16

A lady detective came and asked me specific questions about what I had witnessed. When she asked who might have something against Ethan, I said, "I have no idea. He's such a kind, gentle man."

She nodded in agreement. "The doctors say he'll pull through just fine, thanks to you and your friends."

I wondered about the knife Adam had used. "Did they find a weapon?"

The woman shook her head. "It was probably thrown out to sea."

Where it could stay as far as I was concerned. If a knife was discovered, Adam's prints would be all over it. "Too bad," I said. "I hope you get whoever did this."

"Don't we all." She closed her notebook and left us in peace to calm Adam down. Even Jake had shown up to lend his support, which surprised me a little.

Jake took me to one side. "Your Dad helped Adam out, didn't he?"

"Of course." I knew where this was going, and it wasn't the time or place.

"So how can you even think he's working against us?"

I sighed. "If you aren't up to the task, I'm sure Faye will be happy to take over."

"That's not your call," Jake said quietly as Faye sashayed her way to the candy machine.

"Actually, it is." My grandmother had once told me I was destined to become the Circle's leader, which seemed crazy at the onset. But at present, it seemed saner than anything else careening through my head. Even with my summer plans, I was still committed to this group. Circumstances had thrown us together, and we had to make the best of it.

Jake's eyes narrowed. "I thought you wanted to walk away."

"Doesn't everyone? What matters is I'm here now."

He dug his hands in his pockets. "You were singing a different tune just the other day."

The difference was I was now keeping mum on the subject. From here forward, I had to focus on defeating our enemies. If that wasn't accomplished by summer, then I'd have to delay my plans. "You're right, but none of that matters now."

Jake probed my face. "You're lying."

My only response was a smile as I went back to Adam's side. Diana and Melissa were holding his hands, but his face brightened when I sat down. "Is he giving you a hard time?"

Leave it to Adam to worry about Jake. "Nothing I can't handle. Any updates on your Dad?"

"Only that's he stabilized and will be in the ICU overnight."

I nodded. "When can we see him?"

Adam replied, "They said family only, and only after he wakes up."

That left out pretty much all of us. "Is there anyone I should notify?"

He made a face. "Only my grandmother, but she won't care."

Ooh, there was bad blood in the Conant family. "What's her name? I'll call her anyway."

Margaret Mary lived in Elm Gardens, a nursing home in the next town. "I don't recommend it, Cassie. She's a nasty old bitch," Faye said, saying what Adam would never put into words.

"As long as she doesn't stick me with a shiv, I think I'm good." I was only kidding, but my comment made Adam wince. "Sorry," I added.

"You shouldn't go alone." I looked over at Jake, my usually silent sentinel.

"Are you volunteering?" I asked.

"It's my job," Jake said.

That elicited some curious responses. "I bet the pay sucks," Faye commented.

Ignoring her, Jake motioned down the hall toward the entrance. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah, sure." I walked past Adam and flashed him a reassuring smile before following Jake.

Faye had this one called. Margaret Mary was a horrible woman, and the filthy invective that streamed from her maw was astonishing in its variety. She called Ethan so many names that I lost count when she hit twenty. News delivered, I nodded to Jake and we left the bitter old woman behind and walked out into the night. "Hard to believe they're from the same family," Jake said as we reached his truck.

"Yeah." I'd seen a slight resemblance to Adam in the eyes, but her stony expression killed any other redeeming feature. "Alzheimer's would be a blessing."

He smiled at my cynic's view. "Unlike your grandmother."

I was Amelia to her, and maybe even that would fade the next time I saw her. "We can't fix her."

"Maybe your Dad can."

God, he thought the sun rose and set on my Dad. "I doubt it."

Jake made an exasperated sound. "How can you say that? Look what he did for Adam."

"Whatever you believe about him, he's not God."

And that was the problem, wasn't it? For in Jake's eyes, he ranked right up there with good old J.C.

Sally called late that evening as I was getting ready for bed. "I heard what happened. Is Mr. Conant OK?"

"He'll be fine."

"Who could have done this?"

"You know who." I didn't want to jinx myself by saying her name.

"It's one thing to have a grudge, but exsanguination?"

"It's a bit harsh."

"Think she had help?"

"Oh, yeah." I didn't mention Adam, figuring the less involved he was, the better.

"I followed her like you told me to, but it was mostly a goose chase."

"Mostly?"

"Well, there was one curious thing. She went to the pub where my Uncle Eben hangs out, and they left at the same time."

"What time was that?"

"Just after 7."

Which gave them more than enough time to wreak havoc at the Boathouse. "Good work," I said.

"Should I still follow them after tonight?"

Poppy was stepping up her game, and I didn't want Sally caught in the crossfire. "No, I think we have what we need. We'll take it from here."

"Are you sure? Because Regina has things to tell you. In fact, she insisted you stop by after school tomorrow."

Damn, I was supposed to help out at the Boathouse. "Umm, sure. I guess I can be there."

"Good, 'cuz she says it's important."

I was about to head downstairs for some water when I heard voices outside. Crossing the hall to my grandmother's room, I peered through the shades and saw my Dad talking to Dawn Chamberlain. They were standing way too close, and she was laughing at something she said. When she leaned in and touched his arm, I knew where Faye had stolen her technique. It could be genetics, or it could just be Faye filching her Mom's best moves.

What the hell is she doing here?

I caught a flicker of movement in the shadows and spotted Jake watching from his bushes. From his vantage point, he could hear everything they were saying. I was happy he was holding up his end of the bargain, even if it pained him to do so. My Dad finally parted company with Dawn, walked to his car, and drove off.

My phone vibrated and I saw Jake's name pop up. "Hey."

"You saw them too?"

So he'd seen me in the window. "I did. What's going on with them?"

Jake's laugh held a nasty undertone. "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Of course."

"They've hooked up."

The eww factor upped my gag reflex by a factor of 1000. "God, wait till Faye finds out."

"Future sisters?"

"Don't push it," I warned with a yawn. "Is that all?"

"Well, there was one other thing. She handed him a crystal."

I nearly dropped my phone. "What, is he taking up a collection?" There was no way I was handing over the Blake crystal.

"No idea, but he seemed pretty determined. Reminds me of someone I know."

My Dad was like that, and I knew his master plan didn't include my Circle. "Yeah, well, we have different agendas. Mine doesn't include taking over the world."

"Cassie, your Dad only wants to protect us."

"As in, if he steals all our power, we'll no longer be targets."

Jake sighed. "I think you're blowing this way out of proportion."

"I hope you're right," I said before clicking off my phone for the night.