Keepers of the Cave (11 page)

Fiona was as close as she had, and Fiona had proven to be faithful. If she bore a female child, then he would be happy. He would be able to mate again. The true Hogan line would end, but her reign would continue. The thought thrilled her, almost as much as the upcoming ceremony.

She paused at the door to her rooms, looking back down the dark tunnels. She had heard a noise, a scraping sound. She tilted her head, listening, but all was silent.

A rat perhaps.

***

“Why a cop?”

Paige halted in mid-pour, the wine bottle the only thing separating her eyes from CJ’s. She hated this question. She wished she’d made up a lie years ago.

“I mean, considering your family and all,” CJ continued, “that hardly seems what they had in mind for you.”

“No. Hardly,” she said. Actually, she was surprised by CJ’s attempt at conversation. She’d been distant, withdrawn most of the day. Brooding. Paige had finally given up trying to talk to her. So now, at dinner—which she’d assumed would be another quiet affair—CJ asks
that
question.

“So?”

Paige shrugged. “I wanted to help people,” she said. “I went to law school—”

“To
help
people?”

“I know. After the first year, I realized it wasn’t for me. It was all about money and politics.” Paige met her eyes. “I applied for the FBI without my parents’ knowledge. I really didn’t think it would get as far as it did,” she said.

“So they freaked?”

“That’s an understatement,” she said. “I was raised—trained—to be some rich man’s wife. They tolerated law school because that was considered a noble profession. And if I insisted, they would allow me to join the firm that served as my father’s counsel.” She sipped from her wine, remembering the conversation well. “Until I was married, of course. Then I would resort to being a proper wife.”

“And the FBI?”

She smiled. “What can I say? They demanded I quit, but really, they had no hold over me. Certainly not monetarily, even though they tried to play that card.” She looked away. “I had trust funds. They couldn’t touch that. But they tried to threaten my stake in
their
wealth.” Paige set her wineglass down, uncomfortable with the conversation. “When they realized I didn’t care about that, they backed off. I think they assumed I would give it up eventually.”

“Well, if they were thrown for a loop about the FBI, I bet they really freaked about the gay thing,” CJ said, pushing her plate away to cup her wineglass with both hands.

Paige felt a blush coming to her face but was unable to stop it. She picked up her glass, hoping CJ wouldn’t notice but knowing that she would.

“Paige?”

Paige cleared her throat. “They don’t...well, I’ve never mentioned it.”

CJ stared at her. “You’re in the
closet
?”

“I guess you could say that.”

CJ met her eyes, her own widening. She stood quickly, pushing her chair back, her head cocked to the side thoughtfully.

“Okay, wait a minute.” She turned away from Paige for a second, then looked back around quickly. “What are you saying exactly?”

“What do—”

“You weren’t—”

“What?”

“I mean, with me, God, it wasn’t your first time?” CJ’s eyes widened. “Jesus, was it?”

Paige raised her eyebrows. “Oh, come on. Really?”

“Granted, you knew what you were doing,” CJ murmured, almost to herself. “No. Couldn’t be. You were too—” She glared at Paige. “Right?”

“Please sit down. You’re overreacting,” she said. “And as if I’d have been the first
virgin
you’d ever slept with,” she added.

CJ again had a panicked look on her face. “Paige, seriously. I wasn’t the first woman you’d been with, right?”

Paige frowned. “Where is this coming from? Was I that bad that you thought it was my first time?”

“No. God, no. You were fantas—” She paused. “That’s not—” CJ sat down again. “I’m sorry. Of course it wasn’t your first time.” She tried to grin. “What was I thinking?”

Paige stared at her. “What is wrong with you?”

CJ shook her head. “Nothing. I’m sorry. I just don’t like to be anybody’s
first.
It’s scary.” She took a big gulp from her wine. “So you’re in the closet? Wow. I mean, with
everyone
?”

“Obviously not with you.”

It was CJ’s turn to frown. “Paige, the guys—Ice and Billy—I mean, we flirt all the time.”

“Yes. And that’s expected now. I play along with it, as do you.”

“But you know they think you’re gay. Right? I mean, they know, they don’t think. Well, they think they know. Christ—”

Paige laughed. “While I haven’t brought my personal life to the job—ever—I don’t doubt that they assume, simply from the lack of me mentioning a boyfriend.”

“And you don’t think your parents assume the same?”

Paige smiled, hoping it reached her eyes. “I’m very busy. I don’t have time to date,” she stated.

“Oh my God,” CJ murmured. “There’s not some guy, is there? I mean, that your family is holding out hope for?”

Paige looked away.
Crap.
She sighed. “Seth Buchanan.”

CJ stared at her. “Come on. Seriously?”

She stood, picking up both of their plates. “Seriously.” She had hoped that would be the end of it, but CJ followed her into the kitchen, bringing their wineglasses with her.

“So how often do you see this Seth person?”

Paige took the glass CJ held out to her. “Family get-togethers, that sort of thing,” she said evasively.

“And how often is that?”

“Not too often. My family is in Dallas, remember.” She set her glass down. “Why so curious?”

“Are you kidding me? You drop the
I’m in the closet
bombshell and you think I’m not curious?” CJ arched an eyebrow. “Are you sleeping with him?”

“Of course I’m not sleeping with him,” she snapped.

“Does he know you’re gay?”

Paige sighed, wishing this conversation would come to an end. “He does not. At least he has not said anything to me.”

“Yet you date?”

“We don’t date, CJ. He’s much like you. He likes to play the field,” she said, wondering if that was really how she would describe CJ. “He has no more interest in me than I do in him.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Look, when we’re around the family, we’re . . . friendly with each other. That’s it. Enough to make my parents think we see each other and enough to make his parents stop worrying about his playboy ways.” She didn’t add that it would be much easier to pretend if Seth wasn’t such an ostentatious ass.

“So where did you meet this guy?”

“I’ve known him most of my life. We went to law school together. He works for the firm that represents my father’s company.”

CJ studied her, and Paige had to steel herself from shifting nervously beside her. She knew, of course, what the next question would be.

“So have you
ever
slept with him?”

Knowing the question didn’t make it any easier to answer. But she wouldn’t lie about it. “We slept together in law school. I was still...confused,” she said.

CJ laughed. “Confused? You obviously hadn’t slept with a woman yet. You know what they say, once you go chick, you never go—”

Paige covered CJ’s mouth with her hand, smiling too. “Please don’t say it.”

“So when
did
you sleep with your first woman?”

“That’s a little personal, don’t you think?”

“It was obviously after Seth.” CJ reached for the wine bottle, adding a bit to both of their glasses.

Paige thought back to those awkward days, days when she was terrified of her attraction to women, terrified of what her family would say if they knew. She actually slept with Seth in the hopes that it would chase away those attractions. In reality, it only reinforced them.

“It was before Seth, actually,” she said. “Seth was my last attempt at normalcy.” She smiled. “It didn’t work.”

“So why not just tell your parents then?”

“Because it doesn’t work that way,” she said. She moved away, ending the conversation. “Did you talk to Ice today?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Yes. There’s nothing new. I asked him to act like a historian and get some background on Hoganville. Maybe something will turn up.”

Paige eyed the dirty dishes. “Your turn,” she said, heading off to the bedroom and her laptop.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CJ stood at the window, staring absently into the woods. She heard Paige in the kitchen and soon smelled bacon, but she wasn’t really interested this morning. She felt restless. She blew out a breath. Okay, she was bored. This sleepy little assignment was boring her to tears.

“What’s wrong?”

She turned, accepting the cup of coffee Paige offered her.

“Wrong? Everything,” she said. “What the hell are we doing here? I mean, I feel like we’re wasting our time. We’re not really investigating anything, you know.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I’m sitting in a classroom full of goddamn juvenile delinquents—literally—and doing what? Babysitting them? You’re teaching a gym class, for God’s sake. We haven’t even met Fiona, who is at least a person of interest. I just feel like we should be doing something,” she said. “This has got to be the most boring, waste-of-time assignment I’ve ever had.”

Paige went back to the kitchen, flipping the bacon. CJ could see the wheels turning in her head. Finally she looked up, only to shrug.

“I agree, CJ.”

“That’s it? I agree?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know. Something,” she said as she turned back to the window. “We don’t even know if Hoganville is just a creepy little place or what. I’d like to feel like there’s a reason we’re here and not just that we drew the short end of the stick.”

“Hoganville threw up red flags, that’s why we’re here. You know that. But you’re right. We don’t know if Hoganville is the center of the disappearance or not. A long shot at best, considering there is no evidence pointing to it. But I have a feeling
something
is happening here. Just being at the café, seeing them all like that. There’s something weird going on.”

“Weird, yes. Whether it’s criminal in nature is yet to be determined.” CJ let out a deep breath, finally turning from the window. “You need some help?” she offered, pointing to the stove.

“You can set the table, please,” she said.

CJ went to the cabinets, finding amusement in the mismatched plates. “Are you going to be able to eat off of these for six months?”

Paige glanced at her and smiled. “I’m not a snob, you know. But really, how hard would it have been to buy a matching set?” She set the spatula down. “Okay, I’ll admit, it’s driving me crazy. And on our next trip to San Augustine, I’m buying new ones.”

CJ laughed. “Yeah. Can you buy a TV too? Howley said no on my request.”

“You’re kidding? He really expects us to stay here for possibly months without one?”

“He said the budget was too tight for frivolous purchases.”

Paige put her hands on her hips, staring at her. “Frivolous? Does he know where we are? The closest entertainment is forty-five minutes away and most people wouldn’t even call that entertainment. I’d like to see him stuck out here for a few months.” She turned back to the stove, then paused again. “And if this were Ice and Billy, they’d have whined enough by now that he’d have had one delivered. I swear,” she mumbled. “Men.”

“You don’t really seem the TV type,” CJ said.

“I’m not. But if we don’t get one soon, you’re going to drive me insane.”

***

Fiona sat up, her head pounding. It was cold in the chamber, and the lone torch above the bed was blinding. She turned away from it. Her thoughts were muddled, drifting back and forth, leaving her not knowing what was real and what was a dream. She finally opened her eyes, daring to lift the covers. She gasped, quickly letting them fall. She leaned her head back, stretching out her legs, expecting there to be shooting pain. Surprisingly, she felt nothing. All that blood and she felt nothing. What had happened to her?

She jumped when she heard footsteps. Mother Hogan seemed surprised as she came closer.

“You’re awake, Fiona.” It was a statement, almost accusatory.

“Yes.”

“How do you feel?”

“My head hurts.”

“Yes. It will stop soon.” She handed her a cup. “Here. Some broth. You haven’t had much to eat this week.”

This week?
“What day is it?”

“It’s Sunday, dear.” Mother Hogan smiled. “Tonight you may return to the school. Will you be up for it?”

Fiona frowned. She’d lost a whole week. “I don’t know. I don’t think I can drive.”

“The broth will help your head. As soon as it is dark, we’ll prepare your bath. I’ve summoned your mother to assist.”

“There’s...there’s blood,” she said quietly.

Mother Hogan smiled. “Yes. Unfortunate. Antel was...beastly with you, I’m afraid. The bath will help.” She stood. “Lay back now. Belden will come get you when it’s time.”

Fiona did as instructed, too tired to protest. She saw the hulk of a shadow behind Mother Hogan, then it was gone. Instinctively, she reached down and covered her belly, her pulse racing. Was she with child? Had Antel succeeded? She tried to remember what had happened during the week. She had no memory of Antel except on the first night in the chambers. The rest was blurry. All she could recall were cold hands, a shadowy figure...and darkness.

She rolled her head to the side, away from the entry to the chambers. She was anxious to return to the school. There, at least, she felt like she had some control.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“That smells good,” CJ said, but Paige slapped her hand away as she tried to swipe a taste.

“Don’t you dare.”

“I’m surprised you can cook,” she said. “I mean, growing up like you did. You had servants, cooks. Right?”

Paige looked away, and CJ noticed the nearly embarrassed expression on her face. “We did. That doesn’t mean I didn’t learn from them,” Paige said. “I enjoy cooking. Something my mother has not done a day in her life.”