in the hallway made the three women fall silent. When the steps continued on, Deme relaxed but she spoke in quiet tones. “No one knows we’re related. Brigid was the only one of us to openly meet with the detectives in charge of the investigation and the school officials as Aurai’s sister. She can continue to be our contact with the external investigation. I met with the undercover detective. He’ll pretend to be my boyfriend so that we can pass information.”
Both Gina’s and Selene’s brows rose. “Boyfriend?”
“His idea, definitely not mine.”
“I’m impressed already,” Selene said.
Deme glared at her sisters. “Don’t get any ideas.”
Gina touched her sister’s arm. “You can’t let that last guy you dated affect every relationship, Deme. What was his name, anyway? You never did tell any of us.”
“Yeah, why all the secrecy?” Selene added.
Deme shrugged. “No reason. Besides, it didn’t last.”
Gina slid a glance sideways at Selene. “Still evading the question.”
“No kidding.” Selene addressed Deme. “Well, you shouldn’t let him taint your feelings for the other men in the world. There are some nice ones out there to choose from.”
Deme closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, guilt pressuring her. She really should fess up to her sisters. She’d never kept secrets from them, with the exception of her relationship with Cal.
For the first time in the year she’d been away from him, she could actually think of him without choking up. Leaving him had been about the hardest thing she’d ever done. She couldn’t begin to contemplate how she’d feel after leaving him a second time. As best she could, she would remain aloof…an overwhelming challenge in the presence of the man’s alpha-male sex appeal and bad-boy biker persona. “The undercover detective’s name is Cal.”
“Nice, strong name. What does he look like?” Gina’s eyebrows disappeared into her sandy-blond bangs.
“Does it matter?”
“Of course!” both sisters agreed as one.
“He’s your typical eye candy with dark hair and dark eyes.” And muscular legs and arms that could wrap around her and carry her to places she’d never been. That flash of heat she’d experienced in the cafeteria returned in force. “Not my type,” she lied.
Selene’s brows drew together. “Since you’re not interested, perhaps I could provide his cover.”
Deme held up a hand. “We’ve already established our so-called relationship in public. Otherwise I’d let you.”
“Point made.” Gina grinned. “In the meantime, loosen up, sis.”
“I’m not here to find a man. I’m here to find Aurai.”
Selene wrapped her arm around Deme and hugged her tight. “That dude you dated really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
“Let me at him,” Gina said. “Any man who makes my oldest sister a basket case for a year deserves to be infested with the fleas of a thousand camels.” She pulled a pen and notebook from her hobo bag and jotted down a note to herself. “I’ll come up with a potion that’ll give him webbed feet.”
Deme’s lips twitched. “Although I like the image, you can’t do that. Cursing someone is delving into dark powers.”
Gina’s lips twisted. “I’d only do it once. And it would be well worth the risk if it makes the man as miserable as he made you.”
Deme turned away. The image of Cal with webbed feet almost brought a smile to her face. Not that her sister could conjure webbed feet. Their powers didn’t work like that. But wait until her sisters saw Cal Black. They’d never give her a moment’s rest with their sisterly teasing. Even the thought of the tall, dark cop made Deme’s body burn. “We all have our covers established. We need to maintain our anonymity in order to gain the trust of the other girls. We want answers, and the sooner the better.”
“All I know is that it’s been two days. Two days too long.” Selene winced and pressed fingers to the bridge of her nose.
Deme laid a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
She breathed in and out for a moment before answering. “There’s a dark aura surrounding this campus. I sensed it as soon as I came through the gates. It feels like someone trying to push into my mind.”
“Do you think you should let that someone in? Maybe he or she can tell you what happened.”
“I tried, but so far there’s like this wall blocking them.”
“Them? As in more than one?” Deme asked.
Selene’s fingers moved from the bridge of her nose to her temples, where she massaged the skin, her eyes squeezed shut. “I think so.”
Still staring out the window, Gina asked, “Think it would help if we get together tonight to cast a circle and call them forth?”
Deme had sensed the darkness, too, but Selene had a better connection with the metaphysical world than any of them. She’d even had conversations with the dead. On more than one occasion, her ability to sense trouble had saved their butts. When Selene perceived a disturbance in the spiritual balance, invariably she was right. It was her gift, as knowledge and connection to the earth was Deme’s and Selene’s was water. Brigid connected with fire, and Aurai, sweet Aurai’s gift was her ability to influence and communicate with the wind and air currents.
“Let’s wait and see what happens and what we can learn from the students and staff on campus,” Deme said.
“Brigid said the Gamma Omegas’ sorority initiation ceremony was conducted in a garden.” Gina turned back to the others. “Do you suppose it was this one?”
Selene walked toward the window, her face paling as she neared the opening. When she reached the windowsill, she wavered, her body swaying. She clutched the raised window and pulled it down, pressing her forehead against the glass. “Something happened here. I can’t tell exactly what, but it wasn’t good.”
Deme’s lips tightened. “Then that’s where we start our search. Gina, see if you can find any history on the college in the library. Past students, old newspaper articles, anything. Selene, you’ll be a member of the faculty. Check out the other professors and staff for anything concerning Aurai’s disappearance, the garden and the sorority. I’ll work on the girls in the sorority.”
“We need to maintain our distance in front of others.” Gina looped an arm around Selene and led her away from the window. “Hanging out together will blow our cover. If there is a kidnapper lurking on campus, we can’t let him know we’re sisters. When we meet again, it needs to be away from campus.”
Deme nodded. “Agreed. I’ll get close to Aurai’s roommate. I think she’s in this building.” Deme flipped through the roster Dr. Masterson had given her of students living in the dormitory. “There she is—Rachel Taylor. Brigid said she was one of the girls initiated
