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She blushed, smiling. “I wanted to know…I’m studying Inter-World studies at the UW. I want to write my master’s thesis on what Otherworld is like. I’d like to arrange for a trip—escorted, of course—to Otherworld for a week so I can get a feel for what it’s really like. I hope to eventually write a book on Otherworld from an FBHs point of view.”
I blinked. A lot of people had expressed a desire to go to OW, but the OIA had put a kibosh on any unofficial travel. However, we were no longer employed by the OIA. “I can’t really help you out right now, but I’ll see what I can find out about the possibility of a tour. Meanwhile, it’s not the same, but my sisters and I can talk to you…answer some of your questions.” The United Worlds Church had made an effort to reach out to us; the least we could do was return the favor.
“I’d like that.” She held out her hand, and I took it. Her skin was warm and her grip friendly. “You like fish and chips?” she asked.
I nodded, grinning. “Anything that involves French fries or potato chips is good to go by me. Why?”
“Because I work at Abby’s Fish House part time to help pay for my tuition. You come by some afternoon and I’ll fry you up the best batch of fish and chips you’ve ever tasted.”
As we scheduled a lunch date for next week, my cell phone rang. I held up one finger, mouthed an apology, and flipped open the phone. There was a hushed silence, and then I heard a faint whisper on the other end.
“Delilah, I need your help. This is Marion. I’m at the library. I think someone’s following me, and I’m afraid to go out to my car alone. I don’t want to ask somebody to walk with me in case it’s the Koyanni. They wouldn’t think twice about killing some innocent person trying to help.”
I’d assumed Marion was at the meeting, but when I thought back to the crowd inside, I realized that I hadn’t seen her all evening. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the Seattle Public Library on the Book Spiral. The library’s about to close in ten minutes and I’ll have to get out of here.”
I glanced at the clock. We weren’t far away. “Go down to the front desk and stay there. I’ll call Chase. If we don’t make it in time, he and his men should.”
Punching the End Talk button, I immediately speed-dialed Chase and asked him to send a car with two of his burliest Supe officers to the library to meet Marion. “We’re on the way.”
Waving to Neely and promising to see her in a week, I hurried into the meeting room and dragged Menolly and Camille out. “We have to head to the library. Now. Give Trillian your keys and he can follow with the guys if we need them. For now, let’s just see what we’re facing.”
We piled into my Jeep. Menolly followed in her Jaguar. We weren’t far from the library, and traffic was sparse. The lights were with me and we sped through the streets without having to stop. Within nine minutes, we were at the library. I saw a squad car parked out front.
As we headed up the sidewalk, we found Shamas and Yugi standing next to Marion by the front doors. The library proper had just closed and we could see librarians working inside, clearing up for the night.
“What’s going on, Marion?” I glanced around. The last of the patrons were exiting the building, and no one appeared to be paying much attention to us.
“I was up on the Book Spiral, browsing the stacks. I didn’t feel up to seeing a bunch of people tonight, so I didn’t go to the meeting. I don’t deal well with the whole condolences thing.” She bit her lip. “I knew people would be solicitous about Trixie, and I’m just not up to fielding sympathy tonight. You know?”
I nodded. Sometimes grief was hard enough to bear without all of the outpouring of empathy. “So you came to the library to get some peace.”
“Right. I was looking for a couple of travel books—I’ve been thinking about taking a vacation to the East Coast. Maine, maybe the Hamptons, though I’m not that thrilled by being around the upper-crust set. Go beachcombing…stay at a bed-and-breakfast, spend the nights reading, the days antiquing in small towns.”
She bit her lip and hung her head. “I’m telling Douglas that I want a divorce. We’ve grown our separate ways. The kids are out of the house; they don’t need us anymore. I need some me time, to just think about what I want to do the rest of my life.”
We had known Marion since we met her while helping out our friend Siobhan, but we didn’t know a lot about her home life. I wasn’t sure what to say. She seemed resigned, but not terribly unhappy.
“Okay, so what happened?”
“I was in the stacks. I began to feel like I was being watched. I started keeping an eye out—there were a couple of guys a ways behind me. One caught my attention—there was something familiar about him.” She looked at me. “You know how you can feel when you’re near another Were of your own kind?”
I nodded. There was an unexplainable feeling of recognition when I was around werecats—big or small. A sense of feline connectedness.
“It was like that. I swear he was a coyote shifter, and he felt dirty. I’m not sure about the other one. Anyway, I got nervous, took my books, and moved farther along the Spiral. After a little while, I glanced back and saw them again. This time, they were leaning against the wall, and the shaggy-haired one was still watching me. Right then, I sensed danger—he looked like a coyote watching a rabbit.” She shivered. “That’s when I called you.”
“What happened when you headed down to the first level? Did they follow you?” If they had been among those filing out of the building, we’d lost them.
“I don’t know. After I called you, I saw that the elevator was ready to open for an older woman and two other men who were waiting. So, I hurried in with them and pressed the Door Close button. By the time I got to the first floor, I couldn’t see them anywhere.” She folded her arms, rubbing her shoulders. “Something just didn’t feel right about them. I’m scared. I don’t scare easy.”
Camille leaned against the wall. “Do you know why they might be following you?”
“I don’t know…except…I’m the one who originally told you about the Koyanni. If they found that out, then they might be out for revenge.”
“Everything’s probably okay, but we’ll run you home just to make sure. Come on. Let’s go.” I motioned for Shamas and Yugi to follow us, giving them Marion’s address on the way out. Marion rode with me, while Camille went with Menolly. We left Camille’s car for the guys to drive home.
We were within two blocks when we heard the sirens. I sped up while Marion clutched her purse. She leaned forward as far as the seat belt would allow, trying to get a good view out the window, but it was so dark that all we could see were a few sparks flying up into the sky above the roofline.
