“We need to get going, Miss,” the older EMT said, but I didn’t bother to look at her. I was focused on the witch.
“Kirsten?” I said again. Her eyelids fluttered, but after a moment her deep-blue eyes found me again. “I know you’re hurting, but I have to ask you something.” She nodded slightly. I looked up at Runa and gave her a look. She understood and began engaging the two EMTs in a question about types of stitches.
I took a deep breath. “There was nobody at that party stronger than you, Kirsten. I’m sure of it. But this whole time we’ve been looking for a witch inside your union. What about the witches in LA who didn’t want to join you? Could a powerful witch be operating in the city without you knowing?”
Kirsten mumbled, “I’d know. Go talk to them. Ask them to join us.” Her last two words slurred together.
I frowned. “But witches have said no before, right? Have you ever been turned down by someone very powerful?”
For a moment, Kirsten’s eyes cleared and her eyebrows furrowed. Then her face relaxed, and her head seemed to sink a little farther into the gurney. “There was someone once. Years ago. But she died. There was an accident. Olivia…” She gasped, and both EMTs’ heads swiveled our way in alarm. Kirsten’s face couldn’t get any paler, but her hand squeezed mine.
I leaned forward so only Kirsten could hear. “Olivia got rid of the body,” I said quietly. Kirsten nodded, a tiny, urgent movement. “Only she didn’t.”
“I should have…I should have…” Her eyelids fluttered again. “Mallory,” she whispered, and her hand relaxed in mine.
“Kirsten? What’s her last name? Where does she live?” But her eyes were closed again.
“Miss,” the driver said firmly. “Come down here. Now.”
When the ambulance sped off with Kirsten and Runa, Jesse turned on me. “Did you know?” he asked in a soft voice. “About Runa?”
“I found out about ten minutes ago,” I said honestly.
“Was she…was she sent? To be with me?”
I sighed. “I think so. But you should really talk to her.” I saw Dashiell’s expensive car pull up to the nearest curb spot, and I nodded at it. “Dashiell’s here.” I held out my hand. “You still have the best parking spot, though. Can I sit in your car until the ambulance gets here?”
He automatically dug in his pocket, still dazed, but froze with his keys in the air. “Swear to me that you won’t try to drive yourself to the hospital,” he demanded.
I nodded. “I swear I won’t drive myself to the hospital. I just want to sit down for a second, Jesse, I promise. But I don’t want to sit on the porch by…the body.” And I didn’t want to sit on the ground, because getting up off of it had not been fun the first time, but I didn’t feel the need to mention that.
He searched my face for a long moment, saw that I meant it, and dropped the keys in my palm. “I’ll meet you at the ER,” he promised.
“Oh, Jesse?”
He raised his eyebrows at me.
I told him about the name Kirsten had remembered. “Mallory,” he said thoughtfully. Then he looked back over his shoulder and sighed. “Let me take care of this first.” He took off toward Dashiell.
I limped toward Jesse’s car, feeling the pain in my back. I opened the passenger door, which was closest to the curb, and sort of fell into the low seat. It was better than the ground, I figured. From that spot I could see Jesse confer briefly with Dashiell, keeping his eyes away from Dashiell’s gaze. I felt a silly burst of pride. He was taking care of himself. Jesse talked to some uniformed officers, who began spreading crime-scene tape around the house’s exterior now that the wounded had been cleared away. I leaned back and closed my eyes.
How had everything gotten so messed up, so quickly? The plan had been for me to go to the party in order to identify Olivia’s witch partner. Instead, Olivia herself had shown up and…shot at Kirsten? The gun itself didn’t surprise me; I could see Olivia carrying one on all her recent missions on the off chance that I might show. But unless I’d completely misjudged the angles, it had really seemed like Olivia was aiming at Kirsten, not me, and certainly not Jesse.
Kirsten hadn’t had a picture on the basement wall, though. I had been so sure Olivia’s next move would be to come after someone I loved. Was I completely wrong about Olivia’s plan? Or was Olivia’s plan just on hold until after the night of the solstice? Maybe they were focused on what this other witch, Mallory, wanted, but if that were the case, why come here and kill Kirsten? To keep her from interfering? That seemed awfully random, given that Kirsten was clearly busy and distracted tonight. She hadn’t exactly been about to pound on Mallory’s door.
I rubbed my face in frustration, feeling the muscles in my back cry out from the movement. Tonight was supposed to be about getting answers, and all I had was more frickin’ questions.
I was distracted by my cell phone, which was vibrating in my pocket. I heard the dim strains of “Werewolves of London.” Will. I dug out the phone, wincing at the pain as I leaned sideways. I felt a flash of guilt. He was probably calling about his truck, which was parked on the street back in front of Molly’s house. I’d kind of forgotten all about it. I held the phone to my ear.
“Hey, Will, listen…” I began, but my voice trailed off as I listened to the unmistakable sounds of glass breaking and screaming. Then Will’s voice came on the line, so suddenly I jumped in my seat. “Scarlett!” he screamed. “Get here now!” There was another crash and then a tangle of words, but I could only make out one.
“Wolfberry.”
Chapter 24