Miranda looked through the contents on the coffee table again. The normal flotsam of change purse, checkbook, and ink pens spilled out. She searched one of the zippered pockets and pulled out a tampon. She didn’t use them. It wasn’t hers.
Instead of ripping it open immediately as Juliet had done, she studied the wrapper. The end closest to the bottom of the applicator didn’t have the same machine crimping as the other. It had been carefully trimmed and resealed.
As she ripped it open Caleb said, “It’s a woman. A man wouldn’t think of using…something like that.”
The small scroll of paper resting in her palm curdled her stomach. For a long beat of time she and Juliet looked at each other.
Karma had just risen up to bite them on the ass.
“We both work with a lot of women,” Juliet said. “But I can’t think of any reason why one would come after me. I’ve been keeping a low profile for a while now. Even before Tanner was killed.” She swallowed. “And I haven’t poached anyone else’s boyfriend, or slept with their husband. All I’ve done is work, mind my own business, and try to live my life.” Her smile was forced. “What have you been up to, sis?”
Miranda laid the roll of paper in an ashtray and wiped her hand on her slacks. She controlled the urge to go scrub it with soap. “Nothing that could draw this kind of attention.”
“Since we can’t figure out who, then we have to figure out what they are and how we can get rid of them,” Juliet said.
Miranda straightened her shoulders. They’d faced bad things before. She and Juliet could do this. She dealt in knowledge, and she knew just where they needed to go. “The library’s our best bet.”
* * *
Juliet slipped free of her seat at the computer and stretched. She’d been at it for two hours, and the only information her searches had kicked out was about shadow spirits.
The creatures they were dealing with weren’t spirits. They interacted too aggressively with the living. Could they be demons?
Even the thought had chill bumps tiptoeing up and down her arms and her chest felt tight. They had done some amazing things in high school with Sherry and Aubrey, but nothing like this. She’d have never believed any of this shit was possible if she hadn’t come face-to-face with one last night.
The translation she’d done of the words written on those small pieces of paper had sent her off in a different direction, though. She needed confirmation of what she’d discovered, and she could only find it in two places she hadn’t visited in a very long time.
She wandered over to the second floor railing and studied the activity on the ground floor. Three women were working the desk, checking in, checking out, and shelving books. In light of what Caleb had said, Juliet studied each woman. One seemed familiar, but none looked like a psycho-bitch, but then appearances were deceiving. She was living proof of that.
Every few seconds the scanner beeped. How did Miranda stand it? The sound alone would drive her insane. But then her sister had always been more tolerant than she.
Juliet glanced in her direction. Miranda rose from her chair behind her desk and wandered out of her office to stand next to her at the railing. “Caleb texted me. He has an alarm system installed in my car. Anyone tries to mess with it again, the alarm will go off.”
“Good.” She glanced at Miranda. “He’s afraid for you.”
“I know. I couldn’t have him hanging around like a bodyguard all day, and he needed to work.”
“What’s that?” Juliet nodded toward the paper Miranda gripped.
She handed it to Juliet. “A thank-you note from a very pissed off student because I interrupted his conquest of another student in the upstairs bathroom. Or at least I think it is.”
Juliet’s brows rose at the word Bitch written across the paper in bright red ink. “It might not hurt to hand it over to the police. With all this other stuff going on, you never know.” She handed the paper back to Miranda. “How’s the employee search going?”
“So far, no one’s standing out as suspicious, and their work histories are all coming back clean. There are three I suspect may be practicing the Craft. I’ve earmarked them for further study. I still have several more to look through.” She cleared her throat. “We’ve got about six hours of daylight left. We need to stick with this and find some way to protect ourselves.”
“Just the usual we already know. Salt, holy water, religious artifacts like crosses and Bibles, and prayer. That’s all I’ve found. Or we could set wards to protect us, Caleb, and the house. Or we could wear protective jewelry.”
Miranda’s brows rose. “You learned all that in two hours?”
And she hadn’t found anything she believed would really work, outside of fighting witchcraft with witchcraft. “Yeah. I think instead of doing more research, we need to get to a church and ask for some holy water and for a priest’s help.”
“We’re not Catholic,” Miranda said on a sigh.
Juliet glanced at her. “But priests and pastors are supposed to help people whether they’re Catholic, Protestant, or whatever, aren’t they?”
Miranda eyed her. “What makes you think one would even believe us?”
“He will if he’s around after dark when those things start popping out of the sidewalk.”
Miranda put a hand over her mouth and looked away, her shoulders shaking.
Ah shit, she’d made her cry. Juliet placed a hand on her shoulder in a demonstration of comfort. It took a moment to register it wasn’t tears making her tremble, but stifled laughter. When Miranda finally looked up she was still smiling.
“What’s so funny?” Juliet asked.
“You’re so…I’m just glad to see you haven’t changed the way you face off against things.”
If only they’d both been able to manage that when they were younger. Juliet shrugged. “Necessity makes even the timid brave. I read that quote somewhere. After you’ve faced off against a belligerent drunk or two, you learn to be assertive.”
She changed the subject. “I think we should divide our resources. You stay here and research, and I’ll go down to the Catholic church and see if I can stir up some reinforcements for the cause. Then we’ll both hit Aubrey’s place on the way home. She may have some answers.”
Miranda bit her bottom lip. “She was here last night. She warned me trouble was coming.”
Juliet straightened from leaning on the railing. “You don’t think she…”
“No.” Miranda shook her head. “Never. She’s adamant about her beliefs, especially about harming none.’” She rubbed at her shoulder. “If we have to take matters into our own hands and protect ourselves the hard way, do you think things will come back to us? I mean it’s been a long time.”
“I think it’s like sex. Once you know how, it doesn’t just—disappear.” In the end she had used magic to end things with Clay. So she knew her magic was still intact.
And she’d been going off by herself, up in the mountains, to practice by herself. The pressure inside her had built up to the point where she had to let it erupt. But it had been different by herself. As lonely as the rest of her life. “It probably wouldn’t hurt if you did some meditation and a few…” She quirked a brow. “Exercises.”
“It’s been so long.” Miranda’s throat worked as she swallowed. “I’ve missed it, Juls.”
“I know. It’s like losing your sense of taste or smell. Everything is bland and less…”
“Yes. That’s exactly how it is.” Miranda gripped the chrome railing one handed. “I’m nervous about you going outside. What if those things decide to start crawling out from whatever lair they’re hiding in? Last night was…”
She’d only dealt with one. Miranda had witnessed at least two creatures coming out of the lights. Or had it been the same one? They had to do something to stop them. “I’ll be careful. Besides, what better place to hide from them than a church?”
Miranda shoved her hair back from her face with the one hand still in goo
d working order. “You have a point. We’ll have to keep that in mind for later. Just in case. Please be careful.”
Juliet grabbed her purse hanging on the corner of her seat. “I translated the message on the slips of paper.”
“What did it say?”
“In pools of man-made light,
Shadows cast their fright,
To wreak havoc and violence,
And seal Juliet’s silence,
Death and destruction,
Will end her corruption.
Abide by my will, Let no man see,
As I will, so mote it be.”
Miranda’s eyes widened in surprise. “Have you heard of any witches besides Aubrey, Sherry, and us, living in Superstition?”
“Yeah, some. I’ve dealt with more than a few witches at the club. But I can only think of one who’d wish us dead.
Miranda frowned at the reference to their mother. “She wouldn’t really wish us dead, Juliet. And besides, she doesn’t have the power.”
Noticing movement over Miranda’s shoulder, she said, “One of the students just went into your office. You locked your purse up in your desk, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but I still don’t want her in there.”
“What’s her name? She looks a little familiar. Maybe she’s come to the club. One of the women working the counter downstairs may have come in too.”
“Her name’s Vivian Ward. She’s a very good worker.”
“But?” Juliet urged.
“She’s still proving herself, and is a little overeager.”
“Did you look over her records?”
“She was one of the first. She’s working on a degree in education and taking some classes in library science as a second major. I didn’t find anything suspicious in her background.”
Miranda was too trusting. Or was she? If she didn’t trust Caleb enough to let him close, why would she let anyone else? Juliet nodded. “I’d get in there if I were you. I’m going to take off and do some errands to help us prepare for tonight.”
Vivian exited the office and headed in their direction. The woman shot her a smile. “You two really are identical. If you weren’t dressed differently, I’d never be able to tell you apart.”
Not something they hadn’t heard before.
“I was just wondering which of these books you’d like for me to use Saturday with the children. I’m still doing the history of fairy tales. Last week we did something more targeted to the boys, and this week I thought I’d do something for the girls.”
The stack of books she held were all classic fairytales. Miranda tilted her head to read the titles. “Rumpelstiltskin might work, since it has a darker turn that will appeal to the boys.”
“I suppose Sleeping Beauty would be too much like chick lit.”
“Probably so.” Vivian nodded, then smiled. “Especially since the prince has to kiss her to wake her. I can hear the eeews from all the boys myself. I’ll write up the lesson plan and gather some other things to go with it.”
“Thank you, Vivian.”
Juliet waited for her to be out of earshot “She seems to know her stuff.”
“She’s very good. But she’s one of those people who infringes on your personal space without realizing it.”
Juliet had dealt with more than a few like that, but they were usually drunk.
Miranda dragged her thoughts back by saying, “Caleb’s going to pick me up in about an hour, and we’re going to search the house to make sure no one’s planted any more of those spell papers. Call when you want to be picked up.”
Juliet shot a thumb up. “Will do.”
Juliet paused inside the library foyer. Leaving the hospital safely this morning had eased her anxiety somewhat, but as she pushed through the double doors, her heart raced and her breath clogged her throat.
Detective Robinson stood at the bottom of the concrete stairs. He took off his sunglasses and his strange blue gaze pinning her like a butterfly to a board. “I need to talk to you, Ms. Templeton.”
Chapter 13
Chase took a seat in one of the hard backed wooden chairs in Miranda Templeton’s office. He looked from one woman to the other. Had they not received different injuries, he’d have had a difficult time telling them apart. They were both beautiful, with warm, chestnut-streaked brown hair and high cheekbones. Since he’d done some research on them, he wondered at the different turns their lives had taken.
He broke the news quickly. “Gerald Abbott is dead.”
The relief he’d expected to see in Juliet Templeton’s face never appeared. But she was surprised.
She’d shut down before, when he mentioned her presence during Tanner’s death and Samuel’s attack. He’d seen similar responses in two different categories of the people he’d dealt with. Those who’d been abused, and the hardened criminals who’d gone through the system so many times they were neither intimidated by what lay ahead nor hopeful they were going to avoid punishment.
The more he looked into Juliet’s background and past behaviors, the more he believed she was an abuse survivor.
“What happened?” Miranda asked.
“He was found dead in his cell this morning. We’re investigating, and the coroner, Dr. Brewster, has performed an autopsy. We didn’t want to wait for the state guys to do one.”
The sisters exchanged glances.
“The reason I’m here, Ms. Templeton,” he aimed his look at Juliet, “is because, according to what Gerald Abbott told me, he and Porter were paid to kill you. Tanner Newton was killed by accident.”
Juliet flinched and pressed her fingers against her lips, the shock he’d expected to read earlier obvious.
Her throat worked as she swallowed. “Who hired them?”
“Abbott didn’t know. He’d received payment through a go-between. That man too is dead.”
“This is crazy!” Miranda exclaimed, her voice sharp with anxiety.
Chase scooted forward in the chair. “They were both drug addicts. Addicts will do anything for their next fix. Someone paid them to go after you. The person who hired them is still out there. I’d be remiss if I didn’t caution you to be careful and stay alert.”
Though Juliet’s face remained composed, her hands clenched until the knuckles turned white. “We are.” She ran her fingers through her hair, shoving it back.
Chase’s attention snagged on the graceful line of her cheek and jaw. He tried to ignore the tug of attraction. She was a witness, a victim. He couldn’t get involved with her. And with her history, it would be a bad idea anyway.
She bit her lip. “It seems that whoever is after me can’t tell my sister and me apart.”
He leaned forward in his seat. “Are you sure you don’t know anyone who has reason, real or not, to want to harm you?”
“I’ve never dealt drugs, unless you count the drinks I serve at Steampunk Alley. I haven’t taken drugs since I was eighteen, though some of your patrol officers continued to pull me over on a regular basis until I sold my car. I don’t gamble, so I don’t owe anyone money. And I haven’t poached anyone’s boyfriend. So no, there’s no reason for anyone to come after me.”
“When did you sell your car?” he asked. He’d put feelers out to some of the patrol officers and see what they said about her.
“In May.”
“Have you noticed anyone hanging around at the club?”
“We have regulars who come in all the time.”
“Anyone who’s shown too much interest or gotten too aggressive?”
“Samuel Newton, but I think you can mark him off the list.” She remained silent for a moment. “Justin Chalmers, one of the other bartenders, has been trying to get me to go out with him. He’s been very persistent.”
“Anyone else who’s made you feel uncomfortable?”
“No one outside the occasional drunk customer who gets too mouthy when I cut them off. And those are too many to count.”
Her job sounded a lot like his. He’d go b
y the bar and get a list of employees from the owner and talk to her coworkers.
Chase turned his attention to Miranda. “How many employees are there at the library, Ms. Templeton?”
“About twenty-five, counting the custodians who clean on the weekend and the two security guards. Plus we have five students on a student work program who come in during the week.”
“Can you get me a list of employees?”
“Certainly.”
“Anyone here who seems out of place?”
“We service the college and the town, Detective. No one’s out of place when they come to the library.”
“Anyone hanging around you or staying close to your work station when they shouldn’t be?”
Miranda shook her head. “I don’t hang out in my office very much. I’m in charge of scheduling and making sure all the other sections of the library are running smoothly. We have classes and community meetings coming in and out daily to use our conference rooms and AV equipment. Interlibrary loan materials to distribute, books to catalogue into the system, and a hundred other things to deal with.”
“Anyone overeager to help?” he asked.
She was silent a moment. “We’re here to be helpful. No one works here whom the college hasn’t vetted. They’ve all been fingerprinted and a background check run.” Her gaze shifted to Juliet. “We have to tell him.”
Chase straightened in his chair. “Tell me what?”
Juliet shot Miranda a frown of displeasure. Her movements impatient, she dug in her bag and removed a plastic bag. When she rose he automatically got to his feet as well. She offered him the bag. “I found a small slip of paper hidden in a tampon in my purse. The paper had been rolled up in the applicator and put back into the manufacturer’s wrappings. Miranda got one, too.”
Impatience tightened the muscles at the back of his neck. “Why didn’t you tell me right away?” Standing close to her for the first time, his gaze skimmed over the smoothness of her skin and the shell pink fullness of her lips.
Her eyes, a toffee brown, glittered with resentment. “We just found them this morning, Detective.”
Deep Within The Shadows (The Superstition Series Book 1) Page 10