“So you’re Wayne?” Chad glared down at him.

  “Yeah. I’m Wayne, after you done assaulted me and everything, now you ask for my name. Wallet’s in my pants.”

  Cin smiled. They didn’t know everything they needed to know, but had gotten probably everything they could. She wanted to know who had sent them over to the house and why. But they obviously didn’t know much, on any level. Pulling out her phone, she looked at a spell she’d received from Agent May of the FBI. It was one they used to wipe the memories of humans who had witnessed supernatural things. With a bit of luck, she could pull it off and then send Hart and Wayne to the police station to confess and get processed.

  With the spell in her head, muttering the words just loud enough for the spell to activate, Cin started with Wayne, since Hart was still under her glamour.

  As Wayne’s eyes glazed, Cin leaned closer to him. “Wayne, you’re going to forget what happened here in the yard. You and Alex just came home and felt guilty about stealing the tools and decided to go to the police and turn yourselves in.”

  “Sure.” Wayne swayed slightly.

  “Good.” Cin turned away from him and focused on Hart again. Moments later she had both programed and ready to go turn themselves in. She was fairly sure if Agent May was in her position, she’d also take a few minutes and visit each home that might’ve seen what happened, but she knew in that neighborhood there weren’t going to be people talking.

  “Okay, guys, I think we’re good.” Her knees creaked slightly as she straightened.

  Hart and Wayne hurried and got into the Bug and drove off a little faster than they should’ve in the city limits, not that there were any cops out to stop them.

  “You’re getting pretty good with that one.” RJ headed for Chad’s truck.

  “It’s the same spell the FBI guys use.” Cin hooked her arm in Chad’s, thankful that neither of them had gotten hurt during what could’ve been a very dangerous operation, if either of the two guys had had guns, knives, or worse. Sometimes dealing with mundane bad guys was potently more life-threatening than magical ones.

  As they got in the truck, Cin’s phone rang. It was Shelby.

  “You okay?” Cin said without any other greeting.

  “Yeah.” Shelby sounded better than she had earlier. “Zack called and he’s okay. They had to shoot the woman after she shot Officer Longtooth. They don’t all end like that, do they?”

  “No. Is officer Longtooth all right?” Cin looked at Chad as he started the truck. “Harvey got shot.”

  Chad’s eyebrows went up and he took off faster than the young men had.

  “Yeah. He’s in surgery to repair his hand, but he’ll live. Zack said it was like she tried to shoot the gun out of his hand or something stupid like that.”

  Not being able to help herself, Cin laughed. “At least Harvey’s going to be okay.” She patted Chad’s leg. “Shot in the hand.”

  The tension that had washed over Chad vanished and he slowed down as he continued driving toward the hospital.

  “Shelby, why don’t you head to the hospital?” Cin kept patting Chad’s leg. “Most of the spouses gather there when there’s been a shooting. Marry Chief Brown, you’re going to be the leader there.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. You’re going?”

  “Yeah, Longtooth was Chad’s partner, so we’re going.”

  “See you there.” And Shelby was gone.

  “I’ll call AJ to come pick me up.” RJ leaned over the seat.

  Cin smiled at him. “Thanks. Police force stuff.”

  RJ nodded. “I totally understand.”

  It had been more than two years and Cin though she was done with things like gathering at the hospital when there was a shooting, but try as they might, there was no escaping the brotherhood of the badge that had been part of Chad’s life for so long.

  18

  Cin yawned as Chad drove them away from the hospital toward the house. “I wish we had more to go on.”

  Chad slowed for the turn they needed to make. “Me too. I can tell you one thing, it wasn’t me howling out behind the house last night.”

  “I never thought it was.” Cin smiled and patted his leg. “I know where you were last night. The thing is, we’re no closer to finding what’s hanging out at the house or around that neighborhood.”

  “I’m starting to think we’re dealing with a couple of different perps.” Chad made the turn and continued down the new street.

  “Since Juan died of a gunshot before he was mauled by something, maybe a couple of somethings, and we had someone in a bar telling Hart and company where to find some easy-to-get-to tools? I don’t think whatever it is living under the house would be the bar type.” Cin hated dealing with multiple perps. It was really irritating to have to look in multiple directions at the same time never knowing where the danger was going to come from.

  “Right.” Chad slowed to stop at a stop sign. A couple of deer wandered across the road in front of them. “So we keep our eyes open for someone in the neighborhood who doesn’t like us while trying to find out what’s under the house.”

  “Sounds like splitting our attention a bit. I guess it’s a good thing that we have three of us keeping an eye on things.”

  “Or four if we have Marzie keeping an eye out for the mundane problems while we look at the supernatural ones, if what’s under the house is magical.” Chad slowed for another turn.

  Nodding, Cin patted his leg and wished she could lean against his side. She missed bench seats in cars that made it easier to be close to the driver without a console in the way. “That’s a good idea. Other than subtly blocking things, I’m not sure how to keep her from noticing things, particularly when Mom pops in. If someone had asked me years ago, even a month ago, I’d have told them Marzie didn’t have any kind of magical ability, but maybe there’s a witch or guardian in her family tree, and being around us has triggered something.”

  “Then we need to think about how we’re going to deal with things if she really figures out what’s going on.” Chad turned the last corner before they reached the house. “I might call Agent Briar and see what he has to say. There might be some kind of protocol for this situation.”

  “I’m sure they’ve thought of this.” Cin stared at the porch where Char was sitting on the short wall that separated it from the yard.

  “Yeah, I’m sure too.” Cad parked the truck. “You know, I just realized your car is still over at the flip house.”

  Cin glanced at the empty spot where her car should be. “Yeah it is. Let’s go see what Char wants and then go get it. With the strange things going on there, I don’t want to risk something happening to it.”

  “I don’t either.” Chad got out of the truck and strode toward their daughter. “What’s up, kiddo?”

  “I have an idea.” Char tapped the small enclosure where her alien pet rock lived. “Well, Grandma and I were talking, and we’re thinking that Rocky and I might be able to find a connection to the thing at the current reno house.”

  “Nope.” Cin shook her head. “I don’t want you getting hurt. We don’t know what we’re dealing with, so I want you girls to stay away from it.”

  Frowning, Char glared at her. “Mom, I’m going to college next fall. Why can’t I act more like an adult?”

  “I think I’m going to go into the house and get us some waters before we head back over.” Chad slipped away from the two of them and the porch.

  Cin studied Char. She had a point, but she didn’t want to just roll over on every argument or discussion they had. It seemed to be happening more and more, partially because she wasn’t looking forward to Char leaving the nest. “I will give you the fact that you’re almost an adult in the eyes of the law, but I’m still your mother, and I worry about you.”

  “I understand about worrying,” Char countered. “I did the whole robot baby thing this year in school. Which was more than a little creepy. I’ve also got Rocky to worry about.”

  “Neither one of which is the same as having real kids. We still don’t know what Rocky needs to stay alive, if he does need anything. He’s a rock. His metabolism is slow enough, unless he’s trying to burn through something, he doesn’t use much energy. It could take years for him to starve to death.”

  Char frowned. “Mom, that’s just morbid.”

  “Sorry.” Cin hadn’t meant to go there, but she had.

  “I’m not saying we should take EEEK.” Char glanced back toward the door that was slightly ajar. It wasn’t cold enough for them to have gotten back in the habit of making sure the front door closed tightly when they went in and out. “Besides, Pip is over studying at the moment.”

  “They should be going home soon.” Cin glanced at her phone, and it was nearly the time Pip’s parents liked them home.

  “Yeah, EEEK has already asked to borrow my car if you and Dad didn’t get home. If you have to go back over to the house to get your car, that’s the perfect opportunity. Plus, this time of night, most of the neighbors won’t be around.” Char let out a loud huff. “Come on, Mom, let me go with you guys, and we’ll just see if it’s something either Rocky or I can deal with.”

  Chad walked out and handed Cin a water. “She’s got a point, several in fact. Might as well give her and the moon rock a chance. We’ll both be with her.”

  Char beamed at her father. “Thanks, Dad, you’re the best.”

  Cin glared at Chad. “Okay. Sure, we’ll both be there. We don’t have any other leads, so we might as well let you try.” She pointed toward the front door. “Go tell your sister that we’re running back over there to get my car. I expect her home from getting Pip home by the time we get back.”

  “Thanks.” Char charged through the front door.

  “And you.” Cin put her hands on her hips. “I was going to tell you how hot it got me when you were being all macho cop on those two earlier, but now…I don’t know. You splashed cold water all over my hot spot.”

  Chad gathered her up in his arms and kissed her. “I bet I know how to make your spot hot again.”

  “Ah, gross. And in front of Rocky.” Char stood in the doorway with a shocked look on her face before she finished coming out the door and gathering up Rocky’s glass enclosure.

  With a laugh, Cin gave Chad a quick kiss before stepping out of his arms. She leaned in and smiled at the alien rock. “Sorry for shocking you Rocky. Please don’t tell Char everything you heard.”

  Char wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, gross. Don’t warp poor Rocky. We don’t know impressionable he can be.” She carried the little enclosure and climbed into the truck’s backseat.

  “I think you broke our children.” Chad headed toward the driver’s door.

  “Me?” Cin put her hand on her chest as she strutted to her door. “I think we both did it.” She laughed as she got in. Sometimes she thought raising her children was going to be a never-ending process.

  19

  They were nearly to the house when Cin’s phone rang with the sound of hammers pounding, indicating RJ was calling. She answered it. “Hey, RJ, what’s going on?”

  “I was going through all the tools, you know, just to make sure that everything’s here. My favorite hammer’s missing.”

  “We’re on our way back over to the house. I forgot my car, and Char’s going to see if she and Rocky can find something to talk to hanging around. I’ll look around and see if I can find it for you.”

  “You want me and AJ to head over?” RJ’s voice got dim and it sounded like he was asking his husband if he wanted to go and meet them.

  “Nah, don’t worry about it.” Cin shook her head as Chad pulled into the driveway behind her car, which still looked to be in good shape. “We just got here. We’re not going to do much. You guys just stay home, get some rest so you can get here early in the morning.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure. Have fun.”

  “You too.” Cin undid her seatbelt before she ended the call.

  She slipped out of the truck and followed Chad and Char into the house.

  They’d left a light on in the bathroom, where the frosted glass wouldn’t show the unlivable state of the house, but hopefully give would-be vandals or thieves a pause before going in. They’d also taken time to move one of the game cameras from the back to inside where it was aimed at the front door, just in case people came in that way.

  Cin glanced at Chad. “Honey, do you mind doing a looksee and try to find RJ’s favorite hammer? He said it wasn’t in the tool box. Char and I will take a couple of minutes to see if she and Rocky can contact anything.” Before his change, she and the girls had always tried to make sure to not do magic near Chad, as it bothered him. Since his attack, they’d been a little more open. It seemed only fair that he shouldn’t be as squeamish about it since he had become magical himself.

  “Sure.” He patted Char’s shoulder. “Be careful and listen to your mother on this.”

  She blew out a breath as she placed Rocky’s enclosure on the table RJ had made out of a couple of sawhorses and a piece of plywood. “Sure, Dad.”

  He kissed her forehead, ignoring the level of sarcasm leveled at him. “Thanks.”

  Flashing them both a smile, he started toward the back of the house.

  Char took another deep breath and opened the top of Rocky’s enclosure. “Okay, Rocky, let’s see what we can find.”

  Cin held her breath a little, EEEK had healed from the burns the space rock had given her when they’d tried to use it to track down the aliens who’d used it to burn down the mission downtown where other aliens were taking shelter after the apartment building they’d lived in had burned in a similar attack. Chad had been working with the rock, and there hadn’t been a flare up in a long time. The two actually seemed to have gotten along fairly well even if the alien was a strange, non-carbon-based life form.

  Pulling the stone, which looked like a conglomerate of various minerals complete with some sparkles, out of its enclosure, Char turned around. “Okay, Rocky, there’s something here, or maybe nearby. We don’t think it’s human. Can you feel it? Can you help me talk to it?”

  A soft blue glow came from the stone. It didn’t drift toward the flaming red glow it had given off when it burned EEEK.

  Char closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes. I can feel it. There’s something here.”

  Throwing clothes as he ran, Chad charged from the back of the house. “Something just jumped over the fence. I’m going after it.”

  Cin turned from her daughter to her husband as he threw the backdoor opened as he yanked his pants down and shifted. The pants caught in the door as Chad, in full wolf form, rushed across the backyard and out of sight.

  Blowing out a huff, Char frowned. “Dad’s going to scare it off, isn’t he?”

  “He’s trying to catch it,” Cin countered. “Whatever it is.”

  “But it’s scared. I can feel its fear.” Char ran her free hand through her long red hair. She’d been letting it grow out, claiming it felt good to have it long and flowing. Turning toward the enclosure, she returned Rocky to its metal cradle in the exact center of the enclosure. “Thanks for helping me try, Rocky. Sorry Dad overreacted and chased it off.” She closed the lid and looked at Cin. “Are we going to follow Dad? He might want his clothes when he gets tired of chasing the thing.”

  “Probably.” Cin headed for the hall where Chad had yanked off his shirt. “Did you and Rocky get anything from it? Do we have an idea what it is, or what it wants?”

  Char ran her hand through her hair again. “It was wary when we touched its mind. There’s something about this house. It’s linked to it or something. I could feel a connection there, but I’m not sure what it is. The thing’s lonely too. There’s only one, and it’s been here a long time. I don’t know how long.”

  Cin rolled up Chad’s shirt and then ignored his shoes, which he could get when they got back to the house. “That’s more than we’ve had before. It also rules out a pack of coyotes using the root cellar for a den.”

  “There is something about it that reminds me of a dog, or maybe canine would be a better term.” A faraway, thoughtful look crossed Char’s face. “But it’s also old, older than any dog could be.”

  Cin stopped at the backdoor, opening it enough to pull Chad’s jeans and boxers off the porch and add them to the roll with his shirt. “Okay. That’s also helpful. The old act different from the young. Also, canines act differently from felines. We can use that.”

  “So what are we going to do?” Char stopped in the doorway as Cin started across the porch.

  “I want to look around a bit at night.” Cin tucked Chad’s clothes under her arm after picking up the pair of socks on the porch. “Things are always different at night from what they are during the day.”

  “Which is why so much magic happens at night,” Char finished for her.

  Cin’s phone rang with EEEK’s tone, the theme song from her daughter’s favorite fantasy kids’ show.

  “I can’t believe you still use that for her ring tone.” Char closed the door and leaned against it.

  “You’ll understand at some point,” Cin flashed her a smile and answered. “Yes, sweetie, did you get Pip home in time?”

  “Mom, you guys are doing magic. Char took Rocky with you and you didn’t invite me.” From her tone, at least one of her hands was on her hip and her lower lip was pouched out.

  “We are, dear. You had company, and we needed to move quickly.” She hated having to explain things to her daughters, but it was better than pulling the ‘because I’m the mom’ card. As they were all getting older, it was getting harder and harder to avoid lengthy explanations to the girls.

  “You or Char could’ve at least said something. I could’ve dropped Pip off and headed to wherever you went, and joined in.” She humped. “I still could.”

  “Probably, but it looks like your father chased off the thing we’re trying to talk to.”

  “Dad’s out running around in his fur? Come on, Mom, let me help. I can track Dad while you and Char keep trying to find that monster under the house.”

 

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