“Oh, so touching,” Jacob intoned, rolling his eyes.
“You made this decision yourself, though,” Hannah continued, calling on the magic so she could pool it. She didn’t have a lot to draw from, but she was hoping it would be enough. “You decided that you wanted vengeance instead of healing, so you’ve really backed me into a corner.”
Becky’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t make this any more difficult than it has to be.”
“You’re the one who forced my hand.” With those words, Hannah unleashed her magic. She went with a short burst first in both directions, expecting the furies to dodge. They moved forward, just as she expected, and when she let loose the second burst they were caught unaware.
Jacob was the first to react and his head snapped back. He let loose an unearthly howl that had Jinx trembling in his bed.
Becky’s reaction was different. Her eyes darkened, hatred pooled there, and for a split-second Hannah believed she was looking at the real Becky. It wasn’t the fury’s death fueling the face staring back at her. It was anger about not getting her vengeance, and it was coming from the real woman.
It was over in an instant, though. The furies puffed to dust at the same moment, plunging the barn into eerie silence.
Hannah let out a relieved sigh and then sank backwards. Cooper caught her before she could hit the ground.
“Are you okay?” He looked terrified.
She patted his cheek and smiled. “Yeah. I just need a nap. Put me with Jinx.”
“I’m not putting you in a dog bed,” he argued. “I ... .”
“Put me with Jinx.” She closed her eyes and passed out. Because he was loyal to a fault, she knew he would follow her wishes, even if he didn’t want to. That was the last thought she had before the darkness claimed her.
19
Nineteen
Hannah woke to voices. Her mind was muddled ... and her nose was wet. When she wrenched open her eyes, she found Jinx licking her face and smiled.
“Hey.” Cooper had been watching her for signs of movement for almost an hour. If she didn’t rouse soon, he was prepared to transport her to the hospital despite admonishments from Jackie and Danielle — who had shown up not long after the fight — that it was unnecessary. “Are you okay?” He dropped to his knees next to her, ignoring the look Jinx gave him.
“I’m fine,” Hannah reassured him, absently stroking Jinx’s soft fur. “I’m just ... tired.”
“You’re tapped out,” Jackie countered, moving so she was standing directly in front of Hannah. “We’ve talked about this. You need to learn how to use your magic without draining yourself.”
“Hey, she took out five furies today,” Cooper groused. “I think she went above and beyond. There’s no reason to give her grief.”
Rather than be offended by his tone, Jackie snickered. “I didn’t mean to step on her toes. She did amazingly well. Still, if things like this are going to keep happening, we need to make sure she can fight without exhausting herself. She’s going to sleep fifteen hours tonight.”
“That sounds nice.” Cooper smiled at Hannah as he ordered her hair. “I’ll be right there with her.”
“I’m sure you will.” Jackie turned her attention back to Boone, who looked to be doing something with a tape measure. “Are you ready to move the vehicles?”
Boone nodded. “Yeah. I have no idea where the reporter was parked — or how she got out here — but given where Becky’s car is located, it probably doesn’t matter.”
The abrupt conversational shift threw Hannah for a loop. “What are you talking about?”
Boone shifted his eyes to her and Hannah was surprised to find sympathy residing there. “We have to come up with an explanation for all of this,” he started.
“We have to protect Casper Creek,” Jackie added.
Hannah still didn’t understand. “How are you going to do that?”
“By pointing the finger at Becky,” Cooper replied, cringing at the expression that crossed her face.
“We can’t do that.” Hannah’s voice was stronger thanks to the outrage. “She’s not to blame.”
“No, but she didn’t have any family that was local,” Jackie replied. “She had a mother, but they were estranged. Becky makes the most sense to use as a scapegoat.”
“How are you going to pin this all on her?” Hannah was incensed.
“We’re going to put Portia’s body in her trunk and then I’m going to receive an anonymous tip from someone who saw an individual who looked like Becky put her there,” Boone replied. “We’re not going to explain Jacob’s disappearance, but when asked, I’m going to say he was looking into Becky’s background.”
Hannah’s mouth dropped open. “You’re going to lie.”
“We are.” Boone nodded in agreement. “We’re going to lie to protect you and this place. That’s all we can do.”
“But ... .” Hannah was bewildered. She never expected this.
“Hannah, it’s the only thing we can do,” Cooper assured her in a quiet voice. “Becky had motive, means, and opportunity. She could’ve conceivably done something to Rob — at least as far as the police are concerned — to set this whole thing in motion. Justin’s death is a tragedy that happened because of the furies ... and Becky was a fury. She’s our only chance at making this go away.”
“But ... .” It all felt so wrong. Hannah didn’t think she could swallow it. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Hopefully you won’t have to do anything,” Boone supplied. “I’m going to be the one doing the heavy lifting.” He closed his mouth, as if finished, and then changed course. “Hannah, what you did today was amazing. You saved a bunch of people because we have no idea what these furies were capable of. They could’ve murdered endless people on their way out the door.
“You saved the people at the restaurant, too,” he continued. “You protected us, your family, and now I’m going to protect you. There is no other
