Stained (13 page)

She started moving around the apartment, chanting and creating signs with her hands as she came upon her implements and herbs. They would shimmer and turn into ordinary objects. Her books were always warded. When she was done, she heard a knock on the door.

“FBI, we have a warrant for your arrest, Thorn, open up!” A woman yelled.

“Time to use a confusion spell,” Thorn whispered. Charles winked at her. Raven cawed, he was ready for action, whichever way it came.

“Let them in, Uncle. Get ready to distract them, Raven.”

“Yesth.”

Uncle went to the door and opened it. Scettico pushed him out of the way. Uncle Charles went stumbling into the door. Thorn’s temper flared and her energy built up. Raven flew at the two law enforcement agents cawing loudly and flapping at their heads.

Thorn said, under her breath, “Turn around and round. Nothing here will be found. You will not remember your task and you will forget to ask. Be gone!”

Raven arched around and flew to Thorn, landing on her shoulder. Scettico and Simms had a dazed look, their eyes were glassy. Blankly looking at their surroundings, clearly, not able to identify where they were.

“Can we help you?” Uncle Charles asked Scettico.

“Umm, I don’t know. I think I need to go back to the office.” He turned to leave and Kate looked around her a bit more thoroughly. She was sharper and the spell wouldn’t affect her as strongly. But after a moment’s hesitation, she followed Scettico, and they left together.

Thorn sighed in relief. She grabbed her bag, helped Uncle to a chair and kissed his cheek. “I need to get an address from my files downstairs and then I’m out of here. You have food. This shouldn’t be too much longer. You’ll be okay?” Thorn asked, as she squeezed Uncle’s hand.

“Yes, dearest. Just go. Call me on my cell phone when you can and let me know you are safe. Now go.” He pushed her gently out the door.

Thorn tore down the stairs and through the employee break-room. She went to her work-station and into the drawer where she kept customer info. She found the card for Harley, her biker customer. He’d promised help if she was in trouble, and now she was. She hoped he was serious.

“Gwynn, Reese, can I see you in the back for a moment,” Thorn said.

The girls looked at each other before telling their clients they would be right back. Thorn never called an artist away during a session. Gwynn pulled on her long braid as they walked to the back room.

“What’s going on, Thorn?” Reese asked. She was always direct.

“The police think that I’m responsible for the murders that have been happening because my tattoos have been on the victims.”

“That’s bullshit!” Reese said. Thorn smiled gratefully for her loyalty.

“What did those two want just now,” Gwynn asked.

“They were here to arrest me and I was able to convince them not to, for the time being, but they’ll be back,” Thorn said, as she went to the safe and pulled out a large sum of cash.

“What can we do?” Reese said, as she sat down at the table.

“Nothing for me, except to keep the shop running. I’m going to be in hiding a while until they figure out who’s actually doing this. One of the policemen isn’t convinced of my guilt and is still looking for someone else.” Thorn stuffed the money into her duffel bag, missing the exchange of looks between Gwynn and Reese. They had noticed that Sé hadn’t been with the police officers. Gwynn had recognized his voice on the phone moments before all hell had broken loose.

“We can do that, Thorn. Don’t worry about the store,” Gwynn said.

“Thanks, ladies.” Thorn went to them and hugged them both. This was very un-Thorn like and Gwynn started crying. “It’ll be fine, Gwynn. I just wanted to thank you and tell you goodbye properly,” Thorn said, as she smiled at them.

“O-Okay,” Gwynn sniffed. Reese put her arm around Gwynn to comfort her.

Jason came into the break-room to see what everyone was doing. He saw the expressions on their faces.

“What’s going on? What happened?” he asked.

“Nothing. I’ll be gone for a few days and I need everybody to run things like they would if I were here,” Thorn said.

“Are you in trouble? I could go with you. You might need me.” His eyes darted from side to side, as if looking for a solution, or a weapon. Jason was out of control. She sighed, another loose end to tie up, but not today.

In the meantime he would misinterpret anything she told him. She had to get him out of there so, she could leave.

“Jason, everything is fine,” she said, giving him a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you go up front and keep an eye on the store.”

“If you want me to. I’ll watch everything very closely for you. Make sure everything stays safe.”

“Thank you. Now I have to give Gwynn and Reese a few more instructions.”

“Okay, I’ll go. Bye, Thorn.” He kept glancing back over his shoulder as he walked to the front of the store.

“Please don’t let Jason know what’s going on. I’m not sure why, but I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Thorn said.

“Yeah, no problem, Thorn. He’s acting really strange,” Reese said.

“I need to go before the police come back. My Uncle will be staying upstairs though.” She looked at the girls. She had told them Gérard wasn’t coming back. They’d taken it in stride. Now more work had been dumped on them with no complaints on their part. She studied them a moment.

“I have one more huge favor. Would you check on Charles?”

“Sure, Thorn, our pleasure,” Reese said. “Go now before it’s too late.”

“Good. Well, bye, and thank you again,” Thorn said, before she ran out the back door. It was all she could do to leave her bike. She had to, they would track her on it. She couldn’t protect it with a ‘stay-away’ while it was in motion.

Thorn jogged through the dirty alleys of Telegraph before veering off into the residential neighborhoods. She kept a low profile until she got into a seedy part of Oakland. She found a pay phone that hadn’t been torn apart yet and called Harley on it.

“Harley.”

“Hi, Harley. This is Thorn.”

“Oh hey, Thorn! What are you up to, babe?”

“Well… I’m in trouble. I was wondering if you could help me out. The police are trying to arrest me for those murders and I need a place to hide for a while.” Thorn said looking over her shoulder, watching for police.

“Um… yeah… I can. Where are you now, at the shop?”

“No, they already stopped there, looking for me. I’m at a gas station in Oakland.” Thorn gave him the address. “I’m on foot, Harley, my bike is too high profile.”

“I’ll meet you there on my bike. Just stay tight, Thorn.”

“Thanks, Harley.” She hung up and tried to hang out. She went into the store and bought some bottled water and a stale granola bar, took it outside and looked like she was taking a break. Raven acted as sentry. Thorn didn’t know what the next few days would entail. She just knew she owed Sé a lot. He was in over his head, with his job, most of all in the fight he’d deliberately jumped into. She was warmed by his sacrifice and terrified of the risks he’d taken on.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Sacred flame, as you dance, call upon my sacred glance. Call upon my second sight. Give me red hair and dark brown eyes. Blessed flame, shinning bright, give me now my second sight. Power of three, don’t let them see. Don’t let them see.

Harley pulled up on his bike, the distinctive growl of his bike alerting anyone around that he was big and bad. Thorn hopped on before he was fully stopped. He tore out of the driveway without a word. Raven flew guard. Harley took backstreets and soon Thorn was lost. She knew they were somewhere in Oakland but the area was unfamiliar. The neighborhood hadn’t improved. It was part of Oakland with dilapidated houses, their Christmas lights hanging by a nail on paint-cracked old Queen Anne houses. Some places had car parts littered in yards along with broken, children’s toys and plastic lawn decorations. Beer bottles and worse cluttered the gutters. Harley pulled up in front of a yellow house that had seen better days but was tended by someone that cared, like several houses, sprinkled gemstones among broken glass. The yard was clear of debris and the porch had Halloween decorations—enhancements that actually fit the season.

Harley’s big frame eased a sigh of relief once the motor was shut off. He was obviously nervous about hiding Thorn out. Thorn was going to owe him big time. Thorn got off the back of the bike and Harley followed. His leather jacket creaked as he moved. Thorn’s own leather pants were silent.

“This here is my girlfriend’s house. She’ll keep you for a while. She just don’t know it yet,” Harley chuckled.

“I don’t want to cause trouble, Harley,” Thorn started to protest but Harley raised his hand up.

“I offered my help and I stand by it. Deirdre can be a little rattlesnake at times and she’s wicked jealous but she’s got a good heart. We’ll just have to convince her.”

Harley had a tall 6’ frame, bald-head and a red goatee. He shrugged heavy shoulders as he started towards the door. Before he could reach it, a petite blond came flying out. As soon as she saw Thorn her face turned from joy to a snarl worthy of a large cat.

“Harley, who the hell is this?” Deirdre demanded. She’d stopped dead in her tracks and with her hand on her hip. She was dressed in an old pair of jeans and short boots, a low-cut spandex shirt, and too much makeup.

“Hi, honey, you sure look pretty,” Harley said, trying to lighten Deirdre’s mood.

“Cut the crap, Harley. Who the fuck is she?”

“Deirdre, this is Thorn. I told you about her. She’s the one doing my tattoos.”

“Oh, yeah!” Deirdre’s face changed in an instant with her smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said. Then she looked questioningly at Harley again. “It’s nice to meet her an’ all, but what’s she doing in my front yard?”

“That’s the stick of it, darlin’.” Deirdre tensed up, as Harley went over to her and started rubbing her arm and back. Raven landed on Thorn’s arm. “She’s got into some trouble with the law and needs a place to stay for a few days…”

“Oh no, Harley, Oh hell, no! I’m not a boarding house. No offense,” she said, as she looked at Thorn.

“None taken,” Thorn said, smiling at her, trying to be as amicable as possible. She really needed a place to stay.

“Baby, please. She has nowhere to go. I bet Thorn would give you a free tattoo even for the trouble,” Harley said, pleading with her with his eyes.

“I’d love too, Deirdre. It would be my pleasure,” Thorn said.

“What if I want a full back?”

“I still think that’s a fair trade.”

“Okay, come on in, before anyone sees you,” Deirdre said. She acted like she’d gotten the better deal even with the risk.

“Thank you,” Thorn said, as she carried her bag towards the house.

“We’ll see how this works,” Deirdre said. “And the bird has to stay outside.”

“Keep watch, dear friend, and be careful,” Thorn whispered to Raven.

“Yesth.” Raven flew up to the porch and surveyed the area.

“Will he stay there? It’s kinda creepy.”

“It’s either that or have him inside. He is well-trained.”

“He talks too, Deirdre,” Harley said. He was smiling, thinking everything was all settled and fine. Thorn knew things were far from fine. She would be walking on eggshells around Deirdre.

They made their way across the sagging porch and into an unexpectedly cheerful house. Deirdre had painted everything in bright colors. Plants hung from the ceiling and sat on every spare inch of flat surface. The furniture was used and eclectic but in good shape. Harley flopped down on the couch and Deirdre motioned for Thorn to follow her. She showed her to a little bedroom off the main living room. It had a twin bed and framed posters on the wall, of flower prints. Thorn sat her duffel bag down and Deirdre walked out of the room, and reappeared with clean sheets and a quilt.

“I keep this for when my kid shows up. She’s nineteen and in college so I only see her during the breaks.”

“That’s great she’s in college. You must be proud.” Thorn said.

Deirdre smiled, a genuine smile, “Yeah, she’s a smart kid, wants to be a biologist. Smart enough to be. Going to school on a full-ride scholarship.” Deirdre leaned against the door.