“Can you go faster?” Harper said.
“Maybe,” Levi answered.
He could, it turns out. We got to Ciaran’s store in less than fifteen minutes, slowing down to drive past it and not look like maniacs. The main street was almost abandoned after dark in our sleepy little down. Most people would be at the bars on the other end or over at the diner. All the shops were closed here and there was no foot traffic.
We pulled an emergency blanket out of the back of the Honda and I shook it out and then crumpled it into a bundle in my arms. They were expecting someone to bring something in, after all. I figured worst case I could use the blanket as a lame distraction.
“Okay. Harper, stay out here by the car and keep an eye on the front.” She started to protest and I gave her my best pleading look. “Trust me? I need you out here watching my back.”
When she finally nodded and her shoulders slumped, I continued with my plan. “Levi and Ezee, head around back. If I’m not out in ten or if I say anything about my grandmother over the phone, call Sheriff Lee. I don’t suppose anyone thought to get Alek’s number?” I sure hadn’t. I touched my amulet. The spell was still active, the link thick and strong. Alek likely wasn’t far away if he still had the compass.
Head shakes met that last question. “Okay. It doesn’t matter. Don’t get shot.”
Easy for me to say, I thought as I walked into Ciaran’s Curios. The store was dark except for a light in the back hallway from the open office door. The dimness only emphasized the odd shadows cast by various lamps, statues, cabinets, and other items. I’d never noticed this place was so creepy at night.
I’d never walked in here expecting armed men either. Correlation is not causation, but I could make a pretty good case on this one.
I tried to quiet my random thoughts and come up with a real plan other than don’t get shot. I thought about using magic to somehow subdue the men, but just upkeeping the tracking spell was making me more tired than I thought it would. A headache had vice-like fingers around my temples.
Magic for a sorcerer is like a muscle, if you don’t use it much, you won’t completely lose it, but it will atrophy and not work the same later. I did exercise my power on weekends sometimes, lifting small rocks and holding them up in various patterns. Nothing big, nothing that would jiggle Samir’s web of informants or sensors or however he tracked me, and bring him after me like a starving spider.
Maybe I could do something more coincidental, like more White Wolf mage than Dungeons and Dragons mage. Jam the guns. Knock a cabinet onto their heads.
Only, I had no idea how to jam a gun. Nor did I have a clue how much magic would get me noticed. The ley lines and supernatural population could only hide so much, especially from someone who knew my magic and what it looked and felt like.
So, I was down to just winging it. No magic. Maybe I should have gone to my place first and grabbed a knife. I recalled some saying about bringing a knife to a gun fight and it not being a good thing. Okay, we were down to hoping I could take out two men with only my wits and a scratchy wool blanket. Great plan.
“Ciaran? I’ve got the fox,” I called out as I carefully wove my way through the shop. I didn’t want to surprise anyone with a gun.
“In my office,” Ciaran called out.
I saw a shadow move in the hallway beyond the office. It was way too big to be the leprechaun. One of the gunmen?
Then I caught a gleam of eyes, the way a cat’s eyes pick up light and shine in the dark. Alek stepped just enough forward that I could make out his features but he hung back so that he was still hidden from anyone inside the office itself. He raised a finger to his lips, and then made a get away motion. I shook my head.
“Ciaran,” I called out again. “It’s really dark out here. Can you come turn on a light or something? I feel like I’m going to kill myself running into something and this fox is super bulky.”
There was muttering from the office. I crept forward, trying to be stealthy and not knock over anything. I let the blanket slide down my body to the floor and kicked it under a table, ready to follow it if bullets started flying.
“Be right there,” Ciaran yelled.
He emerged from the office, a taller, thinner man standing directly behind him. I assumed that guy had the gun pointed at Ciaran’s back.
“Drop the gun and tell your friend not to do anything stupid.” Alek’s voice was calm and deep. And cold enough to send chills down my spine.
“Fuck man,” said the guy behind Ciaran. He twisted his head and saw Alek’s huge form in the shadows, pointing a big hand gun at his head. “Jimmy, don’t do anything stupid.”