Mark, his concern for Traci, and the fact that her sister could be in serious trouble.
Almost, but not quite.
“We better get out of here,” he said. And suddenly he felt an urgency about it, like there was somewhere they needed to be and fast.
Cindy frowned. “Is something wrong?”
He nodded. “Yes, I just wish I knew what it was.”
9
Mark had a sick feeling in his stomach as he waited for Liam to join him at the park. He was way, way outside his comfort zone and had been since the first body had shown up on Monday. He tried to rehearse in his mind how he was going to approach the coven, but realized he had no idea what to expect. They could be hostile, angry at the intrusion by outsiders.
Then again they were holding their meeting in a public place, in the park in downtown Pine Springs. They couldn’t be expecting complete privacy. For that there was forest not half an hour away. Then again since everything that had happened at Green Pastures a while back he wouldn’t blame anyone for never wanting to go into the woods again, ever.
Maybe that was why they met in the park. It was safer. Also closer. By meeting late at night they also minimized the risk of interruption so just because they were in a public place didn’t mean they were ready and willing to accept visitors.
He wondered why of all the spots in the park they gathered near the lone Redwood tree. He wondered if it had some mystical significance. When Lizzie first got into Wicca she’d talked about different plants symbolizing different things and being used in various rituals.
He sighed and leaned his head back for a moment. Maybe if they hadn’t given her space, but had butted into her life earlier none of this would be happening now. Still, he didn’t want to believe that the deaths were Lizzie’s fault. And it wasn’t just because he didn’t want to be known as the cop that locked up his wife’s sister.
Lizzie used to be a lot gentler when she was younger although she’d always been a bit moody. Sensitive, that’s how Traci had once described her sister and it made sense.
Liam’s car pulled up next to his and Mark got out. “Thanks for coming,” he said as Liam came around to stand next to him a few seconds later.
“What are partners for?” Liam asked with a shrug.
“Did you at least see some interesting tourist places?” Mark asked, feeling the urge to talk to fill the silence, trying to calm his own jitters.
“Took the nighttime tour of Alcatraz when I went up to San Francisco.”
“I bet that was disturbing.”
“Made me glad I became a cop. When I was little my mother swore I could go either way.”
“Not you,” Mark said. “You’re a straight and narrow type of guy and I’m sure you were the same way as a kid.”
Liam just shrugged. “So, care to tell me what we’re doing in the park late at night?”
“We’re going to see some wiccans about a witch.”
“Okay, you lost me.”
“I’m not even sure I understand. We’re going to interrupt a coven meeting, hopefully, to try and get some answers. Stick close.”
“Just out of curiosity why is it that we always get the weird cases?” Liam asked.
“Just lucky I guess. You wouldn’t want life to get boring, would you?”
“No, but every once in a while it might be nice, you know, as a novelty.”
Mark shook his head and clicked on his flashlight. “Okay, let’s go.”
They had parked fairly close to where the giant Redwood tree was. He’d hoped that if they had the element of surprise on their side that even if coven members decided to run, they’d at least be able to catch one or two. Hopefully those would actually have information worth knowing.
“You want to fill me in on what’s going on?” Liam asked.
“Later,” Mark growled. “For now, maintain silence. We don’t want to spook them.”
Which is ironic, because I’m the one who’s freaked out , he thought.
They made their way stealthily
Almost, but not quite.
“We better get out of here,” he said. And suddenly he felt an urgency about it, like there was somewhere they needed to be and fast.
Cindy frowned. “Is something wrong?”
He nodded. “Yes, I just wish I knew what it was.”
9
Mark had a sick feeling in his stomach as he waited for Liam to join him at the park. He was way, way outside his comfort zone and had been since the first body had shown up on Monday. He tried to rehearse in his mind how he was going to approach the coven, but realized he had no idea what to expect. They could be hostile, angry at the intrusion by outsiders.
Then again they were holding their meeting in a public place, in the park in downtown Pine Springs. They couldn’t be expecting complete privacy. For that there was forest not half an hour away. Then again since everything that had happened at Green Pastures a while back he wouldn’t blame anyone for never wanting to go into the woods again, ever.
Maybe that was why they met in the park. It was safer. Also closer. By meeting late at night they also minimized the risk of interruption so just because they were in a public place didn’t mean they were ready and willing to accept visitors.
He wondered why of all the spots in the park they gathered near the lone Redwood tree. He wondered if it had some mystical significance. When Lizzie first got into Wicca she’d talked about different plants symbolizing different things and being used in various rituals.
He sighed and leaned his head back for a moment. Maybe if they hadn’t given her space, but had butted into her life earlier none of this would be happening now. Still, he didn’t want to believe that the deaths were Lizzie’s fault. And it wasn’t just because he didn’t want to be known as the cop that locked up his wife’s sister.
Lizzie used to be a lot gentler when she was younger although she’d always been a bit moody. Sensitive, that’s how Traci had once described her sister and it made sense.
Liam’s car pulled up next to his and Mark got out. “Thanks for coming,” he said as Liam came around to stand next to him a few seconds later.
“What are partners for?” Liam asked with a shrug.
“Did you at least see some interesting tourist places?” Mark asked, feeling the urge to talk to fill the silence, trying to calm his own jitters.
“Took the nighttime tour of Alcatraz when I went up to San Francisco.”
“I bet that was disturbing.”
“Made me glad I became a cop. When I was little my mother swore I could go either way.”
“Not you,” Mark said. “You’re a straight and narrow type of guy and I’m sure you were the same way as a kid.”
Liam just shrugged. “So, care to tell me what we’re doing in the park late at night?”
“We’re going to see some wiccans about a witch.”
“Okay, you lost me.”
“I’m not even sure I understand. We’re going to interrupt a coven meeting, hopefully, to try and get some answers. Stick close.”
“Just out of curiosity why is it that we always get the weird cases?” Liam asked.
“Just lucky I guess. You wouldn’t want life to get boring, would you?”
“No, but every once in a while it might be nice, you know, as a novelty.”
Mark shook his head and clicked on his flashlight. “Okay, let’s go.”
They had parked fairly close to where the giant Redwood tree was. He’d hoped that if they had the element of surprise on their side that even if coven members decided to run, they’d at least be able to catch one or two. Hopefully those would actually have information worth knowing.
“You want to fill me in on what’s going on?” Liam asked.
“Later,” Mark growled. “For now, maintain silence. We don’t want to spook them.”
Which is ironic, because I’m the one who’s freaked out , he thought.
They made their way stealthily
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