Chapter 21

Kevin tapped his fingers on the table in a steady rhythm. He sighed and looked at Jean. “How long do we have to hang out in this diner?”

Jean glanced at her watch. “I’d say another twenty minutes or so.” He huffed out a breath. “We can see the house from here and were told to stay back until we knew the others had enough time to get there.”

He sighed again and sat back. “I can’t possibly drink another cup of coffee, I’m already wired.”

Jean tilted her head and looked at him with a smirk. “I never would have guessed.”

Kevin frowned. “Sorry, sitting here and not knowing what’s happening is harder than I thought.”

She glanced at her silent cell phone. “Leena is going to send me a message once they’re all at the house.”

He nodded and stood up. “I’m just running to the bathroom. Want anything on my way back?”

She shook her head and watched out the window. “No thanks.”

Kevin paused, noticing how black her long hair was against the white jacket she wore. Focus, right. He was not going to get distracted this time or Patrick would beat him senseless for sure.

Cora stretched her legs again as she looked over at Owen. “The least they could have done was build a larger closet for you.”

He grinned and shrugged. “I’m doing okay.” He looked through the slats in the doors again. “Could be worse, could be a single door unit.” She smirked at him in the dark space.

Dexter stood by the window in the darkened room. “You two can open the door a bit for now you know.” He grinned out into the stormy night. “You’ll be uncomfortable enough shortly.” He heard the door open and turned to see the two of them sitting on chairs inside the empty closet. He smirked. “Craziest set up I’ve ever been involved in.”

Cora smirked at him. “How soon until the others get here?”

Dexter glanced at his watch. “The girls should be here soon.” He glanced to the other room where he had left a lamp on. He’d already checked to make sure the light didn’t reveal him standing in the darkened room.

He turned from the window, and then spun back to it quickly. “Our guests are out there.” He whispered.

Owen looked quickly to Cora. She gave a quick nod to confirm what Dexter was saying. He took a deep breath. How did he get to be the one to sit here with the one that picked up bad intentions, and the other that picked up bad vibes? He reached over and put a hand on her shoulder to make sure he would be able to draw away anything too strong from Cora.

Dexter spun towards the back of the house and quickly left the room. Owen didn’t know what he was doing, but decided that now was the time to be concealed in the closet. “It’s almost show time, Cora, you okay to do this?”

She nodded and took a few deep breaths. “As soon as there is something more than dark to project, I’ll start.”

Dade squatted behind the shed. He’d gotten here early on purpose. He was not taking the chance to not be ready when needed. He looked down at the snow, wondering how he got to be the one sitting in the damn snow. He scowled and tried to recall who suggested it. If it was Doc, he was going to have to pay him back. He sighed. It had been Dexter’s idea now that he thought about it. Dex wanted muscle to back him up in case the magic went wrong.

Even with gloves, his hands were numb. Rubbing them together he looked out over the dark corners of the yard. There were tracks, recent enough that the blowing snow hadn’t covered them. He saw they were concentrated around the edges of the yard. He frowned, not from Dex. He glanced back to the house to see the flicker of a lighter in the window. The scum had arrived.

Steven frowned at Chris, who hadn’t said a word since they got to where they were to wait. At least they had Dade’s van to sit in until the women arrived. He smirked. Dade was going to be pissed, being the one to wait outside in the storm.

Chris motioned with his hand to the end of the street. “Here come the ladies,” he said barely above a whisper.

Steven watched as the car slid around the corner, and didn’t even have to guess who was driving. Only his wife would drive a car like that on a stormy night.

Chris turned and gave him an exasperated look. “It’s surprising she hasn’t landed in a ditch more than once.”

“I think I’m going to get her a 4x4, for my own peace of mind.”

Chris nodded in understanding. He looked around the neighborhood again. He glanced back to the upper floor of Pat’s tiny little house and jerked upright in the seat. “They’re here somewhere, Dex just signaled.”

Steven sat up, looking as far as he could from their position in the narrow alley. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He flipped it open and read the message. ‘Show time. XOX’. He pushed the off button and pocketed it. “They’re going in.”

Chris reached for the door handle and jerked the door open. He glanced up to the now, non-working overhead light hanging from the roof of Dade’s van. Hopefully Dade would know how to put the light back together again, but was glad Doc thought of it.

In unison, the two men moved to the edge of the last fenced yard and waited. They both breathed slowly, not that anyone would be able to spot their breath in the blowing snow.

Kasey took a deep breath and let it out. “My nerves are just about ready to jump out of my skin.”

Leena grinned. “Mine too, but we can do this. We have to.”

Rachel dumped her phone into her purse. “We have to so Patrick and Rhonda can actually have a chance at what we all have. They’ve been through so much.”

Kasey scowled. “Right. Let’s do this.” She turned to open the door then stopped. “Oh, who is going to announce our arrival?”

Rachel winked at her. “I got it covered Kase, just follow my lead.”

They saw the three women climb out of the car. The longhaired one reached in and pulled out a large basket. From this distance, it looked like a get-well basket. That was just the sign they were looking for. Walt nodded over to the nervous twit he’d been ordered to bring along. He didn’t know why he had to bring him, it would be easier without him in the way.

“He’s not going to have every light in the house on, Kase.” The dark-haired woman grinned. “And where else would he be? It’s not like he’s up running around or even driving.” The short blonde haired one nodded and smiled.

He studied them as they walked by their hiding spot, wondering how they played into this. From what he knew of the cop, he was a serious player and had more than his share of women. He snarled, one more reason to get rid of him.

He turned to make sure no one else followed the women. Saw only the blowing snow. He’d let the ladies get inside then send the wimp he’d had to bring with him, to get them in.

“Maybe we’re not saying it right?” Tara looked over to the notes sitting between her and Gwen.

Justin shook his head. “It’s not the tone that counts, it’s more the intent really.”

Rhonda adjusted the pillow holding Patrick propped to the edge of the couch. She looked down at the copper dish of Kasey’s sitting on the table. She smirked. “I’m not even feeling anything from Cora, so it’s probably why we aren’t seeing anything yet.” She glanced over at the clock then to Patrick. “Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”

He looked at the clock then back to the worry in her eyes. “It takes time to get everyone into place lass, patience.”

She puffed out her cheeks then exhaled. “I seem to be short on that at the moment.” She gave him a nervous grin then looked around at the others. “Ok, new plan.” She stood up and looked towards the kitchen. “Justin, can you and Tara bring the copper dish into the kitchen?” He gave her a bewildered look but stood. “Gwen and I’ll grab the herbs and candles. If we have to wait this out, we can at least sit around the table where everyone is comfortable.”

Patrick grinned at her as she stood. “Better idea. I wasn’t sure how long I could sit there holding hands and leaning over to look in that copper thing.” He got up, picking up the pillow and walking toward the kitchen.

They set the dish in the center of the table, and moved the chairs closer to surround it. Rhonda sighed. “I think as long as we’re within the circle and have at least started the spell, we should be able to pick it up quickly when I get something from Cora.”

Gwen smiled. “It should work that way.” She reached in the fridge and pulled out some water. “We can at least try to be comfortable while we wait.”

Dade moved slowly around the edge of the yard. He’d had enough of waiting. He was almost to the back door when he heard Rachel’s voice. Good, time to get out of this damn cold and see what’s happening inside. His main task was to stay inside the back door and stop anyone that tried to leave, but if he heard any of the women in trouble—he was abandoning his post. He listened for his cue, the stomping of boots, to open the back door quickly and stepped inside. He rubbed his hands together trying to bring the feeling back into them.

Chris nudged Steven’s arm and motioned with his head toward the driveway leading to the house. Two men were moving out from the brush along the edge of it. They had obviously just watched the women go inside. Steven’s jaw clenched as one pushed the other toward the door. He looked back at Chris who had his eyes closed in concentration. Hopefully his message would get to Kasey and let them know company was coming.

“Oh.” Rhonda froze for a second then reached quickly over to take Patrick’s hand. The others didn’t question her, just reached around the table to form a circle by holding each other’s hands.

Tara looked up from the dish to see Patrick and Rhonda both with concentration on their faces. She hoped they were able to send the images and Gwen’s idea worked. Taking a steadying breath, she looked back down at the dish, there was something there, but she couldn’t tell what it was.

She saw Gwen move her head and look toward the door, then the lights in the kitchen went out leaving only the few candles burning to light the room. She looked back at the copper dish and almost gasped as she could see Kasey, Dexter and Rachel standing beside a closed door.

Kasey suddenly touched her stomach then turned to look at the door. Dexter nodded and walked from their view. Leena walked to the right into a darkened area, then turned and faced the door with her arms held out from her sides. She nodded to Rachel at the other side of the door who backed up and took the same stance.

Kasey walked straight back from the door then turned to face it and nodded in the direction Dexter had gone.

Owen leaned over closer to Cora and whispered softly to her. “Grasp my hand, Cora, if it gets to be too much just squeeze and I’ll wrap my arms around you.” She didn’t take her eyes from the others through the wooden slats. He knew she was relaying this to Rhonda and even though Patrick was not in the picture he somehow felt better just knowing he was on the other end in case they needed him. His head jerked to look through the narrow space when someone pounded on the door.

“Paddy. It’s Bob, let me in. I didn’t know where else to go.”

He saw Dexter give the person at the door a ‘that’s the best you can do’ look, then hunched down to move back further into the room. Dexter rattled the door handle a few times to see if the man on the other side said anymore.

“Come on Paddy, I’m freezing my ass off out here.”

Dexter took a quick look to see if the women were ready. He opened the door slowly and backed away, out of the view of anyone on the other side. The larger, taller man pushed the shorter one inside the door, and held a gun to his head. His eyes widened as he looked at Dexter.

Dexter grinned. “Not who you were expecting is it, friend?”

Walt looked around at the three women, then to the giant that stood in front of him. “Who the hell are you and where’s Blaine?”

Dexter shrugged. “He’s not here.”

Walt backed towards the door a bit, pulling Bob with him for cover. He pointed the gun at the large man. “We’ll be going then.”

Dexter shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

Walt shoved Bob as hard as he could toward Dexter, reaching for the door at the same time. He pulled it open only to have it jerked from his hand and close with a loud bang. “What the...” He spun around and pointed the gun at Dexter again. Bob was lying in a heap on the floor as if he’d fainted. Idiot.

He pointed the gun at the longhaired woman and grinned. “Walk over here, real slowly.” Her eyebrows went up in a look of shock.

“I don’t think so,” she said softly.

The short blonde flung an arm up and growled. “I don’t like you pointing a gun at my friends.” The gun jerked out of his hand and floated toward the big man, who reached out and plucked it out of midair.

He flipped the safety on and tucked it into the waist of his jeans. “You should listen to her, friend.”

“What are you people?” Walt looked from the longhaired one back to the short blonde.

“Sexy.” The black-haired woman said softly as she stepped from around the man who held his own gun directed at him now. “And slightly irritated that you barged in here.”

Walt stared at her for a second then turned back toward the door.

“Leaving so soon?” She purred. His back was against the wall, his feet not touching the ground. His shocked expression looked down at Rachel, as his heart tried to climb into his throat.

Dexter looked at the three feet between Walt’s boots and the floor. “Now you’ve offended them.”

Kasey frowned and walked closer to him. She stopped to look down at the man who crumpled to the floor after bouncing off Dexter’s chest. She knelt and touched his neck to check for a pulse. “He’s fine.” She murmured as she straightened. Moving over she looked at the pale man hanging off the wall. She glanced over at Rachel and grinned. “I think he’s had enough, Rach.”

Rachel grinned. “I’m not holding him up there, Kase.”

They both turned with mouths hanging open and looked at Leena. She shrugged. “Hormones,” she said calmly. Letting out a breath she brought her hands up toward Walt, pinned to the wall like a bug, and lowered him to the floor.

Dexter stepped forward with handcuffs, grinning. “I found Pat’s in his room, never used them before though.” He clasped one of Walt’s hands and spun him to put the other one on. “It’s almost too easy.” He half dragged him into the other room and stood him against the wall. “Stay,” he said softly.

Rachel chuckled from behind him. “I’ve got him. You pick up the unconscious one.”

Kasey stepped to the door and quickly outside. She sent bright silver orbs into the air that exploded in a burst of bright light. When she turned to go back in, she saw Chris and Steven running up the walkway. “Oh.” She jumped off the step into Chris’s arms and wrapped her legs around him.

Steven grinned as he ran through the door. He stopped to see Rachel glaring at a guy standing against the wall. He recognized him from the pictures, it was Walt. Her hands were on her hips as she just stood there glaring at him. He studied the man for a moment. “Wow, you pissed her off.”

She glanced over at Steven and frowned. “He pointed a gun at Lee.” She turned back to glare at him. “I should…”

Steven wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Let the Captain deal with it from here, angel.” He almost laughed to see the relieved look on Walt’s face.

Owen stepped from the closet helping Cora to her feet just as Dade came out of the hallway. He nodded to Dade. “She’s still sending and probably will until the Captain gets here.” Dade just nodded and walked over to stand behind her and support her weight against him.

Owen looked at Leena. “You okay, baby?” She smiled and nodded. “Hormonal flux again?” He warily walked towards her. She grinned and laughed softly. “He deserved it.” She said as he wrapped his arms around her.

Chris walked in still carrying Kasey and looked at the man lying slumped in the chair. “What happened to him?”

Kasey snuggled into his neck. “He bounced off Dex and passed out.”

Chris laughed as he slid her to the floor. He studied the man standing against the wall for a moment, then strolled toward him. Putting his hands in his pockets he stopped in front of him. “Mr. Lewis, I’m Councilor Larkin.” He waited to see if the man was listening to him. “We’re going to be having a talk soon, you and I.” The other man glared at him. He turned for a second and looked over at his wife with a questioning glance. Kasey nodded.

Chris turned back to the other man and grinned stepping closer. “You’re going to take the fall for all of this, Lewis, you know that, don’t you?” There was no response. Chris took a steadying breath and stared at the other man. If he could just get one thing that would lead them to Jack, then this would be over, finally. He concentrated on the other man. Held eye contact with him.

If he could just get past the anger and confusion filling the other man’s every thought, he might be able to get something. He could hear sirens in the distance and heard someone else come into the house, but refused to stop until he had something. He concentrated hard enough the other man couldn’t look away. “Where’s Jack?” He whispered so quietly no one other than Walt would hear. He caught a glimpse of a building, could only be a hotel. He couldn’t make out the name on the large diamond shaped sign… Behind the hotel was a large red brick factory with smoke coming from two large smoke stacks…

“Chris.”

He blinked and turned to the sound of Kasey’s voice.

“The Captain is here.”

He nodded and walked over to lean against the wall opposite the man in cuffs.

Gwen dropped her hands and let out a whoosh of air. “That was exhausting and invigorating at the same time.” She smiled over at Justin. “Everyone is just fine.”

Tara sat there for a moment. “Well, that was, well… just awesome.” She grinned over at Gwen. “Kasey is my new heroine and Leena too.”

Patrick squeezed Rhonda’s hand. “You all right, lass?” He took a few breaths.

She nodded and sighed. “Whew!” She smirked at him. “Too bad Cora couldn’t send sound to go with it.”

He smirked. “I’m not sure we’d want to hear the dialogue, the images alone had my heart racing.” Tara stood up and was beside him. She reached for his wrist and began checking his pulse. “I’m fine.” He said softly. “A little tired is all, I used all I could to help Rhonda project to us, it wasn’t a quick flash that takes no energy.” Happy with whatever she checked for, Tara released his arm and turned toward the counter.

“I’m going to make us some tea.”

Gwen stood up and extinguished the candles. “I could use one.” She grinned at Justin. “Rusty bicycle, my hiney.”

Justin reached over and patted her hand. “I knew you still had it in you, dear, you just need to flex it more often.”

When the phone rang all four of them jumped. Rhonda picked it up. “Hello?”

Rachel’s voice came over the other end. “Hey, did you guys get everything?”

Rhonda grinned. “Yes, we did.”

“Great. Cora says make vats of tea, she’s beat.”

Rhonda nodded towards Tara. “We’ve got the kettle on now.”

“Okay, see you shortly.”

Rhonda hung up the phone. “Cora’s exhausted from sending for so long.” She sighed. “I tried to help her keep the projecting open, but it was hard to relay at the same time.” What she didn’t say was she was not just exhausted, but ready to drop to the floor. “I’m going to help Pat lie down and rest until everyone else gets here, can you bring in the tea?”

Both Tara and Gwen nodded.

Justin helped Patrick up and into the other room. “Scary as hell sitting there, not being able to do anything.” Justin mumbled only to him as they walked.

Patrick nodded his head once. “Aye, but they did a fine job, though.”

Justin nodded. “Yes, they did.” He helped him to sit. “Did you notice what Chris was trying to do?”

Patrick leaned back against the pillows. “No, but I’ll be asking him as soon as I can.” He let out a slow breath. “If it’s what I think it was, then we may be at the end of all of this soon.”

Justin grunted in agreement as he went back to the kitchen.

Rhonda sat on the edge of the bed and held his hand. She turned and looked towards the kitchen. “So now we just have to find this Jack?”

He nodded and stroked his thumb over her small hand. “Aye, but without his goons he’s a in a vulnerable place, if he’s even still alive that is.”

Rhonda nodded and slowly lied down to rest on his shoulder. “I just need to rest until the others get here, Pat.”

He held her head gently into his shoulder. Me as well, lass.