The point is, Alessande said, Regina was the third young woman to disappearand the other two were apparently held somewhere for weeks before they were dumped.
We all understand trying to save a friend, Barrie said. She walked over to the sofa in front of the fire and took a seat, looking around Castle House as if she were assessing itas if shed never been in it before. Like the guest cottages, Castle House was eclectic, filled with old charm and curios.
The houses seemed to suit the unique personalities of the three women. Castle House boasted carved-wood details, and Alessande loved it. Her own cabin was built of wood, which was always comforting to her, and from it, she drew her strength.
Barrie was apparently trying to figure out where to start. A reporter, she was up on the news almost as it happened. Its true, she said now, looking over at Rhiannon. Leesa Adair disappeared six weeks ago. Her body was found two weeks later and she paused, wincing and the medical examiner said that shed only been dead a day or two. Judith Belgrave disappeared four weeks ago, and her body was found just two days ago. Whoever is kidnapping these women is holding them for weeks before they wind up dead.
Rhiannon had taken a seat on one of the overstuffed armchairs by the sofa, and now she looked from Alessande to Barrie. But though they bled out, they were not truly drained. If a vampire were behind this, I guarantee youa rogue vampire wouldnt waste a murder. Those girls would have not had one drop in their bodies.
Alessande winced. I hate to say this, but usually when something involves magic and illusionlike this Sebastian Hildegard cultshapeshifters are involved.
Naturally Ive thought about that, Barrie said quietly.
Lets back up a minute, Rhiannon said, turning to Alessande. Exactly how did you almost become a sacrifice to Sebastian Hildegard? Brodie and Mark were out at the cemetery earlier because an anonymous tipster had called and said that they suspected a cult meeting with murderous intent would occur there at midnight. But what made you think that the cult was connected to the dead women and Reginas disappearance?
And how on earth did you arrange to get yourself taken? Sailor demanded.
And why, if they were holding the other women before killing them, did they decide to sacrifice you so quickly? Barrie asked.
Alessande looked from one cousin to another.
I read the news stories about the other women who were kidnapped and traced their routesand I knew where Regina had gone the day she disappeared, Alessande explained. She had just gotten a job at the House of Illusion when
Sailor interrupted her with a tone of anger and impatience. Theres been trouble there before, she said. But you know I work there, right?
Yes, I know that, Alessande said.
Between waitressing and performing there, I would have known if the House of Illusion was the last place those women were seen, Sailor said.
It wasnt the last place they were seen, Alessande continued. But both dead women and Regina were there within two days of their disappearances. Nearby is an old studio
I know it! Sailor said, her voice growing anxious. It was owned by the Hildegard family. It closed down thirty years ago and the land has been the center of a legal dispute between the city and the heirs for years now.
I know, Alessande said.
That studio is surrounded by a seven-foot wall, Rhiannon said.
And its right by a coffee shop and a gas station and a convenience store, Alessande pointed out. Regina called me the afternoon she disappeared. She was going to stop to get gas on her way home from the House of Illusion. And both of the other women had bought gas the day they went missing, too. Their cars were found with the tanks full.
How do you know that? Sailor asked her.
I went by the police impound, Alessande said.
And they just told you that? Rhiannon asked.
You found an officer, flirted with himand read his mind, didnt you? Barrie said.
Alessande flushed; as long as the Elven could get a person to look them straight in the eyes, yes. Teleporting and mind reading were their talents. It had been an easy matter for Alessande to learn everything she had wanted to know from the officer who had been on duty at the impound. He had been humanand blithely unaware of the Others around him.
I didnt do anything illegal, Alessande said.
Im just annoyed that I didnt think of it, Barrie said.
Okay, so lets get this in order, Rhiannon said. You investigated at the House of Illusion
Not really. I just watched the news reports and read their coverage. Leesas boyfriend said shed gone there with friends, and Judiths mother mentioned in an interview that her daughter had been there, too. Regina called me from the parking lot to say shed gotten the job and was going to stop for gas on her way home...so I went to the House of Illusion, and looked around, saw the gas station and figured it made sense that theyd all filled up there. And with the old studio right next door, it just seemed logical there was a connection.
And it didnt occur to you to call the police? Rhiannon asked.
Alessande smiled. If Id called the police, they would have made some big-deal search, and everyone would have disappeared before anything was discovered. Plus they would need a warrantand I didnt.
There are also laws for Others, Rhiannon said. In fact, theyre being formalized by the international council right now. And for all of us to live as we dowith the right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happinesswe have to abide by the laws that govern us, as well.
I didnt break any laws. I had dinner at the House of Illusion, watched the show, and then I bought gas and looked curiously through the gates at the old Hildegard Studio, Alessande explained. And...
And? Rhiannon asked.
And? Rhiannon asked.
Theres an opening in the gate where one of the bars is rusted out. So I slipped through and started to walk around.
And then? Sailor asked.
And then some jerk threw a bag over my head, Alessande said.
If he was human, you could have escaped, Sailor told her.
But I wasnt trying to escape, Alessande explained. I wanted them to take me wherever they were holding Regina.
But I presume they didnt, Rhiannon said.
I dont know. Probably not. I think they decided to kill me right away because they caught me snooping. Anyway, there was something...something on or in the bag that knocked me out for a while. I dont know what it wasI should have recognized the scent, Alessande said. She was an expert in herbs and herbal remedies. But she quickly defended herself I was awake and aware by the time we got to the cemetery. They wouldnt have been able to sacrifice me.
She was startled by a loud snort and quickly spun around in her chair to see that Mark and Brodie had slipped in unnoticed. She wondered how long they had been listening.
You were pretty damned out of it when I got there, Mark said.
She was about to reply when Brodie strode over and took up a position behind Rhiannon. Alessande, you didnt say all this at the station.
Seriously, Brodie? How could I? she demanded.
You could have told us that you were taken from the old Hildegard Studio, he said.
No! Dont you understand? We have to get in there, she said. Not the police. Besides, what should I have said? That I got some of my information through Elven mind reading?
Your sarcasm wont change anything. What you did was dangerous, Brodie told her.
Please, she said, her aggravation evident. Life for us is dangerousthats why we have Keepers, and why we depend so heavily on one another. And why Elven look after Elven.
Youre not a Keeper, Brodie said firmly. And youre certainly not a cop. So you were way out of line, doing what you did.
What you did, what you tried to do, was very courageous, Rhiannon said. But you shouldnt have acted on your own. Were a pretty strong group here. Youve got four Keepers, counting Sailors fiancé, Declanplus youve got Brodie and Barries fiancé, Mick, who is an investigative reporter and shapeshifter. This...mission will involve all of us. Alessande, youre brilliant, an ancient. You create powerful potions to heal us. You can look at the world and see the truth. You have to be careful. We cant risk you, dont you know that? she asked gently.
Rhiannon, I appreciate that, Alessande said. But if you recall, I was out there taking chances during the Celebrity Virusand I will be out there now. Please. What I did was find out more than the cops. And what I am right now is really, really tired, she said, rising. Sailor, would you mind giving me a ride home?
My car is blocking yours, Mark Valiente said to Sailor. I can give the Elven a ride home.
The Elven?
Alessande was speechless. The last thing she wanted to do was get in a car with the vampire cop who was behaving as if she was a schoolgirl with no sense.
But before she could protest, Sailor said, Mark, that would be great of you. Declan will be here soonwere having dinner with a few of his shapeshifter friends, and it might be even more important now to see if any of them knows anything. Alessande is right up Mulholland Drive. I mean, I wouldnt mind at all, but since you offered...
No problem, Mark said. He smiled at Sailor, as if he felt real affection for her. She smiled back at him.
Great, Alessande thought. They were all just wonderful friends here. No doubt Declan Wainwright, a friend of Sailors long before hed fallen in love with her, also respected Mark Valiente.
If she turned the ride down, she would only appear to be unreasonable and unpleasant.
Thank you, she said regally.
Ill get her home, Mark said, and then Brodie can meet me at the old Hildegard Studio and well check it out.
Ill go with you, Alessande said.
Brodie protested. What are you, Alessande? A glutton for punishment? Ill give Mark some time to get you home, and then he and Iand only he and Iwill look around the studio. I understand what youre saying about the police, but Mark and I are not your usual cops.
Did it matter, she wondered, if she were there, so long as Brodie and Mark could help, if needed, while searching the place? She couldnt avoid feeling, however, that she had done the work; she was the one with the passion to save a lifeand they were just taking over.