Overhead, a half-moon rode the star-specked sky, reminding him he had five days, tops.
He felt the first hint of the fog long before he saw it. Small patches of dampness brushed past his face, ghostlike as spiderwebs. But the moment he turned down Waterfront Avenue, the mist moved in as thick as wet concrete, obliterating everything, forcing him to pull over, park his bike and walk the rest of the way.
Might as well just get it over with. He reached under the left side of his leather jacket for the reassuring feel of his .38 nestled in the shoulder holster. Snug as a bug. Too bad what he feared most couldnt be killed with a bullet. Not even a silver one.
He made his way along the brick sidewalk toward the faint beat of the neon bar sign at the end of the street, unable to throw off the ominous feeling hed gotten at just the sight of the towns sign.
Nor had he realized how late it was until he noticed that the shops were all dark, locked up for the night. Of course, it wasnt Memorial Day yet. Thats when the tiny Massachusetts town would come alive with tourists, especially this year, with Moriahs Landing celebrating its 350th anniversary.
Tourists would flock here for the beachand the witch folklore, bringing a morbid fascination for the towns dark, witch-hanging past.
Tonight, though, the small township lay cloaked in a fog of obscurity, silent as McFarland Learys grave, as if waiting for something to happen. Unfortunately, Jonah feared he knew what that something was.
Hey! A voice came out of the darkness from the end of the street near the blurred, flashing bar sign for the Wharf Rat. Jonah could barely make out the form, but instantly recognized it, just as the man coming out of the bar had recognized him.
Hey. The man staggered forward, then stopped, clearly jarred momentarily from his drunken state.
Jonah reached blindly for the first door next to him, grabbed the handle and turned, praying it wouldnt be locked, but prepared to use whatever it took to get in. He shoved with his shoulder as he turned the handle, losing his balance in surprise as the door fell open and he stumbled in, closing it behind him.
Youre late, a female voice admonished.
He froze, his back to the dark room. From beyond it, a narrow path of light ran across the carpet to his feet. He turned slowly, comforted by the feel of the .38.
She stood behind a large antique desk, one hand on her hip, her head cocked to the side so her long mane of ravens-wing-black hair hung down past her shoulder like a wave. He could feel her gaze, dark and searching, long before he stepped close enough to really see her face.
Sorry, he said without thinking. He had plenty to be sorry about so he didnt mind.
Her eyes narrowed. I guess you didnt get my last e-mail.
He shook his head. Unfortunately, he hadnt gotten any of her e-mails.
Are you ready? she asked, sounding a little unsure of herself. He sensed this was new territory for her.
Ready? He watched her pick up her purse and jacket and then hesitate. He couldnt help but stare at her. She had the most interesting face hed ever seen. Wide-set dark navy-blue eyes with dense lashes, a full, almost pouty, mouth and high cheekbones, all put together in a way that startled and interested him at the same time.
Yes? she asked, eyeing him, definitely not sure now. Is there a problem?
Not unless being totally confused was a problem. He started to tell her that she was making a mistake. But then she came around the corner of the desk and he got the full effect of her little black dress.
Wow. It was a knockout on her, formfitting against the warm olive glow of her skin. Silver glittered on her wrist, dangled from the lobes of her ears and swept the curve of her neck and throat. Nestled in the hollow between her breasts hung a small silver lighthouse charm.
Did you have some spot in mind? she asked. The tap of her heels drew his attention back up to her face as she moved toward him.
He had lots of spots in mind. But shed caught him on a night when he was already off-kilter and she was the last thing hed expected to run across. So it took him longer than it should have to realize she thought he was her datean online blind date, it seemed. Even worse. And from the way she was dressed, they were going out for a drink. Maybe a late supper.
Unfortunately, her real date would probably be along any minute. Jonah realized hed be damn disappointed when that happened. The problem was, leaving here right now wasnt an option.
At least not out the front door where he feared the man hed seen would be looking for him.
Past her, he saw a way outliterally. A back exit and a chance to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.
How about the Moriahs Landing Inn? he asked, realizing he had a better chance with her than alone if he hoped to avoid the man hed just seen in the street. The hotel was only a few doors up on Main Street and had a very nice restaurant. And it was easy to get to since he figured he was probably supposed to be driving a car. Which he wasnt. More important, they could get to it quickly by going down the narrow alley out back, therefore cutting down the chance of an ugly confrontation with his past.