Page 79 of Eldritch

He took his hat off.

“Don’t take off your hat.” She walked closer to the door. “You not staying.”

“Who is this Doug guy?”

“I told you. A friend of the owner. He helped set up a security system here. Now tell me how to take off the device you put on my car.”

He snorted and placed the hat back on his head. “No. But I’ll go. For now.”

With a dark, pissed off look, he turned and headed for the door. Anyone else, she’d be concerned about them driving in the snow. She didn’t care where Taggert found himself. Probably back in Estes Park, or maybe all the way to Denver if she was lucky. Even better, back to Texas and out of her life forever.

He opened the door and allowed a blast of cold and snow to swirl inside.

“I promise I’ll see you later, Sybil.” He left and slammed the door.

She fastened the locks on the door. Then she leaned back against it. Thank all the gods and goddesses he was gone. At least for now.

Before she could move, Doug came into the Octagon, his expression concerned, his eyes holding the hardness and speculation she expected from a man who’d been a soldier and a cop.

He came up to her, close but not too close. “Hey, you okay?”

She nodded and tried for half a smile. “Yeah. I’m fine. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my ex-boyfriend.”

The concern didn’t leave his eyes. Letisha came into the room right at that moment. Before anyone could speak, the cell phone in Doug’s hand went off.

He looked at the screen. “It’s Clarice calling back.”

He went into the Great Hall, his voice echoing as he answered the phone.

Letisha’s eyes narrowed. “Everything okay?”

“I’m not sure. No. Probably not.” She explained what Taggert had said about the tracking device.

Letisha’s mouth dropped open. “That piece of shit.”

“Yeah. I’m hoping Doug knows what to do about the tracking device.”

“Did Taggert say where he was going?”

“No. Let’s go see if Clarice can connect to the security system now.”

A shiver of cold passed over Sybil as they walked out of the octagon room. No doubt the winter weather outside made a difference inside the mansion. They’d started up the old heating system yesterday, and it worked well enough. Or perhaps the iciness she felt had more to do with Taggert.

* * *

“Everything works now for Clarice, so we’re good to go,” Doug said as he stood in the office with Letisha and Sybil.

Letisha waved at them. “I’d better get some work done. I’m planning on sorting some stuff in the basement. Clarice emailed us a list this morning of things she wants to clear out.”

“Oh, good.” Sybil smiled, glad things were moving along. “She’d said there were some things she didn’t know what to do with, too. But aren’t the lights still a problem?”

“We’ve got that solved until she can hire an electrician. I have three battery-operated lamps.”

Sybil smiled. “Good. I’ll be down there shortly and help you.”

Letisha returned her grin. “Take your time. Pauline said she’d help. Later.”

Letisha exited.

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