“Don’t I know it!” There was a brief pause. “So…does Kassie know I’m gone?”
“Yeah.”
“Is she mad?”
“Why don’t you just call her?”
/>
“I’d rather face a tracker.”
“Give her a day to cool off. If you wait much longer, she’s just going to get madder.”
“I cain’t deal with her right now. Have you been practicing any magic?”
“I used magic to help me remember some school stuff. But I don’t think I’m going to do it again.”
“Why not?”
“It feels like cheating.”
“Why would that be cheating?”
“It gives me an unfair advantage.”
“Some folks are natural born geniuses. How many of them are worried about whether or not that’s fair to the rest of us?”
“It’s not like a genius can turn off part of their brain. I can choose to not use magic.”
“Are you competing with the other students?”
“It’s not like I’m in the running for Valedictorian or anything. And none of my teachers grade on a curve so it won’t hurt anyone if I score high on tests.”
“Well, there you go. My own personal philosophy is if it don’t hurt no one, it’s okay. And sometimes it’s okay even if it does hurt someone. I’d take every opportunity I could to stick it to Eric.”
Josh grinned even though Hunter couldn’t see him. “Thanks. I feel a little less guilty.”
“You’re welcome. I’d like to shoot the breeze with you for a while, but Ms. Wisdom seems to think that trackers can find us through our phones so I better hang up.”
“She’s right, Hunter. In fact, you need to get a cheap disposable phone and don’t use it for anything except emergencies.”
Hunter hung up. Either he had a real problem with good-byes or he just didn’t like Josh telling him to get rid of his phone. Whatever.
Josh considered replacing his own phone, but trackers weren’t after him. At least, not yet. Besides, his contract with AT&T had another year on it. He wouldn’t be able to get a new iPhone without spending a fortune. Huh. That’s weird. He’d never let the cost of anything stop him before. Why was he suddenly so concerned about wasting money? It must have something to do with being married.
With the next day’s assignments out of the way, Josh didn’t feel as much pressure. He still had lots of makeup work to do, but he needed a good night’s rest if he wanted to have a decent showing at the race. He programmed the shower for twenty minutes of steam followed by ten minutes of hydro-massage. He could have used another cleansing spell, but it wasn’t nearly as relaxing as a shower.
When he finished, he slipped into a pair of boxers then went downstairs to lock up. He bent over to lower the security bar on the sliding glass door but froze when something darted out from behind the storage shed and jumped the fence in the back yard.
It was probably just a deer, or maybe a mountain lion. Josh slid the door open two inches. His shield exploded out of his stomach and formed a bubble of light around him.
“Whoa!” He hadn’t even thought about using his shield. His body must be acting on pure instinct. He slid the door open a little further and stepped outside. A buzz of foreign energy lingered in the air but there was no one there.
~***~
Hunter jammed his helmet on his head and adjusted the chin strap. He hated leaving Josh behind, especially when he was still so naive and ignorant about magic. He needed some serious tutoring before facing off with Dominance, but he needed Channie even more. Without her, Josh would never be able to focus. He’d proved as much while they were studying the words from the Book of the Dead. That boy had it bad.
So did Hunter. He knew that leaving without saying good-bye to Kassie was a chickenshit move, but he hated good-byes and she was already mad at him. If he thought they could have parted on good terms, he might have risked it, but they were both too hotheaded and stubborn. They’d end up fighting. One, or both, of them would say something they’d regret. He’d make it up to her after he rescued Channie.
Hunter straddled the “Green Beast” and fired it up. He loved the way the engine roared to life. The vibration between his thighs gave him such a feeling of power. It was better than magic. It was almost as good as sex. He goosed the throttle and grinned as the front wheel lifted off the pavement. His worries scattered like leaves in his wake as he flew down the highway. Of all the gifts Ms. Stephanie had given him, this one was the best. He let out a whoop of pure joy. “Man, I love this bike!”
The adrenaline rush faded, but left behind a pleasant energy that kept him alert for the first six hours. He stopped in Hayes, Kansas for food and fuel and then again in Wellington, even though he didn’t need to. He wasn’t going to risk running out of gas again. Not if he could help it. He could have pushed through without stopping to sleep, but decided that was pure foolishness. He needed to stay sharp and he couldn’t do that without getting a few hours of sleep. It was safer to stop in a big city where he could hide in plain sight. He hated to waste the money, but if he didn’t pick a nice hotel, his bike would attract thieves, including trackers. The Cherokee Hotel and Casino just off Highway 421 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas was perfect.
He stepped up to the desk and pulled a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet. “I’d like a single room for one night.”
“I’m sorry. We don’t rent to minors.” The lady behind the desk licked her lips as her gaze traveled south.
“I get that a lot.” Hunter put his elbows on the counter and leaned forward to read her name tag.“But I assure you, Ms. Patricia, I’m legal.”
He lowered his eyelids to half-mast, gave her a lazy, crooked smile and used his sexiest voice, but resisted the temptation to use a come-hither spell. She wasn’t a mage, but he sensed several nearby. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself, or get busted for using illegal magic.
Her cheeks flushed. “All guests have to sign in with proper identification. Even those paying with cash.”
Hunter pulled his fake driver’s license out and slid it across the counter. “There you go, sugar. Is that proper enough?”
She swallowed then tore her gaze from his with obvious effort and examined the plastic card. “I’m supposed to request two forms of ID.”
Crap. Hunter’s smile slid off his face. “My ex cut up my credit cards. This is all I have. I guess I’ll go try my luck at the Best Western.”
She covered Hunter’s hand with hers then glanced to the left at the other fella working next to her. He was busy checking in a couple of newlyweds. “Sign here. But don’t tell anyone.”
Hunter smiled and winked at her. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I get off work at midnight. I could show you around the casino.”
“Tempting. Very tempting.” Hunter lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and she was attractive, but he was only flirting with her so she’d rent him the room. Seeing Kassie again had done a number on him. He didn’t want any more casual hookups. “I gotta get on the road by dawn tomorrow morning. If I meet you at midnight, I doubt I’d get any rest at all.”
“That’s a little presumptuous.” She tugged her hand out of his grasp then folded her arms over her breasts.
“Do you have a break before you get off work? I’d like to at least buy you a drink.”
“I’ve already taken my break.” She wrote a string of numbers on the back of the receipt before handing it Hunter. “If you change your mind after midnight and I’m not here, give me a call.”
“Will do.” Hunter gave her his sexiest grin and another wink then turned around and headed toward the elevator. He had no intention of leaving his room until morning.
A rap on his door woke him up. At first, Hunter couldn’t remember where he was, but the glowing numbers on the clock brought it all back. Twelve fifteen. Dang. Some women just can’t take a hint. He didn’t even check the peep-hole before unbolting and opening the door. But instead of a horny desk clerk, two men in black suits filled the doorframe. Both of them mages.
Hunter’s shield snapped into place. But when the men didn’t raise theirs, he l
owered his. “Sorry ‘bout that. It’s sort of an ingrained response. My ex has the nastiest stinging spell.”
The men chuckled and nodded. “Sorry to bother you, but we’re looking for a family of mages that disappeared under suspicious circumstances last August. Do you know of, or have you heard of, anyone that goes by the name of Money Kerns or Monroe Belks?”
Hunter clamped down on the fear trying to burst out of his energy field. He scratched the back of his head and frowned. “Let me think a minute. That name sounds familiar. I’ve been working out of state. Is he from around here?”
“Originally. But we know that he moved to Las Vegas.”
“Ah…that must be where I heard it. I worked at ‘Her Lady’s Pleasure’ as an exotic dancer in Vegas for a while. Do you have a picture? That might help jog my memory.”
The men sighed. “No. All we have is a description. He’s a large man, about six foot four and three hundred pounds. He also has a gambling addiction.”
“I don’t recall seeing any mages that fit that description. We get a few fellas in the club, but most of our clientele are women.” Hunter knew he needed to just shut up, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to gather a little intel. “Can I ask why y’all are looking for him? Is he in trouble?”
“Thank you for your time, Mr. Brown. Enjoy your stay.” The men turned on their heels then marched down the hall.
Hunter waited for them to step onto the elevator then closed the door. He was tempted to get on his bike and get the hell outta there, but that would look too suspicious. No. He needed to stick to the plan. He’d told the girl at the check in counter that he was going to head out at dawn, so that’s what he’d better do. He’d also better get some sleep. Even though the trackers didn’t tell him anything, just the fact that they were still looking for Channie’s daddy meant things were more dangerous than ever. And these trackers weren’t the usual stupid scumbags. These were well-dressed, intelligent and obviously high-paid scumbags. He climbed back into bed, cast a mild be-calm spell on himself and closed his eyes.
He woke up the next morning, refreshed but nervous. He stuffed his belly and his backpack with biscuits, bacon and eggs from the free breakfast buffet then got on his bike and headed east down Highway 412. He stopped for fuel and groceries in Springdale then rode straight through to Whistler’s Gulch.
Finding Valor Page 8