On Pins and Needles: Sierra Fox, Book 3 (33 page)

I didn’t like the idea of staying in a church overnight, but Papan’s apartment did have some appeal. I’d mention it to Papan later. “Watch over Ebony.”

“You know I will.”

Papan and I strolled out of the church and into the sizeable parking lot. The night air was the coolest it had been since autumn started. The constant rain seemed to be keeping the temperature low.

“Do you think we’ll find anything at the bookstore?”

I made my way to the driver’s side door and unlocked it. “I doubt it, but I need to confront him about this. He admitted he was involved with Maya and even helped her lure those girls, so he has to know something. Maybe she’s been there the whole time.” I exhaled. “I actually saw her in the bookstore the day I broke up with him. It just didn’t click until he mentioned it.”

“I don’t think it’s going to be easy, though.”

I nodded. “Things are never easy for us.” I climbed into the car, then leaned across the seat to unlock his side. Papan got in while the car warmed up. We put our seatbelts on in silence.
 

While the engine purred, I stared at the church with harsh edges and pointy juts, windows, and spires. I might feel insecure about everything it represented, but not about its architectural beauty. My favorite feature was the stained glass mosaic in the middle, which I knew made the inside look stunning when the sun shone on it.

I sighed, waiting for the heater to kick in. These old cars were the worst during the cold weather.

We didn’t say anything else until I reached the city and stopped right in front of Prologue.
 

It was a
No Parking
section, but right now I didn’t care and doubted there were any officers around at this hour. I also couldn’t believe we hadn’t said a word to each other for fifteen minutes. Instead of concerning me, I actually liked the idea of being able to have comfortable silence with Papan. I’d had so many relationships where we had to fill the time with bullshit small talk or sex.

“You ready?” I asked. I wasn’t sure if I was asking him or myself.

“Always ready.”

We climbed out of the car and made our way towards the front of the store. One of the bookstores a few doors down had a red and white
Closing Down
Sale
banner taped across the front window. The one on the other side had a new display featuring the latest releases.

I tried the handle of Jonathan’s store even though I knew it wouldn’t budge. I cupped my hands over my eyes and peeked inside, but found the place empty. The lights were off so I could see things a lot clearer—the counter was collecting dust, the computer screen was dark, and one of the imprinted ghosts from long ago wandered past the door. She flashed me a smile, raised a dainty gloved hand in a wave, before moving along with her pretty dress and fancy hat.

“He’s not here.” I debated whether to break in, but dismissed the idea instantly when I spotted a parking officer across the road. She was already checking out my car and looked as if she was about to cross at any minute. “Let’s go to his place.”

Papan didn’t complain or even comment, though I saw him sniff the air.
 

We got back into the car before I copped a fine. Another five-minute drive and I was parked in front of Jonathan’s building, this time in a legal spot.

“So this is where he lives?” Papan whistled. “I didn’t know he was this rich.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. Not many people did. Jonathan Wells happened to be a trust-fund baby who, according to him, had lost his family at a young age. He claimed to dip into his wealth to take care of his struggling bookstore, and I suspected he’d used quite a bit of it to buy this high level, lavish apartment with harbor views.
 

The thought of going anywhere near his place made me cringe but if he wasn’t at the bookstore maybe we could catch him here. “Are you ready to see if he’s home so we can get some damn answers?”

“Like I said before, I’m always ready.”
 

We jumped out of the car and waited for some of the traffic to clear.
 

Papan took my hand and we crossed the road, barely avoiding a car that appeared out of nowhere and seemed to speed up when it spotted us. I didn’t get a chance to chant my protection incantation before Papan scooped me up into his arms and rushed for the footpath.

“What the hell?”

Papan frowned, staring out into the night. The twin brake lights in the distance disappeared as the driver turned into another street. “I’m trying to convince myself that was an accident, but I don’t think it was.”

My heart was speeding. “No, it wasn’t an accident, because I’m pretty sure it’s the same car that tried to run me over the other day. Did you get a look at it?”
 

“Actually, I did,” he said, still holding me. “I recognized it—small, dark shade, with dirty number plate. It’s the same car that smacked into me the night the black dog took you.”

I could see Papan as a wolf, sprinting down the road while Mauricio drove the car that would eventually deliver me to the Council’s doorstep. I hadn’t known our destination then, but clearly remembered when a second car appeared out of nowhere to run Papan down. I hadn’t seen the driver, but did catch a glimpse of long, black hair.
 

Why hadn’t I made the connection before? “Oh my God, it was her!”

“What was her?” Papan stepped back, allowing the scattered pedestrians to walk around us. Some gave us strange looks, but I didn’t care.

“The Lamia was the one who ran you over,” I said. “Maya must’ve been the one who broke the shields around the house and helped Mauricio take me. Then she ran you over when you tried to save me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am. It’s all starting to click into place now.” I tried not to get excited at the prospect of figuring things out. If she’d been waiting in the shadows and working against me this whole time, it meant she knew a lot more than we initially thought. “She was working with Mauricio, and now is trying to get to me. She’s gotta have Willow.”
 

Another thought struck me. What if the Council was harboring her?
 

 
“Come on, let’s get up there.”

Papan nodded.

“Um, you can put me down now.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to carry you?” he teased.

“Papan, I’m not hurt or on my honeymoon…”

Something flashed in his eyes, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable.
 

After he put me down, an amused expression on his face, I walked into the apartment block and waited for him by the elevators. We took the lift up to Jonathan’s floor. As soon as we reached his front door, I knocked hard. There was no answer so I pressed my ear to the surface. There didn’t seem to be any noise coming from the other side. I knocked again and again.

“Jonathan! Open up!” I called. “Jonathan!”

“Ah, excuse me?”

I looked down the corridor to find an elderly lady with pink hair, wearing a kimono-style bathrobe, peeking out of the apartment next to his.
 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said.

“Are you looking for young Jonathan?” She swirled a stout glass filled with amber liquid.

I nodded. “Do you know if he’s home?”

“Oh, he hasn’t been home for days.” Her wrinkled face scowled. “He was supposed to have dinner with me a few nights ago but didn’t show. I was going to make him some stew.” She smiled, revealing red lipstick staining her false teeth. “It’s the weather for it.”

Hallelujah for nosy neighbors! Yet I couldn’t help wondering why the hell he would agree to have dinner with an old lady. Had he just been humoring her, or was there something he wanted from her?
 

“Thanks.”

“I just wish he would have told his friends he was going out of town. Instead of having all sorts of people come at all times of the day and night looking for him.”

Papan took a step. “Other people have come looking for him?”

The woman nodded, staring up at Papan’s majestic height with a grin. “Yes, young man, quite a few of them.”

“Do you remember what some of these people looked like?” I loved to see him in PI mode—it was so sexy.

“Of course,” she answered. “There was the exotic woman with such long hair it
had
to be a wig. She had quite the temper, by the sounds of the screaming coming from his place whenever she dropped by.”

That had to be Maya. “Anyone else come looking for him?”

“There are you two, of course.” She chuckled, before looking thoughtful. “And there was the man with white hair. A very handsome older looking chap who dressed the way gentlemen used to. Not that I have any complaints about the way they dress now.” She tugged at her short curls.

“Did you catch a name?”

“No, sorry, young man, I didn’t.” Her smile broadened. “But if you give me your number I’ll be sure to enquire the next time he drops by…”

“It’s okay,” I said. “You’ve been very helpful.” I made a grab for Papan’s hand and started pulling him in the opposite direction.

“Would you like to come in for a cup of tea, coffee or a little liquor?”

“As tempting as that sounds, ma’am, I’m afraid we’re in a rush.” Papan turned away from her and together we rushed down the corridor.
 

We didn’t stop until we reached the elevator.
 

I couldn’t help but wonder about the man with the white hair who dressed like a gentleman. Surely Jonathan’s neighbor hadn’t been talking about my biological grandfather…

After spending a fitful night at Papan’s and then ducking back to my place to shower and change into clean clothes, I almost felt ready to face the world. Though, a sense of foreboding tickled the back of my brain.

I couldn’t even pretend things were fine anymore, and I had the dark circles under my eyes to prove it. I’d only managed to sleep a handful of hours, and by five decided not to bother trying for more. Papan had tried to distract me with his alluring ways, but I just couldn’t shake the discomfort of knowing my sister was out there somewhere and Ebony still wasn’t well.

For once in my life, the only thing that
was
perfect was my love life. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
 

I looked at one of the pictures Willow had sent me. We were sitting together, smiling. Had it really been the night before? It felt so long ago. I sighed and placed my mobile phone on the hallway table.

“Coffee’s ready!” Papan called from the kitchen.

“I’m on my way.” Just as I was about to step into the kitchen,
The Ghostbusters
ring tone filled the corridor. I stopped for a moment, determined to ignore the world for as long as I could, especially since the coffee aroma affected me like some sort of Pied Piper.
 

I groaned. We hadn’t heard from Oren or Conrad yet, and this could be one of them. Maybe Ebony had finally woken up. We intended to head for the church after breakfast, but I still should answer the phone.
 

I sighed and rushed for it before it went to voice mail. “Hello?”

“Hi Sierra,” a now familiar voice said.

“Gareth,” I said into the receiver, wishing I hadn’t answered the phone. “What’s up?” It was best to act casual—maybe then the awkwardness from our last meeting would dissolve entirely.

“Today’s the day.”

“Huh? The day for what?”

“I have to report finding your sister, which means telling her father.”
 

Was it Tuesday already? Shit. The days were catching up with me and I was losing track of them. “Uh, we’ve got a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” His tone had changed, making him sound suspicious.

“She’s not here.” I hated to admit she was gone and I didn’t know where she was. “I think that woman took her.”

“What the hell, how did
that
happen?”

I took a breath and released it. “I had some business to take care of last night, and when I got back she was gone.”

“Sierra, I left her in your custody. Why did you leave her alone so much?”

“Most of the times I left her it was to help
you
,” I snapped. “Besides, she wasn’t alone—Oren was with her. And yeah, he’s fine after being knocked on the head. Thanks for asking.”

A deep and very long sigh followed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just that now she’s double lost.”

“I don’t want to sound like an idiot, but wouldn’t this mean you don’t have to write a report at all?”
 

“I guess…but this doesn’t sit well with me. Not after all the murders.”

I swallowed my dread because I didn’t want to ask the next question. “You haven’t found any more bodies, have you?”

“No,” he said absently. “Where do you think she is?”

“I have no idea, but I’m not going to give up looking for her.”

“Okay, listen, give me an hour or two and I’ll see what I can find out.”

“You think you can find her?”