Carnal Sin

“I can’t tell you. You put yourself in the middle of it when you told me you had an affair with the deceased.”

She angrily got in Grant’s face. “Dammit, Nelson! Don’t blow me off. Did you look at the files I gave you? The orgies? The occult rituals? There isn’t just one person responsible, and you know it.”

Moira’s interest piqued. She sat up. Grant shot her a look. “You can leave, Ms. O’Donnell.”

“I don’t think I want to now,” she said.

Nina looked her up and down, then extended her hand. “Nina Hardwick, attorney for the Board of Supervisors.”

Moira shook her hand, sensing the energy that made up Nina Hardwick’s invisible aura. She wasn’t a witch. And now she had an ally.

“I’d like to hear about the orgies and occult rituals,” Moira said.

“No! This is a police investigation,” Grant snapped, losing his temper.

“But you said the case was closed,” Moira snapped back.

“Closed?” Nina said. “You closed it?”

“No! I didn’t.”

“But you said-” Moira countered.

“I was being sarcastic.”

“Then you still need my help,” Moira said.

“The time I call in a psychic to help me in an investigation is when I turn in my resignation.”

Nina stared at Moira, eyes wide. “You’re psychic?”

Moira couldn’t tell whether she was skeptical or in awe. “Not exactly; I sometimes have visions of past and current events.” She wasn’t even lying with that statement. She liked Nina Hardwick. The woman was tough as nails and she irritated Grant Nelson. “What files?” she asked.

“Where are my files, Grant?” Nina asked. “I want to show this girl, Miss O’Donnell?”

“Moira.”

“They’re part of a police investigation,” Grant said.

“Ah-ha! So the case isn’t closed.”

Grant stood up. “That’s it, both of you out of here or I’m putting you in custody for interfering with a police investigation. Nina-stay out of it. You, O’Donnell-don’t leave L.A. until you hear from me.”

Nina was going to argue, but Moira quickly said, “Thank you, Detective Nelson. You have my number.” She gave Nina a sideways glance and the woman picked up on the hint.

Nina said to Grant, “You’d better tell me exactly what you find out about Pamela Erickson and this dead suspect or I swear, I’ll make your life hell.”

If he lives long enough, Moira thought.

TWENTY-TWO

Julie drove her sporty convertible to Wendy’s spacious house in the Hollywood Hills. She had never been so terrified in her life.

“Wendy doesn’t know,” she whispered to herself. She couldn’t know! Then why ask her to meet now?

Julie had done everything Wendy asked of her. She’d planted the hex bag. She’d lied to Moira O’Donnell because she wanted her on her side to save Grant, but the hex bag would let Julie find him anywhere-just like the one she’d planted on Nadine. She’d gotten Rachel Prince to drink the potion so the demon could possess her. She’d tracked Nadine when Wendy couldn’t reach her-how were they to know that the demon could release Nadine on its own? It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. Julie wondered whether Moira O’Donnell had done it. She didn’t believe for one minute that O’Donnell wasn’t a full-fledged practicing witch. If she wasn’t, why was she still alive? What she knew-what she could do with that knowledge-could damage covens across the globe. If she weren’t a powerful witch, she would have been killed.

Julie had done everything she’d been asked-everything except turn Grant over to the succubus-so why did she feel that Wendy was lying to her?

“We’re having a meeting at my house to discuss the problem of Moira O’Donnell and her boyfriend. Don’t be late.”

Julie was early. She parked in the driveway. Pam was already there. With Nadine dead, that left their coven with eight members. Nine was the perfect number; who was Wendy going to recruit? Julie didn’t see Nicole stepping up to take orders from her sister Wendy.

She took a deep breath and got out of her car. She walked around to the side of the house and down the outside stairs, to the bottom level. Glancing in through the window, she saw that the room was a mess, but there was a new circle cast on the main hardwood floor-not in front of the altar. She didn’t know how Cooper and O’Donnell had gotten out alive-other than by using magic. Moira O’Donnell had incredible powers. It was the only explanation.

Why had she denied it?

She opened the door. Wendy was on the far side of the room, with her sister Nicole and Pam Erickson.

“Julie,” Wendy said without turning. “I have someone for you to meet.”

Julie’s blood ran cold. She froze as her eyes fixed on the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen, standing naked in the center of the spirit trap.

The stranger’s golden hair flowed down her back in waves of silk moving as if blown by a gentle breeze, though there were no windows or doors open in the room. Creamy, flawless skin encased graceful arms, shapely legs, and full, round breasts. Her bright eyes, as exquisite and sharp as two amethyst crystals, locked on Julie. Though she smiled, the chill in Julie’s veins settled deep in her bones.

As the strangely beautiful woman moved to the edge of the circle, Julie noticed a naked man lying on his back. His eyes were open, his contorted face frozen in shock. His penis stood straight up, impossibly long and engorged. But he didn’t move. Was he dead?

It was Ike, their bartender at Velocity.

“Wh-why?” Julie asked. She wanted to be strong, but her knees shook and she couldn’t move.

Run, Julie, dammit, run!

“Our friend needed sustenance, since you kept her from the sacrifice. Ike has screwed every waitress in the club; he jumped at the chance to come to my place for an orgy.” She laughed.

“What are you talking about?” Wendy had always been unpredictable, but she was acting fool-crazy.

“You didn’t fool me. Grant was so freaked and tired last night you could have easily taken him to his place. But no, you took him to your apartment, where you set up a spirit trap to protect him.”

“I’ve always set up protections around my home! You know that.”

“Yes. I do. Which was why you were supposed to take him to his house.” She waved her hand as if swatting a gnat. “No matter.” Wendy rose and faced her. Her grin terrified Julie. “Our new, very powerful friend has taught me a lot since last night. We now have an understanding.” Wendy looked at the woman-the demon-with admiration and a palpable affection that turned Julie’s stomach.

“I saw you, Julie.” Wendy’s voice turned venomous. “You’re not the only one who can leave her body. I saw you leave the hotel. I watched, and then Moira O’Donnell came out. You’ve betrayed me. The only reason you’re not dead is because in your ignorance, in your stupidity, you inadvertently gave me the key. I will wrap Moira O’Donnell up in a pretty bow and deliver her to her mother, and Fiona will place me high in her coven.

“If you survive-I don’t think you will, but if you do-I will forgive you. Until then, our friend has many things to do. We’ve chosen you.”

There would be no reasoning with Wendy. Her eyes were bright, almost drugged, and her aura was shimmering with excitement. Raw terror propelled Julie toward the door. It would not open.

“Wendy, please!” she begged, her back flat against the wall as she fumbled in vain to turn the knob. She glanced at Nicole as she approached, Pam at her side. Nicole was not insane like her sister. In fact, her clear eyes told Julie that Nicole was smart and reasoned. “Nicole, don’t do this!” she pleaded, her panic readily apparent as