“Maybe . . .” Endora snapped to attention. “We need to be very, very careful, Cass. If that guy is somehow tied to Mick, and he comes back, everyone on this tour could be in danger.”
Cassie stared solemnly at her friend. “I know. When we get to St. Louis we have to do some investigating on the astral plane.”
“Maybe you should try to get information out of Mick, too.” This time, there was no suggestion of seduction in Endora’s voice.
“I’ve thought about that. That’s why I volunteered you to stand in for Jennifer for the rest of the tour.”
Mischief brightened the cat’s expression. “I get to sleep with him?”
“No, you nitwit.” Cassie bit back a laugh. “You get to help him with the business end of things.”
Although she tried hard, Endora’s look of dejection wasn’t quite convincing. “You’re no fun at all, Boss.”
“I know. Time to work for a living.”
“Slave driver.” Endora’s yawn was a jaw cracker.
This time, Cassie couldn’t hold the laughter in. “You’re impossible. Now, get up and around. We’re almost to the lunch stop. We need to plan what to do for the rest of this trip.”
“For once, you’re making sense.”
Cassie didn’t bother to reveal that those plans included her getting closer to Mick Sandor, aka M. S. Kazimer, but she figured Endora would come to that conclusion on her own.
Six
MICK RESTED HIS head back against the bus seat and tried to sleep. But the pounding behind his closed eyes served as a reminder that a fifth of scotch on an empty stomach did not a pleasant road trip the next morning make. He managed not to groan out loud, but just barely.
Right at that moment, he loathed himself. What kind of pathetic loser avoided his problems by getting shitfaced in a hotel room? When he found himself in bed in his briefs that morning, he couldn’t recall how he’d gotten there. Enter the Feds. Just before Cassie Hathorne appeared, Jamison had told Mick he’d put him to bed and then informed everyone at the party that Jennifer and he were indisposed.
Indisposed didn’t even come close to the state of his relationship with Jennifer. They were completely over, in every way. He couldn’t really say he blamed her for severing all their connections. His career had, in many ways, consumed her life, and his refusal to keep writing had been a greater personal loss than she could take.
Although he’d suspected she saw the tour as an opportunity to get him to propose again, he’d actually encouraged her to come along. Perhaps out of a sense of honor and integrity—he didn’t know exactly—but he’d been brought up to believe that a man kept his promises. And although he hadn’t considered marrying her after she’d broken their engagement, they still had a business arrangement. He’d planned to reward Jennifer handsomely for all of her hard work as his manager. At one time, marrying her had seemed like the ultimate reward. Of course, at one time he’d loved her.
In retrospect, he marveled at his own ego. Marriage to him was the ultimate reward? Pathetic. Now, he considered sending Jennifer something she’d actually appreciate—a large check as severance pay. Cold, but money appealed to her more than Mick himself had.
God, what now? He massaged his aching temples with both hands. What have I gotten myself into?
And how would he get himself out? He’d committed to seeing Jamison’s scheme through, and he would, although the entire situation was too bizarre for belief. Chills raced to his core at the thought that some lunatic was following a pattern Mick’s writing had inadvertently given him. He wasn’t equipped to handle someone like that, which made him feel vulnerable despite the FBI’s presence. Next to hopelessness, vulnerability was the worst feeling in the world.
So, he’d stop being vulnerable. End of story. He sat up straight in the seat and looked around. None of the other passengers were doing much more than reading. With the exception of Cassandra Hathorne. He could see her standing near the berths, speaking with her manager.
Mick found himself suddenly swallowing hard. Had the temperature in the bus just risen? Had he been wearing a tie, he’d definitely have loosened it. Innate honesty forced him to admit his pulse had jumped about four hundred beats per minute at Cassie’s touch moments before. He couldn’t deny he found her incredibly sensual.
He winced inwardly. It was official—he’d completely lost his mind. All around him things were going to hell in a handcar, but he was all hot and bothered because a woman had touched him.
A touch that had been companionable, not sexual. Friendly. Empathetic.
Like hell it was friendly. My hand might damn well have ignited if she’d left hers there any longer.
Cassie hadn’t seemed to notice the electrical jolt, but maybe she was adept at hiding her responses to that kind of stimulus. Suddenly, he hoped that was true and that the possibility of her finding him attractive was real.
She’d offered Endora’s services for the rest of the tour, and Mick recognized that as the blessing it was. It gave him a natural reason to be closer to Cassie. He could point out that proximity would make Endora’s double duty easier. If he kept close, she wouldn’t have to split her time between them and could just see to them both together. Good, sound business sense, right?
His heart lighter than it had been for days, he prepared to approach the two women at the lunch stop and accept their offer of help.
HERE COMES TALL, dark, rich and sexy.
Cassie almost snorted hot herbal tea through her nose at Endora’s telepathic remark. Great Mother Goddess, Dora, you did that on purpose! Saying that when I was about to swallow . . . That’s low.
Endora gave her a look of pure innocence and took a huge bite of her tuna fish sandwich. I’m not the one who’s warm for the man’s form, Boss Lady. You are.
Don’t think with your mouth full, Cassie grouched.
“Mind if I join you ladies?”
Mick’s smile had her wishing she’d opted for iced tea. “Not at all.” As she mentally slowed her respiratory rate, she heard Endora laughing at her inside her head. Then she noticed Mick’s eyes starting to redden and water and quickly reinforced her protection spell against his cat allergy. Instantly, his eyes cleared. “Have you considered my offer?” My stars, I hope so!
“As a matter of fact, I have.” Mick looked from one woman to the other. “If it’s all right with Ms. Bast, I’ll take you up on your offer of her managerial skills for the rest of this tour.” He focused his blue gaze on Endora. “And, I’m willing to pay you for the extra effort.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she replied smoothly. “Cassie more than adequately compensates me.”
“Nonetheless, I don’t expect you to work for me for free.”
Endora glanced over at Cassie, then back at Mick. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Working for the most popular novelist of our time is compensation enough.”
“Did I mention sycophancy and sarcasm are two additional services Endora offers,” Cassie wryly interjected. “Both for no extra cost.”
Mick laughed, and her stomach did a little flip-flop at the sound. She found herself thinking of ways to make him laugh again.
Don’t tell jokes. You’re terrible at jokes.
Dora, mind your own thoughts.
I can’t. I’m too busy minding yours.
Cassie firmly nudged her under the table while at the same time grinning at Mick like the village idiot. She knew she was doing it, but she couldn’t stop. An adult trapped in a teenage fantasy was not a pretty sight, but all she could hope for was to emerge with some dignity still intact.
“Well, I guess if you can put up with Endora’s highly suspect management style, it sounds like you’ve got yourself a temporary publicist.” That sounded more professional and rational than anything I’ve said all day.
Endor
a rose at that moment and gathered up her tray and utensils. “I’ll just leave you two to hammer out the details,” she said brightly.
“No hammering necessary,” Cassie responded immediately. “You’re working for me twelve hours a day, and for Mick the other twelve. You’ll get a three-hour vacation the day after the tour ends.”
“Sounds fair.” Endora turned her look on Mick. “That work for you, Mr. Kazimer?”
“Indeed it does, Miss Bast.” Although he was addressing Endora, he looked at Cassie when he spoke.
She saw her familiar’s patented Cheshire grin. “You’ll have to start calling me Endora if I’m going to be terrorizing site hosts in your name,” she cracked.
At those words, Mick’s gaze snapped toward her.
“Just checking to see if you were listening.”
“Endora, don’t you have somewhere to go?”
“See you on the bus,” Endora tossed over her shoulder as she walked away, whistling.
Cassie turned to Mick. “She’s a bit eccentric, as I’m sure you’ve already realized. But she’s extremely good at what she does.”
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands over his chest. “Her style’s different, but I’m not looking for a long-term work commitment, so she and I won’t have time to get on each other’s nerves.”
“Be careful what you say,” Cassie warned lightly. “A week could be all the time needed.”
“Why Ms. Hathorne,” Mick said in a tone of mock offense, “I do believe you’ve just insulted me.”
Cassie played along, adopting a haughtily affected tone. “In what way, most gracious sir?”
“By insinuating I’m intolerant.”
“Believe me, Endora could try the patience of a saint.” And most likely has in some past life.
Mick made a gesture of dismissal. “We’ll get along fine.” Then his gaze became intensely focused on Cassie. “I really appreciate your doing this for me. Both of you. Thanks.”
“It’s nothing,” she said through a suddenly arid throat. His look was definitely intense. “You’d have done the same for me, I’m sure.”
“I might have, but I seriously doubt Jennifer would have shared my philanthropic urges.”
At his pensive tone, Cassie’s nurturing instinct kicked in full-force. “Mick, I’m so sorry. About this whole situation. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m more disappointed than upset,” he said slowly, and she could see his difficulty in saying the words. “I thought we had a strong relationship. Apparently, both of us were deluding ourselves. It’s truly best things ended.” He scrubbed his eyes with both hands. “Glad we figured out before the wedding that it wouldn’t work.”
Cassie couldn’t help it. She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. Big mistake. Waves of awareness rolled up her arm, and she found herself pulling back as if she’d been burned. “I, I’m sorry I brought it up,” she stammered. Heat burned her cheeks, and she knew she was probably doing a good impersonation of a boiled lobster right then.
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. It wasn’t your fault.” With that, he rose to leave. “See you on the bus.”
“Sure.” She watched him walk away, and her heart sank lower with every step he took. Way to go, Cass, she chided herself. Top marks in the Unadulterated-Lust-Scrambled-My-Brain category. Why had she mentioned Jennifer? Sure, it had been indirect, but she should have kept her mouth shut. There was no way she was going to make him forget his old flame if she constantly kept reminding him of her.
Maybe you need a refresher course in making moves, like Seduction 101, her familiar suddenly said.
Shut up, Dora!
THE ADAMS MARK Hotel was crowded that weekend, as a variety of events had served to pack the Gateway City, including the Midwest’s largest science-fiction convention. The Detroit Red Wings—the St. Louis Blues’ hockey rivals—were also in town, so the possibilities for excitement ranged from authors to Klingons to toothless men wreaking havoc with bent sticks and razor-sharp skates.
The concierge met the bus as it pulled up under the portico and ushered the party into the airy, open lobby. Within moments, they had their room assignments and were heading for the elevators. As in Chicago, the authors all had suites, but only Mick’s was the penthouse. Since Cassie now knew the FBI was fronting the tour, this special treatment made even more sense. Before she’d overheard his conversation with Jamison, she’d just assumed Mick’s overwhelming popularity had earned him first-class accommodations. Now, she understood that the Feds thought isolating him would make it easier to track their quarry while maintaining the illusion of a public relations event, not a manhunt. If the other writers stayed on a different floor, their chances of seeing something unusual would be diminished, as would any suspicions about the true purpose of this book tour.
She glanced at Mick and found herself gratified at his improved color. He stood with Agent Jamison near the closest bank of elevators, talking quietly, and suddenly she wished she was the one he was confiding in.
Where’d that thought come from? she wondered.
From your heart, Endora answered.
Dora, get out of my head!
It’s not that I was eavesdropping, Boss. It’s just that you’re pathetic at masking your feelings for him.
Oh, so now I’m pathetic! Cassie swung around toward the elevators, the jerky motion causing her shoulder bag to slip down to her wrist. Since the hand attached to that wrist was grasping the handle of her Pullman, more than a little pain hit her when the shoulder strap hauled her arm down.
“Ouch!”
Endora caught the strap and pulled it back up onto Cassie’s shoulder.
Come on, Cass. You’re gaga over Mick. Your karma’s been humming since he accepted your offer of my managerial skills. He sat down, and your pulse went off the charts. You can’t keep from thinking of him, either.
I’m envisioning you in a pet carrier for the rest of this trip, Cassie huffed. If you truly believe—
The hair on Cassie’s nape stood straight a split-second before Endora went completely rigid.
He’s here!
Despite her familiar’s previous warning, the dark wave of roiling evil caught Cassie completely unprepared, momentarily robbing her of breath. She gasped quietly and forced breath into her lungs and herself to action.
Find him, Dora! I’ll protect the humans. Summon me when you locate him. Go!
Endora raced from the central elevator bank toward the escalators. Cassie cleared her mind of everything, brought up the protection spell from memory and cast it out over the lobby. Fortunately, their whole party stood close at hand. That made protecting them easier, but she was obligated to shield everyone nearby as well. It required even more concentration, but her spell would keep the hideous entity she and Endora had sensed from harming any nearby hotel patrons.
But there was one monumental drawback. The amount of psychic energy necessary to cover the lobby was staggering. Although an accomplished witch like Medusa could hold the spell for up to half an hour, Cassie was nowhere near her mother’s league. With luck, she could get fifteen minutes, max. She fleetingly regretted not having practiced her spell casting techniques more diligently while growing up. Not listening to those coven instructors who’d all reminded every apprentice that “Some day, like algebra, this will come in handy.” Although she’d never actually found a use for algebra, several spells would certainly have been a bonus right then.
Incompetence aside, no one—in the writers’ group or not—deserved exposure to a monster the likes of which prowled the hotel. So, she’d do her best to shield them.
She slowed her body’s functions to maintenance levels and concentrated as much energy as she could into holding the spell as long as possible. And as one part of her mind centered on protecting t
he humans, another part listened for Endora’s summons.
It never came.
JUST AS SHE entered the service hallway where she felt the strongest negative vibrations—out of sight of any mortal—Endora changed into feline form to make herself less noticeable.
Evil pulsed all around her as she cautiously approached a pair of still-swinging service doors. Her quarry had entered these just moments before. She timed the gapping of the doors and slipped into the service kitchen next to the banquet halls. She guessed by the quiet that no luncheons were scheduled that day. And since night-shift banquet crews usually weren’t required to report until late afternoon, this area would remain quiet for hours.
Sidling over to the closest wall, Endora began a slow reconnaissance of the kitchen. She peeked around a corner of a serving cart and scanned the area with extrasensory perception as well as visual. All the metal utensils and carts, the humming of the bright overhead lights, and the strong smells of food made it difficult to get a positive fix on her quarry, though. He was likely near the walk-in freezers at the back of the room—a great place to hide temporarily in an emergency. But she couldn’t see him.
When she stepped out around the cart, he pounced. One large hand clamped down on her neck as the other pinned her hind legs together under her belly. She was helpless to escape.
“Nice kitty kitty,” he hissed in a tone that was in no way gentle. He squeezed Endora’s neck until her eyes began to bulge slightly. “I hate kitties!”
With unholy strength, he flung her against the closest wall and laughed as her limp body slid to the floor. Then he was gone.
Cassie, she managed to project with her last coherent thought before darkness claimed her.
CASSIE HEARD THE whisper of her name inside her head. She thought she’d also heard “kitchen.”
Dora? she probed. The sound didn’t come again, and she had to fight a sudden surge of panic. Dora, you there?
Silence.
Instantly, Cassie dropped the protection spell and froze everyone in place. Until she could find Endora, no one in the hotel would be able to move in any way, including the monster, provided he hadn’t already escaped. Everyone would be safe from attack. Theoretically, anyway. She hadn’t ever actually cast an immobilization spell, and her head pounded from her efforts with the protection spell. Those details had to wait, though. Her familiar needed her.
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