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That image was so unlikely it forced a chuckle from me. “You’re a Fairchild.” Father wouldn’t quit, no matter what. “Act like it.”
I closed my eyes and directed all of my attention to that flat piece of wood. My mind’s eye held tight to an image of a glass drawer. I took a deep breath, and on the exhale, I channeled power to my palms. The wood heated. I continued to send power into it. Then, with a little give, as if I’d unclogged a pipe, the wood turned to glass.
Quickly, before it could change back, I grabbed a hammer and slammed it against the drawer face. The glass shattered.
I squatted down and gently tugged on the bottom of the drawer. It slid open, and near the back of the drawer, I found it.
The ivory box was smaller than I’d anticipated, but the rubies and emeralds embedded in the surface shone through a layer of dust. I sat back on my heels and opened the lid, revealing the amulet inside, golden, beautiful, and deadly.
The shards of glass on the floor started shivering. I had no idea if they’d reform before they turned back into wood or if they’d end up a pile of splinters. The shivering increased, which fascinated me. Faster than my eyes could follow, the shards came together and I snatched my hands out of the way. The drawer slammed shut with enough force that I was glad I didn’t get caught.
Take it and run. Now. To the woods.
The command came through so crystal clear I almost dropped the box. I locked my knees, refusing to even take a step. The command surged, stronger than I’d yet experienced, as if the amulet itself was giving the voice power.
Still, I held on. Breathing hard, sweat running down the side of my face, I refused the voice’s command. When it finally released its grip, I was left doubled over, gasping for breath. I clutched the amulet to my side.
Slowly I regained my composure and slipped the box into the pocket of my overcoat. I had no idea what to do next. Madam Munro would want me to hide the box in my belongings, keeping it secret until I returned to San Francisco.
Though would she say the same, if she knew what the consequences would be? If Martin Gallagher crossed the veil, he could well find the amulet no matter where I’d hidden it. And if he crossed the veil and then couldn’t get back, he’d be fated to eternity as a ghostly evil.
Surely Madam Munro wouldn’t want that to happen.
Still uncertain of the correct course, I went to the house, hoping to find Margaret. She’d know what to do.
Instead of Margaret, I found Rutger. He sat at the small table, sipping a cup of coffee. I poured myself a cup and joined him.
“Good morning, Vince.” He raised his mug in toast.
"I thought you were helping Margaret and Della.” I hated the note of suspicion in my voice.
“Since I don’t know my way around, they decided I’d be better served by making coffee.” He waved at the pot. “Pour yourself some and come talk with me. Last night was something of a jumble. Can you refresh my memory?”
I winced at his use of my nickname, but I did as he asked, giving him more detail than I’d done before. Even my short summary of the storm made Rutger give a low whistle.
“Thank you most sincerely,” he said. “I knew I was in some kind of trouble, and if your friend hadn’t called that thing off, I never would have made it.”
“She’s very good at what she does.”
His smile took on a sly edge. “You and Rafe get some sleep last night?”
“We did,” I said shortly, hoping to turn the conversation in another direction. “Now, while we have some time, tell me what happened after I left the city.”
“That’s just the thing.” He fiddled with his spoon as if he needed to keep his hands busy to disguise his nerves. “I woke up in the corner of the big greenhouse over at Golden Gate Park. I was curled up, my hands and feet bound, soaking wet from the humidity. One of the gardeners found me.”
He flipped the spoon onto the floor. We both reached for it and came damned close to knocking heads together. “Calm yourself,” I murmured. “It’s just me.”
“Might be just you, but I still don’t know what happened those three days.”
“Three days?”
“When I wouldn’t let the gardener contact the police, he insisted on calling someone, so I gave him the address for the Council. Madam Munro arrived in person, and she’s the one who told me how long I’d been missing and that she’d sent you away. There’s been some other things happen, weird things, though the Council is pretty tight-lipped about all that. To be honest, I’m not sure why she decided to send me here, but last Monday she sent me a message, and now here I am.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “And I’m glad of it.”
That made him laugh. “Your minder doesn’t think so.”
“He’ll be fine,” I said lightly, waving off Rutger’s concern. “He’s preoccupied with finding the Ferox Cor. Wait. That’s not quite right.” I crossed my arms, trying to order my thoughts. “He wants the amulet because whoever holds the amulet controls the Cor.” And right now, that was me. The thought made me shudder. “If the amulet is destroyed, the demon spirit will go back wherever it came from, and Martin won’t have a reason to cross the veil.”
