“So how are you feeling?” Jack asked.

A half smile.

“I’m good, Jack. Surprised by my resilience.” Ruby leaned forward and cut herself a piece of cheese. “I understand the crazed man is a random event and I look forward to what comes next. You know, the pattern of threes. It’s going to be much lighter. Maybe a knight in shining armour is on his way.”

Jack wished that was the case, but he believed more evil was on the way. He needed to protect her.

“I’ve spoken to Cath about this, and we both believe it would be best if you went and stayed somewhere else for a while.”

Ruby held a cracker half way to her mouth. “Why? I’m fine here. I’ve got Zoe to look after me.”

Zoe raised her arm and patted her biceps.

“You do.” Jack nodded and raised his eyebrows to Zoe’s show of strength. “But we’re concerned about the Wiccan element. There are still a number of unknowns, and we feel that putting you out of reach could be a good thing. At least until we find this high priestess.”

Ruby’s lips were pressed together. Stalling. Thinking. “Well, I could go and stay at my dad’s place. He’s still out of the country.” Ruby looked at her phone. “Or my brother’s. He keeps texting me. Checking that I’m okay. But I’m not sure I could stay with him.”

“Not sure about those options,” Catherine said. “We would like you to vanish for a while.”

“That’s magic, like Wiccan stuff.” Ruby took a bite of the cracker.

Soft smiles all round.

“We believe there still may be a threat to your life, and we would like to apply for protection on your behalf. But it’s all up to you—totally voluntary.” Catherine said.

“What do you think, Zoe?” Ruby asked.

“I’m not too sure how I’d go protecting you, but maybe the detective could give me his gun and teach me how to use it. Then it might be a different matter.”

“She’s flirting.” Ruby said. “I think I’ll be okay. I trust you guys. You just need to catch this high priestess and everything will be good. I reckon she’s probably on the high seas by now—left the country, making a run for it.”

Jack wasn’t sure how to progress this. He looked over at Catherine. She raised her eyebrows and gave a gentle shrug.

“Ruby,” Jack said, with an air of authority. “We don’t believe this was a random event. We believe this crazy man was after you. He was given your details.”

Ruby sat forward. She didn’t look fearful, more determined. “How do you know?”

“We don’t, not entirely. It’s only a theory. The envelope he placed under the door had something in it, a number. We believe it was tied in with the Wiccan rituals the lady is caught up in,” Jack said.

“What was the number?” Ruby asked.

“It was number nine,” Catherine said.

“That could mean anything.”

“It could, and that’s why I say it’s all theory.” Jack said.

“Why bother telling me then?”

“Because it’s our job to protect you and we believe you’d be safer if you went away from here for a little while.”

“They’re right, Ruby,” Zoe said. “It’s too much of a coincidence that this crazy man comes after you just days after the thing on the island.”

Ruby’s eyes started watering up. “Where would I go?”

“To a safe house that very few people know about.”

Zoe went over to Ruby’s chair and sat on the armrest.

“Zoe could go with you. It would be safer for her as well,” Catherine said.

“A holiday, Ruby?” Zoe said, placing her hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “Hopefully someplace exotic.”

Jack shook his head. “Wishful thinking. It will only be in house in a suburb some distance from here.”

Ruby reached for the cheese knife. Her eyebrows slightly raised.  “Okay, I’ll do it because I feel this will be over with very soon. You guys will find the high priestess. Won’t you?”

“We will,” said Catherine.

“One other thing,” Jack said. “Don’t tell anyone where you are. No relatives, no friends, no neighbours, no work colleagues. And especially don’t tell Shoana.”

38 – Departing souls

AN HOUR LATER, Jack texted Ruby to advise that some officers would be there soon to pick her and Zoe up. They would need to arrange a few days off work, and Jack would arrange that with their employer.

After a brief panic, Ruby and Zoe sat waiting, with their small suitcases packed. 

Ruby looked around the unit, mentally checking that everything was turned off and all windows were closed and locked. The balcony door was still open. Ruby could tell Zoe had given her potted herbal farm a good watering, as a puddle had formed below it. The mint smell was strong. Ruby went to close the door and saw the car pull up down the street.

“This beats work, Ruby. We’re going to have some real hunky bodyguards.”

Ruby closed and locked the balcony door. She looked at Zoe, confident Jack and Catherine would find the high priestess, but wishing she could share some of Zoe’s enthusiasm.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Ruby invited the escorts in. Ruby smiled at Zoe—she knew her friend would be disappointed that one of the escorts was a female while the other looked close to retirement age. Ruby could make out that they carried guns, and that gave her some comfort.

The man performed the introductions. He pointed to Ruby. “You must be Ruby.”

It was the red hair. “Yes.”

He looked towards Zoe. “And Zoe?”

Zoe smiled. Ruby had an internal chuckle. There wasn’t much muscle to this man. His suit hung from him, making him look frail. But Ruby reminded herself he had a gun. 

“I’m Detective Tanner, and this lovely lady is Detective Teasdale.” He smiled. “We’re also known as T1 and T2.”

“Don’t let this comic fool you, girls. We’re here to protect and look after you. He may not look the part but he is lean and mean.”

“Thank you, T2.”