Original Sin

her.

But someone had stolen the truck Anthony had been driving. If Anthony was injured, the fire department would be there in minutes. If he was dead, she would know it far too soon.

Torn, but making her choice, she made a U-turn and followed the truck from a distance. There were at least three people in the vehicle.

She called dispatch with her cell phone, in case the thief was monitoring police radio transmissions. “It’s McPherson. I need to get a GPS reading on my assigned vehicle.”

“Lose it again?”

“Excuse me?”

“An hour ago I had a request for a GPS on your truck, that someone had stolen it.”

“Who made that request?”

“Deputy Young.”

Skye felt both betrayal and rage. Young-she’d worked with him for eight years, ever since he was fresh out of the police academy. He was born and raised in Santa Louisa. He was one of them? A spy-a witch-in her own department? Were there more?

“Sergeant,” she said, “I don’t know what’s going on with Young, but my truck wasn’t stolen until five minutes ago.” She wasn’t supposed to let anyone else use her official vehicle; as sheriff she was supposed to set an example. She’d have a lot to answer for when this was over.

If she survived.

“Yes, ma’am,” the sergeant said. “Here it is. I’m tracking it. Will send the coordinates to your car-what are you driving?”

“Unmarked vehicle number six-niner-zero.”

“One sec … okay. You should have it on your computer.”

She tapped a key and there was her truck five blocks ahead, still going north on Main Street.

“Thanks. I may need backup.” Who could she trust? She didn’t know anymore.

“Everyone is tied up, but I can pull a team.”

“Jorgenson. Call him in.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.” He had given her the key information on Matthew Walker; he had to be on her side. She hoped she hadn’t read him wrong.

Trust your instincts.

“Jorgenson and David Collins. Have them track my unmarked car and meet up with me ASAP. Radio silence on this. Cell phones only. Over.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Ari blubbered. Jared wanted to slap her to make her shut up, but he didn’t.

He’d destroyed the first altar, the easiest one he could get to, and they’d just arrived at the second. When Ari woke up, she remembered everything and seemed to have turned into a wailing lunatic.

“Either help me or shut up,” he said. “Or both.”

“I-” She stopped. “I’m sorry, Jared.”

She was calmer now, so Jared responded, “It’s okay. It’s my fault too. I helped you.”

“I didn’t really give you a choice.”

“Of course I had a choice.”

She shook her head. “I cast a spell of compliance. I wanted you to agree with everything I wanted to do. You argued, fought it, but I got everything I wanted. Do you think you would have agreed to be part of my circle if you weren’t under a spell?”

He didn’t know.

“I’m worried,” he said. “I’ve been trying to reach Moira and Anthony. No one’s around. I feel like I should be doing something!”

“We are.” She overturned the altar and scattered the herbs, dirt, and stone far and wide.

Bright lights came up the road, followed by police lights and the whirl of a siren.

“Shit,” Jared said.

When the cop got out of the car Jared recognized him. “Dad!”

Hank Santos approached. He looked angry, but he rubbed his head as if in pain. “What are you doing out here this late? This town is insane tonight. I’ve been on call after call; I’ve been worried sick about you.”

Jared almost argued with him, but the worry and stress in his dad’s voice melted away his anger. It had been a hard two years after his mom died, and Jared had been upset when his dad started dating again a few months ago. He was being selfish and critical, and now was a good time to grow up.

He said, “Dad, I need your help. Please. You’re the only one I can turn to. I need you.”

Hank stared at him. Tears came to his eyes; he took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, then put the glasses back on. “You still need me?”

“I’ll always need my dad. We’re family, and that will never change.”

The relief and love on Hank’s face eased Jared’s mind. Family mattered, Hank used to say. And now Jared realized why it was so important. Forgiveness meant pushing aside all the crap, the hard feelings and mistakes. They loved you, unconditionally, if you let them.

“Tell me what’s going on, son.”

Jared sighed with relief. “It’s going to be hard to believe, but I swear it’s the God’s honest truth.”

“After the things I’ve seen tonight, I’d believe just about anything.”

Good Shepherd was a wall of flames so hot and bright that Rafe and Moira didn’t dare get close.

“Where’s Anthony? Where’s Father?” Moira said as she jumped out of the car.

Rafe followed. “Hold on, Moira,” he said.

“No, no! What if they’re inside? I told them to come here! I told them-”

Rafe spun her around and gave her a shake. “Moira. Listen to me.”

Her brows came together and he felt her biceps flex. She didn’t like being manhandled or ordered around, but he needed her one hundred percent focused. “Let go,” she said quietly.

He loosened his grip but didn’t let go. “No panicking.”

“I don’t panic,” she said, but glanced down. “I’m sorry.”

“Can you feel any magic?”

“No! I can’t feel anything-”

“You need to relax. Be calm.”

“I can’t, dammit! What if they’re dead? Because of me?”

“Moira, listen. The only way you can help them is to focus, and you can’t use all your senses if you’re panicking.” Rafe took her hands in his and squeezed tight. “I’m right here. Relax. Is there any magic at work? Can you sense if anyone is inside? Injured?”

The heat from the blaze uncomfortably warmed the air around them. His back was hot, sweat was beading on his brow. He watched Moira work to get her emotions under control.

“I can’t,” she said, though she was breathing easier.

Rafe stared into Moira’s eyes. “Yes, you can. Breathe. Now let it out.”

He saw the moment she found her balance. Her entire body relaxed as if the panic had whooshed out. Her grip relaxed in his hands, but he didn’t let her go. “What do you sense?”

“Old spells. Old demons. They’re burning. There’s a new gateway here. Dammit! They opened another gateway. Too many and we’ll lose control-”

Rafe interrupted, calm but firm. “That’s for another day. Right now, is anyone working a spell?”

She shook her head. “No. No active spells. Nothing-” She stopped, her mouth dropped open, and she stared over his shoulder.

“What is it?” He glanced behind him, saw nothing but the evil building engulfed in bright orange flames. The