In Shadow - Ch 24 - The Pack Looks Out For Its Own

Moonwood Mill was Jake's home, but Mill Lane still held a special place in his heart.

Smiling, he breathed in the scents of the farmhouse... the green smell of the hedge, the sweet smell of flowers, the deep scents of old wood and stone, the pong of the chicken coop. He caught trails of honey and herb (a particular body wash Aadi and Jordan shared), the red, she-wolf scent of Demarco and the shimmering aura not quite hidden under Etta's homemade herbal soup. Over everything, he caught the heavy, wet smell of the fog clinging to mountains and the hint of rain that always seemed just over the horizon in Henford-on-Bagely.

As the farmhouse's back door swung open, a wave of herb and flowers rolled out, almost hiding the rising scent of honey and herb that announced Jordan and Aadi before the lovers stepped out onto the back porch.

"So, clothes, cash, water bottle, granola bars... what else did she say?" Aadi was saying.

"Matches, knife, string," Jordan replied. "It's like camping."

"Boo, I grew up in the City," Aadi laughed. "The closest I got to camping was crashing on a friend's couch."

"Etta has you two putting together escape kits," Jake observed. 

It wasn't really a question. Etta never went anywhere without an escape plan, never entered a room without looking for all the exits, never walked down a street without looking for threats. When other girls were playing with dolls, the quiet woman had been learning how to be a spy and assassin, among her other talents. Jake would have called it child abuse, but he had to confess it had given her some frighteningly useful skills. Skills she gently encouraged others to learn. The pack looked out for its own, even those without the Wolf.

"Hey, puppy. That she does," Aadi said, clearly a little amused. "We're setting up packs in the barn. She has a whole escape route planned."

"Hopefully you won't need to use it," Jake said, "but it's still good to have in case of trouble."

"I know," Aadi sighed, a little more serious.

"I don't like the idea of running," Jordan added, a little hotly. "This is my home. I shouldn't be run off by a bunch street toughs from the City, or a bunch of monsters." Suddenly abashed, they shot Jake an apologetic look. "I didn't mean..."

Jake smiled, dismissing the unintentional insult. Living with Demarco, Jordan had finally been forced to confront the reality behind Aadi's stories about werewolves and, by implication, vampires and witches too. They were actually handling the revelation of the monsters that lurked in the shadows pretty well.

"Well, we'll do what we have to, to keep you both safe," he said simply. The pack looks out for its own, he thought again. "Hopefully, that won't mean running." 

"Anyway, you're not just here to be social," Jordan said. 

"Your friend Genie called me," Jake said.

"Us too," Aadi said. "They have A Plan. So, Etta has us finishing up our escape kits... just in case Armageddon comes a'knocking."

"That's what I thought," Jake nodded. "Well, while you do that, I'm going to check in with Etta and Demarco. Then we should all talk."

"We'll be back," Jordan said in their best Terminator impression.

The farmhouse kitchen smelled heavily of herbs and flowers, over the scents of cooking - eggs, peppers, onions and greens - that had long ago sunk into the wood. Mixed within those, Jake smelled Etta's shimmering scent and Demarco's strong wolf musk. 

Strangely, he only saw Etta.

"Brewing up another potion?" he said.

"Herbal tincture," Etta corrected. She adamantly denied anything she did involved more than a common, everyday kind of magic that Jake knew was neither common nor everyday. "A little something for energy. Might be helpful."

"Getting ready for trouble," Jake observed.

"Always," Etta said ruefully. "I take it you heard... Aadi's friends have A Plan. I hope this one goes better than their last one."

"So do I," Jake sighed. "Any news on the neighbors." 

They'd been aware for a while that the farmhouse was being watched.

"Demarco's checking on them," Etta said.

"Where is she?" Jake asked, a little confused. He could smell her, as if she was right in front of him.

"Behind you," Demarco said, chuckling.

With a snarl, Jake jumped, ready for the ambush that didn't come. With the ease of long practice, he took a deep breath, calming his Wolf.

"Sorry," Demarco said, lowering her head in a gesture of deference but not the submission she might show her own pack leader.

Jake inclined his own head, wordlessly accepting her apology. 

"I was checking out the abandoned house in the woods," Demarco continued. "We were right. They've been using it as a base. Kiril is there, but there was no sign of Bianca or Wolfgang."

Jake suppressed another snarl. Kiril and Bianca Barov were renegade werewolves, former packmates of Demarco's, who had betrayed the Wildfangs and endangered all of Moonwood Mill. Now, they were clearly working with Max V and his henchman Wolfgang.

"It was dangerous scouting the house alone," Jake pointed out sternly. "What if Kiril caught your scent?"

"He couldn't," Demarco replied with a defiant grin. "Just like you couldn't... because Etta is brilliant."

"The poppet," Etta said, gesturing at a crude doll on the kitchen counter. "I enchanted it to hold Demarco's scent instead of her. As long as she doesn't get too close," Etta added, clearly repeating a warning, "the charm should hide her scent."

"Brilliant," Demarco repeated, proudly.

"That is truly brilliant," Jake agreed. 

"Well, it was just an experiment," Etta said, clearly proud in spite of herself. 

He sniffed the air again. They were right. This close he could catch Demarco's scent coming faintly from her body but more strongly from the crude doll a few feet behind her. At a distance, she would be hidden, provided she wasn't seen. More, he thought, another Wolf scouting the farmhouse would think she was here, in the kitchen.

"Etta," Jake said slowly. "Could you do that charm for someone else?"

"Probably," Etta nodded. "Provided I had their scent to imbue into the poppet."

"I'll see what I can arrange," Jake smiled.

"What are you thinking," Demarco said, puzzled. 

Etta just looked at him, suspicions clearly forming behind her dark eyes.

This might be the solution to another problem, Jake thought. Out loud, he simply said, "Later."

A moment later, the back door rattled open and, heralded by honey and herbs, Aadi and Jordan burst in.

"Jake, I just got a text from Genie," Aadi said excitedly. "More details about The Plan. Look."

Letting himself get caught up in Aadi's enthusiasm, Jake looked down at their phone. Slowly, as he wasn't the strongest reader, he read through Genie's text. Then, while Aadi practically vibrated with excitement, he read it again just to make sure he'd understood it.

"OK," Jake said at last. "Let's talk about what we need to do for our part."

In Shadow - Ch 23 - Weakness

"Of course I have a plan," Max V grinned. "I always have a plan."

The glass and steel spire of Landgraab Tower, with its magnificent views of the City, was a world away from the Spice District apartment. Not that Max considered that much. He didn't give a passing thought to his niece, Genie Elderberry, or even particularly remember Jenny Poole, an actress he had used and discarded years ago. Certainly, he wasn't overly concerned that either of them might interfere. 

"Does this plan involve capturing Mariah Basso before the meeting of the Families?" Mr. Grey asked coldly.

To Max's mind, Mr. Grey was someone to be concerned about. In a long life of criminal associates, Max considered the Alto Family's consigliere the single most dangerous mortal he'd ever dealt with.

"You questioning my loyalty?" Max said.

"Of course not," Mr. Grey replied coldly. "I have no doubt whatsoever that you are loyal to no one but yourself."

Loyalty, Max thought, was for fools. It was Grey's one weakness - his absolute loyalty to the Alto Family. No matter how smart and ruthless the man was, it would always be a lever Max could exploit.

"Gentlemen, this squabbling helps nothing," Luna Elderberry put in. "Max, you will find the girls. Yes?"

Max smiled inwardly. Luna, his dear big sister, was always playing her role of hostess and mediator, the role she'd adopted, when they were still children, after maman's sudden death. That was Luna's weakness - her need to be always in control.

"I’m close," Max said out loud. "I can’t promise when I’ll bring them in though. There are certain risks to consider."

"Yes, you have said several times that confronting a witch like Miranda Silveroak-Goth is dangerous," Mr. Grey said. "One might wonder how you intend to accomplish it at all." 

"I have no intention of confronting her… not head on anyway," Max smiled again. "I got her last time by blindsiding her…"

"You lost her last time," Mr. Grey pointed out.

Max bristled even as he recognized the barb for the poke at his pride that it was. Everyone has a weakness, he admitted, if only to himself.

"I told you, I had unreliable help," he said curtly. If only that stupid girl hadn't betrayed him... and for what? Lust? Love? Friendship? What had Claudette's weakness been?  "Won’t be a problem this time. Will it, big guy?"

"It will not," Crowe snarled. 

"Miranda is secondary to our interests anyway," Luna said. "It’s Mariah Basso the Families want."

Of course they did, Max thought. Mariah had broken the Code of Silence and given evidence against Nick Alto - who was now rotting in jail. She'd cut the head off the Alto Family, and the infighting that followed had damn near brought the whole thing down.

"It is," Mr. Grey nodded. "If you do not have her soon, that will leave Marco in a… difficult… position with the other Families."

"There may come a time when we have to consider whether our loyalty lies with Marco or with the Alto Family," Luna mused. 

Big sister understood weakness too, Max thought.

"Marco is Nick’s chosen successor," Mr. Grey pointed out.

Family. That had been Nick's weakness, Max thought. That was why he'd trusted Mariah, daughter of his favorite cousin and previous heir-apparent, Big Tony Basso. That's why he'd named Marco, another cousin, now son-in-law and father of Nick's grandson, as his heir after Big Tony's untimely but necessary assassination.

"Yes, he is," Luna said. "Of course, you’ve disagreed with Nick’s decisions before. His involving the Family in the intrigues of the Dark Court for instance… which brings us back to Miranda. I imagine handing her over to the Court would go a long way toward gaining their favor."

 "Possibly," a soft voice purred. 

"Lady Bow." Max inclined his head in a gesture that carried genuine respect.

Betty Bow may have gotten a title through marriage, but she held her position in the Dark Court by Right of Conquest, having defeated and destroyed the master vampire who had turned her. As far as Max was concerned, when someone could reasonably be considered the most dangerous person in a room that also included Mr. Grey, respect was due.

 "The Dark Court is in some… disarray," Lady Bow continued. "Count Straud’s absence from the Court has left him vulnerable. A vulnerability Lady Hel, or Ms. H as you knew her, and her allies were poised to exploit before her… mysterious… destruction." 

"Mariah Basso defeated her," Crowe growled.

Loyalty again, Max mused. That was Crowe's weakness, his loyalty to the memory of his late mistress. 

"Did you see it happen?" Lady Bow replied.

"I know Ms. H lured Mariah into a confrontation," Crowe snarled. "I know that Mariah survived, and Ms. H did not. It’s obvious what happened."

"Unless Miranda defeated her, like they say she defeated Count Straud," Lady Bow smiled coldly. "The Court wants Miranda for that outrage. They aren’t interested in Mariah… unless she did defeat Ms. H. Then her allies would be very interested. Wouldn’t they, Crowe?"

"The Families want Mariah," Grey said firmly. "The Court can have Ms. Silveroak-Goth. We have no interest in her."

"George T wants Miranda," Max said offhandedly. George T's weakness had always been obvious, Max mused. Women. "Oh, he’s good with handing her over when he’s done. Assuming the Court doesn’t mind if she’s a bit roughed up and… sticky."

"Such an unpleasant man, your George T," Lady Bow grimaced. 

"We can discuss who does what to them after we get them," Luna snapped.

"No hint of sympathy for your old college sweetheart’s daughter?" Max asked Luna, his voice edged with acid.

"Cassie Goth was never my sweetheart," Luna snarled.

"Gwen Silveroak was," Max countered cuttingly. 

Love. Another weakness.

"Gwen made her choice," Luna huffed. 

For all she played the polite hostess and the charming socialite, Max knew Luna's pains. Among them, he knew that, under her smiling facade, his sister had never forgiven Gwen Silveroak for picking Cassie Goth over her, leaving Luna with Rohan. 

"Now go, find the girls," Luna continued. "And Max, I want you at that meeting… either with them or with a damn good explanation why not."

-------------

"You cannot give Miranda Silveroak-Goth to George T," Crowe said.

It wasn't a question, Max mused. It wasn't even a demand. The way Crowe said it, it was an immutable fact as irresistible as gravity and with the same possibility of danger. It was an attitude that, frankly, Max appreciated about Crowe.

"Don't worry about it. I've got this," Max said easily, pulling out his phone. "Wolfgang, give me good news."

"No sign of them yet," Wolfgang replied. "Bianca hasn't caught their scent yet either. You sure about this?"

"I'm sure," Max said. "I should have worked it out from the start. Evergreen Harbor is within easy reach of Moonwood Mill, Glimmerbrook and Mill Lane... and it's big enough for them to disappear in. They're there. Find them."

"We're looking, but like you said, this town is big enough to hide them," Wolfgang replied. "Unless we get lucky, it's going to take a while."

"Stick close to the she-wolf," Max smiled. "She'll get their scent eventually. And don't use George's people anymore. I don't want him getting there first."

"That could be a problem," Wolfgang said cautiously.

"Make it not a problem. Do whatever it takes," Max said firmly. "Now, you remember what to do when you do find them?"

"Look, don't touch," Wolfgang said. 

"That's right," Max said. "No one moves on them without orders from me."

"You brought George T into this. Now you’re pushing him out?" Crowe said, mildly puzzled.

"He was useful for a while," Max said. "Now he's becoming a liability. I always knew he would. I'll handle him. Sometimes you've got to sacrifice a pawn to take a queen."

"You will take the queen?" Crowe asked.

"I will," Max smiled. "And when I do, we will bring both Miranda and Mariah before the Dark Court. Don't worry, we'll get our rewards."

"I don't care about rewards," Crowe snarled. "I want Mariah's blood." 

Weaknesses, Max smiled. We all have them.

 

 

In Shadow - Ch 22 - New Plan

"So... you're a witch?" Genie asked. 

The lingering summer heat had long ago banished the deathly chill from Jenny's apartment. Genie and Orange, called over after they'd each finished work, had listened as she gave her enthusiastic explanation of the day's events, and reacted with joy, outrage and surprise at all the right parts of the story.

"No," Jenny laughed. "I'm an actress. I just made George's goon think I was a witch."

"How did you manage the special effects?" Orange asked, chuckling at the idea that some tough gangster believed in witches and magic.

"Oh, that wasn't me," Jenny said. "That was the ghost. My apartment's haunted."

"The... the ghost?" Genie asked, finding herself looking around for a hovering specter. She couldn't see one, but she'd not-seen ghosts before. It hadn't stopped them from being there.

"Olivia. She lived her before me," Jenny explained. "I guess she died here too. She was murdered by an intruder. So, she's really protective and doesn't like it when guys try to barge in." 

"You're serious," Orange blinked.

"Why do think my rent is so low? Why do you think the TV's always on at night?" Jenny smiled. "Olivia's OK. Most of the time, she just hangs around. Sometimes she makes breakfast. And, this isn't the first time she's scared some jerk off."

"So, she's a friendly ghost," Orange said carefully. "Well... um... thanks, Olivia."

"Well, the important thing is that you're safe," Genie said. "And that Corrie managed to get away from that scumbag."

"I want to hit him," Orange admitted. "I know it's not very mature or evolved of me, but I want to punch George T right in his smug, scarred face."

"Well, don't," Genie said with a little smile. "I've seen you try to hit a punching bag at the gym. I throw a better punch than you do."

"That's 'cause Mariah taught you all that kung-fu stuff she knows," Orange said.

"Well, I don't care if it's evolved or whatever," Jenny said. "I like that you want to hit him."

"Yeah, I know Genie's right... but I really want to hit him," Orange said passionately.

"Corrie, hi. I'm Genie," Genie said gently as Corrie quietly took a seat on the couch. "How are you?"

"I'm... I'm OK," Corrie replied. "I... I feel a little better for getting a nap."

"Orange was just..." Jenny said.

"I know. It's OK. I wanted to hit him too," Corrie said with a small smile. Her fingers rose to her face, brushing the edges of the bruise mostly hidden by Jenny's makeup. "I did hit him," she whispered.

"He can't hurt you anymore," Orange said gently. "We can get you to the women's shelter, if you want. They can keep you safe."

"I... I feel safe here," Corrie said.

"Then you can stay here," Jenny said firmly. "I've got good neighbors and that very protective ghost I told you about. I don't think that goon will be back anytime soon. When you're ready, I know some good people you can talk to... if you want to. People who helped me."

"So, now what do we do?" Orange asked.

"I don't know," Genie sighed. "I just really don't know."

"Well, the basic plan hasn't changed, right?" Jenny said. "We get the dirt on Max V, on George and on the Altos. Genie brings it all out in the open and they all end up in jail or the run, so they can't go after Miranda and Mariah... or Corrie... or us." 

"Yeah, but how?" Genie groaned. "First, I thought I could what I needed from my grand-père's files, but my mom has hidden those away. Then you tried to seduce it out of George, and that was..."

"I think Jenny had it right last night with 'total disaster,'" Orange said.

"Thanks a lot," Jenny sighed.

"I'm agreeing with you," Orange said.

"Your... your what files?" Corrie asked Genie, then hastily added, "I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have interrupted."

"You're fine," Genie said gently. "Please, we could use some ideas. My grand-père... my grandfather. Jacques Villareal. He was this big time gangster and he had these files filled with dirty secrets and the names of everyone he'd done business with."

"Like a ledger?" Corrie asked.

"Kind of, I guess," Genie mused. "A ledger of all his dirty deals."

"Like the one the Altos have," Corrie said.

"The what the who have?" Jenny blinked, startled.

"The Altos... they have this ledger of all their shady business deals, all the names of the people on their payroll and everything," Corrie said. "George showed it to me once. I... I don't think he was supposed to but it was when we just started... ummm... dating. I... I think he was trying to impress me because he said his name was all through it. I... I'm sorry. It... it... it's not important."

"Not important?" Genie gasped. "It's everything. We could take down the entire Alto family with that."

"I don't think it would that easy, Genie," Orange pointed out. "I mean, something like that... they'd keep it safely under lock and key."

"Yeah, they... they do," Corrie nodded. "It's in this hidden safe in Marco's office... and it's got this really complicated combination too."

"Great, even if we had the combination..." Jenny said.

"Which we don't," Genie sighed.

"I... I know the combination," Corrie said softly.

"We'd still have to get into Marco Tenari's office," Orange sighed.

"Wait, Corrie, what did you just say?" Jenny asked.

"I... I know the combination to the safe," Corrie said. "I... I'm kind of good with numbers."

"That's amazing," Jenny smiled. "Unless they change it, I guess."

"Oh, they change it every week," Corrie said. "But it's always based the same formula and I... I... I'm sorry... it's dumb. I shouldn't..."

"Corrie, you worked out the formula didn't you?" Genie said, stunned.

"I... um... yeah, I did," Corrie said. "I know... it's dumb... it's just, they were all talking and I was bored and I... worked it out in my head... as something to do. It's so dumb. I know girls aren't supposed to do math but sometimes I..."

"Corrie, you're a genius," Genie said.

"So, we can get into the safe," Orange said. "But how do we get into the office. It's not like the Alto crime family is going to invite us over for a dinner party."

"Or have one we could crash," Jenny chuckled.

"Well..." Corrie breathed.

"Corrie," Genie smiled. "Are the Altos having a party we can crash?"

"I don't know about a party," Corrie said, "but last night I overheard George and this other guy, Max, talking. Marco is having a big meeting with his senior guys and some other bosses. It's kind of a big deal. I guess some people are upset that Marco hasn't caught Mariah and Miranda yet. So, they're having this big meeting to talk about it."

"Not exactly a party," Orange said.

"Yeah but... they... they usually have... girls... at these meetings," Corrie said softly. "For..."

"Entertainment," Genie finished for her.

"Why do I get this weird feeling," Orange mused. "Like everything is coming together."

"Wyrd feeling you mean," Genie said. "That word that Miranda would use for spooky fate stuff... wyrd."

"Guys, I know you're not going to like it... especially you, Orange... but I think I have a new plan," Jenny said.

In Shadow - Ch 21 - Running Toward

This hero stuff was hard.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for this, Genie thought as she dragged herself out of bed. Mariah had always been so confident. Mariah didn't wallow in self-doubt and confusion. She'd never been totally out of her depth... apart from the whole thing where she'd gotten involved with the Altos, and that scary Ms. H. Mariah didn't lead her friends into danger... apart from that one night and, really, she and Aadi followed Mariah willingly.

If only I was more like Mariah, Genie thought. Then we wouldn't be right back at the start... with no idea what to do next.

With a heavy sigh, Genie pulled herself up. She had work, and heroism, even if she had been cut out for it, didn't pay the rent.

Lost in her own thoughts, she was halfway across the apartment before she registered raised voices. 

"I just can't believe you would do that without talking to me first!" Gabbie was shouting.

"You're giving me grief about this?!" Anthony recoiled. "Are you serious?!"

Distracted, Genie's first thought was - Oh good, they're both wearing pants. It was followed quickly by - Wait... am I wearing pants?

Having established that at least everyone was wearing pants, Genie's curiosity immediately got the better of her and she tried to unravel what the argument was about.

"Do you understand what kind of opportunity this is for me?" Anthony was saying.

"Of course it looks like a great opportunity," Gabbie snapped back. "I know that... but is it really. I mean, you're just out of college. Do you really think you have a chance?"

"Oh thanks for that!" Anthony groaned. "I know it's a long shot... but the Party could have tapped anyone for Baxter's seat. They chose me. I'm running for Council. Me! Even if lose... and I know I'll probably lose... it's a huge honor just to be nominated. Come on, babe. I need you with me."

"Oh, of course I'm with you, you moron," Gabbie laughed. "Sorry... Councilor Moron."

"Wait, hold on," Genie said. "Anthony... you are the new Unity Party candidate for Council?"

"I know," Anthony grinned. "Crazy, isn't it. They called me yesterday and offered me the nomination. Ms. Ojo said I was a rising star... and they wanted a young, new voice to represent the Party in the election."

"I bet no one else wanted to run after the Llama-man conspiracy nut," Gabbie put in. 

"OK, that was maybe a factor, I'll admit," Anthony said, still grinning. "But, let's not overlook that I am the young, new voice of the Party... at least for the San My Council election."

"Can I get an interview?" Genie asked.

--------------

In another part of San My's Spice District, Jenny Poole was awoken by the persistent ring of her phone.

"Hello," she answered brightly. Even half-awake, she always tried to be cheerful on the phone. One never knew when a director or producer might call with some terrific opportunity, after all.

"What? Who?" she asked, blinking sleep from her eyes. "Oh... Oh! No... no, you're not bothering me. God, I'm so glad you called. Really. Please..."

She paused, listening.

"Look, why don't we meet?" Jenny said after a bit. "Better yet, you can come over here. No, please, it's no trouble. Come. I mean it. I'll text you the address." 

"I'm sorry," Corrie stammered. "I didn't know who to call and Orange said... I shouldn't have..."

"Of course you should," Jenny said softly. She could see the bruises on the younger woman's face. Anger and grief tangled inside her, almost burying the faded memory of what that pain felt like. Pushing it all aside, letting the emotions motivate but not control her, Jenny simply added, "I told Orange to give you my number because I wanted you to call me."

"Why? You... you don't even know me," Corrie said, trying to hide her face.

"Because someone helped me, when I was in a bad spot," Jenny said. "More than once, actually. I've been in a few bad spots... and Cassie was always there to help me out."

"You... you really know Cassie Goth?" Corrie asked weakly.

"Like I said, she's helped me out a few times," Jenny said gently.

"He... he said he knew her," Corrie sobbed. "He said he was going to make me a star."

"Yeah, they say that a lot," Jenny said sadly, taking the younger woman in her arms. "Come inside. I'll see what we've got for breakfast and we can talk."

"He really scared me, last night," Corrie said, sitting nervously on Jenny's couch. "I mean, I've seen him get mad before. He... he gets mad a lot. He'll yell or curse... or he'll get quiet. It's... it's always bad... when he's quiet.

"He was quiet the whole drive back from the club," she continued. "Like really, really quiet. Like, he just looked out the window and didn't say anything. All the way back to the apartment. All the way up in the elevator... just... quiet. I don't even think he really knew I was there. You know." 

"I know," Jenny said, remembering how George had forgotten her, forgotten everything, at the sight of Cassie Goth. Remembering how glad she had been to be forgotten.

"I was so scared," Corrie went on. "Seeing Cassie... oh God, he told me knew her... but it shook him. It really shook him like nothing I've ever seen... and I knew... I just knew, he was going to do something... something to... to..."

"To get control back," Jenny breathed softly.

Corrie nodded, wide-eyed.

"I snuck away," she said. "I left him with Damien. Damien can talk him down sometimes... and I... I couldn't be there. I couldn't."

"It's ok," Jenny reassured her.

"Later, when... when he came to bed he... he wanted me to... to be like Cassie," Corrie stammered. "He says I look like her... that I remind him of her... he wanted me to... to..."

Jenny just nodded, understanding exactly what George T had wanted.

"I... I... I just snapped," Corrie said, clearly shocked with herself. "I... I... I yelled at him. I call him a liar and a... a perv... I told him he didn't know Cassie... Cassie hated him! She would never... never do... do those things with him... and neither would I. I said I knew he would never make me a star."

"He... he pushed me and I... Oh God!" Corrie somehow combined horror and joy in a single wild expression. Softly, she said, "I hit him. I hit him!"

"Wow," Jenny blinked, shocked. "You go girl."

"Well... he hit me back, really hard," Corrie said, looking downcast. "I fought... I really fought, or I tried to but... he's so strong. He's just so strong."

"I know," Jenny said, suppressing an inward shudder. "I know."

"First thing this morning," Corrie continued, "while he was sleeping, I grabbed some clothes and my phone and I called you. I'm sorry, I couldn't think of who else to call. I know Orange gave me the number of a women's shelter but I..."

"It's OK," Jenny said. "It's OK that you called me. We'll figure it out."

"I just..." Corrie started.

She was interrupted by a sudden, loud pounding on the apartment door.

"Oh God!" Corrie shrieked. "He found me!"

"Get in the bedroom... through there," Jenny said quickly. "Stay quiet. Stay in there. I'll handle whoever it is. Don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Summoning up every ounce of confidence she had ever pretended to have, every breath of cool composure she'd ever seen Cassie Goth wear like a tailor-made dress, and every knife-edged look of savage disdain she'd ever seen the great Judith Ward use to flay the paparazzi, Jenny opened her door.

"Where is she?!" the crewcut man demanded as he pushed into the apartment.

"What do you think..." Jenny gasped out, startled.

"I know Corrie's here," Crewcut snapped. "You'll get her out here right now if you know what's good for you."

"Hey, this is my apartment," Jenny said coolly, quickly recovering her balance. "You don't come barging in here demanding anything!"

"Oh yeah," Crewcut sneered.

"Yeah," Jenny said, then in her best Judith Ward voice she added, "Do you know who I am?"

"Yeah, you're Jenny Poole," Crewcut grinned. "I've seen your tits on WickedHub."

"Yeah, I'm Jenny Poole," Jenny said, calling on Cassie's cool composure. "I studied under the Raven Witch." The lights in the apartment dimmed. The lingering summer heat vanished so quickly ice rimmed the walls. An otherworldly glow filled the room, deepening rather than driving back the shadows. "You do not come into MY HOME and threaten ME!"

"Problem, Jenny?" Bob asked as the panicked-looking crewcut man shoved past him and disappeared into the elevator.

"I handled it, but thanks Bob," Jenny smiled thinly. "If you see that guy around again, do me a favor and call the cops. Don't approach him or anything. Just go inside, lock the door and call the cops. OK?"

"OK, I can do that," Bob said. "You sure you're OK."

"Yeah," Jenny nodded.

With exaggerated care, she closed her apartment door again. Deep breaths, she thought, pushing down the panic that threatened to overwhelm her. Why did she always get stage fight after the scene, she wondered.

"Thanks for having my back there," Jenny whispered to the room behind her.

"Always," a voice more felt than heard whispered back.

Living in a haunted apartment has its up sides, Jenny thought with a smile.