CHAPTER SIX #3
He returned faster than I expected, and joined me on the couch, but seated himself at the opposite end of the sofa, keeping a socially acceptable distance between the two of us. Now that Chloe was out of the room, his demeanor had shifted back to a more formal one.
He inclined his head. “You said you had something to discuss with me?”
“Right.” I reached for my bag to withdraw the files. “I had a private investigator take a look into Shelby and Sawyer’s backgrounds.”
He sat slightly forward. “What did you find?”
I got straight to the point. “Do you know where Sawyer’s people are from?”
“Sawyer is from Missouri—the Rolla area. But he’s estranged from his family.”
“Is that what he told you?” I asked, as I went through the papers from Nash.
“Yes,” he answered. “When I interviewed him, I was more interested in his degree in library sciences and his work experience than his hometown.”
I nodded. “In your position as the leader of a ceremonial lodge, may I ask if you’ve had contact, or dealings, with other Supernatural communities in the south?”
“Not formally in my capacity as the head of the lodge, no I have not.”
“Okay,” I said. “Have you ever heard of a place called Hemlock Hollow?”
Charles didn’t react to my question. In fact, everything about him went unnaturally still.
“Have you?” I pressed for his answer.
He didn’t so much as blink. “I have.”
“Sawyer is from Hemlock Hollow, and his family still resides there.” I held out the page with Sawyer’s personal information. “You may want to take a look at this.”
He took the page from me and read it. After a moment he lifted his eyes to mine. “Son of a bitch,” he hissed.
“My reaction was a bit more colorful,” I told him. “Especially when I was informed of Sawyer’s roommate’s manner of death and the likely murder weapon.”
Silently, he raised his eyes to mine in question.
“A long double-sided blade,” I answered. “Like a sword.”
He shut his eyes and leaned back against the sofa. “Suddenly the murder of Sawyer’s roommate takes on a whole new level of paranormal problems.”
“Charles, do you have your home warded against the Fae?” I asked him bluntly.
His eyes snapped open. “You’ve never used my given name before.”
“I was trying to get your attention,” I said, frowning at him. “Just answer the question. Is this home warded against the Fae?”
“It is,” he said. “But trust me when I tell you that it’s about to become vigorously protected on a whole new level—” His words stumbled to a halt. “That’s why you gave the verbena to Chloe. The herb is thought to protect from the glamour of the Fae.”
“Correct,” I said. “Now, please tell me that your magickal library is not here in your home, or anywhere around your daughter.”
“No, of course not.” He shook his head. “The collection is at my offices in the lodge.”
“I’d re-ward your offices and magickal library, as well as your home, if I were you.”
“After the theft I reworked them at the lodge, but now I’ll strengthen and refine them all.” He handed me back the paper and the concern on his face was plain. “Do you believe it’s possible that the Fae are still here in Birmingham?”
“Honestly? I think there’d be more bodies and unsolved murders if they were.
They can be absolutely ruthless,” I said, tucking the page back in the file.
“Good news? They despise big cities, the mortal world, and its technology. If you’re unfortunate to stumble across the Fae, it’s typically in a wild place, and only because they want you to see them. ”
“I admit that I haven’t had any experience with the Fae,” he said. “I’ve read about them, heard stories, but I’ve never had any personal contact with them.”
His candor had me blinking in surprise. So I asked him, “How about Lycans and Vampires?”
“Vampires, yes,” he admitted. “I have had business dealing with the Vampire House Olarescu in the past.” When I raised my eyebrows at that, he added, “Real estate business.”
“That tracks,” I said. “They are typically more urbane and upscale creatures. Whereas Lycans tend to live more rurally.”
“The Olarescu House is obsessively private,” he warned me.
“Darlin’ trust me,” I said dryly, “I’ve met the matriarch of that particular house, and while I wouldn’t go so far as to call Ekaterina and I BFFs, we get along well enough. Probably because I have a healthy respect for her clan—I give them plenty of space.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said, rising to his feet. “Thank you for bringing this information to me tonight, Lorna.”
Recognizing the gentle dismissal, I tucked the folder back in my purse and stood as well. “Of course.”
He gestured for me to walk before him and silently accompanied me to the elevator. The doors slid open and I stepped inside.
“Drive safe,” he said as I reached for the garage floor button.
“Goodnight, Charles,” I said as the doors slid shut.
As the elevator traveled down to the parking level, I wondered what in the world would happen next in Birmingham.
“Definitely going to work some protection magick tonight,” I said to myself. “Both for my house and New Moon Books.”