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Ben stared at me over his nearly empty cup. “Are you sure there was no evil in him?”

“Yes, but the truth I discovered was worse. Rasmus and his kind are committed to absolute neutrality. He wasn’t planning to help our side or the other one that night. His intervention was only because he cared about both Jack and me. Or at least that’s my conclusion. Please note in yer general information that a guardian’s powers work even when they’re in human form. We need to share that information with others who might get involved with them.”

“Do you really think he’s left you for good?”

I shrugged as if it didn’t matter. I was working to get there so I counted it as true. “Since Rasmus isn’t here, what else am I supposed to believe?”

“Maybe he’s just working out what he has to work out before he returns.”

I smiled at him. “Does yer wife know what a closet romantic ya are? I can’t wait to meet her. I have tons of questions about how she found a man like ya.”

Ben grinned and shook his head. “I refuse to believe a woman with as much Celtic blood as you have is not romantically hopeful. Don’t deprive yourself simply because you made a mistake with Derringer. I’d give this same advice to my ex-wife because she deserved a better man than I was when we were married. Age, time, and experience made it possible for my current wife to live with a much better version of me.”

His serious tone had me grinning. “Ya’re simply full of romantic advice today. I don’t know what to do with all the optimism coursing through my veins after talking to ya.”

Ben grunted at my sarcasm. “Normally, I wouldn’t say shit about someone else’s love life, but I look at you and see myself. Thanks for the coffee. Sign the paperwork when you get it in the mail. I want to pay you when you find those women.”

When I mock-saluted him, Ben walked out shaking his head.

After I finished my coffee, I put a five under my empty mug before I headed down the street to the hair shop.

It wasn’t an apology, but the barista could interpret it however she wished.

ChapterEight

“Ya can ask me a gazillion times more, Connlander, but my answer will be the same. The Wu Shaman wasn’t there. I talked to her manager who wept with relief to know I saw her in person. I think she feared Mulan was dead. She hasn’t called the shop at all.”

I went back to studying the screen in front of me. Fiona sat next to me and was doing her best not to get involved in our discussion. She’d grown used to our squabbles since she’d been here, but I could see some of them still bothered her. Living with her father was practically like living alone. They hadn’t ate dinner together, except occasionally. Jack preferred going out with his friends.

Learning that my daughter all but raised herself was one more reason to regret that I stayed at the cottage so long.

“You saw Mulan last week and talked to her. Why would she still be gone? I got over my huff. She needs to get over hers. I don’t enjoy waiting. She knows that about me.”

“Yes, the entire world knows ya don’t like waiting, Conn. Go away if ya’re going to do nothing but complain. I can’t do this research with ya mooning about Mulan.”

“You’ve been on the computer for hours. What are you looking for?” Conn asked, sighing as if the entire world sat on his shoulders.

“Covens. Ma says all of them use websites and blogs these days to communicate with members. She also said there were two active covens in Salem. She visited but didn’t join either of them. No witch among them was more powerful than the others. Ma made them sound like a witch version of Isaiah’s werewolf club.”

“If your mother already had the information, what are you still searching for?”

“New ones. Ma’s not been here in a while. Talking to any existing witches in Salem would be my choice as the next logical lead. I know ya don’t remember, because it’s been a while, but this is what actual work is like.”

Conn snickered. “I think you’re the one who doesn’t remember. You have to set boundaries or you end up working all the time. It’s dark outside already and you’re not star gazing.”

“My daughter lives a fuller life than I do so I was accommodating her busy schedule.”

Fiona’s giggle supported my argument. We’d been on very friendly terms since our road trip.

Conn tried to pace in the room, but between the two twin beds and Fiona’s desk stuffed against one wall, there wasn’t much room. “We already know there are very few genuine witches in Salem with power. Most calling themselves witches have little or no magick in reality.”

I nodded. “Yes, but there are ways to get magick if ya’re determined. The dark arts will bless anyone for the right sacrifice. We’re talking about a dozen women who are missing, and all are about the same age. The number is more than enough witches for a coven.”

“You don’t seriously think they’re all letting their families think they’re dead just so they can play witch in a coven?”

“I don’t know what I think yet. Or what they think. You and Ben want this resolved in an instant, but I don’t see that happening. There’s something strange going on. I can feel it.”

Conn’s sigh was loud. “Why don’t we visit one family, get a personal item, and you can scry for her? We’ll tell them we want something with fingerprints to scan so they don’t get suspicious when we leave with it.”