Chapter 5
Chapter
Five
Isat in my office, twirling a pen around my fingers while I contemplated Darlene’s death.
Where could one find a rogue shadow? Did it belong to someone on the island, or had it come to Evermore from elsewhere?
Another realm, or this world? So many questions and not a single answer, much like my situation with oni.
If I encountered the shadow, how would I fight it?
Swords and snakes would have no impact on an intangible object.
I considered my latent powers; it would be a great risk to use one of those, especially if I wasn’t certain they’d help.
All it would take was one eyewitness and I’d be subjected to questions I couldn’t—wouldn’t—answer.
I opened the browser and typed in a search for shadow lore.
Maybe reading would trigger an idea. My gaze drifted to Judd’s empty chair.
I wanted to moan and groan and say that if Judd were still here, he’d have an answer, but that wasn’t the truth.
Judd had been adept at certain parts of the job, but anything out of the ordinary was my territory.
That was how we operated. I gave Judd more credit than he deserved because I hadn’t wanted the mantle of responsibility he wore.
Been there, done that. Got the scars to prove it.
Never again.
Guilt flowed through my veins. I didn’t want to disparage Judd now that he was gone. That wasn’t fair, but it also wasn’t fair to keep him on a pedestal. Reality was starting to break through the cracks, and I owed it to myself—to the Neighborhood—not to look away and feign ignorance.
I allowed myself a few minutes to run through my old cases to see if any would be helpful in the current context.
I hadn’t tracked any shadows in my old life, but I’d had plenty of encounters with hard-to-find or hard-to-fight opponents.
That was why they’d been assigned to me.
I’d been the golden girl, the one they relied on to get the job done that no one else seemed able to accomplish.
The last resort. And I’d never failed them.
I’d been a dutiful soldier in a war no one knew we were fighting.
No one except those in a very small, incredibly tight inner circle.
Not even someone like Vale, the demigod Protector of the Region, would know.
That level of secrecy that had protected me was also the reason I was forced into hiding once I broke ranks.
Next, I pulled up the records of Darlene’s immediate neighbors to see whether there were any reports or complaints I’d missed.
Nothing. Like Darlene’s file, they were unproblematic.
Still, it would be worth a quick conversation with them.
I knew from experience that a file was only a snapshot of someone’s story.
I spent the next two hours knocking on doors and speaking to Neighbors in Darlene’s section of the building.
I chose my words carefully, not wanting to set off their alarm bells.
As expected, nobody had a bad word to say about Darlene, nor did I get the sense anyone was withholding information.
They were sad she was dead, but no one knew her well enough to actually grieve the loss.
It occurred to me that I wasn’t dissimilar from Darlene.
When I died, Neighbors would exchange polite words about me, but not one of them would shed a tear.
They’d be more concerned with who would take my place as the acting director of security.
They knew me, but they didn’t know me. It was my fault—I realized that—but I couldn’t change it.
I wouldn’t change it.
I shook off the thought. This had nothing to do with me. I needed to stay focused on Darlene.
How could I encourage the Neighborhood to report sightings of a shadow without setting off a firestorm of fear? Or hundreds of calls of people reporting glimpses of their own shadows? No, I would have to undertake this mission quietly and alone.
I had ample experience with both.
Hold Me Closer Necromancer brightened my screen as I returned to my cottage. I pushed open the front door with my butt.
“What’s up, Zach?”
“Curious as to whether you’d made any progress with the Darlene situation.”
“I assume you’re calling me from a secure location.”
“From the golf course, out of earshot of the other players.”
“Because you’re stuck in a sand trap and everyone moved on without you?”
“Because I’m so far ahead that I might as well head to the bar for a drink and come back later.”
“It must be so difficult to be superior to everyone else. How do you manage it?”
“With great effort and copious amounts of alcohol. I asked about Darlene.”
“I heard you, but I have no new information.”
“What have you been doing with your time?”
“I beg your finest pardon. I’ve been working, unlike you.”
“Need I remind you that if I hadn’t been working, you wouldn’t know there was a killer in our midst?”
“I’m having trouble tracking a shadow. I need more information. Male doesn’t really narrow it down.”
“Did you search Darlene’s condo?”
“Yes. And I spoke with her neighbors.”
“Have you tried magic? You’re security. No one will question why you’re using it.”
“Are you kidding? Neighbors are nosy. They question why I’m riding a bike instead of a golf cart. They question why I’m wearing my hair in a ponytail instead of loose.”
“Why would a woman of your age wear your hair in a ponytail?”
“Whoa. You did not just say that to me.”
“Ponytails are for children.”
“They’re also for people who don’t want their long hair used against them in a fight.”
“I wouldn’t mind watching women pull each other’s hair. Could be entertaining.”
“You’re lucky you’re not within striking distance right now.” There was no age limit on personal style. Ponytails. Short skirts. Make-up free.
He ignored my threat. “I need to go. I see Barnaby’s cart on the hill.”
“Break a leg,” I said, and disconnected.
Jinx streaked down the hallway to greet me.
“You won’t be so happy to see me when I tell you about the appointment I made for you on Friday with Dr. Adam.”
The cat hissed.
“Which word triggered you? Doctor?”
Jinx ran and hid behind the sofa. Sighing, I went straight to the refrigerator. I anticipated a very difficult week ahead of me.
My phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. I glanced at the name and tapped the screen. “Hi Dr. Adam.”
“Hello, Maya. How are you?”
“Not too bad. What’s up?”
“Are you available to meet?”
I looked longingly at the slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting on the plate in front of me. “Now? Jinx’s appointment isn’t until Friday.”
“I’m actually not in my office. I’m with a patient. I think you should see him.”
“I told you before, Doc. I’m not a healer and I’m not interested in becoming one.”
“That isn’t why I’m asking. It could be a security issue.” He paused. “I’m not sure, so I’d like to loop you in.”
“Where are you?” I asked, as I put the carrot cake in the fridge and blew it a kiss.
“Magnolia.” He gave me the unit number.
“Who lives there?”
“Ronald Greenleaf.”
His name wasn’t familiar. “Do I need any weapons?”
“No, no. It isn’t that sort of issue.”
“I’ll be there in ten.” I could’ve gobbled down the cake, but I preferred to savor every bite. Best to wait until I had time to enjoy it. Achilles had his heel; baked goods were my weakness. Toss a chocolate chip cookie over your shoulder as you run away and you’ll definitely slow me down.
I surveyed the cottage for Jinx. The bowls were empty, so I refilled the water. The food bowl would have to wait until the next meal. I’d already fed her breakfast, and Jinx was like a goldfish—she’d keep eating whatever I put in front of her.
Forget the goldfish. Jinx was like me.
I left the cottage and drove my golf cart to the address Dr. Adam had provided.
The druid was waiting outside the door when I arrived.
He was on the young end for a druid, and he looked more like a catalogue model than a healer.
Chiseled jaw. Clean-cut. Blond hair. Impeccable manners. He was born under a lucky star.
I was born under a blood moon.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” he said. “I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day.”
“It’s no problem. What’s the deal with Ronald?”
“I’ll show you.” He opened the door to the condo and motioned for me to enter first. Always a gentleman.
He guided me down a short hallway to the bedroom at the end. An elf lay beneath a sheet.
“He looks asleep,” I whispered.
“It’s closer to a vegetative state.”
I was confused. “This seems more like a medical issue than a security issue.”
“I don’t think so.” Dr. Adam picked up a folder from the top of the dresser. “This is Ronald’s chart. He’s always been healthy. He started sleeping more than usual, then the weight loss started.”
“Okay, that happens when someone becomes ill. What makes you think there’s a nefarious reason for his condition?”
“It was quick and drastic in nature, and there’s nothing in his test results that shows any kind of illness.”
I thought about the shadow that attacked Darlene. Could the same shadow be slowly killing Ronald? If so, then why kill her so quickly and brutally but leave Ronald to suffer?
“Would you mind if I check something?” I asked.
“That’s why I invited you here.”
I turned off the light, then directed the flashlight on my phone at the bed. The lumps of Ronald’s shadow appeared on the wall. I switched the light back on.
“What kind of test was that?”
“I wanted to make sure his shadow was intact.”
Dr. Adam’s brow furrowed. “Dare I ask?”
“Zachariah said you found Darlene Garvey.”
“That’s right.”
“Did you happen to notice anything unusual in the condo when you were there?”
“You mean aside from the deceased? No, nothing comes to mind.”
“The window in her bedroom was slightly open when I went to look around. Do you recall if it was closed when you were there?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice the window. I was too focused on Darlene.”