“You’d do that, take this terrible risk for a couple of people you don’t even know? Why?”
“Because I’m a lawyer, and I have to believe that occasionally justice prevails.” I once again got a hug.
“You’re sure it’s going to happen at the Oscars?” Jeff asked after he released me.
“No, but I’m pretty sure. Qwendar wants a shocking incident. What better place? We’re talking about a worldwide audience, a live feed, and movie stars.”
“Will he have to be there to do his magic shit?” Jeff asked.
“I think so. He was on the lot when Jondin went nuts.” I chewed at a hangnail. “I’d love to find out if Qwendar was somewhere in the neighborhood when Kerrinan killed Michelle, and when he made his run for Fey. Also, I think Qwendar will want to see and enjoy the mayhem.”
“So we can stop him by just not letting him into the ceremony,” Jeff said.
“Nice thought, but it won’t work. He’ll come in through Fey.” I stopped. “I just figured out where Jondin’s guns came from. He had them stashed in Fey and just brought them through once he had control of her. Hell, they could have been right outside the door of her trailer.”
“And this helps us how?”
“It’s something we need to consider. He’ll find a way to arm the Álfar once he’s taken control of them.”
“So, we keep all Álfar out of the ceremony.”
“Like that’s not going to cause any problems or comment. Besides, Qwendar will use it to whip up anger against humans because the Álfar were excluded. A lot of Álfar actors are going to defy the ban and come in through Fey. Qwendar still gets his bloodbath, and we’ve pissed off their council. Let’s not do his work for him.”
Jeff gave me a rueful smile and sat back down. “We don’t have any really good choices, do we?
“No,” I said bleakly.
“And how, exactly, are six people at the ceremony going to help?”
“They can knock down maddened elves and protect humans.”
“And who handles Qwendar? He’s the guy with all the magic whammy. He’s going to be tough.”
“That would be me,” I said.
Jeff stopped pacing, turned, and stared at me. “You.”
“Me.”
“All five-feet of you?”
“He can’t affect me.” I hesitated, thinking back on all my near miraculous escapes, then added, “And no matter what is going on around me, I suspect I’m going to be able to get through it pretty much unscathed.”
We sat silent for a few minutes with Jeff just looking at me. It was one of those awkward, uncomfortable silences, but I was too tired to break it. Finally the actor stirred, slapped his palms against his thighs, and stood up. “Okay, then, it’s time to enlist Kate.”
He led me back into the kitchen. There was the sweet, rich scent of hazelnut coffee in the air. Kate finished arranging cookies on a plate and set them on the table. Jeff moved to her side and gave her a kiss. She smiled down at him. He pushed a long strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “Sweetie, Linnet is going to be going to the Oscars, and she’ll need a gown. I can’t think of anybody better to help her out.”
“Oh, what fun.” Her eyes raked over me, head to toe, as she walked in a slow circle around me. “Petite and very feminine. Elie Saab, I think. He made Natalie’s Oscar gown, and she’s a tiny little thing.” She checked her watch. “It’s too late today to make it over to Rodeo Drive. We’ll go tomorrow, and we can hit Tiffany’s for your jewelry.”
“Wait, I can’t afford—”
“Not to worry: unless you’re Liz Taylor you borrow everything.”
I glanced over at Jeff. “I’d rather not be wearing anything really valuable.”
“I think no jewels,” he said.
Kate looked from one to the other of us. “You both look grim.”
I could read Jeff’s thoughts as clearly as if I’d been telepathic. He looked at his wife. He considered what I’d said about a bloodbath. He steeled himself and took Kate’s hand. “Honey, let’s go upstairs for a minute. I want to talk to you.”
The actress shook her head and planted her fists on her hips. Though the stance was combative, the smile she gave her husband wasn’t. “You’re going to tell me I can’t go to the Oscars because it’s too dangerous, but if what you discussed is true you’re going to need me there.”
“You eavesdropped?” Jeff asked.
“Yes. You were talking about the Álfar, and you know how I feel about them and about Phase Change. Look, these people are our friends and colleagues. The other actresses know me and trust me. If I tell them to move they will move. Same for you with the actors. If something happens this could easily turn into a panicked stampede. You need more help, not less. And this is something I can do to help the Álfar.”
“This could be very dangerous,” I said.
“I know. Which is why I don’t what him to face it alone. I want to be with him, not sitting at home alone worrying.” She stepped to her husband’s side and wrapped an arm around his waist.
“I don’t want you in danger,” Jeff said.
“And I don’t want you in danger. So, let’s face it together. Okay?” Kate gazed fondly at her husband, and he took her in his arms and kissed her. I looked away.
Kate turned back to me with a glowing smile. “So, tomorrow. Shopping. We can face anything if we’re in a couture gown, right?”
“Right,” I said. I wondered if they made one designed for ease of running and fighting.
I collapsed in the armchair in my room at the Beverly Garland Hotel and contemplated just sleeping there. Even the effort of taking off my clothes and moving to the bed seemed beyond me. I lifted my arm and checked my wristwatch. Almost seven o’clock. Ten o’clock in Philadelphia. Late, but not enough to terrify people in their beds late, and I really needed to talk to Parlan. I staggered over to my purse, pulled out my cell phone, and called the O’Shea house. Big Red answered.
“O’Shea.”
Thirty years as a cop had left him incapable of saying hello. It drove Meg wild, but then she would just laugh and call him an old war horse.
“Hi, Red, it’s Linnet.”
“Linnie, how the hell are you?”
“Fine. Is Parlan there? I need to talk to him.”
“Yeah. He’s here.” There was weariness and frustration coating the words. “Parlan, pick up the damn phone—it’s for you.”
There was a brief silence then, “Hello?”
“Hi, it’s Linnie. You said you still had friends in Fey. How do you think they would feel if they were told they couldn’t cross over to the human world again, and if they tried, angry humans with pitchforks would be waiting for them?”
“I think they’d hate it. Why? Is that likely to happen?”
“That’s what somebody is trying, yes, and if he can arrange for a large and public bloodbath I think he may get his wish. So, I’m calling to ask for your help.”
“Sure, but I don’t know what I can do.”
“Can you get in touch with your friends? Tell them what’s going on, see if they’d be willing to help me?”
“I can contact them. I can leave messages at ley line crossroads. Where will you need this help?”
“In California.”
“How soon?”
“In a few days.”
“That’s going to be a problem. Rapid travel is not one of the hallmarks of Fey.”
“If they’ll cross over, we’ll fly you all to LA.” I put aside for the moment just how I was going to pay for all this. I hoped David was going to help, and it wouldn’t all end up on my credit card.