“I plan on it. I don’t like that he’s playing with threats.” I opened the door to the stairwell, and we both went down the stairs. “I have to focus on this case with Mason and on that phone call this morning. I’m Levi’s eyes and ears during the day on this, so I can’t fuck it up.”
“Then what’s the address?”
I gave Merick the address, and we looked it up on Google. “I’ve never been there. It’ll probably be safer to drive.” He frowned.
I raised a brow. “Do you even own a car?”
“Yes, I do, and it’s a fast one.” He put his hand on my shoulder, and we disappeared from the hospital.
Merick was right. His car was some European sports car, and the way he drove had me clinging to the door. I was starting to appreciate the ability to just poof in and out of places.
The directions on the app took us out to a rural area, and I started to have flashbacks to a previous case, the exploding barn that held a body in it, a three-legged werewolf.
I frowned. I didn’t think this was the same area, but it looked almost identical.
Then I was proven wrong when I saw the remains of the barn from the road. “Some thing’s not right here.”
Merrick and I got out of the car, and I took a moment to look around. The area looked untouched since PIB had gone through it for the case a few years ago. I pulled out my phone and called Oliver.
“Abby, what did you find?”
“This is the scene of an old case. Are you sure this is where the call came from?”
“Positive. Have you gone to the exact location?”
I took a deep breath. “We’re on the side of the road, a few yards away from the barn that exploded.”
“Oh, that case.” Oliver started laughing. “Go see what you can find and let me know.”
I disconnected the phone and shoved it in my pocket. “You first.” I motioned to the barn, and Merick raised a brow.
“Why me?”
“Because last time I went near that barn, it exploded thanks to runes from the cult.”
Merick nodded. “Devin.”
“Yep.”
Interesting that Nick had chosen to come back to town the same day I received a call from the location his brother blew up. I pressed my lips together as I followed Merick through the long grass and to the ruins of the barn. There wasn’t much left, and most of the small debris had disappeared over the last few years.
Merick knelt and flipped over a piece of burnt wood, revealing a digital recorder. I grabbed gloves out of my bag and put them on before I picked the recorder up.
I pressed the back button and then play.
‘Find me…’ following the blood-curdling scream.
I looked at Merick, and he shrugged. “Someone’s fucking with me.”
A shock went through the area, and Merick grabbed my arm the same time I threw up a circle. The ground around us flew up as if something hit it. Debris went flying past us, banging into the circle. A flash nearly blinded me, and I turned to Merick.
“I swear to the goddess if this is your people’s doing, I’m going to kill someone,” I snarled.
He shook his head. “They know you’re protected.”
When the splattering of dirt finally fell. I dropped the circle and looked around. I didn’t sense anything that I could have triggered, but another shock went through the area.
“We’re out of here now,” Merick snarled and grabbed my arm again. The world around me disappeared to be replaced by my house.
I was trying to remember how to breathe when we reappeared. “That was a stupid attempt on my life.”
“Seems like it.” Merick stroked his chin while he thought. “Someone who knew you worked that case and knew how to attract you there.”
“Nick.” I didn’t even put a question into my voice. “But honestly, those cases are open to anyone since they were solved. I don’t think Nick would have gone through that much work to try and kill me.”
“I agree, he’s not smart enough for that.”
I snorted. “He’s smart. He faked his own death, wandered around the underground for a couple years, and now he’s back.”
“Just in time for your current lead and partner to disappear,” Merick added.
I paused. I hadn’t thought about that. Could he be connected to Liz’s disappearance?
My phone rang, and I saw my uncle’s name on the screen. “Someone tried to blow me up.”
“Abigail, you must stop making that a habit,” he answered with a laugh. “I doubt it was the Cult this time. Any ideas on who?”
“Just one, but I’m not sure if it’ll pan out. Once I get the car fixed, I’m going to head out to the first place Liz sent me. I think it’s time I start looking for her despite her desire for me to not respond to the messages she sent.”
“Levi called a council meeting tonight. Did you know that?”
I wrinkled my nose. “No, I didn’t. Why do you know that, and I don’t?”
“He didn’t say. I assume he’ll call you in a little bit, or he’ll spring it on you. I wouldn’t mention you almost getting blown up again today unless you want some extra security hanging around.”
I made an annoyed voice. “Fine, fine. I’ll talk to you later.” I hung the phone up and looked at Merick. “Drug-laced bullet, blowing up old crime scenes. Neither of those seems to be connected.”
Merick shrugged. “It’s your life Abigail, does anything ever really line up?”
I shook my head. “Eventually it all does.” I glanced at my watch. “I wonder if Travis is done with the car yet.”
“I have to go get mine at some point.” Merick crossed his arms. “You
