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“Okay.” Soon, Caley would return and that was one thing checked off a very short, but important, list of tasks that should’ve been done yesterday. I pulled the spell from my pocket and waved it at Gretchen. “Here, you do it.”
She tilted her head and gave me a measured look, but she didn’t accept the damn piece of paper. ”You don’t want to handle this with Alexander?”
“Hell, no!” I snapped, thrusting the paper into her hand. I wanted these magical spells away from me. Even touching the paper made me beyond nervous that something horrible would happen. “You’re the witch. I want to go back to my cold cases. That’s it, nothing more.”
Gretchen chuckled before she looked down at the paper. “The spell doesn’t look complicated.”
Not difficult for her, I thought dryly.
To Max, Gretchen asked, “Will you join me to grab the ingredients?”
He nodded at her, which indicated enough, Max doubted she could simply walk into a house full of cops without another one with her. Gretchen trotted up the porch steps and Max quickly followed.
At Zach’s nudge of my elbow, I looked at him and discovered that his expression was nothing short of flabbergasted. “This is how we get Alexander out and Caley back?”
I peeked sideways at Alexander, now suffering the emotional attachment I tried so hard to shove away. Odd as it was, in this moment of Alexander hugging Amelia so tightly, I couldn’t see Caley standing there.
To Zach, I said, “Yeah, it is.” My voice sounded thick and I fought against my tears, so sad for them. I wondered what was worse: not seeing the ghosts as people usually did, or actually having that moment to say goodbye.
I concluded both sucked. Of course, at least, Amelia had the chance to find closure. Maybe still painful closure, but closure, nonetheless.
The opening of the front door snapped me out of my thoughts, as I expected Gretchen and Max to return, yet Eddie hurried down the porch steps. I hadn’t realized he had left the group and I wondered if maybe my mental state still wasn’t up to par.
When he stopped in front of me, he said to Zach. “Wayde’s not in the house. The cops inside said he hasn’t been back and still remains at large.”
“Might be on the run,” Zach offered.
> Eddie agreed with a nod. “That’s everyone’s conclusion inside.” He shifted on his feet, the gravel crunched under his shoes, and he folded his arms. “Odd find, though, his clothes are still in the closet.”
Strange indeed that Wayde would simply pick up and leave all his belongings behind, considering he’d done his best to protect his life. But after a minute of thought, I discovered I didn’t much care.
I had enough heavy concerns on my mind not to worry about Wayde. He hadn’t attempted to kill me outright. Like, chasing me down with a knife in his hand. And I had to believe that meant he didn’t plan to now. Besides, I suspected he focused more on not getting caught, rather than a personal attack against me, so I kept focused on the tasks I could control.
More than anything, the Animus’ headquarters was surrounded by police. If Wayde stepped one foot near these grounds, he’d be eating dirt like I did earlier tonight. I couldn’t possibly be in a safer place than I was right now.
The squeak of the door opening again caught my attention. I looked up the wooden porch steps to find Gretchen and Max exiting the home. Gretchen carried a big black duffle bag and she came down the stairs much slower than Eddie.
At further inspection, Gretchen looked about as tired as I felt, with darkness under her eyes, displaying her exhaustion. Once at me, she gave me a soft, sad smile, and brushed passed me and headed toward the swamp.
My heart clenched, since without a doubt, it pained Gretchen to see Alexander go. Maybe I had forgotten that through all this. That Alexander had been her leader in the Animus, and had been a close friend.
I turned to follow her, but on my second step forward, I found myself tugged into strong arms, and Dane’s aftershave swept through my nostrils. I gasped in shock, not only because he hugged me, but that I welcomed it.
Not long ago, the thought of hugging Dane was laughable. However, there I was, sinking into his hold and resting my head on his chest as I stared up at a starry sky.
“Thank you, Tess,” he whispered in my ear, pressing me against him with tightness to his voice. “Thank you for everything.”
The tightness, sounding rich with despair I understood, all too well. “Well, you deserve to be thanked, too.” I gave him a final squeeze, and then I leaned away and spotted appreciation in his eyes. “So, we’re even.”
He smiled softly. “I guess we are.”
I backed out of his hold and watched him follow Alexander and Gretchen. Life could be so strange—days ago, I wanted to butcher Dane and now I thanked him. Sometimes, most of the time, I loved when life surprised me.
A crunch against the gravel jerked my head to the side, and I turned to find Amelia, who presently appeared wrenched in guilt. After what she’d put us through, I never thought I’d do what I was about to, but I never thought I’d hug Dane either.
Without thought, I found myself walking toward her and my arms moved on their own accord, until I yanked her into a hug. “Don’t feel guilty.” I pushed her away from me, holding her shoulders tight and staring into her teary, ashamed eyes. “If I could’ve used you to get Kipp back, I would have, without a second hesitation.” I stared into her eyes dead-on. “Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
She sniffed and held my gaze, a little more determined than weak. “I do.”
