Under the Full Moon (Crimson Romance) by Bobbi Romans Read Free Book Online Page B

“Normally the papers do mention where the former constituent went. Whether they’re retiring to Florida or running for another elected office. You’re sure nothing else is mentioned? Maybe in another paper? Have you tried Googling their names?”
    Faith shot her an expression that shouted “Bitch, please, of course I’ve already run internet searches.”
    Grace couldn’t help but wonder how deep this society ran within their town’s matrix.
    “Did you cross reference the last names to anyone currently in office?”
    “Actually I’d been about to when … ”
    “When what?” Grace didn’t like Faith’s sudden dazed expression.
    “What’s the time, Grace?”
    Tugging at her sleeve, Grace cleared the front face of her watch and saw the hands read three thirty. She and Faith had been talking more than an hour now. “Three thirty. Why?”
    “Well shit.”
    “Faith, talk to me, what’s going on?”
    “I left the archives room after taking some time to research before going back over the contents. I’d planned to cross reference the last names as you mentioned. Thing is, I don’t remember what happened between putting the box up and two hours later getting the call from Betty about your place being on fire.”
    “You’re missing two hours?” Grace’s concern grew as did the feeling big events out of their control happened all around them. None of them good.
    “Yeah. Damn, let’s go make sure the box is still where I left the thing, because something is definitely up.”
    Grace followed Faith down the old concrete stairs to the locked archives room. Faith fished around the round key ring until she found the antique skeleton key and opened the door to a strong scent of mold and dust. Grace fought to keep from grimacing as she stepped into the room. Faith took pride in her work and Grace didn’t want to hurt her feelings. But although Grace loved the aroma of old books, and, hell, old money, there was a significant difference between the smell of age and the pungent mildew odor inhabiting the room.
    “No, no. Oh damn. I placed the box right here on this shelf.” Faith looked bewildered and angry, though she couldn’t have known what they were up against. Grace didn’t even know.
    “Does anyone other than you have keys? A back-up key in case you lose yours?”
    “No. All the other keys were lost years ago, and the city said when and if the time came that this key,” she dangled the object in front of her, “disappeared, they planned on re-keying the door with a more up-to-date lock system.
    They hadn’t a chance to brainstorm more before the door to the old room slammed shut. Both nearly jumped out of their skin. The room held no windows, so Grace knew nothing except that someone on the other side of the door — or
magic
— could have caused it.
    “What in the world could have made that happen?” Faith asked, jerking on the door.
    Grace bit her tongue but suspected no amount of yanking would open the door. Something or someone wanted them trapped in this dungeon of a room. “I can’t even get the door to budge. Damn thing is stuck like it’s been locked or something.”
    Faith removed the key from her pocket and wiggled it within the antique knob. Nothing. No click to signify the lock’s chamber had opened. “I don’t suppose you’ve got your cell on you, do you? I left mine upstairs in my desk drawer when we came down.”
    “No, sorry. I think mine fell out during the fire at the shop.” She paused to think, and then nearly smacked her head in relief. “Don’t worry, Beth should be here any minute. I’m sure she’ll scout around or call someone when she finds the place empty.”
    “She won’t find the place empty.” Faith cringed.
    “Is someone else here?” Grace hoped someone else inhabited the place and this door thing merely a practical joke. Though she didn’t find it funny in the slightest.
    “No, and because of that I locked the front doors before we came down