The Wizard of Seattle (44 page)

“Eric …”

“Catherine?”

“I have to go and check with cook about dinner tonight, and then I have to make sure Richard’s room is ready for them—”

“All you
have
to do, sweetheart, is kiss your husband.”

“Yes, Your Honor.” And she did, delighted by the knowledge that it kept getting better even after forty years. A benefit of loving and being loved by a wizard, she supposed, threading her fingers through his silky black hair. One of the many benefits.

KAY HOOPER is the award-winning author of
Blood Sins, Blood Dreams, Sleeping with Fear, Hunting Fear, Chill of Fear, Once a Thief, Always a Thief
, the Evil trilogy, the Shadows trilogy, and other novels. She lives in North Carolina, where she is at work on her next book.

S
arah kept to what little shadows the winter-bare trees provided as she worked her way through the forest that separated the compound from the road. The full moon made this night an uneasy one for stealth, but she hadn’t been given much choice in the matter. Waiting even another day was potentially far more dangerous than acting, so—

She sensed more than heard a sound, and froze, her arms tightening around the sleeping child.

“It’s just me.” Bailey appeared to step literally out of the darkness not ten feet away.

“Are you early or am I late?” Sarah kept her voice as low as the other woman’s had been.

“Six of one.” Bailey shrugged and crossed the space between them. “Is she out?”

Nodding, Sarah relinquished the little girl, who was warmly dressed to protect her against the January chill. “She should sleep another couple of hours at least. Long enough.”

“And you’re sure about her? Because we can’t keep doing this. It wasn’t part of the plan, and it’s too dangerous. Sooner or later, he’s going to figure it out.”

“That’s what I’m trying to prevent. Or at least delay.”

“It’s not your job, Sarah. Not the reason you’re here.”

“Isn’t it? He’s getting better at choosing latents. Better at finding them and convincing them to join him. Better than we’ve been.” Sarah was aware of a
niggling unease that was growing rather than diminishing. “Speaking of, are we covered?”

“Of course. My shield’s enclosing all three of us.”

“What about more conventional protection?”

“Galen’s got my back. As usual. But once we leave, you’re on your own again.”

“I’m not worried about me.”

“Sarah—”

“She could be the one, Bailey.”

“She’s six years old.”

“All the more reason. Without the defenses we can teach her, she’s vulnerable as hell, especially to someone bent on using her as a weapon.”

Bailey shifted the slight weight of the child and sighed. “Look, are you sure you haven’t been … influenced … by what this guy is preaching? All that prophecy stuff?”

“We believe in prophecy stuff,” Sarah reminded her.

“Not the kind he preaches.”

Sarah shook her head. “Don’t worry, I’m not a convert. It’s all I can do to keep up the facade of a loyal member of the flock.”

“Many more defections and kids disappearing, and that’s going to get a lot harder.”

“Harder than this?” Sarah reached out a hand and lightly touched the long blond hair hanging down the child’s back. “Her mother is gone. And her father vanished day before yesterday.”

Bailey’s mouth tightened. “You didn’t include that in the report.”

“I wasn’t sure until today. But he’s gone. I think he was beginning to ask too many questions. He didn’t believe his wife would have just run away, not without their daughter.”

“He was right about that.”

Sarah had been expecting it, but the news was still an unwelcome shock. “She was found?”

“A few miles downriver. And she’d been in the water awhile, probably since the night she disappeared. No way to determine cause of death.”

Bailey didn’t have to explain that further.

“Are the police going to come around asking questions?” Sarah asked.

“They have to. Ellen Hodges was known to be a member of the Church, and the last time she was seen it was in the company of other Church members. Her parents know that, and they’re more than willing to point the police in this direction. So if the good Reverend Samuel can’t produce Ellen’s husband
or
her child, he’s going to have a lot of explaining to do.”

Sarah managed a hollow laugh, even as the sense of unease she felt grew stronger. “You’re assuming the cops who come here won’t be Church members or paid-off
friends
of the Church.”

“Shit. Are you sure?”

“From something I overheard, I’m convinced enough that I say it wouldn’t be a good idea to take any local law enforcement into our confidence. Not unless somebody on our side can read them very, very well.”

“Good enough for me. But Bishop is not going to be happy about it.”

“I doubt he’ll be surprised. We knew it was a possibility.”

“Makes the job harder. Or at least a hell of a lot more tricky.” Bailey shifted the child’s weight again. “I need to get the kid out of here.”

“Wendy. Her name’s Wendy.”

“Yes. I know. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her. She has family who love her and will want her.”

“She also has an ability she’s barely aware of.” Sarah reached out once more to gently touch the child’s hair, then stepped back. “Protect her. Protect her gift.”