Page 16 of Cursed (Witchbane #8)

“We haven’t lost them,” Evan said as they picked up speed once they reached the sidewalk.

“Stay close.” Seth veered off the sidewalk into traffic, dodging between cars to reach the other side. The light changed, making it harder for the goons to follow.

The men kept up their pursuit. Seth led them away from the truck but wondered how far the guards would go to follow them.

He spotted a city bus pulling up to a stop with a line of waiting passengers and ran for it.

The door closed on Evan’s heels, and the bus pulled away, leaving their pursuers stewing angrily on the sidewalk.

“Any idea where this bus goes?” Evan fixed the clasp on his amulet and dropped it back around his neck.

“Doesn’t matter,” Seth replied. “We’ll ride a couple of stops, get out, and walk back a different, not-logical route. Those guys can’t watch every street.”

Seth half expected the men to get on the bus at the next stop, but perhaps the reality of an audience and security cameras kept them from following.

When no one suspicious got on after the next two stops, Seth and Evan paid their toll and got off, then used GPS to take a circuitous route back to where they parked.

Seth didn’t realize he had been holding his breath until they got into the truck.

“Wait,” he said as Evan reached for the door handle. “Something’s wrong. I’m picking up a jangle of bad magic. Check to make sure those assholes didn’t plant anything on us.”

Seth didn’t find anything on himself, but Evan froze as he put his hand into his jacket pocket and withdrew it like he had been burned. “There’s something in here I didn’t have before.”

Seth tried to look calm despite a spike of panic. “Okay, don’t touch it. I’ve got a binding box in the back of the truck. It’ll contain the magic. Then we’ll call Kinsley or Rowan for help.”

Thinking back, the goons’ attack hadn’t been as dangerous as he would have expected. Maybe it was a distraction, and the real attack is whatever they planted on Evan.

Seth pulled out the warded iron box and opened the lid. Evan peeled off his jacket and placed it inside. A small, crudely carved wooden figure fell out of a pocket. Seth slammed the lid shut.

“Was that some kind of voodoo doll?” Evan asked. “It looked like the sort of thing sailors whittle to pass the time.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck , Seth thought, trying to stay calm for Evan’s sake. He grabbed Evan’s arm and steered him back toward the truck door. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s go before they come back.” Seth hoped he sounded calmer than he felt.

Seth barely kept himself from screeching away from the curb. “Vernon had to have sent them after us. Either he had already told them what we looked like before the presentation, or he got word to them when he saw us there.”

“My vote is before. They didn’t spot us going in or couldn’t nab us without causing a scene,” Evan replied. “Lucky for us, Savannah has a good bus system.”

“What did you make of the presentation?” Seth asked after they drove for a few minutes. His mind raced thinking of the magical item the goon had planted on Evan, but for the moment, his partner seemed okay.

Evan looked thoughtful. “Honestly? I thought he was boring. I could find a dozen better speeches on YouTube. He didn’t say anything very original, and he certainly didn’t acknowledge that when you’ve got a century of experience and wealth behind you, success is easier.”

Seth couldn’t help laughing. “True. Although I thought he looked good for his age.”

Evan rolled his eyes. “Human sacrifice will do that, I guess. And did you see the ship’s wheel logo on the banner? My money is still on the original as his anchor.” He was silent for a few moments. “Maybe it was a mistake to go to the event.”

Seth shook his head. “No. Seeing us rattled him.” Although I’m worried about that thing they planted in your pocket.

“If he’s planning to sacrifice Pax soon, he shouldn’t be surprised that we’re on his tail given what happened with the other disciples. He just might not have thought we had the balls to show up at his event,” Seth added.

“Now what?” Evan seemed nervous.

Seth reached over and took his hand. “Hey. We’ve destroyed more than half of those witchy bastards. We’ll get Vernon too and save Pax.”

“I wish we had a more solid plan.”

“Yeah, well it’s always a bit mushy in the middle waiting for an opening.

But we’ve got Caden and Nash on our side, plus Kinsley, her coven, Tristan, and her friend the vampire.

Teag and Rowan could be here from Charleston in less than three hours if we need them.

That’s a lot more help than we had with some of the first disciples,” Seth reminded him.

He agreed with Evan, wishing they could create a playbook in advance to rely less on luck and more on strategy, but experience had shown them that the situation remained extremely fluid, sometimes until the very last moments. His military experience helped a lot, but it didn’t cover magic.

“I can’t help feeling like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Evan confessed. “He couldn’t exactly hit us with lightning bolts in front of that whole audience, but that doesn’t mean he won’t do something later.”

“You’re the one with the intuition,” Seth said. “Is there anything specific that’s got you worried?”

Evan let out a long breath. “No. Just a feeling of foreboding. I know we’re doing good work hunting the disciples, and if you hadn’t started the quest, I’d be dead. But I’ll be glad when it’s over.”

“Me, too.”

They called ahead and picked up takeout for dinner before heading back to the RV, not wanting to be out in public more than necessary.

The restaurant was one that Caden had recommended.

Dinner was Brunswick stew with freshly baked bread, accompanied by fried green tomatoes topped with a house-made pimento cheese spread.

Evan rubbed his temples.

Seth frowned. “Headache?”

“Yeah. Came on kinda suddenly,” Evan replied. “It seems a little better now that we’re home. I’m not going to let it spoil a great meal. The food smells fantastic.”

“Do you feel okay otherwise?” Everything going on was certainly enough to give anyone a migraine.

“I’ll be okay.”

“I’ve got good whiskey,” Seth said with a smile. “Maybe it will help.”

They did their best not to talk about the case as they ate, seizing a few moments of reprieve. The food was as good as it smelled, another confirmation of the city’s reputation as a great place to eat.

After supper, Seth found an action movie online that they hadn’t seen, and they settled in with a bowl of popcorn to extend the short break from their case. He could see Evan close his eyes now and then against the headache, but every time Seth asked, Evan waved off his concern.

Several hours after dinner, Seth’s phone rang from a number he didn’t recognize. He handed it to Evan, who put it on speaker.

“Seth? Seth, is that you? Caden gave me your number.”

It took Seth a moment to recognize Tony’s panicked voice. He exchanged a worried look with Evan.

“Tony, what’s wrong?” Evan asked.

Seth noticed he was rubbing his temples again, and his pinched expression suggested that the headache was worse.

“Pax is gone. He didn’t leave on his own. I know he wouldn’t. Everything is still here, just no Pax,” Tony said all in one breath.

“Slow down,” Seth coached. “Tell us what happened.”

Tony was quiet for a moment. Seth could hear his panicked breathing gradually slow.

“The day at the truck was normal. Creepy guy didn’t even show up. Business was good, lots of regulars and some new tourists. We closed on time and stopped at the grocery store on the way home for some stuff to cook dinner,” Tony said.

“I’m sorry I was rude earlier. I was…scared. But I took what you said seriously, and I kept a lookout for anything suspicious. I swear I didn’t see anything odd.” Tony sounded young and frightened.

“We believe you,” Evan encouraged. “What happened after the grocery store?”

“I took a load into the house, and Pax was supposed to be right behind me,” Tony answered.

“Except he wasn’t. Between the car and the house, he vanished.

The bag was on the ground, but no Pax. I called for him, but he didn’t answer.

There was no one in sight. No cars driving away, nothing.

” Tony’s voice held unshed tears, and Seth didn’t fault him for the reaction.

“I told Detective Brady—Caden—everything, and he said that he would come out. I didn’t expect him to visit personally, but he came with Nash from the pub, and they did some police stuff and some other tests I’d never seen before. Spooky stuff.”

“What did they say?” Evan asked.

“Nash said that he believes Pax is still alive because he couldn’t find a ghost.” He choked back a sob.

“Caden touched the grocery bags that Pax dropped and closed his eyes, and told us that a man said words that made Pax pass out, and that he and another man kidnapped him. He reported Pax as a possible kidnapping victim and gave the details about the car, but…I don’t think someone took him for his wallet. ”

Seth closed his eyes as old memories welled up. “No. It wasn’t a robbery. The people who took him were likely witches who could keep from being noticed.”

“That’s what Caden said when he was done talking to the other cops,” Tony said. “This is all my fault. I should have listened to you?—”

“No, it isn’t,” Evan said in a stern tone. “What we told you was difficult to believe—impossible under normal circumstances. You were right to be wary. We knew Vernon was going to move on him soon, but we didn’t know when.”

“If I had listened to you, maybe you could have put him somewhere safe. Is there a magical witness protection program?” Tony asked. “I would have made him believe me. Now?—”