Gods and Swindlers (City of Eldrich Book 3) (5 page)

Meaghan nodded. “I want to have a chat with him. Somewhere warmer than this.”

“Okay. He’ll keep until we get home and then the witches can do some buffering spells.”

“Will the fair folk come after him?”

Terry shook his head. “Probably not. Loyalty’s not their thing. Hang on to him for a sec. I’ll be right back.”

He rummaged in the bed of the pickup and came back with a length of chain and a padlock. “Let’s wrap him up nice and tight.”

Meaghan stood up. Terry yanked the elf to his feet and wrapped his arms and torso with the chain.

“It burns,” the elf whimpered.

“Don’t be such a baby,” Terry said. “I’d forgotten how whiny these things are. There we are, all trussed up. Come on, Legolas, let’s go for a ride.”

Terry tossed the elf over his shoulder and looked around him, eyes narrowed. “There may be other stuff roaming these woods. We can dig out your car tomorrow. Get what you need. Bring the tire iron.”

Meaghan nodded and, under Terry’s watchful eye, grabbed her things, turned off the headlights and engine, and locked the car. Together they trudged up the hill to his truck. Terry tossed the elf in the truck bed, locked him to a tie-down ring, and reached a hand out for Meaghan’s suitcase. “Okay if this rides in back?”

She nodded and climbed into the warm truck cab with Terry. “Is he gonna be okay? It’s cold out there.”

Terry smiled. “You’re mommying an elf now?”

Meaghan scowled. “Hell, no. But if he freezes to death, I can’t question him.”

“Right. Don’t worry. It won’t be comfortable, but it won’t freeze to death. It takes a lot of kill those things.”

“Like pinning and smashing?”

“Uh . . .”

“Before I chat with the elf, I think you and I need to have a little talk. Who are you?”

Terry grinned. “Did you hit your head or something? I’m your neighbor. Terry Donner. Remember?”

“No, I didn’t hit my head. You’re Terry Donner now, but I don’t think that’s who you’ve always been.”

He sighed. “It’s a long story.”

“We’ve got at least twenty minutes until we get home.”

“It’s a really long story.”

“And you’re not gonna tell me.”

“Nope,” Terry said. “I’m not. I like to leave the past in the past.”

“One day at a time?”

He smiled. “Yeah. Something like that.”

“I’ll get it out of you eventually.”

Terry grimaced. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. The thing is I wasn’t always a nice guy like I am now. I used to be a major dick.”

“When you were drinking?”

“That was part of it.”

“How old are you?”

“Old enough to know better.”

Meaghan snorted in disgust. “I should be used to this shit by now. So, if you won’t tell me who you are, then tell me what you are.”

Terry sighed again. “Your brother is right. You’re like a damn bloodhound that’s caught a scent. What I am is your friend. I hope you believe that.”

Meaghan relented. “I know you’re my friend. You saved my ass back there. Thank you. How did you find me?”

“I was in Williamsport finishing up a job. Your brother called me and asked me to keep an eye out for you.”

Meaghan nodded. “I am like a bloodhound sometimes. I’m sorry.” She paused a moment. “But you haven’t answered my question. Are you human?”

“Yeah. I think. I started out that way at least. And that’s all I’m willing to say for now.”

“But—”

“It’s a long story and I’m not sure I’m ready . . . I used to be a
major
dick.” He glanced at her for a moment, then turned his eyes back to the road. “And it’s not only my story. It’s Steph’s, too. We have—had
,
before tonight—a nice little life here in Eldrich. Now that the fair folk have shown up, I don’t know how long that can last. Let me talk to my wife first. Digest all this a little. Okay? Please?”

Meaghan nodded. They rode the rest of the way in silence.

The secrets never stop,
she thought.
What else aren’t they telling me?

Chapter Six

“W
HERE ARE WE
taking him?” Terry asked as they drove through town.

“My house, I guess. Hang on.” She pulled her phone out of her purse and called Russ.

“Are you okay?” Russ sounded frantic.

“I’m with Terry. I’m fine. I got stuck in a snowbank.”

“Where are you?”

“On Main, heading north. We should be home in about five minutes. Is Natalie there?”

“Why didn’t you call earlier? Of course, Natalie’s here. With Lynette. We were about to leave to try to find you.” His voice shook with anger.

“Relax. Geez. The cell service is super spotty tonight.” Meaghan felt herself grow defensive and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have called. We had an incident out in the woods, and I got kind of sidetracked. Don’t let Natalie and Lynette leave. We’ll need them.”

“What for? Are you sure you’re okay?”

“We had a visit from the fair folk. You know—the ones I told you about?”

“Shit, Meg, what happened?”

“I’ll tell you when we get home. Tell Natalie and Lynette we’re going to need some heavy-duty protective magic. We’ve got one chained up in the back of Terry’s truck. Once he thaws out a little, he’s gonna be pretty pissed off. We’ll be there in a minute.”

Terry nudged her as she put her phone away. They were turning onto Sycamore, the street that accessed Holly Lane. “Should I go in through the alley?”

Meaghan shook her head. “There’s no room,” she said. “Russ’s car and the food truck are parked back there. Use the driveway.”

Russ, Natalie, and Lynette dashed out the front door as Terry pulled in.

The elf began hissing and shrieking when Terry approached the truck bed. Terry grabbed the sledgehammer, lifted it, and hissed something back. The elf’s eyes widened and it grew still. Terry turned back to Meaghan. “Where am I taking this thing?”

“Your house?”

Terry smiled. “Steph hates these things even more than I do. She’ll kill it on sight, like a cockroach.”

“I thought you said they were hard to kill.”

“Steph’s a determined woman, and she doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty.”

“Yeah. I’ll bet. Will he be okay in my basement? He can’t blow up the house or anything, can he?”

Terry shook his head and threw the elf over his shoulder. “The iron weakens them and some good protective magic should take care of the rest.”

Natalie nodded. “We’re on it.” She smiled at Meaghan. “Welcome home. I’ve got some names for you, some . . .” Natalie lowered her voice to a whisper. “You know.”

“Therapists,” Meaghan said. “You can say it.”

Russ nudged Natalie aside and hugged Meaghan. “Elena did set your head straight. Before you left, if we even hinted at therapy, you’d flip out.”

“And she didn’t even have to give me any boils,” Meaghan said. She kissed Russ on the cheek. “I’m sorry I’ve been closing you out. Old habits are hard to break, I guess.”

Terry shifted his weight. “I’ll go take Happy the Elf downstairs. Then I need to get home and talk to my wife.” He glanced at Meaghan. “And then maybe we can talk to you.”

She nodded. “If it’s relevant to fighting these things, I need to know.”

He sighed. “It’s relevant. Let me talk to Steph first. We knew they’d find us eventually, but it’ll still be hard for her to hear. You can unlock its arms, but make sure you keep a chain on it somewhere. It’ll tell you it burns, but ignore that. If you try to be kind, it’ll think you’re weak. It won’t be grateful and the fair folk can’t be trusted. Ever. For any reason.”

“What do we need to do magically?” Natalie asked.

“Neutralize its power every way you can,” Terry said. “Don’t let it mess with your head.”

“Come on,” Lynette said to Natalie. “I’ve dealt with these things before. A long time ago. Let’s get to work.”

Russ grabbed Meaghan’s suitcase out of the truck and they headed inside. Meaghan took a deep breath as she entered the house. As usual, it smelled wonderful.

“Did Elena make you those wretched Wonder Bread and chemical cheese enchiladas?”

Meaghan laughed. “Yeah, she did, and they were so yummy.”

Russ shuddered. “Good God. Those things are an abomination.”

“A tasty abomination.” Meaghan kicked off her boots near the front door and wrestled out of her coat.

“I’ll take your suitcase upstairs. There’s chicken noodle soup on the stove if you’re hungry.” He grabbed her coat. “
Real
chicken, raised properly. And handmade noodles.”

Meaghan rolled her eyes. “Hey, next time you go shopping, grab some Velveeta, okay?”

“Philistine,” Russ said, as he headed upstairs.

Terry, on his way up from the basement, passed her on her way to the kitchen. “I’m not promising I’ll tell you everything, but I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

“I guess I’ll have to live with that.”

He nodded and left.

Meaghan sank into a chair. She let out a deep breath and buried her face in her shaking hands. She’d been doing a good job keeping it together, but now that she was alone, the fear swept over her. Those things could have killed her. She could have died—again—simply driving home from the airport.

You weren’t helpless,
her calm rational voice told her.
You held your own.

But Terry had to save me. Like Brian saved me when he shot that wizard,
she countered.

And you think having people in your life willing to fight for you makes you helpless? Time to call the shrink, honey.

“Here I am arguing with myself.”

“You are talking to yourself, too,” John said behind her. She whirled in shock. She hadn’t heard him come in.

“I . . . God, it’s good to see you. I’m so sorry.” She felt her eyes fill with tears.
Goddammit, again?
She willed them back down. She’d done enough crying to John. “I have something I have to tell you.”

His smile disappeared.

She shook her head. “No, it’s good . . . well, it’s not a good thing, but it’s good that I’m finally admitting it.”

He let out the breath he’d been holding. “I thought you were saying you didn’t want to see me anymore.”

Meaghan patted the chair next to her. “I’m afraid you’re going to say that to me.”

“Never,” he said. John moved the chair close to her, put his arms around her, and kissed her. After a moment, he pulled her onto his lap and held her even closer. “I thought you had gone away forever. I am sorry if it is too soon. I don’t mean to push.”

“Push?” She cradled his face in her hands. “Honey, you are the most patient man alive. I’ve been acting like a crazy woman and not telling you why. I think I can now.”

Natalie and Lynette clattered up the basement stairs.

“Not yet though, right?” John asked.

“Not now. Stay, okay? Sleep here tonight? I missed you so much.”

He smiled and nodded. “Of course. I was hoping you’d ask me that.”

“See?” Natalie said. “I told you she didn’t want to break up with you. She’s just a little nuts right now.”

Meaghan gave her a look. “A little?”

“A little more than usual.” Natalie grinned. “I’m so glad you’re back. You scared the shit out of us.”

“How’s our little guest?” Meaghan asked.

“Displeased with the accommodations,” Lynette said. She sat down at the table with a groan. “I’m too old for this nonsense. I’m supposed to be making cookies and fussing over grandchildren, not hexing evil elves.”

Natalie walked over and picked a cobweb out of Lynette’s tidy gray bouffant. “Give me a break. You’re a kick-ass old broad, and you know it.”

“What’s going on?” John said. “Who is in the basement?”

“Terry didn’t tell you?”

John shook his head. “We didn’t talk. He was moving his truck when I got here.”

“I had a little accident on the way home. Nothing major. I slid off the road.”

“Are you okay?”

Meaghan nodded. “Fine. Didn’t even set off the air bags. Only—don’t get upset—something was waiting for me.”

John clutched her reflexively as his look darkened. “What was it? Is that what’s downstairs?”

“Honey, relax. It’s okay.” She hugged him. “I hit one of them with a tire iron and sat on him, and then Terry arrived and chased the rest away.”

“Terry?”

Meaghan nodded again. “Yeah. It turns out he has a history with them. The fair folk? Has he told you about them?”

John’s face smoothed into the deliberate mask he wore whenever he tried to conceal something from Meaghan. “I . . . maybe.”

“You are such a lousy liar,” Meaghan said. “It’s kinda cute. Don’t worry. Terry and I had a talk—”

John’s eyes widened.

Oh, this is gonna be good, whatever it is. Terry, who the hell are you?

“And he said he’ll tell me some things about himself after he talks with Steph,” Meaghan continued. “Not all of it, but some.”

John visibly relaxed.

Meaghan shook her head. “Don’t ever play poker. Or be a spy.”

He looked confused. “What?”

She kissed him again. “You’re the worst liar I’ve ever met.” She turned her attention back to Natalie and Lynette. “Terry has a history with these things. So does Steph. He didn’t tell me much, but enough that I know this isn’t a good thing for them. He wants to break the news to her first and then he’ll tell us what he knows about them.”