The Law Of Three: A Rowan Gant Investigation Read Online Free Page A

in Cape Girardeau.”
    “Yeah.” He paused. “So, what gives? You sound
like you were awake already.”
    “Yeah. I was.”
    “So what’s up? Don’t tell me you were waitin’
for me to call.”
    “Okay, I won’t.”
    “Jeez, Row…” The note of resignation in his
voice was clear. “So, did you have one of those nightmares or
somethin’?”
    “No. Just a headache.”
    “Bad one?”
    “Bad enough.”
    “Regular, or was it one of those hinky,
weird-ass, Twilight Zone ones
that you get?”
    “Something like that.” I shook my head even
though he couldn’t see me.
    Twilight Zone .
That’s what my friend liked to call it whenever I would engage in
any form of psychic detection or supernormal communication. He was
accustomed to the peculiar psychic events that had seemed to plague
me for the past couple of years, but he still had his own unique
branding for them. He had a whole handful of euphemisms—“la-la
land,” “out there,” and even just plain “weird,” but Twilight Zone remained his favorite.
I guess I couldn’t blame him for the interpretation though. Even I
wasn’t always comfortable with the paranormal excursions myself,
but then, I also didn’t always have control over them either. And,
while a certain amount of mysticism comes along with being a
practicing Witch, at times I felt almost as if I had plugged
directly into the main switchboard of the “other side.”
    Disconcerting is just about the nicest word I
could use to describe it. You don’t want to hear the others.
    “ So why didn’t you call me?” he
asked.
    “And do what? Tell you I had a headache?”
    “Hasn’t stopped you before.”
    “Actually, when I’ve called you in the past
I’ve had a little more to say.”
    “Yeah. Maybe so.”
    “So, do you want me to meet you?”
    “For what?”
    “To go to this crime scene?”
    “No, actually. I was just calling to make
sure you were okay.”
    The meaning behind his words was quickly
apparent to me. For a number of reasons, I was most likely at the
top of Porter’s hit list; not the least of which was the fact that
I had shot him. Of course, he was trying to kill me at the time, so
I didn’t have much choice. However, since he had already tried
once, we had every reason to believe that he would do it again.
    This was exactly why Felicity and I had spent
the past two weeks residing in a tiny, unfamiliar apartment in a
secure building instead of our own home. We were in hiding, and it
was starting to get on my nerves.
    “So, the victim is male?” I asked
    “That’s what they said. I just got the call a
few minutes ago.”
    “So where is the scene?” I pressed again.
    “No way. Stay put, Row. Let us handle
this.”
    “You know I can’t do that, Ben.”
    “You don’t have a hell of a lotta choice now
do ya’?” he shot back.
    “I’ll just show up,” I told him calmly. “I
can find out where the scene is without your help.”
    “And I’ll fuckin’ arrest your sorry ass if
you do.”
    “Ben…” I just allowed my voice to trail
off.
    “You know, Rowan, we ain’t just a bunch of
bumblin’ idiots. Cops solve murders all the time without your
help.”
    “I know, Ben, but this is different.”
    “Yeah, I know you think it is, but it’s not.
Why can’t you just stay put where I know you’re safe, and let me
handle this?”
    “Because I want my life back, Ben.”
    “Gettin’ yourself killed would kinda defeat
the purpose now wouldn’t it?”
    “We’ve had this discussion before, Ben.”
    “And I don’t recall bein’ convinced that time
either.”
    “I need to do this,” I appealed.
    He huffed out a heavy sigh after an extended
silence. “Fine. Jeez. Okay. At least if you’re with me, I can keep
an eye on ya’. I’ll swing by and pick you up. But listen, Row,
you’d damn well better tell Felicity before I get there. I don’t
have time for an argument like last time.”
    “Don’t worry. She’ll be coming with us.”
    “Both of