Starlight Web (Moonshadow Bay #1) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,76

can hope,” I said. “Millie wanted me to call her again. I can ask her if the city might be able to do that.”

“My guess is that you’re not going to get an answer you like. But it can’t hurt to try,” Rowan said. “As far as interested private parties, I know someone who has the money to buy it.”

I raised my head. “Who? Do you think they’d be willing to do that? To invest in land they can never really use?”

“Possibly,” Rowan said, standing. “I’ll get back to you. Meanwhile, I have an appointment.”

Caitlin and I said our good-byes and headed back toward my SUV.

“We didn’t exactly get the answer we hoped for,” Caitlan said.

“No, but I think we’ve made a valuable ally. Come on, let’s get back to the office. We can call Millie from there.” As I put the car into gear, I glanced up at the owl, who was still perched in a tree. Rowan Firesong was in my life now, for better or worse. And I had a feeling both were possible.

Chapter Sixteen

We stopped to pick up takeout—mac ‘n cheese, fried chicken, and biscuits—since we weren’t sure whether Tad and Hank would be hungry. I bought the food while Caitlin bought a latte for herself and a mocha for me.

Tad and Hank were already waiting when we got back to the office. Both had that death-warmed-over look and were sprawled in their chairs, listlessly staring at their keyboards. They perked up a little when Caitlin and I entered the room and Tad waved at us.

“Hey, where were you?”

“We were talking to Rowan Firesong.” I paused, then noticed that the coffeepot was empty. “You want me to make more coffee?”

Tad nodded. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

“Tea for me, if you don’t mind,” Hank said.

“So,” Tad said, “Dr. Fairsight told me she had recommended you talk to Rowan. I should have thought of that before. I’ve never met her, but I know who she is.”

“Rowan’s different from what I expected her to be,” I said. “But she’s smart.” I glanced at Caitlin. “Should I tell him or do you want to?”

“You go ahead. You understand the magic involved better than I do.”

“All right,” I said, handing Hank a mug with a tea bag and steaming water in it. The coffee was percolating and Caitlin retrieved paper plates and napkins from the storeroom for the pizza. We gathered around the main table. By that time the coffee and tea were both done. Caitlin poured a cup for Tad and added three sugars and cream.

We settled in with our food and drinks.

“Here’s the thing…there’s a land elemental rooted in that parcel of land. It’s very angry and very aware, and it’s causing all the problems. All of the spirits on the land have been absorbed by the elemental.”

“Basically, it has MPD?” Tad asked. “Multiple personality disorder?”

I nodded. “Right. The spirits have some autonomy, but they’re inexorably bound to the land because they have merged—at the core—with the creature. The building is acting as both a focal point and an amplifier.”

“So, we can’t dislodge the elemental, I take it?” Tad asked.

I shook my head. “No, it would take a major quake or other natural disaster to budge it. And since the spirits are connected to the elemental, we can’t exorcise them. However, if we destroy the building, it will help to calm the activity. It won’t solve the problem, but there should be fewer casualties.”

Tad sighed. “So, we tell our clients to look elsewhere for land?”

“Right. There’s nothing they can do. Even if they destroy the building—which we know they’d be doing—building other structures will just offer a renewed focus and more food for the elemental.” I knew what I was about to say was overly hopeful, but I said it anyway. “Ideally, we should encourage the city to buy the land, raze the building, and then cordon off the area.”

Hank coughed. “That’s not likely to happen. While I think we could convince the mayor that the idea is sound, I doubt the city has enough money to buy a piece of land they can never utilize.”

“He’s right,” Tad said. “And I know for a fact that the company that owns it now won’t agree to just demolish the building and let the property sit off the market.”

“Then what do we do?” I asked. “We can’t just walk away.” I had a wild flash that I should buy the land. I had just enough in savings, but then reason took hold.