Page 9

9

The moment Indigo heard that Niko was looking for her, she’d fled. Her flight instinct had kicked in and she’d bolted. The last few days had just been too hard. The worst thing that had ever happened in her life had come back to haunt her in a big way, and she wasn’t dealing with it very well.

Memories had overwhelmed her, and she could feel herself sliding back into that dark pit of despair she’d been in for months after Tricia’s death.

It wasn’t a place she wanted to go again, but she knew if she didn’t do something, she’d likely crawl into bed, pull up the covers, and never crawl out again.

There was only one person she wanted to talk to right then. Indigo just hoped she was home.

After leaving the bookstore, Indigo had driven back to her building. But instead of going upstairs to her apartment, she’d locked her vehicle and then set out on foot, heading to the large Victorian that sat at the foot of Main Street, overlooking the bay.

Indigo could see the lights glowing from the downstairs windows and instantly felt a little better.

She was home.

Quickening her pace, Indigo hurried to the house where she and her sisters had grown up after their mother had passed. She was half a block away when she heard the sound of raised voices carrying on the breeze.

She frowned, peering at the porch and the outline of two people. Suddenly recognition kicked in, and Indigo took off at a dead run.

“Paul!” Indigo called out from the front walkway. “Get away from my grandmother!”

Her ex turned and looked at her, his expression cold and calculating. “Why? Are you going to compel me next?”

Pure hatred of the man she’d once thought she was going to marry took over, and suddenly she was on the porch, right in his face. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.” He sneered, making her wonder what she’d ever seen in the man.

“I don’t live here,” she said as if that mattered.

“I know, but you weren’t at your apartment, so I tried here, figuring your grandmother could tell me where you were.”

“I didn’t tell him anything, Indy,” Bethany Befana said, her tone haughty. “In fact, I told him to get off my property or else I’d see to it he was thrown off.”

Paul ignored her. “I need you to tell me why you cursed Polly Smart.”

“Who?” Indigo tried to file through her brain to see if that name was familiar, but she came up with nothing.

“Don’t play stupid with me,” he said, sounding impatient now as he glanced quickly at Bethany and then back to Indigo. “You know who I’m talking about. I want to know how you know her and why you put her under your spell.”

“Under my spell? Are you talking about the woman who was in front of my store the other day? If so, I’d never seen her before. Now it’s time for you to go. My grandmother and I have plans.” The plans were a lie, but he wouldn’t know that.

“Oh? Bethany said she was on her way to a coven meeting. Are you participating in those now?” His voice was dripping with judgment.

“None of your damned business.” She moved past him, intending to usher her grandmother inside, but Paul caught her wrist, stopping her.

“You’re not going anywhere. Not until you confess that you compelled Polly Smart.”

Indigo stared down at his hand on her wrist. In a low but commanding voice, she said, “Let go, Paul.”

“I don’t think so.” His grip tightened.

He was dressed in plain clothes, but Indigo knew he was an investigator for the state. “Are you here on official business?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Then I want a lawyer,” she said.

“I didn’t say you’re under arrest,” Paul said, annoyed.

“You also won’t let me go into my grandmother’s house. Are you detaining me or not, Officer Pitts?”

“I want you to be honest for once. How do you know Polly Smart?” he asked again.

She ground her teeth together and yanked her wrist from his hold. “I told you that I don’t know anyone named Polly. Now either arrest me or let me go. I’m tired of this game.”

“Have it your way.” He pulled out a pair of handcuffs and started to jamb her wrists into them, forgoing the reading of her Miranda rights.

“You can’t arrest Indigo,” Bethany spat out. “She’s done nothing but refuse to have a conversation with you. Produce your arrest warrant, or I’ll be raining hellfire on you, Paul.”

“I don’t need one,” he said cheerfully. “Not when she’s wanted for questioning in a murder case and she’s refusing to cooperate. I can hold her for up to seventy-two hours without a warrant. I suggest you keep your cool, Bethany. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest you as well.”

“Call our family lawyer,” Indigo said, knowing they had nothing to pin on her. She didn’t even know what he was talking about.

“I’m not letting him take you,” Bethany said through clenched teeth and then turned to Paul. “What is wrong with you? Indigo is a kind woman who has spent her life grieving for Tricia. And yet here you are, still convinced Indigo was responsible for what happened. Do you think your own pain is going to fade if you lock up an innocent woman?”

Tears sprang to Indigo’s eyes. The gut-wrenching horror she’d felt the day she’d learned of Tricia’s death came roaring back, nearly debilitating her.

“This doesn’t have to do with Tricia.” Paul’s voice was strained, and Indigo knew he was lying. She’d always known when he wasn’t telling the truth, despite his incredible poker face. It was just a feeling born from the connection they’d once shared.

“You’re a liar,” she said, glaring at him.

“Shut up.” He yanked on her arms, pulling her backward and then immediately pushing her toward Bethany, making her fall forward.

Pain blossomed from her kneecaps as she cried out in agony, but then Indigo quickly quieted herself. She would not give him the satisfaction.

“Get up,” he ordered.

She glared up at him, not saying a word. If he was going to arrest her, she wasn’t going to make it easy on him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” a familiar male voice asked from the darkness just beyond the porch.

“This is official police business,” Paul said with an air of superiority. “I suggest you walk away, man.”

“That’s not going to happen.” Niko walked up the short flight of stairs and glanced down at Indigo. His expression was stormy as he reached down and gently lifted her to her feet. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“As okay as I can be,” she muttered.

He nodded once and then turned back to Paul.

“Just who do you think you are?” Paul demanded. “Get out of the way, or else I’ll be forced to arrest you, too.” He was already pulling out another set of handcuffs when Niko let out a humorless laugh.

“I wouldn’t try it if I were you.” Niko pulled out a badge and flashed it at the other man.

Paul’s eyes narrowed as he focused on it. “Magical Task Force?”

Niko nodded. “And you just stepped right in the middle of my investigation. I suggest you release this woman before I’m forced to report you to your superiors.”

“This was my case first,” Paul hissed.

“That’s not relevant,” Niko said. “Now unlock these cuffs before I make that call.”

Grumbling to himself, Paul yanked at Indigo’s hands, making her grunt with pain.

“Hurt her again and you’ll find out what it means to be locked in an MTF jail cell,” Niko said, his voice full of steel.

“That would never stick,” Paul said.

“Are you game to find out?” Niko pulled what looked like zip ties from his back pocket.

Indigo wondered briefly if he’d come to her grandmother’s house to use them on her. A shiver of unease slid down her back. If Niko was investigating her, she was likely in for a rough time regardless of her innocence. Her heart sank, and she just wished a hole would open up and swallow her.

Paul quickly uncuffed Indigo and stepped back.

“There. Was that so hard?” Niko asked as he took a step, putting his body between her and Paul.

Indigo was both grateful and slightly annoyed. She had more than enough power to defend herself. The problem was that she just couldn’t because she knew that was the fastest way to get herself locked up.

“You can go now,” Niko said. “And don’t come back around here. This case is out of your jurisdiction.”

“You mean Polly Smart’s case is out of my jurisdiction,” Paul said.

“I mean both.” Niko crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Ms. Easton is now a vital part of the investigation, and I won’t have you interfering. Understand?”

Paul glared at Niko. And then without answering, he stalked off the porch and climbed into an unmarked black SUV.

They stood there watching until the vehicle disappeared.

“Niko,” Bethany said, grabbing his arm. “Thank you for showing up when you did. You saved me from doing something I probably wouldn’t be proud of.”

He gave Indigo’s grandmother an amused smile. “I’m sort of sorry I missed that.”

Indigo cleared her throat. “Can we go inside or am I headed to the Magical Task Force prison?”

“Did you commit a crime?” he asked with a cheeky grin that she didn’t appreciate.

“No.”

“Then it looks like you’ll be sleeping in your own bed tonight.”

Still annoyed, Indigo gave him a disapproving frown as she and her grandmother went back inside. To no one’s surprise, Niko followed them.