The notion of children terrified me. “I’m afraid I’ll end up like them.”
“Zoe and Aric? I thought that was the point.”
“Not them. The other … them.”
“Your parents?”
I nodded. “I don’t want to be the sort of person who would leave a child behind.”
“You’re not that sort of person. I guarantee it.”
“I honestly hope that’s true.”
“It is. I feel it here.” He tapped the spot above his heart.
I stared for a moment longer and then cast him a look over my shoulder. “That’s not something to talk about today.”
His smirk was flirty. “Or tomorrow or next week. We don’t live our lives for what’s happening this month, though. It’s okay to think about the future.”
“Not today.”
“Not today,” he acquiesced. “But next week I’m going nuts.”
“Good to know.” I knocked on the door, hating that I had to wake them.
Aric was the one who answered and he looked befuddled. “What time is it?” he muttered.
“Five o’clock.”
He pushed open the door so we could enter. In the adjacent bedroom, Sami and Zoe sat and rubbed their eyes. They obviously weren’t the type of people who woke with clear minds.
“I’m sorry to wake you guys,” I apologized. “Sincerely. It’s just ... we got a lead.” I explained about the information we’d gleaned from Mama Moon.
“What’s the Dirty Rooster?” Zoe asked. Her hair was a mess but she didn’t appear to care.
“It’s a supernatural speakeasy of sorts. It’s out in the middle of the woods and only locals go. I discovered it a few weeks ago.”
“Do you think we’ll find answers there?”
“I don’t know. I have to check. I figured you might want to go with me.”
“We’ll go together,” Aric said. “Rafael isn’t back yet. We need to figure out where he is so we have someone to watch Sami.”
From the bedroom, Sami made a disgusted sound. “I’m fourteen. I can be a babysitter myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”
Aric cast her an amused look. “What crazy person would allow you to babysit their kids?”
“I didn’t say I wanted to be a babysitter. I said I could be. Kids are stupid.”
“Oh, you’re finally singing our song,” Aric teased, dragging a hand through his black hair. “You need someone to watch you.”
I hesitated and then decided to go for it. “Rooster texted when we were on our way back from Mama Moon’s place. He’s hosting a barbecue behind the Cauldron for our group. It won’t be much, just burgers and hot dogs, but I figured it might be a way for you to meet the rest of our team. If you’re comfortable, I’m sure someone there can watch Sami.”
The look on Zoe’s face told me that was unlikely to happen. “No offense, but we don’t know them.”
“I know.”
“You expect us to leave our most precious cargo with people we don’t know?”
“It was just a suggestion,” I offered hurriedly. “If you don’t feel comfortable, I totally understand.”
Zoe glanced at Aric, uncertainty etched on her face. “What do you think?”
“I think I want to lock her in the trunk and never let anyone look at her,” Aric replied. “That goes double for whatever boy has got her attention this month.”
“Whatever,” Sami grumbled, causing me to smile.
“I don’t think we should rule anything out just yet.” Aric was obviously the pragmatic sort. He would have to be with a wife like Zoe and a daughter trying to rush headlong over the cusp of womanhood. “Let’s play it by ear.”
Zoe nodded. “Fair enough.” She moved to the small table in the corner and grabbed a laptop. “When does the barbecue start?”
“Forty-five minutes,” Gunner replied. “It’s basically come as you are.”
“I think we should shower,” Aric said. “Sami, you’re up first. You take the longest to get ready.”
Sami made a grumbling sound and slid off the bed. “That’s because I’m prettiest.”
“Five minutes in the shower,” Aric ordered. “Don’t be a hot water hog.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Zoe was intent on the computer, which confused me, and then she started talking. “I wondered if you were ever going to pick up.” She sounded aggrieved.
To my utter surprise, a female voice responded from the computer. “Some of us have work. Things have been nuts here.”
“Religious cult. You told me.” Zoe swallowed. “I need some information.”
“Well, it’s good to see you, too,” the invisible female drawled.
Curious, I moved to look over Zoe’s shoulder and found she was talking to a pretty brunette, also in her forties, who had the highest cheekbones I’d ever seen. She looked exotic, like she belonged on the pages of some bohemian clothing catalog. She also looked exasperated.
“I’m sorry.” Zoe held up her hands in defeat, but she hardly looked contrite. “We’ve got a bit of a thing going on.”
“You’re still coming, right?” Something akin to panic whipped across the woman’s face. “I told these guys you would be here. We have a lot going on.”
Zoe nodded. “We’ll be there. We’re dealing with something here, but I hope to have it wrapped up in the next few days.”
“Okay.” The woman shifted her eyes to me. “Where are you ... and who is that?”
“This is Scout.” This time Zoe’s smile was genuine. “She’s a new friend. Scout, this is Paris Princeton. She was my roommate in college. She’s the extra-special researcher I told you about.”
Something inside me settled even though I hadn’t yet agreed to put her on the case. Zoe obviously trusted this person, I was guessing both with her child and her life. If Zoe thought she could help, I was hopeful she could.
“You need me to do research?” Paris looked dubious. “I thought you were over stuff like that. Didn’t you say we live in the Old West now?”
“Meaning you’re going to shoot first and ignore everything else?” I cracked.
Zoe nodded, a half-smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I have a way about me.” She sobered. “This isn’t about me, Paris. I need to know if you’ve
