Chapter 12
“Do all the parties you go to end up being so much fun?” Lara asked, her relief exaggerated in her voice.
Considering that several different points of my body were throbbing, I wasn’t in the mood for our typical banter. My finger was bent, throbbing even more with every heartbeat. I hadn’t noticed this through the adrenaline, but when I ripped apart the handcuffs, frozen crumbs of metal glued themselves onto my back, just above the tailbone. The handcuff links still on my wrist were warm by now, but rubbed uneasily against the frost burns they created during my escape. And to top it all off, I couldn’t rest any weight on my right butt cheek. Every time the car jerked, I had to tense up or let my frost burn touch the seat.
“You okay?” I asked her when I fixed myself into a somewhat comfortable position.
“Yeah,” she said. “Not much happened in the ballroom after you left. Bree shoved me away and ran off after you, and we took an elevator down the parking garage.”
“We?” I asked.
“Close call out there.” Cameron Cane’s voice said.
“You!” I said with such surprise that I nearly beat my head against the ceiling of the minimobile.
“Something wrong?” he asked, relaxed in back seat as he handed his tux jacket up to me. I grabbed it and put it over my lap. I figured he’d kept his head down during the chase and I hadn’t even noticed him. “Err, sorry. Didn’t see you back there. Thanks.”
“So where are we going?” Cameron asked.
“I, err...” I stared ahead as we drove. “No idea.”
Knowing Lara, I was surprised she had him tag along, especially since there were spells flinging around now. I guess that means we can’t keep the secret of magic’s existence from him any longer.
“Those people?” Cameron said. “Are they some kind of law enforcement?”
Seeing our unwillingness to respond, Cameron went on. “No matter, but I presume you don’t want them to find you.”
Finally, something I could answer. But then again, I was an outlaw anyway. Why not tell Cameron everything?
Because, Thomas, you’re still innocent. All you need to do is prove it.
“I think its best we avoid them, yeah,” I said.
“They know where we live, so we’d better not go there,” Lara said.
“Take a right up here.” Cameron said.
“Got someplace in mind?”
“Cane Manor – it’s a bit of a drive, but I figure you don’t mind. It’ll be safe.”
“The site of the murder? Are you crazy?” Lara asked.
Cameron gave a half-smirk as he watched the road. “It’ll be the last place they look. Besides, I’ve got a key.”
“Good idea, but it won’t work,” I said. “You were seen with us – chances are, they’ll figure out who you are and look into you, next. They’ll find us.”
“Besides, Thomas saw the ghost there twice already.” Lara said. “It’s growing more powerful. Anywhere near its home is probably dangerous.”
“Hmm...” he said, leaning back. “In that case, I recommend the Children of Faith Church.” I cocked an eyebrow at him, and he went on. “It’s a few miles away from the manor.”
“A church?” Lara asked.
“It’s holy ground,” he answered. “Sanctuary. Besides, this one closes down at night, and I know the priest. We might have to break in, but I don’t think he would mind, considering the circumstances.”
“I’d rather take my chances elsewhere.” Lara said skeptically. “I’m thinking we hit up a store and buy him some new clothes. From there, we improvise.”
“What if they tracked your car?” I said to Lara.
She glared at the road in annoyance. Making a focus is easy. Tracking that magic is just as easy for a mage with more than a passing interest in magic. It would be very simple for them to slip some of their magic onto Lara’s car. Considering that both Bree and Ingram were right outside my house the previous afternoon, not twenty yards away from the minimobile, I figured that ditching the car should be our new first move.
Cameron took charge by saying, “Then you’ll drive to the church, and I’ll take your car to the Manor. They already know I’m involved, but I’ll throw them off the trail if I can.”
“Honestly, Cameron, I think you should stay away from them for a few days,” I said.
“They’re dangerous people,” Lara agreed, getting onto the highway.
“In that case I’ll leave your car at the Manor, and I’ll take one of mine back to meet you.”
“Meet us?” Lara scowled. “What part of stay away didn’t you hear?”
He spoke calmly back to her, ignoring her annoyance. “Like it or not, Ms. Mercer, I’ve got a part in this ordeal. My presence would be an asset in solving the case.”
“Your presence?” she stared darts into the rearview mirror.
“My knowledge of the suspects has been crucial up to this point. All you’ve got to do is find Kelly Freidman and see this through to the end. If these people are as dangerous as you say, than another ally is far more beneficial to you than throwing me to the curb. Especially an ally who is financially fit and willing to use whatever resources at his disposal to help.”
Lara flushed with anger. “Look, Cane – this whole case – the ghost, the Imperium – it’s got nothing to do with you. You stumbled into something big and you’re treating it like it’s just another perk of being rich. You have no reason to come with us, and I don’t care about the money. I’m dropping you as a–”
“Lara, please!” I shouted into the mix. “He’s not out to get us. Besides, he’s right. At the moment, we’re out of options.”
I could actually hear her teeth grinding together as she drove. I stared at her uneasily. Sure, she was calm and composed when doing things such as research, but there was a reason she’d failed the Guardian field test three times.
Waiting a moment for her to calm down, I leaned back gingerly in the seat and added, “We’ll go to the church, and figure out our next move there.”
She stared forward, and it was a wonder that her mood didn’t bring out another bout of icy fog.