“Okay.” I played along, couching the comment differently in an attempt to regain my position. “Then, I’m afraid that, given the opportunity, I might kill Porter.”
“Are you?”
I tilted my head and endeavored to take a puff on my cigar, only to find that it had gone out. “You were supposed to say, ‘Correct, Rowan, now pass go and here is your two hundred dollars.’”
“That prize is not going to come from me, Rowan. It is an epiphany that will come from inside of you.”
“Helen, you’re making my head hurt.”
She smiled and chuckled once again. “I am sure that this is not the first time I have done so, Rowan, and I suspect that it will not be the last.”
“Thanks.” Sincerity permeated my voice.
Helen finished lighting a fresh cigarette and allowed herself a deep drag then exhaled before looking out across the yard and answering me. “For what, Rowan?”
“For putting up with my hard-headedness, I guess.”
“You are most welcome.”
I rummaged about in my pocket for a lighter and then knocked the dead ash from the end of my cigar. I turned my back to the wind and shielded the end of the smoke as I brought fire to it once again, twisting it carefully to keep the ember even. While I stuffed the lighter back into my pocket, I turned the stogie around and gazed at the glowing coal as I blew on it, inspecting for runs. Satisfied, I tucked it back in the corner of my mouth and puffed as I leaned forward on the deck railing.
“So, back to Felicity,” I finally said. “She’s seemed kind of edgy-even before she was kidnapped, I mean. You’re sure she feels safe?”
“I never said that your wife feels safe, Rowan,” she answered in a no-nonsense tone. “I said that she does not lack confidence in your ability to protect her.”
“Okay, call me dense, but I don’t see what the difference is.”
“She has her own fear, Rowan.”
“Has she been any better at recognizing hers than I am at mine?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, she has.”
“Any chance you could share?”
“No, Rowan. That is something for her to express if she is to come to terms with it herself.”
“You do know that she’s a Taurus, right?”
“Then I suspect that when she decides to express her feelings, you will be hard pressed to miss her point.”
I nodded as I stared out into the falling snow. “Yeah, but will I end up impaled on it is the question.”
“I thought Albright took you off this case?” I asked Ben, keeping my voice low.
My friend had just finished telling me that he’d been in touch with the officers searching the area where the phone call from Porter had originated. Unfortunately, they were coming up empty; of course, I had expected that to be the case.
“Yes and no,” he answered, keeping his voice hushed as well. “I’m not involved in the investigation, but I just got officially assigned to you and Firehair.”
We were standing in the kitchen, both of us working on steaming mugs of coffee. It was probably the best cup I’d had in a month and most certainly the best I’d had today: a rich, flavorful brew derived from freshly ground Kona beans with just a hint of cinnamon and hazelnut in the background. We owed this small pleasure to the fact that Nancy had always been the connoisseur of the drink within our group; therefore, her pantry was always fully stocked with the finer makings of java.
“Bodyguard duty?” I asked before taking a sip of my drink.
He nodded. “Somethin’ like that, yeah.”
“So maybe she had a change of heart,” I offered. “She knows that we’re friends.”
“Dream on, white man.” He shook his head and frowned as he spoke. “She wants ta’ make sure she can find us. It’s her way of keepin’ me under her thumb.”
I nodded in understanding. “If you’re watching us then she knows where you are at all times.”
“Where we ALL are,” he added. “‘Zactly.”
I gave him a quick shrug. “Could be worse.”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “At least this way I can keep my finger in without raisin’ too much suspicion.”
“You know, Ben,” I began. “If your connection with me is going to screw up your career…”
“Haven’t we talked about this before?” he interrupted.
“I’m just saying…”
He held up his hand and gave his head a quick shake. “Forget it. My career, my decision, end of story.”
Looking past my friend for a moment, I watched as Felicity re-filled her own cup. She was standing in the pass-thru alcove between the kitchen and the dining room.
Just by looking at her, you couldn’t tell that she was worn out, but I knew better. We were all running on adrenalin, caffeine, and extended second winds; at least she looked good doing it, which was more than I could say for myself.
The comforting sounds of a fire crackling in the fireplace on the other side of the alcove provided the ambient backdrop to the quiet conversations scattered throughout the dining area. The earthy scent of the burning wood filled the air. Outside, snow was continuing to fall in steady curtains of white. Were it not for the circumstances, this just might have been a perfect, laid-back day to sit and visit with friends.
“Helen seems to be fitting right in then.” My wife voiced the observation as she sidled up next to me and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“Yeah, that’s my sis for ya’,” Ben returned as he cast a glance back over his shoulder.
As my friend turned back to us, his cell phone began warbling. He plucked it from his belt and inspected the face. “Fuck me, it’s Bible Barb,” he muttered aloud as he glanced around then cocked his head in the direction of the hallway. “I don’t wanna disturb anyone, so I’ll be up front.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He was already answering the phone with a curt, one word admission of his last name as he exited.
“It’s a good thing,” I offered to my wife as I watched Ben leave.
“What is?” she asked.
“Helen fitting in so well. She can lessen the burden on you.”
“Aye, that she can, but I’m their Priestess. It is MY job to be there for them.”
I frowned with concern. “You don’t resent her being here do you?”
“Not at all.” She dismissed my question. “It is just that I have a responsibility to them. It is something that comes with the title High Priestess, you know.”
“Yes, I know, hon, and you HAVE been there for them,” I soothed. “But you need a break too, and Goddess knows I’m not much help in this department.”
“Aye, you aren’t,” she sighed the matter-of-fact statement. “On top of that, you’re just another worry for me, in and of yourself then.”
Her voice held a slight hint of animosity at the end, leading me to believe the second half of her statement was what bothered her most. I was only slightly taken aback by her brutal honesty. I’d grown used to it over the years.
Back up the hallway, I heard the faint treble of Ben’s cell phone ringing yet again.
“Sorry,” I said.
“No need to apologize,” she told me. “I’m not angry with you. Not about that anyway. I know you’ve as much to deal with as I.”
“But you’re mad at me about something else?”
“Aye, but this is neither the time nor place to discuss it then.”
“Felicity, I know how you are,” I said. “If you don’t let it out, you’ll just build up resentments.”
“Don’t you worry then,” she instructed. “I’ll get over it.”
