Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

"Coffee?" I asked Charlotte as she fed Minx a treat.

"Got Irish cream to go in it?" she asked without even looking up.

"I wish." I walked over to the refrigerator to double check that I didn't have a bottle hiding in there and shut it in disappointment.

"Fine. I'll have coffee with regular creamer instead," she said with a sigh as she slumped into a chair at the table. "I can't believe Stone threatened Jax like that. The weasel. If I get my hands on him, I'll?—"

"I'm back!" Celia said, popping into the kitchen for the second time that day. "Did you miss me?"

"Yes," Both Charlotte and I said at the same time.

"You did?" She beamed at us. "That's sweet. I think I'm growing on you two."

"That must be it." Honestly, after the morning we'd had, I was just happy for the distraction.

"What do you have for us, Celia?" Charlotte asked as she pulled a box of cookies out of the pantry.

I held my hand out, indicating I wanted the cookies.

"Keep your grubby hands to yourself," Charlotte said. "I'll get you a couple in a minute."

"I want a cookie," Celia said, staring longingly at the bag.

"Of course you do, honey." Charlotte gave her a sympathetic smile. "We all want them."

Charlotte took a stack of four for herself and then handed me two. I grimaced at her but kept my thoughts to myself. Four cookies were more than my ass needed anyway.

"Well?" Charlotte said through her cookie crumbs.

"I found out where Trish is staying." Celia beamed with pride.

"Okay, where, and why is that important?" I asked and then took a sip of my coffee to wash down the cookie.

Looking rather pleased with herself, Celia said, "She's staying at a camp north of here about ten miles. And guess who's with her?"

"Uh… I dunno, a couple of strippers from Abs, Buns, and Guns?" I asked cheekily.

Celia actually snorted out a laugh. "That would be a lot more entertaining, but no. She's sharing her camp with two other shifters."

I sat up so abruptly that my coffee sloshed onto my sticky sweatshirt.

"Goddess above, Marion," Celia said, eyeing me. "What in the world are you wearing? Are you trying out for a part in Little Orphan Annie or something?"

Charlotte snickered. "She had a little accident earlier when she was run over by a mob of buffet enthusiasts. It wasn't pretty."

"What'd you do? Get between them and the cheesecake?" Celia asked me.

"Ha-ha. Very funny. I slipped and fell and haven't had a chance to change. So sue me. Now what's this about Trish living with two other wolves?"

"It's two women who appear to be together and then Trish, who mostly keeps trying to ask about their background and how they ended up in Premonition Pointe. But they're being evasive. Seems suspicious to me."

Charlotte and I glanced at each other and stood at the same time.

"Looks like we need to pay someone a visit," I told Celia. "Do you have an address for me?"

"I have a description of the location. Addresses aren't really assigned to makeshift camps," she said.

"Right." I headed for the door, more than ready to have something other than my run-in with Stone to focus on.

"Hold on," Charlotte said, grabbing my wrist. "You can't go like that."

"Like what?"

"Like a homeless person," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Go change or I'm leaving you behind."

"That's rich since we both know you won't drive your car."

"I drive my car," she insisted.

"Not out of town and definitely not up in the woods. You'd be complaining about the gas cost the entire way," I called as I headed to my bedroom, more than ready to lose the sticky sweatshirt. When I was back and dressed in another pair of black leggings and a clean steel blue sweatshirt, I turned to Celia. "Can you come along and guide us?"

The ghost bobbed up and down with excitement. "I get to go on a stakeout?!"

"It's not a stakeout," Charlotte said, shaking her head. "It's an interrogation."

The ghost brought her hands together in a silent clap. "Even better. I can be the bad cop."

Charlotte laughed. "You? No way. They'd laugh in your pretty little face. Marion's the bad cop. She has that mom face down pat."

"Mom face?" I raised an eyebrow in her direction and then just shook my head. "There's no need for good cops or bad cops. This is an interview, not an interrogation. We're not accusing anyone of anything, got it?"

"She's really a stick-in-the-mud, isn't she?" Celia asked Charlotte while we were on our way out.

"You can say that again." They both broke out in giggles, and I ignored them as I went for the driver's side door.

"I'm driving," Charlotte said, trying to push me out of the way.

"No. I've got it. My arm is sore, but it's not debilitating anymore. I'll drive my own car. But if you want to drive, we can go in yours?—"

"Never mind. Yours is more comfortable." Charlotte held the back door open for Celia, but the ghost completely ignored her. And instead of floating into the SUV, she momentarily popped out of existence and reappeared in the back seat, right in the middle so she could see both of us. "Why do I always forget she can do that?" Charlotte asked no one in particular as we both got into the car.

"Beats me. It's not like she doesn't do it at least once a day lately," I said and glanced back at the ghost. "Where to, Ms. Maps?"

"North on 101," she said.

Twenty-five minutes later, we were moving slowly down an unmaintained dirt road that I strongly suspected was a fire road. "Are you sure we're going the right way?" I asked Celia.

"I'm positive. I'm dead, not stupid."

Charlotte chuckled softly. "I hope I have her attitude once I kick the bucket."

"Stick with me, girlfriend," Celia said as she leaned in closer. "Imagine the people we could haunt."

They both looked at me.

"What would make that any different than what I deal with on a daily basis?" I asked and gritted my teeth when we rolled over a deep pothole.

"There it is!" Celia said, pointing through the trees to the left.

I stepped on the brakes and peered through the redwoods. I couldn't see anything except shadows and decided that if they were living there, it was a damned good hiding spot. It reminded me of a secret fairy garden. "Let's go."

Charlotte and I climbed out of the SUV while Celia did her vanishing trick only to turn up right in front of me when she reappeared.

"Follow me," Celia said and floated through the trees. Just as she entered the hidden area, an arrow came flying out of nowhere and struck the tree right next to me.

Charlotte and I froze.

"That was just rude," Celia called out. "I'm a ghost. You can't kill me that way."

"Ghost?" a female voice called from the secret garden.

"Yeah. I died, so now I'm a ghost. What's so hard to comprehend?" Celia sounded impatient, and if I didn't interrupt the conversation, who knew what could happen?

"I'm looking for Trish Kirkwood," I called out.

"Marion?" My friend popped out of the secret garden with her face scrunched up in confusion. "How did you find us here?"

I waved at Celia. "She followed you."

Trish glared at the ghost. "If I had any sage on me, you'd be history."

"Like I want to stay in your damp camp anyway." Celia waggled her fingers at me and Charlotte and then disappeared again.

"I really don't like her," Trish said as she stomped back through the trees.

"Is it safe to follow her?" Charlotte asked me.

"I have no idea." I took one hesitant step forward. When no arrows flew out of the clearing, I took another one.

"Just get in here," Trish called.

"No one's going to shoot us, are they?" Charlotte asked.

Trish made an irritated noise and then answered, "Not yet. But no promises."

"That's reassuring," Charlotte muttered.

I led the way into the damp clearing and glanced around. Sure enough, there were two tents. One was pretty large, plenty big enough for two people, and the other looked barely large enough for one person to stretch out. "This is where you're staying?"

"We were, but now that Celia knows where we are, we might have to move," Trish said, her annoyance unmistakable.

"Celia isn't going to out you to anyone. She works for me," I said.

"Is that right?" Trish placed her hands on her hips and glared at me. "So you ordered her to surveil me when I wouldn't tell you where I was staying?"

"No. Not exactly," I hedged. Trish continued to glare at me until I caved and finally came clean. "Celia took it upon herself, and I just didn't stop her."

"That's… awful, Marion." Trish shook her head and went to sit on a log near her tent.

"Is it more awful than letting me speak to your two companions when I'm trying to find a missing woman?" I asked.

" Two missing women," Charlotte corrected.

"Right. Two," I repeated.

"What?" Trish stood and walked over to us. "What do you mean, two women? Who else went missing?"

"Lacey's neighbor disappeared right after we talked to her and learned that Lacey's ex had been at her apartment the morning she disappeared," I explained.

Trish pressed her hand to her throat and shook her head slightly. "That's terrible. What can I do to help?"

Wasn't it obvious? I was there to talk to her two wolf friends. Praying for patience, I said, "We think a wolf may have been involved when Lacey went missing. All we want to know is if any of you know of any problematic wolves that might be nearby. One who might not care what happens to a stranger."

There was a rustle of foliage, and then a brown-skinned woman appeared. She was wearing tight jeans, a crop top, and hiking boots. Her long black hair was plaited in a braid, and she had the longest eyelashes I'd ever seen. Another woman appeared behind her. She was a few inches taller than the first and had thick, long blond hair that reached past her butt. She was dressed in a similar outfit as her friend. Jeans and a crop top.

The one with black hair stepped forward. "Jessa is in town."

Trish spun to stare at her, slack-jawed. "Kai's Jessa?"

She nodded as she worried the end of her braid. "I saw her out on a run the other day out in the woods."

"Did she see you?" Trish demanded.

"I don't think so," the woman said. "But I can't be sure."

Trish glanced back at me. "That's your suspect. Jessa Benson. She's the worst kind of wolf."

Both of the other shifters nodded.

I wasn't sure what that meant exactly, but we were going to get to the root of it before anyone left. I walked up and held my hand out to the dark-haired shifter. "Hi, I'm Marion. I own the Miss Matched Dating Agency, and in my spare time, I work for the Magical Task Force, tracking down bad guys."

"Hi," she said tentatively. "I'm Dannika, and this"—she waved at the shifter with blond hair–"is Zoe, my girlfriend."

"It's nice to meet you, Dannika," I said shaking her hand. Then I turned to Zoe and said, "It's lovely to meet you, Zoe."

Trish huffed out a breath. "This isn't a tea party. No need to be so formal."

I ignored her and met Dannika's gaze. "You know Jessa?"

"We've… met," she said and looked away.

"Do you think she's capable of abducting two women?"

Dannika let out a huff. "Capable? Yes. Is it probable? Definitely. Jessa is the worst kind of wolf, always caving to her worst instincts."

"Do you think Kai knows she's in town?"

"I have no idea. I didn't see him with her when she was out running," Dannika said with a shrug.

"Kai doesn't know," Trish insisted. "If he did, he'd have already run her out of town. After what she did to him, he'd never even consider letting her back into his good graces."

I could believe that. Kai seemed like a decent man, but he definitely wasn't weak, and I could imagine he was harboring some deep resentment toward her.

"You think Jessa is abducting people?" Zoe asked. Her entire body was trembling, and she looked like a frightened rabbit.

"I think it's possible. I just don't know why," I said. "Do you have any ideas?"

Zoe shook her head and then hurried over to the larger tent. She pulled the flap open and climbed in. A moment later, she had her duffle out and was filling it with clothes.

Dannika frowned at her girlfriend and then at me. "If there's any money in it, Jessa would do it. That's all you need to know." The dark-haired wolf joined Zoe, and together they quickly started dismantling their tent.

"What are you doing?" Trish asked as she rushed over to them. "You're not leaving just because of Jessa, are you?"

"Yes," Zoe said. "I've been in trouble before because of her. I'm not sticking around to see what destruction she causes this time." She looked at me. "Be careful. Jessa is the type to do just about anything to stay free of the law."

"What else has she done?" Charlotte asked, looking horrified.

"You name it. She's done it." Zoe slung her duffle over her shoulder as Dannika hefted a large backpack that contained their tent onto her back. A few moments later, the pair walked off into the woods.

"Wait!" Trish raced after them. "You don't have to leave. Marion is really good at fighting bad guys and making things right."

"I'm sorry, Trish," Dannika called back. "We just can't risk it."

After they were gone, Trish slumped down on her log and buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe this. It can't be true."

"What? That they left or that Jessa is here?" I asked gently.

"Both." She jerked her head up. "Jessa is evil incarnate. Kai is going to lose his mind. And they're right. If there are bad things happening in Premonition Pointe, it's likely due to her."

"But why would she come here?" I asked.

"To torture Kai and make his life miserable?" She threw her hands up. "I don't know." Then she looked around and sighed. "I guess I better pack up. I can't stay here now."

"Why?" Charlotte asked.

"It's not safe for just one person." She got busy packing and then out of nowhere started to explain. "You see, ever since I shifted into a wolf, I don't like enclosed spaces. It makes me feel… trapped, I guess. I just feel better if I'm living and sleeping outdoors. But I can't afford a regular campground, so I've been here. Or sometimes down at the beach. That was fine when Zoe and Dannika were here. There's strength in numbers. But a single female shifter by herself? That's a recipe for trouble."

"Any idea where you'll go?" I asked, wishing I could invite her back to the house. But I'd have to ask Ty first, and besides, it wasn't exactly outdoor living.

"To the Diablo pack, I guess. I know Kai will let me set up a temporary camp somewhere on his land." She glanced around the clearing one last time before she turned to me. "Care to give me a ride? I've been borrowing Dannika's car for a while since mine needs a new alternator and I can't afford to get it fixed right now."

"Sure." I put my arm around her and gave her a sideways hug. "I'm sorry about Celia."

She waved a hand. "Forget it. I know you're just doing what you have to do. So am I."

"Life sure got complicated in our old age, didn't it?" I said in a light tone.

"You can say that again." She smiled and leaned into me.

"That's it. I'm never getting old. Forget it," Charlotte announced. "I'm staying in my twenties for forever."

"How? Unlimited supply of Botox?" I asked.

Trish glanced at her. "Maybe she plans to be a ghost like Celia."

"She better not!" I stared at my sister. "Right?"

Charlotte laughed. "I'm not looking to off myself for eternal youth. I was thinking more like fillers and plastic surgery. Maybe a beauty potion here and there. Stop freaking."

"I'm not freaking," I lied. The truth was that anything was possible. I'd seen so much crazy crap the past year, I wasn't ruling anything out. "But I am holding you to that. Filler and Botox. That's it."

"And maybe a nip and tuck," she added with a wink.

"I'm not sure how that's gonna keep you from experiencing some shit, but at least you'll be pretty while doing it," Trish said and then chuckled.

"Damn straight," Charlotte agreed. And once again, my pushy sister tried to climb into the driver's seat.

I pointed to the back. "For that you get to ride back there. Get in."

"You're no fun." But she did as I asked and then peered through the seats just like Celia had earlier. "Where to now?"

"Kai's," I said. "We need to figure out how to find Jessa."