Pt. 21

"That was not wise, Arthur" Jenkins warned. "You have no way to know where the witch's loyalties lay."

Arthur smiled fondly at the older man. "You always were over protective, old friend."

Jenkins sighed in frustration. "Someone had to pull you back from the abyss. What if the witch chooses to strike at your sister?"

"I have little fear of that." Arthur replied, a wolfish smile on his face. His eyes did not reflect the smile. "Laveau is not as good as her reputation claims her to be. And I have no intention of losing my sister again - even if it means I rip the witch's skin from her bones to stop that from happening."

Baird waved a file in the direction of the two men. "How about we do something here while we wait for Rowan to come back?"

Stone looked at all the photos Arthur had brought to the group. "This all started with this woman's death. Her sister is somehow connected to magic that is bringing demons into our world. Maybe we should find out more about her?"

"Already happening" Jones sang out, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "Man, this girl had issues." He waved at the screen. "Look here."

"No" Arthur ran his finger over the back of the laptop then waved his hand in the direction of a blank wall. The image from the screen suddenly appeared, making it easier for the group to view. "There – now we don't all have to crowd behind you."

"Very cool move, mate" Jones admired, his fingers pausing for a moment. "So anyway – looks like there is almost no story for her. Her grandparents' home schooled her so no record from before high school. She dropped out of college for unknown medical reasons and has been living off a small inheritance from her parents ever since."

"How are the latest victims related to any of this?" Cassandra asked.

"What was the male victim's name?" Arthur asked, reaching for the documents related to the first death.

Jones tapped a few keys. "Police reports say the guys name was Marvin Swinton. His wife's name…"

"Wait – Swinton?" Arthur thumbed through the report then stopped and held out a report to Baird. "There is a Marvin Swinton listed as the officer responding to the original report filed when the two girls disappeared."

Baird read through the report with a frown. "This isn't right. It reads like he thought the girls had run off with some guys. Doesn't look like he tried really hard to find them."

"Hmmm…" Arthur leaned against the table, frowning at the wall. "The police officer who didn't find them, the nephew of the man who employed one of the girls and other assorted men with no link between them all. Unless…" He glanced back at Jenkins, then straightened and turned back to the door. "Tell my sister I will return shortly."

"I'm sure she'll be pleased to hear you've run of without someone at your back again." Jenkins stood beside the table, arms crossed and a displeased look on his face.

"She'll be annoyed, probably angry, possibly even livid. But she'll get over it." Arthur shrugged, unconcerned.

"At least take one of the Librarians with you." Jenkins protested.

"Why don't you go with him?" Cassandra asked with a tentative smile. "Maybe then you can talk about old times."

"Yes, Galias, why don't you come with me?" Arthur agreed, a thin smile on his rugged face. "I'm sure there is a lot for us to talk about other than this case."

Jenkins froze for a moment than stared into the other man's cold blue eyes. "Very well, Lead and I will follow."