Karl shifted his chair so he sat immediately behind her.
“He looks a lot different from college,” he said, tapping the screen. “That hair is a dye job. Maybe even a wig. It used to be brownish, and he was already going bald when I last saw him. He’s had some work done on the chin and possibly something around the eyes as well.”
Amber laughed and continued clicking down the text.
“He can afford it according to his public and private accounts. Naughty, naughty boy. Looks like he’s hiding money from the IRS. So, do we drop in on your old friend after lunch, or do we just go over and case the joint?”
“We’ll see when we get there, and for the record, this one was never my friend.”
Casing the joint was the eventual decision. Reluctant to take any risks with further contamination Amber refused to enter the building until she’d examined it from the Ethereal. She walked around the car, fan in hand, silently casting a protective circle while pretending to check the tires. No one paid any attention to her. Once the circle was in place she settled back into the driver’s seat and shut her eyes.
“Aren’t you supposed to roll your head around on your shoulders, groan and shake when you go into a trance?” asked Karl.
Amber opened one eye, rolled it, and closed it again.
“That’s all you get today; I haven’t the strength for anything more,” she muttered, and turned her attention to the Ethereal.
The passing cars rattled the windows as they raced the changing lights.
The “Running Wolf Gym: Exercise and Fitness for Those Who Really Mean It” was across the street from where they had parked the Mustang. Amber snorted when she read the club motto, but Karl was not surprised.
“It suits him. Albert had no more imagination than a potato,” he said.
Entering the Ethereal was easier now that she wore the Elemental’s bracelet. Amber drifted from her body, across the street, and in through the glass front. Albert, or Running Wolf, was guiding a young, well-fleshed woman through a simple weight workout. Amber suppressed her own flash of guilt. She hadn’t been to a gym since the merger and had been hitting the midnight snacks pretty hard. She scanned the open plan club with its brightly painted equipment and wall to wall mirrors. Albert whispered some vague words of encouragement to his current client while shifting slightly to get a better view of his own reflection. From his expression of distaste and the finger he was rubbing over his cheekbones Amber guessed he was planning another trip to the surgeon. She returned to the car and to her surprise her body did not protest. No feelings of nausea from the filaments, no pain.
Wow. So that was what the bracelet was for.
Even if she wasn’t being punished for traveling without her body she was still stiff from the long drive. She moved her head from side to side, stretching the knots out of her neck. Karl reached across and gently massaged the nearest shoulder.
Amber shrugged, reluctant to move out from under his hands. This time her personal shields were holding and his touch did not immediately result in another drain.
The shoulder he was working on wasn’t the one that was stiff, but it felt good to have his fingers probing her tired back. Perhaps later she would invite him to work on her. He had a good touch. She sat on the thought firmly. It was bloody dangerous to consider getting involved in any other form of … that stuff … with someone she was joined to by … whatever this was. Anything between them had to wait.
“What did you find out?” asked Karl, turning his attention to her other shoulder.
“Albert is a piss poor … pathetic teacher and thinks that his cheek bones are asymmetrical. He’s also a fake and a fraud. His aura, well, I can’t explain it well, but I doubt he earned any of the commendations and certificates on his wall.” When Karl frowned, Amber continued. “The web is there all right, and it looks like all the students are affected. Albert is linked in, too, but he looks pretty healthy.”
“A receiver instead of a donor?”
“Well now, that’s a thought. You know, you’re probably right. Someone has to get all that energy.” Amber looked out of the window and thought about it. “What next?”
“We go talk to him. Find out what’s going on.” Karl reached for the door handle.
Amber grabbed his coat, tugging him back into the seat.
“That’s a bad idea. Bad on so many levels. If he’s been doing magic as long as you say, and handling this much power, then he’s dangerous and we should approach him carefully … or not at all. We should watch him. Wait for some information from Davie.”
“I want answers to some questions and he’s right here. He’ll remember me. I’m going to talk to him. Just talk. Why should that be a problem? Old college buddies and all that.”
He threw himself out of the car and not waiting for traffic lights, dodged cars crossing the street. Amber grabbed her computer bag and followed in a more leisurely manner. Albert was not the macho body builder he pretended to be. She could read his true physical form by the outline of his aura. His muscular butt was actually padded underwear and the front of his genital enhancing spandex shorts – that his clients seemed to find so fascinating – was actually displaying a carefully positioned piece of molded plastic. A technological advancement on the old rolled up sock trick – and just as unconvincing to Amber.
But in his weakened state Karl was far from strong enough to win any physical contest. She didn’t think it would be wise for both of them to just walk in. Someone out on the street, a lookout, would be a sensible precaution. If Karl got into trouble she’d … well, she wasn’t sure how she would do it, but she would try to get him out.
“Hello, Albert. Long time no see. I almost didn’t recognize you,” Karl leaned against the hip flexor machine and smiled into the mirror.
Albert Running Wolf, a professionally enhanced smile on his lips, turned and stared at the new arrival. Recognition and something else – fear? guilt? – flashed across his sculpted face. Karl leaned forward, staring into the personal trainer’s eyes then laughed loudly.
“Good God. Colored contacts, too?”
Albert flushed and waved his hands as if trying to brush the words away from the ears of his clients. The few clients working glanced up, then turned their attention back to their exercises. Putting one arm around Karl, Albert half carried him away, back toward the gym entrance.
“There’s nothing wrong with improving on Mother Nature when she hasn’t been kind,” Albert mumbled, “and what the hell are you doing here? Last I heard you were down in the dark depths of Pennsylvania.”
“Who did you hear that from?” Karl stopped at the high white table just inside the heavy glass door and watched Albert’s face intently.
Albert’s color increased. Karl grinned. He remembered that the fair skinned wannabe athlete became sunburned in heated arguments and collapsed from heat exhaustion after standing under bright florescent lights. And he blushed like a teenaged girl. Plastic surgeons and spray-on tan hadn’t helped him with that.
“Oh, I heard it around.”
“Who from, exactly?” Karl pushed.
Albert glanced away, catching sight of Amber watching through the window and flashed a twenty thousand dollar smile. She smiled brightly back and continued scanning the interior. Albert posed and preened and she gave him a little wave.
“From some of the old gang,” said Albert, waving a dismissive hand and turning sideways so the woman watching could see his flat abdomen and the illusion of toned butt. “I see them around sometimes.”
“Who? I didn’t think anyone had stayed in town after college. Didn’t we all say we couldn’t wait to blow this burg for somewhere more interesting?”
“Yeah. Well. They still pass by every now and then.”
“When? Who?”
Albert stuttered and flushed deeper. “Well, Gloria was in town a few days ago for the funeral.”
“Yeah. I know,” Karl grabbed his grief and sat on it. His jaw tightened. Until Mike�
��s actual involvement was fully explained he was not going to feel any pain; he was determined. Mike would have to be vindicated or exposed before he wasted any more emotions on his memory. “I didn’t see you at the service.”
Albert’s gaze danced over the clients and equipment in the gym. He glanced distractedly at the people walking past the huge windows. Karl watched intently, following Albert’s every move. He was unable to sustain eye contact with Albert for more than a split second. As far as he could remember, Albert hadn’t been this nervous in college.
Albert reached behind the counter for a thermos and poured a generous measure of sludge into a mug personalized with his photo.
“Busy that day.” Albert muttered, sipping the thick liquid, “I run this place pretty much on my own, just a receptionist and me. I can’t disappoint my clients by taking off with no notice.”
Karl shifted to stand in Albert’s line of sight. “They would have understood. For a funeral. It was just one morning out of your life and Mike is only going to die once.”
Albert flushed again, turning his whole body away from Karl and appearing to shrink into himself.
Karl felt his temper rising. He’d been a calm teenager and a controlled man. It had been years since he’d experienced emotions as intensely as he had over the last few days. If he were honest with himself it was probably due to fatigue that he had been so easy going.
But he wouldn’t be ignored by this escapee from a mad plastic surgeon’s laboratory. He planted himself, arms crossed, toe to toe with the shrinking trainer.
“Listen, I need …”
Albert leapt back and scuttled around behind his registration table, his hands raised to ward off Karl’s approach.
“No. You listen, man. I’m sorry. I knew Gloria would be there and didn’t want … hell. I never knew what Gloria was going to do next.”
“Gloria?” Karl’s hands tightened into fists. His heart pounded.
Albert waved his hand vaguely. “It was all so long ago, but hey, I didn’t want to rake over old sins. And Gloria, she might say something just for the pleasure of seeing us start fighting over her.”
Karl’s heart stuttered and he dug his fingernails into his palm. “What the hell?”
Shrugging Albert moved a step forward, smiling slightly. “I guess, really, it’s all old news. Me and Gloria. But you had to have known about it.”
Karl ground his teeth. “Known what?”
Albert’s posture changed. He thrust out a hip and settled himself comfortably on a high stool, head tilted back and grinning. “Me and Gloria. We were an item back in the old days.”
Karl nodded. “She went to stay with you for a while after I threw her out.”
“She was coming over to me before you threw her out.” Albert’s grin widened. “But as I said, that’s old news and I didn’t think that Mike’s funeral would be a good place for the three of us to have a reunion.”
“Somehow it doesn’t surprise me,” said Karl, probing the thought of his ex-girlfriend’s infidelity tentatively.
After all this time he couldn’t even summon up a retroactive anger. She was gone from his life – thank whatever was responsible – and he’d celebrate if he could gather the energy.
“Gloria … I have no idea why I ever got involved with her,” said Karl. “Skinny stick, wasn’t she? She was never worth the effort.”
Albert’s grin turned feral. “You made that mistake years ago, Karl. Big mistake. You should have tried harder … but she moved on and left you in the dust. Gloria’s more than worth any effort. You just didn’t want to see the possibilities. What she could give.” He paused and pulled on a chain around his neck. “I don’t want to talk about it. You’re supposed to stay quietly where you’re put. So, I think, Karl, it’s time for you to go away now. Go. Go. Go away.”
Karl staggered as if struck and stumbled against the counter. His eyes unfocused as his mouth worked, trying to shape words. His lungs could not force enough air out to make a sound. He spun around, away from Albert Running Wolf. Immediately his breathing eased. Gratefully he pulled air into his aching lungs and moved toward the door. He could barely keep his feet. Distantly he could hear the growling and yipping of the hunting wolves. His heart thundered and he started to run, crashing through the doorway, running across the busy street without looking to the right or left. He dived into his car, slammed it into motion, and drove.
Go. Go. Go.
Amber leaned against the window and said some words not used in polite company. But said them mildly, perfunctorily, her mind was already elsewhere. She was grateful that she’d grabbed her computer bag out of the car, but annoyed that Karl had driven off with her overnight bag to who knew where. It was her own fault, really. If she’d stayed in the car she’d be with him now. If she’d gone with him into the gym she would’ve heard whatever news sent Karl flying out of there as if pursued by demons. But she hadn’t and now she was somewhat stuck.
Only somewhat. She had credit cards, her driver’s license, and had never been a helpless fragile flower, even in her younger days. A hotel room, a shopping mall, and a rental car would quickly solve her immediate problems.
She’d barely had time to move her head when Karl had run past her. A good thing, too. She’d seen Running Whatever watching both of them from behind the counter. She hadn’t called out to Karl or done anything to indicate she knew him. So when Running Wolf caught her eye, smiled at her, and gestured her into the gym she hesitated only a minute before pushing open the glass door. Amber paused on the threshold, her hand still resting on the door handle, thinking fast. Dimly she could feel – something – try to latch onto her and then slide off. No surprise there. Her shields were good now. No new attachments. Just the old ones, dragging at her. The guy behind the counter didn’t seem to notice that his web hadn’t caught her. Either he wasn’t the witch or … well, it all depended on how the spell was constructed.
Huffing out a breath she stepped in.
The door was a little thicker than usual. She ran her fingers along the metal and let the door slam shut. Special springs and the weighted door that was intentionally hung badly, she decided, to make the person opening the door doubt their strength. She took a few steps across the foyer to the counter. The floor surface was hard to walk on. He’d put down a mat that clung to the soles of shoes and required an extra effort to pull free.
She put her computer bag on the high counter next to a neat stack of canned diet drinks and levered herself up onto the stool.
The stools were just a little too high and the foot rests a little too low, leaving a person of average height trying to perch on it off-balance. Everything in this foyer was designed to subtly unsettle anyone who entered. She made a mental note to look at the report on Mr. Running Wolf and check if either his major or minor in college was psychology. Or marketing. Everything in this room seemed designed to make a person doubt their own strength. All subliminal and nasty.
“You look like you used to be fit,” said Running Wolf, taking up position on the other side of the counter. “How long has it been since you took care of yourself?”
There’s a step up on the other side of this counter to make him look taller, thought Amber.
“Forgive me, Father,” said Amber. “It’s been, oh, six months since I last exercised.”
Running Wolf shook his head sternly at her and selected a can of his protein drink. He popped the lid and poured it into a paper cup.
“Sixteen fifty,” he said, pushing the cup toward her. “My specially designed food and drinks can’t solve your problems overnight, but you can make a start today.”
Amber blinked and kept her face straight with an effort. The presumption of the man was amusing.
Except he was serious. Without asking her if she wanted something to drink, especially such an expensive drink, he’d poured it. Now he fully expected her to meekly pay an outrageous amount. Amber relaxed her conscious mind. Studying auras was passive magic, barely detec
table. She studied the liquid. It was mostly sugar and flavorings, but it had a little glamour added in. She turned her attention to the man on the other side of the counter. There was a hot spot around his neck, shining bright. A pendant. A magically charged amulet.
An attraction spell. She smothered a laugh. Idiot used magic in addition to all that plastic surgery to get the girls. She looked him in his color adjusted eyes and nodded to herself.
Of course he did.
She reached into her bag for her purse. There were spells visible on most of the items scattered around the room and on the man across from her was a “desire me” spell, for Elemental’s sake. As Running Wolf was tucking the twenty she gave him away, she glanced around the gym. The racks of exercise clothes and diet foods behind him were similarly be-spelled to make them irresistible. She glanced at the women exercising across the gym and in the photos covering the walls. Lots of different women, no men, standing about with Running Wolf.
Running Wolf settled his elbows on the table and gave her outstretched hand a puzzled look. Amber’s fingers curled.
“My change?” she said. “I gave you a twenty.”
A shocked look slid across Running Wolf’s surgically perfected face. He grasped the pendant hanging around his neck and rubbed his thumb across the silver. Amber watched a small energy change and kept her face still. Another spell?
“I was going to count it toward your membership fee.”
He nudged a clipboard and pen across the counter toward her. Amber raised her eyebrow. So much for salesmanship. No pitch. Just a blanket assumption that because she’d walked in the door she was his willing victim. Perhaps that was the spell. Amber read the sheet he passed her quickly then gasped as she read the fee schedule. She would have to tell Davie his information was out of date. Running Wolf had recently increased his fees.
“I can’t afford that.”
“How important is your health?” Running Wolf’s voice dropped to a croon and he caressed the silver pendant again. “It’s very, very important. You know you want to be strong and healthy. You know that exercise will help you achieve your dreams. I’ll help you. This gym, everything here, you really want it.”
First Destroy All Giant Monsters (The World Wide Witches Research Association) Page 23