much time as physics. I created kind of a slow loop, but only in the bar. As far as these folks know, they’re still having a good time, just laughing and drinking with their friends. Interrupting the time-space continuum has far-reaching consequences. Never mind. Wizard stuff. Would probably make your head explode.”
Nick’s back straightened. “Are you calling me stupid?”
“No, not at all. Look, I barely understand it myself. Just help me! I’ve been holding this chick for several minutes, and my arms are starting to shake under her deadweight.”
Nick grabbed Robin under her arms, which allowed Kurt to step away.
“Why didn’t you just put her down?”
“Do you see the position she’s in?”
Nick chuckled. Her arms were shooting out in front of her and her legs looked like she was in a roadrunner cartoon. Kurt pulled an empty chair away from one of the tables and Nick lowered her into it. She doesn’t look natural sitting there, but at least she won’t fall on the floor when she, uh, thaws?
“So, now what?” Nick asked.
“I don’t know. We can’t leave everyone like this until Anthony gets here. It’s a couple hours to sundown, and people will probably be missed in that amount of time. I don’t want nosy cops coming down here to investigate. No offense.”
“None taken.”
“But what else can we do? The patrons and staff need Anthony’s mesmerism to have their minds wiped.”
“You can’t do that?”
“No. Wizards and witches aren’t allowed to do certain kinds of mind control. A suggestion or a bit of influence is okay, but we can’t obliterate a person’s free will. This snafu is apt to take more than influence. We need memories totally erased. Nothing can be left to chance.”
“We need a vampire,” Nick said.
“Exactly. But how do we keep everyone out until Anthony gets here?”
“I know someone.” Nick grabbed his cell phone. Morgaine answered after one ring.
“Uh, hi, Morgaine. Is Sly there?”
“He’s upstairs babysitting his grandson.”
Shit. “Is there any way you can take over for him? I need his help. It’s an emergency.”
“Of course. He can be with you in a few minutes.”
“The sooner the better,” Nick said.
“Where are you? I’ll send him as soon as I get upstairs.”
“Boston Uncommon.”
“He’ll be there in about five minutes.”
Sly was there in three. Nick heard the door rattle, made sure it was Sly, then unlocked it and let him in.
Sly didn’t need to ask what was wrong. He gaped at the frozen bodies everywhere and asked, “What can I do?”
Nick let out a deep breath. “Thanks for getting here so quickly. The bar’s real identity came out, and a waitress was about to run into the streets screaming it to the world. Kurt’s a wizard and managed to stop her—and everyone else.”
Sly slapped a hand over his eyes. “Crap. This all happened because of what Morgaine told your girlfriend, and we’re responsible, aren’t we?”
“No. Brandee didn’t do this. But she and I were talking where her roommate overheard us. Now, my girlfriend is cool with everything, but her roommate freaked out and told the manager. The manager told the rest of the employees and this one,” he pointed to Robin, “was just about to spread the alarm, Paul Revere style.”
Sly chuckled. “Good thing you had a wizard handy.”
“Daytime watch over the paranormals is sort of my unofficial job,” Kurt said.
Nick smirked. “You mean you’re not an alcoholic? I thought you spent every day here because you liked to drink.”
“Well, there’s that too.”
Sly circulated around the bodies. “So which ones actually know?”
Kurt took a deep breath. “All of them heard the waitress screaming about vampires and werewolves. The psychic over there,” he pointed to Sadie with his thumb, “told everyone the waitress had misunderstood something or lost her mind. One or the other.”
Nick spoke up. “Sadie knows about the bar, but she’s always been fine with it. She’s related to Anthony. I don’t want her memory wiped. Same with Brandee’s.” He had already located Brandee in the back hall to be sure she was there and okay, but upon closer inspection, he saw the horrified look on her face and thought, Oh, hell. I’ll deal with that later.
Kurt shook his head. “This is a logistical nightmare.”
Sly held up a hand. “Not to worry. I like a challenge. Now, can you both take Sadie and Brandee out back? Kurt, as soon as you unfreeze them—or whatever you do—Nick can explain to them what happened. I’ll need you back inside to help me unfreeze one person at a time.”
“But won’t each