Page 42 of Signs and Wonders

“I think you’re right about the charm keeping you clear-headed,” Travis replied. “I came into the library about five minutes after the presentation started so I could keep an eye on the doors. I definitely picked up a low-level spell to prevent interruptions—which would include letting people go in or come out.”

Travis grinned. “So I sent a ghost. I gambled that the presenters weren’t expecting anyone with abilities to show up, magic or otherwise. Mostly, I wanted to keep eyes on Evan, but the ghost reported that the room had a strange ‘energy’—which I’m guessing was that spell. It might have made the attendees compliant, but it creeped out a ghost.”

“The pitch was surprisingly non-specific,” Evan continued. “But other than the orientation, the packages weren’t cheap. I got the feeling that they didn’t want a large number of resort guests, maybe just enough to provide cover for what they do up there, but not so many that they can’t keep them in line.”

“That actually makes sense—from a certain viewpoint,” Brent mused. “Too few guests, and people will start wondering what’s going on. It won’t seem like a real destination. But Swain can’t afford to have more people wandering around than they can keep track of. They might stumble onto something, and covering extra ‘disappearances’ gets complicated.”

“He’s also been canny about who he attacks,” Seth added. “If someone vanishes and is never seen again every time there’s a retreat, the families will force even the most corrupt cops to investigate, or go over their heads. So I think the events are a recruiting session of sorts. They accept the people they’ve already screened as potentially good sacrifices, and then observe them and get to know more details during the retreat. Later, they’ll snatch them when Swain needs a boost.”

“Not making me feel any better about this,” Seth growled.

“Oh—and Drake? The spa at the lodge has a pool inside a cave,” Evan said.

Drake’s eyes widened. “Okay. Obviously that’s something for you and Brent to check out when you get there. My visions don’t always make sense at first, but there’s a reason behind them.”

A car with a loud muffler zoomed by on the highway, interrupting the conversation. Evan didn’t miss how they all flinched at the sudden roar.

“About the whole ‘corrupt cops’ thing—bad news,” Brent said when the car was gone. “We uncovered blackmail files on the cops, local and state politicians, and senior agents in the FBI and FBSI.” He glanced toward Drake. “Bottom line—they’re not going to lift a finger against Swain as long as those records exist.”

“Not a surprise, given how I kept getting turned down and slapped on the wrist every time I brought up the missing people.” Drake sounded bitter. He didn’t ask how the “files” had turned up, and no one volunteered the information.

“I got into the Hub more easily than I should have been able to,” Drake told them. “I dressed like the guys in IT, palmed a badge off someone I bumped into in the parking lot, and got by the guards, who weren’t paying a lot of attention.

He reached for a beer, popped the cap, and took a pull before continuing. “Inside, there were bullpens full of data entry and call center workers. My suspicion is that they’re not involved—just doing their jobs. The servers are on the two bottom levels. That’s where the real action happens. Those were guarded, and I didn’t get inside, but I didn’t need to. I know where the rooms are, how big the area is, and I’ve got a good idea of where the emergency systems are. I can figure out the weak points. Freeze the servers, and we take down the whole operation. We were able to confirm that several of the other coven members are running their business data through the Hub.” Brent appeared to be careful with his wording. “Money laundering, paranormal pharmaceuticals, and shifter trafficking—among other things. If it were any normal setup, we could go for RICO charges, but that’s not going to work against a witch, and certainly not one who owns most of the officials in the state.”

“I’m not surprised. And trying to escalate to get to authorities who aren’t compromised would give Swain time to shut everything down and move somewhere else,” Drake agreed. “The question is—how does the Hub fit into the bigger picture, and when do you want to make the move?”

“Swain’s the big fish,” Evan said and grabbed a soda. “We need to make sure he can’t hurt anyone ever again. Knocking out the Hub will help in the long run, but we can’t forget that Cameron’s already been targeted—and he’s next on Swain’s list.”

Travis turned to Seth. “You and Evan are calling the shots—it’s your operation. How do you want to play it?”

Seth looked to Evan, who nodded. “Once Evan scopes out Summit, we need to get into the resort, destroy Swain’s anchor, and find his ritual space. There are enough of us; maybe we can make the move on Swain and the Hub at the same time. But the clock’s ticking, and I’d rather not be doing this after Swain snatches Cameron.”

* * *

Based on Evan’smap and the information Seth and Parker had found online, they spent the next couple of hours planning how to infiltrate the lodge and destroy Swain’s ritual chamber.

“I was thinking the chamber was likely to be somewhere outside the resort compound until the person at the event today mentioned the spa,” Evan told them.

“Spa? Seems like a strange place for a ritual murder,” Drake echoed, clearly skeptical.

Evan held up a hand. “Hear me out. One of the things the original Mountain Laurel Lodge was famous for was its underground spa pool—a natural cave with a mineral spring where people could ‘take the waters.’ If it’s a real cave, there are probably sealed off areas that might be perfect for Swain’s rituals.”

Seth nodded. “I think you’re onto something. So far, the witch disciples have preferred tunnels and caves for their rituals—probably because those places have energy that resonates with their magic. If there are parts of the cave that have been partitioned off since the resort was built, not many people would know about them. No one would have cause to go there.”

“And he doesn’t have to lure people into the mountains,” Evan added.

“How does he get victims into the cave without attracting attention?” Brent leaned over to peer at the map.

“The resort is inside the Quiet Zone, and that area has been less intensely mapped than other places,” Evan replied. “But satellite maps exist—if you know where to look. Overlaying the satellite map and the map from the event, it looks like there’s a supply road that comes up to the back of the building that is over top of the spa cave entrance. There might even be another entrance to the cave that’s hidden. So my money is on the cave.”

“Now we just have to figure out where he’s hidden the anchor,” Seth muttered. “The amulet that helps channel the ritual is something the witch disciples usually wear.”

“Let me see the brochure.” Travis reached out, and Evan handed over the paper.

“I’ve seen this before.” Travis frowned as he pointed to an insignia. “The crossed keys behind a heraldic shield—there are usually a couple more elements, but it’s a saint’s symbol.”

Brent took a picture with his phone and opened a website, then uploaded the photo to an image search. “It’s part of the symbol for St. Louis Marie de Montfort,” he told the others when he got the results.

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