The Isis Collar by Cat Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

even find residue of the spell that kept everyone frozen in place?”
    “You know, they didn’t,” the secretary admitted. “Which is just odd. But no harm seems to have been done. And they’re still investigating. I’m sure the authorities will figure it out sooner or later.”
    “And in the meantime,” Parker said, giving a pointed look at the clock, “we need to get back to work. If you’ll excuse us?” He phrased it as a question, but it was an order and the secretary scurried back behind her desk. “I’ll be sure to let Principal Sanchez know you stopped by.”
    I wrote my cell phone number on the back of one of my business cards and passed it across the desk to Marjorie. “Have the principal call me. Please?”
    “Absolutely.”
    I could feel Parker’s eyes boring into my back as I walked through the door Jamisyn held open for me. I hadn’t come here to be treated like a hero. But I hadn’t expected a three-minute brush-off, either! Jerk.
    “Parker’s an ass,” Jamisyn said as he followed me into the hallway. “Don’t pay any attention to him. None of the rest of us do.”
    I found myself smiling. “I guess that’s why he’s the assistant principal.”
    “Oh, yeah. And believe me it chapped his hide when they brought in Ms. Sanchez above him. He was so sure he had a lock on it. But half the staff would’ve quit on the spot if they’d given him the job.”
    We’d reached the outdoors. This was my last chance to make this trip more than just wasted time. It was so frustrating. Damn it anyway. I really needed some information. Something was off about this whole thing; something tied to my not being able to heal. But I wasn’t getting anywhere, and I wouldn’t if I couldn’t get someone to tell me what I needed to know. “So, Jamisyn, do you think it was a dud?”
    He looked uncomfortable, his eyes shifting from the glass doors behind us to the gulls that had begun circling overhead, and out to the street. “I think there’s more going on than they’re telling.” He forced a smile, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. “But what would I know? Nobody tells me anything.”
    “I wish I could’ve talked to Ms. Sanchez.” I didn’t bother to hide my frustration.
    “Yeah, well, she had a meeting with the principals from the other schools.” His eyes widened for a second, almost in panic.
    “Other schools?”
    “Oh, um, you know … in the district. Other grade schools.”
    He was lying. But before I could follow up on it, Parker tapped on the glass door behind us, making Jamisyn and me both jump in surprise.
    “I gotta get back to work. Good luck,” he called over his shoulder as he bolted.
    The way things were going, I’d need it.

4
    Since I’m a glutton for punishment I went straight from the school to the police station. I mean, really, why not make a day of it? I pulled into the covered parking garage attached to the Santa Maria de Luna PD, cruising around and around until I found the spot I was looking for right across from the little white Toyota belonging to none other than Detective Alexander. If Jamisyn’s good-luck wish worked, she should be getting off-shift soon. If not, well, I was in a dark, cool, quiet place that was ever so much better for my headache.
    I only had to wait an hour.
    “Oh, shit. It’s you.”
    “Gee, Heather. You’d think you weren’t happy to see me or something.” I was mostly being sarcastic. Still, a little part of me was hurt that she had been ducking my calls and was obviously unhappy to see me. We might not be close, but we’d always been friendly.
    “What do you want?” she snapped. She tried to walk around me, but I stepped back in her way.
    “Were there bombs in more than just the one school?”
    “Damn it, Graves!”
    Wow, not even “Celia” anymore. This was serious. “What?”
    She ran fingers through her hair and let out a frustrated breath. “You keep doing this. You keep putting me in the hot seat, asking me to do things