The End Of Desire: A Rowan Gant Investigation by M. R. Sellars Page A

insinuating myself so deeply into that first
investigation, maybe the dead would be speaking to someone else
instead of me. And, if that were the case, Felicity wouldn’t be
sitting in the psychiatric wing of a hospital because an out of
control Lwa was using her as a
horse.
    “Aye, Caorthann ,” my wife soothed. “You had no choice.
Ariel was your friend.”
    “I’m supposed to be cheering you up,” I finally
muttered.
    “You are…” she replied, and I could actually
hear the smile in her voice.
    “I’m glad you think so, because I don’t feel
like I am.”
    “How is it down there?” she asked, switching
the subject without acknowledging what I had just said.
    On reflex I looked out the windows of the
taxi at the piles of detritus as I spoke, “Not as bad as we saw on
TV, but it’s still not good.”
    “Are you keeping your wards up?”
    “Yeah. I am.”
    When she replied, her voice was still
illuminated by the somewhat bright tone that had made me smile a
moment ago. “ Cac capaill .
You’re lying again. You haven’t been able to shield yourself for
more than ten minutes in years. I know coven initiates who ground
better than you.”
    I allowed myself a grin at the comment,
complete with the Gaelic profanity. Knowing Felicity as I did, I
took the curse as yet another positive sign.
    I felt the car slowing and looked up. We
listed briefly as the driver swung the vehicle into the motel’s lot
in a tight arc and then eased us up in front of the office.
    “Hold on, honey,” I said into the phone as I
fished out my wallet.
    I did a quick mental calculation of the tip
and stuffed some bills into his hand with a quick “keep the
change,” then stepped out of the vehicle and started across the lot
to my own car. The trip had put a dent in my traveling cash, but I
wasn’t hurting yet. Still, I figured plastic was probably going to
be my best choice to pay for my meals from this point on.
    “Okay, I’m back,” I said after returning the
phone to my ear.
    “Have you been eating?” she asked, still bent
on taking care of me by long distance.
    I didn’t think she needed the worry, but it
seemed to be giving her something to focus on. So, if it made her
feel better, I wasn’t going to argue.
    “Aspirin and coffee.”
    “Rowan…”
    “I’ll get something later. I promise.”
    “Something healthy.”
    “You got it. Something healthy.”
    “So what are your plans today?” she
pressed.
    I glanced at my watch and saw that it was
10:20.
    “I’m going down to the main branch of the
library to check their archives. If I’m lucky I’ll be able to pick
up a lead on Miranda from some of the genealogy records. I don’t
know if it will do any good, even if I find something, but
maybe.”
    “Aren’t you supposed to be meeting up with
Doctor Rieth to have a look at the cemetery?” she asked.
    “That isn’t until tomorrow. She’s still in
Baton Rouge right now. But, I have a map so I might go out there
myself this afternoon.”
    I stopped at my rental car then pulled the
key out of my pocket and unlocked the door. I opened it but didn’t
get in right away. I just stood there watching the traffic out on
Airline Highway.
    “Please don’t,” Felicity appealed.
    “Why?”
    “Just… I don’t know. Just don’t go alone.
Please wait until tomorrow when Doctor Rieth is with you.”
    “Okay,” I answered softly. “I can do that.
Don’t worry.”
    “Promise?”
    “Yes, honey. I promise,” I said,
unconsciously nodding as I spoke. “Truth is I should probably go
back to the motel and grab some sleep once I’m done at the
library.”
    “Aye, I think you should.”
    Silence fell between us. I turned to slip
into the car, and my eyes caught the sight of a maid’s cart outside
the door of room 7. Some of the furniture was already resting in a
pile near the entrance to the open stairwell on the left.
    “I’m loving you right now,” my wife finally
said.
    “I’m loving you too,” I