Crushed (City of Eldrich Book 2) (16 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

M
eaghan heard screaming.
And voices. But she couldn’t tell what they were saying.

She lay on her stomach on the gritty concrete floor. Hands touched her back and legs.
Go away
, she thought. She felt the hands shake her gently.
Go away and let me
sleep.

The hands moved to her neck and head. She heard a voice, close to her, calling her name.

Why’s Natalie calling
me?

“No major injuries that I can feel,” she heard Natalie’s panicked voice say. “Help me turn her over.”

More hands rolled her body face up. She couldn’t see. After a moment of panic, Meaghan realized that her eyes were closed. She opened them and saw John’s worried eyes. She smiled, reached up a clumsy hand, and stroked his cheek. “What’s going on?”

John, trying not to cry, took her hand and kissed it. “I thought I’d lost you.”

He helped her into a sitting position. Meaghan shook her head, hard, trying to wake up. She glanced around. Russ crouched next to her, a relieved smile on his face. Everyone else clustered around something out in the garage. She heard the rough hiss of a fire extinguisher.

The police car. She remembered the crash. And then . . . the memory rushed back. “That wizard, his body, it exploded?”

“Yeah,” Russ said. “You scared the shit out of us.”

“Natalie? I heard her talking a minute ago.”

“She’s fine. You broke her fall. Which is how you ended up face first on the floor.”

Eliot had been behind them. Meaghan’s stomach clenched. “Eliot?’

“Over there,” John said, looking at the knot of people. “He’s hurt.”

“Help me up. I need to see him.”

With John’s help, she walked with unsteady steps into the garage. Everyone stepped aside. She slumped back to the floor next to Eliot.

He smiled up at her. “How you doing?”

“I’m fine. How about you?” Gently, she took his hand. Blood streaked his face and his clothes hung in shreds, but the real damage was to his leg. A twisted chunk of steel jutted from his thigh. Someone had torn away the blood-soaked trouser leg, and used strips of cloth to secure the object in place.

“I’ll live, so long as nobody pops the cork.” He gestured at his leg. “Impervious damn shit. Goes right through a protection spell. I gotta get me to the hospital.”

Meaghan squeezed his hand. “We’re on it.” She looked up and said in a loud voice, “We need a car.”

“On my way,” Brian said. “Unless anybody else knows how to hot-wire a vehicle?”

“Take Red,” Eliot wheezed. “In case those shithead wizards are still roamin’ around.” He smiled up at Meaghan. “Whee. Your girl did something to ease the pain. Making me high. My bayou voice is coming back.” He grew serious. “You lean in close, Meg. We gotta talk.”

She bent closer.

“I can’t help you anymore, but you’ll be okay. You don’t need me.”

“But you have power,” she said in a small voice. “I don’t.”

“Shit, you don’t have power,” he rasped. “You’re the only one here whose head they can’t screw with. Whatever’s coming at us, you’re the only one who’ll be able to see its real face. Just because it looks big and scary to everybody else, doesn’t mean it is. You remember that.” His eyes fluttered shut for a moment. “Wooh, I’m off to dreamland here. Where was I?”

“Why you think I have power,” Meaghan said.

“Why I
know
you have power. You see the world the way it really is, not the way these magical bastards want you to see it. That’s power. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise . . .” His eyes fluttered again. “That’s why they’re so scared of you. Ooh, I think I’m going sleepy-bye for a while. Ruthie’ll take care of me. You take care of the rest of them.”

His breathing grew deeper as he lost consciousness.

Meaghan looked up at Ruth. “You’re taking him to the hospital?”

Ruth nodded. Her eyes were red and swollen in her pale face.

“Is everyone going to get stupid again with him gone?” Meaghan asked.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Eliot’s had some help.” She pointed at Jhoro, who was examining the remains of the police cruiser. “This one has some power of his own. Not magic. Something else.”

Meaghan glanced over at Jhoro. Even in his baggy mismatched clothes and ball cap, he still drew attention.

She remembered the utter devotion she’d felt in his followers when she was on her psychic high in Fahraya. And how easily he had read her intentions when she had tried to communicate with him mentally. It was Jhoro who had mixed up the hallucinogenic antidote to the scorpion bite and the foul-tasting drink that dialed Meaghan’s high back enough so she lost the giddiness but retained all the psychic benefit. Jhoro had assured her she would still “see whole” and not lose her connection to her dead father.

“Annie said something,” Meaghan said to Ruth. “Something about how his grief was so strong it was manifesting memories. Like ghosts, but not. She said she’d never seen anything like it. And she said her empathic skills around him were goosed way beyond normal.” She turned to John. “What’s the deal with Jhoro?”

“He’s a . . . what’s the word I hear used for ones like him? Shaman. A seer. Trying to be at least. He had to teach himself because V’hren killed the ones who would teach him.”

Ruth nodded. “That might explain it. A self-taught Fahrayan shaman. Alex will go nuts over that.”

John looked at Ruth. “Who is Alex?”

“Our anthropologist. He works with me and Eliot.”

John looked at her blankly.

“Somebody who studies different cultures,” Meaghan said.

John nodded.

There was nothing to do now but wait for Brian. Meaghan, remembering Lyons’s dropped utility belt, sent John out to look for it. The gun was gone, but there would probably be pepper spray and maybe a collapsible baton.

And handcuffs.

Meaghan watched her brother work his way around the room. Russ, falling back on his instinctive response to stress, was handing out sodas and snacks he’d found in the small fridge under the front counter. He had even less power than she did, but he’d follow her into hell whether she wanted him there or not. Eliot had said a forge was the safest place to be during a magical attack. The handcuffs would make sure he stayed there.

Brian appeared at Ruth’s elbow. “The car’s outside. I can’t get it in here. We’re going to have to carry him out.”

Meaghan almost told him about Lyons, his kidnapped fellow officer, then stopped. Brian couldn’t help Lyons now. All he could do was get himself killed or turned into a weapon for the wizards.

Brian, John, and Jhoro popped the hinges on the bathroom door and used it to carry Eliot to the big SUV parked outside.

Annie laughed when she saw it. “That’s Tony’s Escalade. You stole the mayor’s car.”

Brian grinned. “He gave it to me. He lives a couple blocks north of here. He was home getting freaky in his living room with his latest girlfriend. And some of her friends. Nat and I told him we needed his car, he gestured at his pants, I took his keys, and here we are. Speaking of which . . .”

He pulled Natalie into his arms and kissed her. She resisted for only a moment. When the kiss was done, Brian brushed the red curls off Natalie’s face and smiled at her. “Something to remember me by in case you get stupid for Blondie again.”

Natalie, looking dazed, simply nodded.

Brian held out the car keys to Ruth. “You know how to get to Williamsport?”

Ruth shook her head. “Not without the magic bus I don’t. I don’t have a great sense of direction in normal landscapes, let alone the haunted forest out there. No way I can drive out of this valley at night without a navigator.”

Meaghan felt relief. Ruth’s refusal to drive would save her an awkward conversation with Brian, who was even less likely than Russ to voluntarily stay behind. She dragged him away from the others so they couldn’t hear her. “Brian, you need to go with them. Eliot’s no help right now and Ruth needs you.”

Brian looked at her, eyes narrowed as he gestured at the wreckage in the garage. “I don’t suppose you have any idea where that police cruiser came from.”

Shit
.

“From somebody you can’t help right now. I need you to think strategically here, not heroically. You can’t defend us against magic. Even if you had your gun, it wouldn’t do you any good. And they could hex you, turn you against us.” She shook her head. “Get Ruth and Eliot out of here. Keep them safe. If we live through this mess, we still have to deal with the Fahrayans before winter and they’re our best resource.”

“But, I can’t leave. Natalie—”

“Has a lot more power than you do in this situation. And if she gets all love addled for Jhoro again, you really want to stick around and watch that?”

Brian sighed. “No. But running away sure won’t win me any points.”

“First person who says that’s what you did is getting his or her ass kicked. I need someone I can trust to do this. Eliot’s out cold and, as far as I can tell, Ruth’s a civilian. You need to get them out of town as fast as you can and stay with them until this is over.”

“What about your brother? And John? They don’t have any more power than I do.”

Now it was Meaghan’s turn to sigh. “Yeah, and they won’t go with you or stay behind willingly. I need somewhere safe to stash them.”

“Like the forge,” Brian said. He dug into his back pocket and pulled out another set of handcuffs. “Take these.”

She smiled. “My thoughts exactly.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“
A
nd then there
were seven,” Sid intoned, in a sepulchral voice as the Escalade pulled away.

Meaghan motioned to Annie to wait while everyone else drifted back into the garage. “Soon it will be five. I need your help with something.”

“Russ,” she said. “We need to keep him out of harm’s way.”

Meaghan nodded. “And John.”

“They won’t leave just because we ask them.”

“That’s why I have these.” Meaghan showed Annie both pairs of handcuffs—the set Brian had given her and the set John had found in Lyons’ abandoned utility belt.

Annie giggled. “Ooh, you naughty girl.”

Meaghan rolled her eyes. “If the forge is as safe as Eliot claims—”

“It is. Ruth was telling me about it. Something to do with all the iron molecules getting into everything and making it super-impervious.”

“But this forge has a magical lock.”

“Yeah, but that’s outside.”

“That makes a difference?”

Annie shrugged. “Apparently. Don’t ask me to explain this crap. I don’t understand it any better than you do.”

“So, do you know this Terry guy? What’s his deal?”

“He and his wife moved here right before you did. They’ve been renting a place on the east side, out by the river.”

“Not anymore,” Meaghan said. “According to John, they bought the house across the street from me and are about to move in.”

Annie raised an eyebrow. “Interesting. I’ve seen him around, but I don’t know anything about him. He’s John’s AA sponsor?”

Meaghan nodded. “John told me he’s clued in and he used to be a big deal to his people, but isn’t now.”

Annie snorted. “Well, that narrows it down. That only describes practically every leader ever.”

“Except this guy has pissed off somebody magical. Or he’s magical himself.”

“Or both.” Annie glanced at the handcuffs Meaghan held. “You want to lock Russ and John in the forge for their own safety and you want me to help you.”

“Yeah. Any suggestions?”

“Go find something to cuff them to and I’ll round them up. Provided Russ isn’t drooling over Jhoro now that Eliot’s gone.”

“You’re not going to get stupid on me again?”

Annie shook her head. “No, whatever power Jhoro’s got, it’s stronger than Marnie’s spell. With me at least.”

She smiled at Meaghan, winked, and walked toward Russ and John.

Meaghan slipped into the forge to take a closer look. It wasn’t merely iron molecules that would protect them. Around his workspace, Terry had constructed a large cage out of galvanized steel chain-link fencing. The chain-link fabric was lined on the inside of the forge with steel screen mesh.

Along one wall of the cage, metal pipes had been constructed into what looked like a tool rack. Two vertical pipes had been bolted into the concrete floor, with horizontal piping between them bracing the structure.

The pipes were still shiny and the hooks welded into the cross bars were empty, making her think it had been recently installed. The top of the rack was firmly attached to the ceiling of the cage. She gave it an experimental tug and felt no movement at all. Even with their combined strength, she didn’t see Russ and John pulling it down.

The run of vertical piping from the floor to the first crossbar was long enough to let them sit or stand without stretching the cuffed arm into an awkward position. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but she could drag in the cushions from the break room sofa and leave them water and food. The trick was getting them in here and cuffed to pipes before they figured out what she was up to.

Annie appeared at the door. “They’re coming. Got a plan?”

Meaghan nodded. She trotted over to the door and handed Annie a pair of the cuffs. She pointed at the tool rack. “The vertical pipes, under the first rack.”

“So they can slide the cuffs up and down,” Annie said, nodding. “Perfect.”

“We can bring them some drinks and snacks and the cushions off the sofa.”

“And something to pee in.”

Meaghan nodded. “But first we gotta cuff them.”

“I’ll take Russ, you take John. Follow my lead.”

Meaghan’s heart pounded. She knew John would be furious and she wasn’t sure she was smooth enough to pull this off.

Annie grabbed Russ by the hand and pulled him into the forge. “We need to talk to you guys. Before things get crazy again. John, you too.”

She maneuvered Russ to the far end of the tool rack. Meaghan motioned to John and he came over to where she stood on the other end.

“Russ, honey, I know the love spell might make you get all crazy for Jhoro again,” Annie said. “So, before that happens I want to remind you how straight you are.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

“Um, me too.” Meaghan pulled John to her with one hand. With the other she cuffed his wrist.

“What—” was all he had time to say before Meaghan attached the other cuff to the pole and stepped back fast. A quick look confirmed that Annie had done the same to Russ.

“No,” John roared as he pulled on his cuffed wrist. “No. I want to stay with you.”

“I know,” Meaghan said. “But you can’t help me with this.” She heard Russ banging on the tool rack. “Either of you. All you can do is get yourselves hurt or killed. This way I know you’re safe.”

“I thought you were into me,” Russ said to Annie in a hurt voice.

“I am, honey. That’s why I don’t want to see you get dead.”

“Oh, ho ho. What’s going on here?” Sid walked into the forge. He waggled his blue eyebrows at Meaghan. “Meggy, I never saw you as the kinky type.”

“Shut up,” Meaghan said. “Better yet, go get Jhoro to help you bring in the sofa cushions and some drinks and food. And a couple of buckets or trash cans.”

“Meaghan, you can’t do this to me,” John shouted. He pulled at the pipe with both hands. Already his cuffed wrist was red and chafed from pulling. “You need me.”

“I need you alive. When this is over. This is the safest place in town right now.”

“But—”

“Jamie needs you alive.”

He glowered at her but said nothing.

“What if you don’t come back for us?” Russ asked, in a petulant tone. “What if you get killed? We’ll starve to death.”

Meaghan pulled out her phone. Service in Eldrich was notoriously spotty, but she had a strong signal. “You got a phone?”

“I do,” John growled.

“Then call Terry and tell him to come let you out.”

“I’ll call him right now.”

“Fine,” Meaghan said, exasperated. “You do that.”

He pulled his battered flip phone out of his back pocket, punched the number, and held it to his ear. “Is me . . . Nuh, I’m not drinking . . . Magic trouble . . . Yeah, the evil wizards . . . something in city hall with my boy . . . no, no, you don’t need to come right now, but Meaghan is handcuffing me to your forge to keep me safe.”

He listened for a few more moments, his look darkening. “No, this is not a good idea . . . no . . . but . . . all right.” He held the phone out to Meaghan. “He wants to talk to you.”

“Slide it over on the floor,” Meaghan said.

“You don’t trust me?”

“Not right now I don’t.”

Grumbling something in Fahrayan, John set the phone on the floor and slid it over to her.

Meaghan grabbed it and put it to her ear. “You still there?”

A deep, booming voice said, “Yeah. So, you got our buddy John locked up tight, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

Meaghan had been prepared to argue with this man. “You’re okay with this?”

“I built that space to be magic proof. Plus, the door has a special lock. It’ll keep the bad guys out. John’s still got the amulet key?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think I can get it away from him.”

Terry laughed. “You don’t need to. Shut the door until you hear the double click. If the key’s inside, it works like a safe room. Time lock. That baby won’t open for twelve hours. On a scale of zero to apocalypse, how bad is this thing?”

Meaghan shook her head. “I wish I knew. From what John’s son told me, probably closer to apocalypse.”

“Well, shit,” Terry said. “I think me and Steph will start heading home a little early. Put Johnny back on the phone, okay?”

“Will do. Thank you.” She slid the phone back across the floor to John. “He wants to talk to you.”

John glared at her as he picked up the phone. He turned away, mumbled something to Terry, and then shoved the phone back into his pocket. “I still don’t like this.”

“Too bad,” Meaghan said.
Our first fight
, she thought.

Annie had gone in search of Sid and Jhoro and now all three appeared carrying supplies.

“Don’t get too close to them,” Annie said. “They aren’t very happy about this.”

Sid buzzed something to Jhoro, who laughed. John snarled something in Fahrayan. Jhoro flashed him an innocent smile and pointed to Meaghan while responding. She didn’t need Sid’s translation to know Jhoro was saying, “Don’t look at me. It was her idea.”

John gave one more desultory tug on the handcuff and then sat down, his back turned to them.

Jhoro gave Meaghan a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

“He’ll get over it,” Sid said.

They tossed the sofa cushions over to John and Russ. Using a push broom, Annie pushed two plastic shop buckets filled with bottled water and whatever food she could find in the break room close to them.

“Well,” Meaghan said. “I guess that’s it.”

John turned to face her. “How can you do this? If you are hurt, I will never forgive myself.”

“Likewise, which is why you’re staying here.”

“I’m gonna tell him about every embarrassing thing you’ve ever done,” Russ said. “All dirt will be revealed.”

“Fine. Shovel away,” she said, then turned to Annie. “We ready to roll?”

“I guess. Roll where?”

Meaghan sighed. “City hall. I think. Come on.”