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This meant all those people who’d come running once Mom broke the news probably felt something too.
Wendy and Laura Hemmings at the Colorado Ranch Library had done some research concerning the shifter aspects of the artifact, but I’d never heard them say anything about those ancient humans.
It was possible the authors of the ancient texts concerning the relic hadn’t realized its full power.
I slipped it under my shirt, into the waistband of my leggings and hurried to the front door. It was warm and vibrating so strongly I’d swear I could feel it in every one of my veins.
“Good night.” I waved to the receptionist, and the Hudaknocker slipped. I quickly hugged my chest before it crashed to the floor. A fall like that would’ve shattered the damn thing.
Mom jumped when I slid back into the SUV. Of course, she’d been on her tablet, probably trying to figure out what I was up to, or more likely, making up her own reasons why I was here and figuring out a way to profit from them.
“Go. Now.”
“Marissa, if you’re in danger, I need to know,” Mom said as she backed out of the spot.
“I’m not.”
“I heard you went on a helicopter ride with Bjorn and the lady Bibi hired to replace him. She’s got someone in your position too.”
“Yes, I did.” There was no harm in telling her that much. “And of course she does. She can’t run the show without her associate producer and director of photography.”
“I could make you an executive producer,” she said. She slowed to take the turn toward Colorado Ranch.
“You’re doing great without me. Keep going straight.”
She looked at me, mouth open. “There’s nothing out there but mountains.”
“I know. Keep driving until I tell you to stop.”
“That’s not ominous at all.” Mom chuckled. “This isn’t like you. You were always the voice of reason onThe Scoop.”
“Yeah, I was, and you never listened.” I’d warned her she’d gone too far, but the ratings were too good for her to change what she was doing. We were practically printing money. It was addictive and dangerous. “And you’ll just come to your own conclusions anyway.”
“I don’t need to make anything up in Sunset Springs. This place is a godsend. A veritable gossip goldmine. Right now, I’m working on a story that will blow the show wide open.”
“What are you talking about?”
She smirked. “Two can play the secrets game, Marissa.”
“Fine.” I was pretty sure she was bluffing. This was how she got people to talk. It was weird not knowing everything that happened onThe Mating Game. Although Tina had been pretty transparent with all the news, she made things look so easy. After years in the industry, I still felt like I was on the hot mess express with the long hours and the unpredictable contestants. Everything crossed, I’d be able to slide back into my job when it was time for Hannah’s episode.
Sweet moon, I hoped her big story wasn’t about Hannah. I didn’t know a whole lot about her past besides the fact that she’d worked in the music industry, but she really wanted to be here. And I was making her wait.
“How is it working with Bibi le Bonnet?” Mom asked.
“Amazing.” My hackles went straight up.
“Do you know who she really is?”
I groaned. “What are you doing, Mom?”
“I’ve been spending a lot of time in town this week, and people would like to know where she came from.”
Oh, this was worse than I thought. “Don’t do anything gross.”
“Define gross.”
“She’s been completely open about who she was when she lived in Montana. Her name was Bronson, and she worked for a landscaping company.” I hoped that didn’t give my mom any new information. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her how horrible Bibi’s old pack was. But with a few swipes of her phone screen, she’d have them eating out of her hand.
