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“Just go back out through these doors, take the set immediately to your right, and head on down the corridor.”
“Thanks for your help.”
Her smile flashed. “No problems.”
I followed her directions, the silk bag gripped tightly in one hand and its whispers confirming I was headed the right way. I silently began weaving a containment spell around the other hand.
The beer garden was a long, rectangular pergola lined on two sides by thick ferns. A number of very old wisteria plants climbed over the wooden slat roof, providing a lush green cover for the rows of tables underneath. The fairy lights woven through the wisteria twinkled brightly and gave the place an almost magical feel.
Once again, most of the tables were occupied and a number of people were standing. At the far end of the pergola, there were a couple of tables on which there appeared to be a mix of craft items and cakes for sale. A sign in the middle said “All monies raised go to Kingstone’s Country Fire Association.” There were two people manning the table—one was a woman wearing the local brigade’s uniform, and the second was a man who could have been an older version of the man Jack had shot.
Our second hunter, Hale Browning.
He was talking on the phone and looked very agitated. Though I couldn’t hear what he was saying, it was obvious even from this distance that whatever news he was receiving wasn’t good.
I dragged my phone out of my pocket then stepped to one side and leaned against the hotel’s old bluestone wall, keeping out of Hale’s direct line of sight.
“He’s on the phone, in the beer garden,” I said, “and manning a fundraising table for the CFA.”
“Which is a damn clever way of getting the bracelets to people,” Aiden said. “And explains why Angus was wearing it—he was a serving CFA member.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Have you got that immobilizing spell at the ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then let it loose, and give me a shout when it’s done.”
“Okay.”
I shoved the phone away, tucked the silk bag into my other pocket, and then flexed my fingers. Energy stirred around my fingertips, a brief sparkle that spoke of readiness.
With a deep breath that did little to ease the tension gathering in the pit of my stomach, I pushed away from the wall and walked toward the aisle that ran down the center of the pergola.
Hale chose that moment to turn around. He spotted me and, just for an instant, froze. Then he spoke animatedly into the phone, hung up, and ran.
He’d recognized me. How and why, I couldn’t say, nor was it important right now.
I bolted after him, but didn’t release the spell. Even though it was ready, immobilizing spells were somewhat limited in what they could and couldn’t do. The worst restriction was the fact the whole spell had to hit the target directly—and preferably on their torso. If they moved at the wrong moment or were caught only by the edge of the spell, it wouldn’t work.
I grabbed my phone, quickly said, “He’s running. Rear fence,” and then shoved it back into my pocket.
The woman in the CFA uniform said, eyes wide, “What on earth—”
“Explain later.” I caught a glimpse of the bracelet on the table. “And under no circumstances sell that bracelet. It’s evidence.”
“Of course, Officer—”
I didn’t waste time or energy refuting her statement. Hale was weaving his way through the old trees and run-down sheds that dominated the rear of the hotel’s back garden, suggesting he’d not only recognized me, but knew what I was and what I might be capable of doing. And the bastard had long legs and was putting them to good use, pulling away from me with every step.
He leapt for the rear fence. I swore and flung my spell at him. The air sparkled briefly and, at that precise moment, he twisted around, saw it, and threw himself over the top of the fence. The spell clipped his right leg and spun off sideways, splattering instead into a nearby tree. A shimmering net instantly wound around the truck, pinning the already immobile tree to the ground.
I swore again and ran for the fence, grabbing the top of the old palings and clambering up.
To find Hale face-first on the ground with his arms behind his back and Aiden cable-tying his wrists.
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