Page 79 of Phoenix Rising

“You know your guru friend is wanted in connection with several crimes? You going to throw your lives away to protect a criminal?”

Hunter tossed his arm over Talia’s shoulder. “Eh, we’ll take our chances.”

Reese addressed Elijah. “What would you prefer I call you? Elijah The Lightkeeper, or your birth name, Richard Caraway. Or perhaps you would prefer Xander Porter?”

All the color leeched from Caraway’s face. “H-Henry, T-Tina, tell them they have the wrong person.”

“Yes, he used to be Elijah, Keeper of the Light, but he is now Guru Phoenix.” Elijah looked like he’d have a massive coronary at Talia’s admission. “Those other names are wrong. You are mistaken, and you need to leave this instant.”

“So, you admit to being Elijah, Keeper of the Light?”

“You going deaf, Fibbie?” Hunter tapped his ear to stress the point. “We just told you that.” Hunter smirked, and it took everything in Reese not to react.

Audria strolled closer and got in Elijah’s face. “Remember me, Guru Phoenix?”

His face pinched. “No. Should I?”

“Yes, since you’ve tried to kill me several times.”

Elijah jumped back or tried to, but Christian’s hold was unyielding. “What are you talking about? I haven’t tried to kill anyone!”

“Did you forget about the attempt to run me over? The car chase? The bullets?”

“Lady, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve got me mixed up with someone else! Tell them, Henry. I haven’t—”

“Nadine Fenton,” Reese interrupted, and Elijah cringed. “She was one of your devoted followers when you called yourself The Lightkeeper.”

“She hung herself. Tell him, Henry.”

“I saw her hanging,” Hunter agreed.

“What about Josiah Porter?”

“Oh, that is your uncle in Montana, right?” Talia blinked innocently at Elijah, whose eyes widened to comical proportions. She was not helping him at all, and Reese mentally high-fived her.

“He’s a-a family friend. Not related.”

“Yet you felt comfortable taking his last name.”

“No, no, I don’t know what you mean. I’m Phoenix Valo.”

“Authorities in Montana found your family friend, who happens to be the very wealthy owner of this business, dead on his property today. Coincidence?”

Elijah flinched as if someone had slapped him. “Oh, well, he was getting up there in years. Old age isn’t for sissies.”

“Maybe, but he didn’t strangle himself.” Elijah’s mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out. “He died the same way as Cindi Beech.”

Elijah’s eyes darted from side to side. “Who?”

“The registered nurse who graciously cared for your sister, Matilda, before you choked the life out of her,” Audria reminded him.

“That name’s not familiar.” Elijah’s voice was a croak.

“You don’t remember your own sister?” Audria’s tone was incredulous.

“No. I mean, yes. I mean . . .”

While they had Elijah flailing, Reese threw out, “How about Paige Stockton? How did you kill her?”

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