Chapter 9

Cassie did not need an introduction to know that this was Terry Pritchard. The picture in her file had been taken from a distance but there was no mistaking that cocky twist to his thin lips. His picture hadn't done justice to the polluted aura that surrounded the man. It was no wonder Drew hated him.

Pritchard was obviously used to being in control, and from the way he practically strutted through the crowded bar, he had a certain expectation that things would remain the same here. Taking in the whole package, Cassie blinked in surprise. The tan polo shirt was acceptable enough, but the olive green cargo pants and were not only out of place in this upscale club, but also on the leader of a cult known to fleece its members out of near fortunes. She guessed that his allure came from within. Deep within.

The forty something woman on his arm looked like she'd just come from a grade school classroom in matched knit blue pants and top adorned with a ladybug pin sparkling from her chest. The empty look in her bloodshot eyes and slack jaw turned Cassie's stomach. She wished her ankle could hold her while she pounded the ass who'd done this to somebody's sweet little mom.

Given the thickness and volume of the crowd, Pritchard had to come far too close to be heard. "Drew Carter, just the man I was hoping to see." His voice was as slimy as his aura.

When Drew let go of her long enough to take the outstretched hand, Cassie felt the soothing comfort she'd accredited to the champagne fall away and was hit with a wash of rising energy. Her eyes went at once to the sedan out front with two shadows sitting unmoving inside. Quan must be wondering what she was doing in here; she knew he could feel this. He would even know that it wasn't her energy, that made it doubly dangerous. Shouldn't he be in here by now?

Juggling the shoe and purse made a quick grab at her phone unwieldy at best and any sudden moves on her part would most likely land her on the floor. A circle to protect them both until help arrived was the best she could hope for, except there were an awful lot of witnesses and potential for casualties if things went bad. She deliberated the wisdom of screaming "fire."

The crowd made her nervous. Control hadn't been a strong point to now and she feared harming them as much as herself if she tried to perform a spell. She might also provoke a reaction from the witch raising power at that very moment. Her skin danced with the level of energy he was commanding. It wasn't sex magick, but this was definitely their witch.

Drew was grimacing when he picked up her hand again and she felt the calm come flooding back. Glancing down, she saw the ring on the hand she was holding. It could have been the effects of the ring or the dispelling of the pent up energy from earlier, regardless, something in her pushed her to act. Without removing her hand from her support, she turned her sight inward and muttered the words she knew by heart. In seconds she felt the warmth of the circle surround her and Drew as well.

The second it closed Cassie watched the cocky smirk fade from Pritchard's face. His glare switched from one to the other, settling on Drew as the perceived obstacle and his pinched expression slid down to Drew's amulet. He recognized the stone for what it was.

Drew's hand flew to his head, palm pressing his temple. Cassie felt a passing qualm knowing she was causing him further pain though it was tempered by the knowledge that she was also keeping him safe from worse.

"Pritchard what are you doing here?" Drew blinked and rubbed his hand over his forehead. "Brandon isn't here." He failed to mention that he had no idea of his brother's whereabouts given his alleged traveling companion was standing right here and he was nowhere in sight.

"I'm well aware of your brother's whereabouts. No, I am interested in seeing you without your big brother's interference for once." Sensing the circle blocked both of them, Pritchard let his eyes fall to Cassie. "And who is your new friend?"

"Just a guest who's suffered a minor mishap. I'm escorting her out." He hitched her hand up, pinching it tighter between his forearm and rib cage. She could feel every muscle rigid against the back of her hand. "We're busy tonight and I don't have time for this so if you don't mind, I'll have to excuse myself." Drew started to step around him and Pritchard held out a hand to stay him.

"I'm not asking, Carter."

Cassie felt his energy surge as Pritchard tried to break through her circle. Instinctively she pushed back and felt the skin on her arms begin to tingle and itch as their energies went back and forth, countering and testing each other. Too long supporting her, Cassie's ankle twitched and she wobbled losing her hold on Drew's arm.

Eyes wide, Drew stared at her. He felt the difference when he released her and her circle wavered. "What is that?" One hand went to his head as the power around him grew more erratic.

Without her crutch and the confidence boosting stone, Cassie stumbled literally and figuratively. When her circle broke, it sent energy spinning into the air and the volume of the voices around them grew louder, even the regulars could feel the increased vibrancy in the room. Without hesitation Pritchard attacked, sending a searing hot pulse into her brain; the psychic equivalent of a flash bang grenade. Beside him, the forgotten woman only watched vacantly.

Reeling, Cassie saw Drew shaking his head, gray eyes gone wide and felt the need to protect him. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at Pritchard. There was not even a moment's pause in her actions as she held out a hand and felt the gathering of her energy through the floors, alleviating the tingling on her skin's surface as she willed it into her palm. Without thought of the effects or how horribly wrong this could go, she readied herself for the release. Pritchard stared at her for only a second before she turned her palm out and pushed the ball toward him with a single command.

"Stop." She'd spoken only in a conversational tone yet the strike had been strong.

Pritchard had not anticipated the strength and the defensive counterspell he attempted to block with was too late and veered off striking an overhead light, blowing the bulb in a flash. Someone in the crowd screamed as several people were struck by flying glass.

Unmoving amidst the ensuing chaos, Terry Pritchard gaped at Cassie. "You're like us."

Floored by what she'd done, Cassie only barely registered the man's voice. "What? No, I'm not like you." She stuttered.

Panicked clubbers were pushing back and forth, banging into them and Cassie was nearly shoved to the ground. Drew caught her and righted her, then let go as if he'd been burned.

When she looked again, Pritchard and his drone had disappeared. Cassie busily scanned the crowd for him to no avail. The combination of dark and proximity to the door would have aided any escape attempt.

The immediate crisis averted, the staff busily worked to calm the remaining few continuing to lament the scare and offer care to those wounded. Cassie turned her focus back to Drew finding him leaning on an elbow against an iron table in the bar. He did nothing to help his employees. He merely watched them bustle about, shell shocked by what he'd witnessed.

Making her way to him, painfully and unsteadily through the shifting throng, Cassie laid a hand on his arm.

Refusing eye contact, he kept his glare over her head and aimed at the door. "Enough screwing around. You're going to tell me who you," his jaw clenched and Cassie turned to see Julia and Quan stride through the door on full alert, "and your friends are." When he did lower his eyes to hers, they were dark and furious. "And what the hell is going on here."

An explanation with someone as close to the edge as him and in mixed company was inadvisable. Her partners had gathered that Drew was upset and fell in, letting him lead the way to the elevator. Catching sight of Cassie's hobble, Quan put an arm around her waist and dragged her along.

Quan made use of the opening to question Cassie, hopping and panting to keep up. "What happened in here? I felt a powerful witch, and then I felt another. Was either one you?" Quan was not one to sugar coat things.

Cassie filled him in quietly and Julia walking beside them listened while she kept watch for any further threats. There were none. The regulars settled down and order was restored. Any other practitioners had left with Pritchard. Her skin was decidedly non-tingly.

Dropping back she informed them of Pritchard's interest in Drew, her discovery of his amulet, and the possibility that his brother was working with Pritchard. Remembering what she'd overheard, she added the fact that Brandon was lying to Drew about something he was doing for Pritchard.

Cassie left Drew's possible involvement out of the equation for the time being telling herself it was superfluous at this point. She would tell her partners should she see any evidence of wrongdoing down the road.

"And what of the discovery of your magick Cassie?" Quan prodded. "There is a new scent to you and at last some control perhaps." He afforded the room behind them a backward glance, checking perhaps for signs of fire or mayhem.

Automatically defensive, Cassie's voice shrilled. "The light bulb blew up when Pritchard hit it, not me." Catching the hitch in Drew's step at her mention of the magick fight, she lowered her voice. "As far as my breakthrough goes, I don't know." Cassie watched Drew's back, the shadows playing tricks and making him appear only partially of this world, disappearing and reappearing as he walked from one light's glow to another. "At first I thought I was getting it from the ring when I was touching him." She pointed to the ankle in response to Quan's perked brow. "It was necessary. But then my circle broke and he tried to blast us and I just, I don't know, I just reacted. There was no time to throw up another circle or anything, it was so fast. There was no time to think."

The chrome doors opened and the four were bathed in pale light. They entered the elevator and rode in uncomfortable silence, not to be broken until they had filed in past Drew holding the door, and he clicked it shut behind them. When it did, Drew whirled on them.

"Talk." Arms crossed, Cassie thought he made for a rather intimidating bouncer. Drew wasn't overly muscle bound, it was the look in his eyes, calm with an undercurrent of proposed violence, that was more worrisome to her than gigantic biceps and a shaved head. She was willing to bet he could handle himself in a fight should it come to that. He had that air of quiet confidence that men who had proven themselves carried as opposed to the toughs who felt a constant and irritating urge to show everyone what they could do.

"My name is Julia Departes, this is my partner Quan Long and you've already met our youngest partner Cassie Porter. We are here investigating Terry Pritchard, nothing more." Julia took the lead, her calming persona specifically tailored to this sort of situation. She spoke without moving a muscle, encouraging him to match her relaxed stance and tone. "We aren't here for you Drew."

"Are you guys cops or something?" His eyes roved over each one assessing them suspiciously, barely giving Cassie any more pause than her partners. There was something they were holding back. Drew could sense it. He could sense it in the same way he could tell the older woman was attempting to handle him again. For a moment he felt his temper rising.

"Yes, we are." She replied with certainty. "We were advised that Mr. Pritchard was a frequent customer as well as a business associate?"

Features going loose, Drew waved a hand dismissively. His demeanor no longer prickly, he had returned to cool indifference.

Again Cassie noted the curious shift. "We don't have anything to do with that guy's business. He's slime but he's a customer, that's it. You can't arrest me because I let a dirt bag drink here."

"You're right, we can't. But we can ask you what your brother's affiliation with Pritchard might be." Cassie was done messing around too. Standing on her ankle hurt and she wanted to go back to the hotel where a hot shower and warm bed awaited her.

The muscles in his cheek twitched, the only sign of his vexation as Drew pulled his emotions back and let his face shut down going stony. "I think I want my lawyer."

"A lawyer can't save your brother's life. We can." Quan said softly.

"Is he in danger?" Speeding back to full alert, panic in his eyes, Cassie saw they were merely confirming for Drew what he already knew. "Pritchard's dragged him into his crap."

Glancing at her partners to make sure she wasn't overstepping first, Cassie saw that they were fine with her taking the lead. It was hard not to wonder if Anna had ordered them to step back and let her sink or swim on this last mission. She would do her damndest to show them she could make it in the field. Sticking out her chin, Cassie met his eyes coolly. "Drew, you're right not to trust him. We think Terry Pritchard is using your brother." She wanted him to see them as allies, as people he could trust and confide in. "And I'm guessing he wants something from you too. Do you have any idea what that might be?"

Shoulders sagging in defeat, Drew shook his head. "I don't know. What do you people suggest I do?"

Cassie wasn't sure what to tell him, she looked expectantly over at Julia.

"Pritchard is getting desperate to get his hands on you judging from the scene he made tonight. I think we wait for him to approach you again except this time we let him think he's got you. We'll keep an eye on you and step in if things get ugly." It sounded so simple coming from Julia, it always did. That was why people believed her and trusted her. Cassie wondered if Julia could teach her that. If they had more time that is.

"But if he's dangerous how are you going to help? Where are your guns? Are you going to do whatever it was she did downstairs?" He pointed at Cassie, rolling his eyes when she looked like she was going to argue. "What, like I didn't just see you throw a man without touching him? And am I supposed to pretend there isn't something that happens whenever I'm around any of you that makes me feel like my head's going to explode?" His left hand absently found the ring on his right.

Cassie gawked, unsure how much they were intending to tell him. If they overwhelmed him he might not be able to function properly when they needed him to.

"That's an unusual ring you have there, may I?" Julie held out her hand and offered him a warm smile.

Hesitant to part with it Drew began to slide the thick silver band down his finger. When it was nearly off Cassie felt her skin tighten. Quan was not going to let this chance to "smell" Drew unprotected go by without taking advantage.

"Stop it!" Drew mistakenly accused Cassie, glaring at her and the ring was cast loose as his hand flew. "I said stop." He pointed a finger in her face and she felt something sting her skin.

Touching the spot on her cheek she felt something wet and her fingers came away red. He'd actually cut her. Equally shocked, he left his offending hand hanging in midair while the other three stared.

"It looks like Brandon isn't the only one in the family with teeth." Julia drawled in the stunned silence.