Rituals (Cainsville 5)

"I'm deciding how to delicately accuse you of lying. I'm not accustomed to being delicate, but the situation seems to warrant it. Seanna would never let you walk away. I need the full truth from you, Rose, in case this ever turns into an indictment."

"She threatened you. Said she'd ruin you. Which is ridiculous. So I walked out."

Gabriel nodded, but I said, "I suspect she said more than 'I'll ruin him,' but either way, you didn't just walk out. What else happened?"

When her eyes flashed, I said, "Yes, I'm sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong. Family business when I'm not family. But this isn't idle curiosity."

"If it becomes a legal matter, I need to defend you," Gabriel said, "and I need to be fully prepared to do that."

Rose dipped her chin. "It wasn't only a vague threat to ruin you. Seanna has an instinct for weak points, and she's already discovered yours."

Gabriel's gaze flicked my way.

"Yes. Liv," Rose said. "She threatened. Not with physical harm. I'd have warned you about that right away. Seanna says she has something that can guarantee the Larsens don't get out of prison. She's already been to see them."

"She spoke to my parents?" I said.

"Not Todd. He heard who it was and refused, undoubtedly presuming it was a prank. Pamela spoke to her. That was the point where I told Seanna I was sick of her machinations, and I did walk out. I needed leverage if I wanted details."

"Whatever her scheme, I'm sure it's as stupid as the others," I said. "But we'll need to pay Pamela a visit."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Gabriel suggested we leave Lloergan with Rose. As we left Rose's house, I noticed the front stoop of Grace's building was still unoccupied, it being too cold and early even for her watchful eyes. We turned the corner to my street and--

Ida and Walter's car sat in front of my house.

"Well, apparently it's not too early for everyone," I muttered. "We can shower at my apartment. I have clothes there, too."

While I hadn't been to my apartment in a month, it was still mine. Grace wasn't going to let me out of my sublet early.

We returned to the building and climbed the stairs. I went to unlock my deadbolt and--

My key wouldn't turn. I jiggled it, took it out, and then put it back in. After another try, I handed Gabriel the key.

He tried with the same result.

"Grace changed my locks?" I said. "Seriously?"

"At the very least, I'll threaten to sue her. Which doesn't help us at this moment."

He handed back my key and took picks from his inside pocket. When he fiddled with the locks for longer than ten seconds, I knew there was a problem.

"Fae locked," I said.

He arched his brow.

"No," I said, "I've never heard of such a thing, either, but if you can't open it, there must be a supernatural explanation."

He tried again, but it was obvious from his expression he was making no progress.

"Okay, now I'm curious." I looked along the hall and then pointed to the door next to mine. "That one's definitely unoccupied."

I suspected most of the apartments were empty, having never caught more than whispers in the hall.

I tried the handle of the neighboring door. Locked. No deadbolt, though, which should make it easy to open, but once again Gabriel's picks failed to work their mojo.

"Fae locked," I said. "Another apartment mystery we need to investigate."