Part 23 (2/2)
Had the Master been here?
No. It was a different sense of...violation that plagued her. But she didn't have time to dwell on it.
She started out, then nearly screamed aloud when she ran straight into Big Jim.
He immediately looked sheepish. ”Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.”
”My fault. But what the heck are you doing here? I can't imagine you've come for my services.”
He shook his head. ”I read the newspaper,” he said softly. ”And I'm worried.”
”I'm okay.”
”You've got to be careful. I can feel it in my old bones when things are going wrong. You know me. And you know I can feel it when the, er, otherworldly is going down. Comes from all the voodoo in my life, I suppose.”
”Your bones aren't all that old, Jim.”
”I don't like this. I don't like this one bit. And too many good folks are still out of town.”
”I know. I think Maggie is going to make some calls.”
”I saw the sky turn red. This evil is after you.”
Jessica looked around quickly. ”You're alone, right?”
”Yeah, I'm alone. Barry Larson is a good old boy, but don't worry, we never do anything but tease about my old voodoo-queen granny.”
”Big Jim, you need to be careful. The whole city needs to be careful. If I had my way, I'd ask Sean to impose a curfew.” ”And he'd be locked up in an insane asylum.”
”I know. That's all that stops me.”
”You call me when you need me.”
”You be careful. You could be in danger, too.”
He gave her a huge smile. ”Not me. I know what I'm up against.”
”No. No one really understands what they're up against.”
”When you need me, I'm here.”
”I know.” She gave him a fierce hug. ”Thank you.”
He stepped back, studying her. ”You know what I think? I think there's got to be someone close to you who isn't what he seems.”
She froze, frowning, and asked sharply, ”What do you mean?”
”If he's here, he's got help.”
”You mean...the Master?”
”Honey, think about it. He must have someone working for him, right here.”
She exhaled softly, staring at him. He was right. Even so, she shook her head in denial. ”The only people who were in Romania were the kids and Bryan MacAllistair. But it can't be him. He's hunting the Master himself. He wants to destroy him.”
”Yeah? How do you know that? Only because he says so, right? And think about it. Where is he staying? Your place.”
”No. I can't believe...”
”Watch your back. He doesn't need an invitation to come in.”
”Look, it could be anyone. The Master didn't need any help in Transylvania.” She didn't allow her voice to falter.
Big Jim wouldn't be swayed. ”There's someone, and it's someone close to you,” he warned.
”I've get to get moving,” she said, putting an end to the uncomfortable topic. ”You listen to what people are saying in the bar, okay?”
”You know it,” he promised.
Her cell started to ring. She answered it, still meeting his grave stare. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”Jessica, its Maggie. Get over here. Now.”
”But I haven't found-”
”I think you should come. Seriously. There's still time before dark.”
Jessica nodded and hung up. ”Big Jim, if you see those kids, tell them to go to my place. To Montresse House. Okay?”
Maggie was at the door when she parked in the drive. Jessica frowned. ”What's going on?”
”Ancient texts,” Maggie told her.
”You got ancient texts off the computer?” Jessica asked incredulously.
”With patience, you can find anything you want on the computer,” Maggie a.s.sured her. ”Come in. Sit down.”
They returned to the kitchen. There were papers from Maggie's printer spread out all over the breakfast table.
”Here, this one is Babylonian. The translation is, 'He rises when the time is right, when the succubi ride rampant over the land.
Neither G.o.d nor man nor beast, he rises to wage war against the miasma that reigns.'”
”Ancient Babylonian?” Jessica murmured doubtfully.
<script>